Oak Village Animal Hospital

Spring finally has made it for 2009. I believe everyone is exhausted from winter. Due to the heavy rainfall this spring, scientists are forecasting an abundant mosquito season which is how Heartworm Disease is spread. I would suggest heartworm blood testing and preventative no later than June 15th. Due to the recession, Oak Village Animal Hospital is offering a STIMULIS SPECIAL! Save $15.00 on your canine friend’s Heartworm test until 6/15/2009! We also have our own Heartworm prevention called Diro Drops and Diro Flave Drops. These medications have the same ingredients as Heartgard but in a drop form and are 50% less expensive than Heartgard! Save money while protecting your dog from deadly Heartworm disease!

LEPTOSPIROSIS DISEASE IS ON THE INCREASE!

Another health topic to be aware of is Leptospirosis. This disease is spread through the urine of wildlife, in particular coyote, deer and raccoons. Direct contact is not necessary and it is contagious to humans. This safe vaccination can be added to your dog’s current vaccination schedule. If you have any questions about this disease, please call our office and we will be happy to help you.

SAVE MONEY ON FASTRACK PURCHASES!

Many clients have seen the vast health enhancements due to the use of Fastrack products. In particular the Fastrack Senior supplement. This is the best joint supplement on the planet! We have also had reports of less shedding from dog’s that are taking Fastrack Senior. Conklin is the company that manufactures all of the Fastrack products. We can arrange a direct link to Conklin for a one time fee of $25.00. As a preffered customer, you will enjoy a considerable savings per bottle ( $12.00 to $15.00 ). There is no minimum purchase requirement! Contact our office for details.

Have a happy spring!!

Ronald C. Bowen DVM

Dear client,

As a user of Fastrack products, I am sure you have seen your pet’s health excel. Their products are the best on the planet.

Conklin has advanced into human health products also. With the H1N1 (Swine flu) epidemic coming to the USA, there are a few
Conklin products that will help your family resist this health challenge.

1. Vital HF: This is a safe anti viral product at a modest price. Antibiotics do not work on viruses.

2. Probiotic support: This is the human equivalent to pet Fastrack Microbial Supplement. This product greatly enhances
your immune system and contains digestive enzymes.

3. Sanox II Disinfectant Cleaner: This is a hospital strength disinfectant to use around the home or business on hard,
non porous surfaces.

If you are not already signed up as a Conklin (Fastrack) dealer, please call our office for more information.To order any of these products, contact us at (708) 499-3595.

Happy Health!!

Dr Ronald C. Bowen

February is National Spay/Neuter Month!!!! To celebrate this, Cook County Animal Control is offering a $40.00 instant rebate
on all dog and cat spays/neuters. To participate in this rebate program the following conditions must be met:

* Female dogs and cats must be at least 6 months old
* Male dogs must be at least 6 months old
* Male cats must be at least 8 months old
* Vaccinations must be current (vaccines can be done at our clinic if needed)
* Two pet per household limit

Please call our office at 708-499-3595 to schedule an appointment. If you have any questions, we will be happy to answer them for you.

Have a Happy February!!!

Happy New Year! We hope that your holidays were blessed. We would like to take a moment to thank you for entrusting us to care for your pet family. The greatest compliment of all are your referrals. Thank you very much.

As a few of you already know, the Bowen residence was destroyed by a fire on Memorial Day weekend. Debbi and I were out of town on a trail ride in Tennesse. We received a frantic phone call from Angie (our nurse at Oak Village who was housesitting for us) stating that our house was on fire. Angie, her sister Jessica and their friend Sean called the fire department and evacuated the house along with three dogs. Thankfully, no one was injured. The fire started in the wood stove chimney. The fire department thought it was an electrical fire, so 2000 gallons of water went into the ceilings. Then that water went into the basement. Fortunately, there was more smoke and water damage then fire damage. But, we still had to replace everything in the house. It was an exhausting task to inventory all of our belongings. Everything had to be accounted for in order to settle with the insurance company. If you have not already done so, videotape the contents of your home and keep it in a secure area in case of fire or other damage to your home.

Debbi and I arrived home the next day and were shocked to see that the house had been completely destroyed. Our insurance agent offered to make arrangements for us to stay at a hotel. But with five dogs, five horses, two cats and fourteen chickens, we needed to stay on our property. For the first two weeks, Debbi and I and five frenchies resided in our horse trailer with living quarters. For those of you who do not know what that is, it is a trailer for hauling horses that has a small living quarters in the front. It is equipped with a bed over the gooseneck, a small sitting area, a tiny shower and a porta potty. It has electric, including air conditioning. The living area of this trailer is 7×15feet. This set up is designed for weekend travel, not long term.

The first mission of sanity was for our insurnace company to provide a 12×50 foot house trailer because it would be 6 to 9 months for house repairs. No problem, except that Will County required a land survey which would take 3 more weeks. We were able to negotiate with our insurance company to purchase a used 8×31 foot camping trailer which we got in 3 days. Now we stepped up to a running water flush toilet and twice the room. The kitchen was larger with a table and benches and a couch. It’s a wonderful life started with a sewer line hook up for the trailer. For the first three weeks, I was emptying the sewage tanks manually twice weekly. The next step of luxury was a wood deck, then a metal awning to block out the sun and installing a dog run. For laundry purposes, we purchased a 8×12 wooden shed. It also housed a full sized refrigerator (the refrigerator that came with the trailer was very small). Also, we had a bit more space for clothes. Trailer living became a real challenge when old man winter arrived.

The first three months of this ordeal was frustrating because no progress was being made. Our contractor, David Post of E.I.S.Group did a superb job of analyzing the extent of the damage, negotiating with the insurance company and coordinating the house construction. Another major hold up was that our house was 45 years old and to rebuild it required strict 2008 building codes. Construction finally started September 12, 2008. We hoped that by Christmas we would be back home.

As the summer passed and winter came, our challenges increased. It was now difficult to do laundry in the shed with no heat, so temporary heaters were installed to prevent the pipes and refrigerator from freezing. However, as it got colder the discharge hose from the washer froze. The plumbers temporarily hooked up the washer in the house. But now Debbi had to bring clothes in the house to wash, carry wet clothes to the shed to dry and then carry them to the trailer to fold. Whew!

The next challenge single digit temperatures. The trailer we were living in was for vacationing and not designed for Chicago’s winters. Ice would form on the windows and doors. The temperature was either 45 degrees or 85 degrees, the furnace would heat but the thin metal walls could not retain the heat. We left the water faucets trickling to prevent freezing. Heat tapes were on the holding tanks, but we had to pour hot water in the toilet to keep the tank from freezing. To hook up the new plumbing in the house the plumbers needed to turn off the water for 6 hours. TaDa! Frozen water pipes in the trailer and it was back to the porta potty at night and into the house for showering, water and bathroon privileges during the day. Thankfully, that only lasted two weeks.

Due to the diligent persistence of our general contractor, Davis Post of E.I.S Group, we were able to move in on December 19, 2008!!! Thank you David for all your hard work and determination. Great job!

Is it a wonderful life? As I look back at this, it was an adventure to go from using a porta potty in the horse trailer to using a flush toilet in the camper. Although, 1/3 of the world population has no indoor plumbing. As I poured hot water in the camper toilet, I thanked God that we had hot water to use. An American on welfare is rich as compared to many third world countries around the world. Yes, we are having some economic problems. Maybe it is a challenge for us to rise to the occasion and show the world that we are still the greatest nation on earth. As in the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” George Bailey starts to live again. He realized all the many blessings he had all along. No other country has had the prosperity that we Americans enjoy. I believe we will recover. Our forefathers took on the strongest country in the world having had no money or government and won. Surely, we can all deal with our economic situation.

Thank you all who patiently waited at times when I arrived late. When major construction occurs there always seemed to be unforseen issues that happen at the last minute. This Christmas, the best gift was being back in our home. I, along with my wife Debbi, and the staff of Oak Village would like to wish all of you a healthy and prosperous 2009.

Ronald C. Bowen DVM

Spring is finally here! Now that the warm weather is here, everyone wants to be outdoors more and that is true for our pets also. Protecting your pet during the warm months is very important but easy at the same time. Heartworm disease and intestinal parasites can be prevented by following a these simple steps:

* Yearly Heartworm blood testing. This is a quick and painless blood draw that one of our technicians can perform while you wait.

* Giving Heartgard chewable tablets or Diro Drops ( a liquid Heartworm preventative that is sold exclusively at Oak Village Animal
Hospital) monthly.

If your pet has not been tested for Heartworm so far this year, please give us a call and we will be happy to
schedule an appointment for you. As always, if you have any questions, our receptionists are always available
to help you!

Cook County Animal Control is celebrating the month of February by sponsoring a rebate program! Oak Village Animal Hospital will take $40.00 off any spay or neuter for your dog or cat. Please call our office at 708-499-3595 to schedule an appointment today!

Current vaccinations are required. If your dog or cat is not currently vaccinated, we would be happy to vaccinate your pet also!

Thank you and have a great day!

Now that the holidays are over, we can get back to our normal routines. Have you had your pet spayed or neutered?? If not, Oak Village Animal Hospital is offering reduced rates on spays and neuters. Having your pet spayed or neutered is the most responsible thing we can do for them. Here is some information on these procedures:

“Spay” is a term used for female dogs. It involves removing the reproductive organs and requires a overnight stay.

“Neuter” is a term used for male dogs. It involves removing the testicles. The male dogs stay just for the day not overnight.

Both of these procedures are performed under a general anesthesia and can be done as early as 6 months of age. Lab work ensures the safety of these procedures and can be done the same day as the surgery. If you are unsure about whether or not to spay or neuter your pet here is some information that may change your mind:

Female dogs and cats may develop breast tumors that can spread to the lungs and other mammory glands. Also, unspayed females are prone to uterine infections called pyometra and usually require surgery. Male dogs and cats that are unneutered may develop perianal tumors and prostate problems which may require surgery. Also, males that are unneutered will mark their territory with urine indiscriminately.

If you have any questions or to make an appointment, please call our office at 708-499-3595 and we will be happy to help you.

Seasons greetings everyone! Now that the cold weather is upon us, here are some tips for having a safe and healthy winter season.

* Holiday treats can be toxic to dogs and cats. Do not give any chocolate or alcoholic beverages to your pets. Provide them with their own safe chews or treats to prevent temptation.
* Monitor your pets around holiday decorations. Puppies or cats are attracted to ornaments, tinsel, lights, plants (poinsettia) or decorated Christmas trees. If this items are ingested, they can cause serious compications.
* Keep your pets inside whenever possible. If your pet must be left outside, provide a proper heated shelter with bedding, food and water in a container that will not freeze. Remeber, very young and older pets do not have the ability to regulate body heat. They should not be left outdoors.
* Cats are attracted to the warmth of car engines. Before starting your car, check underneath, tap on the hood or honk the horn. Doing this will prevent any possible injuries to a hiding cat.
* Rock salt and ice can irritate paw pads. Wipe off pads after any outdoor activity.
* It is fun to dress up our pets in coats and sweaters, but pets lose most of their body heat through the pads on their feet, tips of their ears and their respiratory track.
* Do not allow your pet to drink from puddles or gutters, this water may be polluted.
* Pets can suffer from frostbite and hypothermia just like humans. When in doubt, it is best to leave your pets indoors.

Wintertime can be filled with lots of fun indoor and outdoor activities. We hope you are able to enjoy them safely with your pets. Have fun!!

Dr Bowen and the entire staff at Oak Village Animal Hospital would like to wish everyone a healthy and happy holiday season!

As summer starts to wind down, flea season starts to pick up. Each summer fleas like all other insects , hatch from eggs which were distributed in the grass and soil from previous years. When the conditions are right, the transformation from egg to adult flea can be as short as three weeks. Roaming pets or local wildlife can bring fleas into your yard. Pets, adults and children can bring fleas into your home. Most often, a pet will bring in a few fleas and then they reproduce to large numbers in your house. The flea only spends 10% of its time on your pet and the other 90% of the time in your house. Here are a few tips on how to avoid this from happening to you:

1. Apply a preventative product such as Frontline. We recommend starting early in the season (April or May) and applying it at least until frost.

2. Treat the yard area with an insectacide from a local garden supply store.

3. Regular grooming such as brushing, bathing will alert you to any potential infestation.

If you do find fleas on your pet or in your house, do not panic! Getting rid of fleas can be easy if you follow these steps:

1. Treat your pet with a flea bath. A grooming service can help with this if you would like.

2. Vacuum your house thoroughly and dispose of the vacuum bag or garbage bag immediately.

3. Depending on the size of your house, a fogger or premise spray can be used. These products are sold a our clinic or local home goods stores.

4. Treat the outdoor area with insectacide.

5. Apply Frontline 2 to 3 days after your pets bath.

Usually, just one treatment will break the flea cycle. In stubborn cases, another treatment is necessary. Flea prevention is easy once you get into a routine. If you have any questions regarding fleas, feel free to call our office and we will be happy to assist you.

Enjoy the rest of the summer!!