Animal Hospital Of
Statesville
181 Mocksville Hwy, Statesville NC, 28625
704-872-3625 Office/704-872-2490 Fax
Appointment
&
Medication Request
PETS
OF THE MONTH
(See our pet trivia & facts
at the bottom of the page)
CANINE
The
obesity epidemic in the United States is all over the news.
A significant portion of our population is overweight and it’s
more than a cosmetic issue. Whether
you’re a human being, a dog, or a cat, being overweight is a medical
problem. Obesity increases the
risk of developing arthritis, diabetes, and even cancer. And because of
fluffy coats and differing body types between breeds, many owners do not
realize just how overweight their pets are.
When
Sawyer Beasley reached 118 pounds in 2007, his owners knew that was too
big, even for a black lab. Sawyer
was evaluated to determine just how much weight he needed to lose.
At that visit, Dr. Gaither recommended a significant reduction in
calories. She also performed a
thorough physical exam to determine if he had developed any
obesity-related disease, such as degenerative joint disease or diabetes.
Sawyer’s owners have stuck to a consistent diet since that time. This is the hardest part of weight loss for people and pets! When dogs beg and plead for treats and extra helpings, it is hard to say no! But saying “No!” to treats, and “Yes!” to more exercise, can save your pet’s life. Sawyer is down to 99.8 pounds. He feels better, has more energy, and will likely lead a longer, healthier life than he might have otherwise!
FELINE
Dakota is a young, blue point short haired kitten that found herself a loving family. Her new owners began to feed her and instantly fell in love. Shortly afterward, Dakota developed a prolapsed rectum. This can be seen in kittens and puppies as a result of diarrhea or parasites. Dakota was presented to the Animal Hospital and the rectum was returned to its natural position and a temporary suture was placed in the rectal area to prevent recurrence. Dakota was vaccinated as well. A week later, a stray dog found Dakota and bit her and broke a rib. Dakota was quite lucky, as there were no punctures in the chest cavity or lungs. She wore a chest support for about 10 days. During this time of rest, Dakota’s rectum prolapsed again. It was replaced, and a surgical procedure was done to tack the colon to the body wall as a permanent solution to prevent recurrence of the rectal prolapse. This procedure is called a colopexy and is reserved for those incidences when conservative medical management fails. Dakota was spayed at the same time as the colopexy. Dakota has done very well. She has continued to thrive and mature. Dakota is currently finishing her vaccine series and has continued to cement her place into the hearts of her devoted family as well as the staff of the Animal Hospital. Because of her tenacity, Dakota has been named our feline Pet of the Month.
Canine Trivia & Facts: An estimated one million dogs in the United States have been named the primary beneficiary in their owner's will.
Feline Trivia & Facts: A cat can jump as much as seven times its height.