Flushing Animal Hospital & Pet Hotel is a full-service veterinary medical facility and pet boarding kennel, located in Flushing, MI. The professional and courteous staff at Flushing Animal Hospital seek to provide the best possible medical care, surgical care, dental care, nutritional care, training, and "home away from home" pet care for our highly-valued patients. We are committed to promoting responsible pet ownership, preventative health care and health-related educational opportunities for our clients. Flushing Animal Hospital strives to offer excellence in veterinary care to Flushing, Flint, and the surrounding areas. Please take a moment to contact us today, to learn more about our veterinary practice and to find out more information about how Flushing Animal Hospital can serve the needs of you and your cherished pet.

At Flushing Animal Hospital, we strive to provide the best patient care possible. It is this very reason that we have decided it would be best to require all dogs staying in our pet hotel to be vaccinated for the canine influenza virus. This vaccine is given in a series of two shots given 2-4 weeks apart. We will also be requiring all cats to have a current negative intestinal parasite fecal examination (from within the past 6 months).

If you have any questions regarding these changes, please feel free to give us a call and we would be happy to discuss them with you! 

What is canine influenza (dog flu)?

Canine influenza virus (CIV) causes a respiratory infection in dogs that is also known as the dog flu. The infection is very contagious to other dogs. Common signs are fever, lethargy, decreased appetite, cough, and runny nose. Most dogs have a mild form of the infection, but some dogs may develop pneumonia and have a more serious disease course that requires hospitalization.

How does CIV spread?

Canine influenza is very contagious, meaning that it is easily spread from dogs that are currently infected to other dogs. CIV can pass from dog to dog through the air (from a cough or a sneeze) or by coming into physical contact with other dogs. The virus can live on surfaces contaminated by infected animals and easily spread to healthy animals. Humans who have been in contact with an infected animal can also transmit the virus from themselves through their contaminated clothing or skin, to the dog.

Where did CIV come from?

CIV H3N8 was the first virus to adapt to the dog and is thought to have originated from an equine H3N8 influenza strain. In contrast, CIV H3N2 is thought to have originated in birds and is closely related to the Asian strain of H3N2 in circulation in Chinese and South Korean dog populations. More information regarding influenza can be found on the CDC website.

How can I prevent my dog from getting the infection?

The most important step is to vaccinate your dog, as viral disease is best prevented by effective vaccination. There are vaccines available to control the spread of the canine influenza virus and minimize its impact. Just like human flu shots, canine influenza vaccines may not completely prevent canine influenza but will make it less likely. And if vaccinated dog gets the flu, the signs will be milder.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Diagnosis of CIV can be done with a nasal swab in clinic to determine what strain of infection is being carried. Test results may potentially take up to 2 weeks to return. In the meantime, treatment to make your dog more comfortable may be administered. There are no specific drugs to treat CIV infections. As with other viruses, it needs to run its course.

We are now carrying the canine influenza vaccine!

Reasons to vaccinate your pet:

• Boarding Stays
• Daycare Stays
• Dog Park Visits
• Pet Store Visits
• Traveling
• Grooming
• Doggy Play Dates
• Walks in Public Spaces
• If you or a family member work with dogs

Click here to view the current influenza outbreak count!

While I always knew that pet nutrition can be a difficult topic to understand, I was recently reminded when I saw an article on Facebook comparing the "Worst Dog Food Brands" based on the ingredients they use. On this list were some legitimately crappy foods, to be fair. But, also on this list were a few high quality foods (even a veterinary prescription diet!). So, I thought maybe it might be a good idea to clear the air on what your pet's food label really consists of. Below is a list of common ingredients in most pet foods, and what they really are as per the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials - they are the ones who say what's okay and not okay to use in pet foods)!

"Meat" (pork, beef, buffalo, venison)

This is primarily the muscle tissue of the animal, but may include the fat, gristle and other tissues normally accompanying the muscle, similar to what you might see in a portion of raw meat sold for human consumption. This may include the less appealing cuts of meat, including the heart muscle and the muscle that separates the heart and lungs from the rest of the internal organs, but it is still muscle tissue.

"Meat By-Products"

This is most of the parts of the animal other than the muscle tissue, including the internal organs and bones. It includes some of the parts people eat (such as livers, kidneys and tripe), but also parts that are not typically consumed by humans in the US. Some by-products, like udders and lungs are not deemed "edible" by USDA for human consumption, but they can be perfectly safe and nutritious for animals not inclined to be swayed by the unappealing nature of these parts of animals.

"Poultry" (chicken, turkey)

This is the parts of the bird as you would find if you purchased a whole chicken or turkey at the grocery store. Frankly, it often consists of the less profitable parts of the bird, such as backs and necks. Unlike "meat," it may include the bone, which when ground can serve as a good source of calcium. If the bone has been removed (typically by mechanical separation), however, it can be declared as "deboned poultry."

"Poultry By-Product"

This is most of the parts of the bird that would not be part of a raw, dressed whole carcass. That may include the giblets (heart, gizzard and liver) but also other internal organs, heads and feet.

"Meat Meal"

This is the rendered product from mammal tissues, exclusive of any added blood, hair, hoof, horn, hide trimmings, manure, stomach and rumen contents except in such amounts as may occur unavoidably in good processing practices. The rendering process is designed to destroy disease-causing bacteria, leaving an ingredient high in protein that while unappetizing to people appeals to the carnivore's palate. Unlike "meat" and "meat by-products," this ingredient may be from mammals other than cattle, pigs, sheep or goats without further description.

"Meat and Bone Meal"

Similar to "meat meal," but can include added bone in addition to what is normally found in whole carcasses

"Animal By-Product Meal"

May consist of whole carcasses, but often includes by-products in excess of what would normally be found in "meat meal" and "meat and bone meal."

"Poultry By-Product Meal"

Essentially the same as "poultry by-products," but in rendered form so most of the water and fat has been removed to make a concentrated protein/mineral ingredient.

"Poultry Meal"

Basically the same as "poultry," but in rendered form, so most of the water and fat has been removed to make a concentrated protein/mineral ingredient.
 

**All rendered products have been subject to cooking to destroy any harmful bacteria before they are shipped to a pet food manufacturing plant. Rendering is a process where the materials are subject to heat and pressure, removing most of the water and fat and leaving primarily protein and minerals. You will notice that the term “meal” is used in all cases; because, in addition to cooking, the products are ground to form uniform sized particles.

Reference:

http://www.aafco.org/Consumers/What-is-in-Pet-Food

According to Hillspet.com, corn has been called a filler, a "hot grain" and a major cause of allergies. The facts are, corn is NOT a filler (an ingredient providing no nutrition) as it supplies many essential nutrients. In pets, corn is NOT a hot grain (causing gastrointestinal upset) because it is safely and easily digested.

In addition, a review of published literature indicates corn was implicated in fewer allergy cases than other common protein sources such as beef, dairy products, wheat, chicken, egg, lamb or soy.

Check out their website for more information!!

http://www.hillspet.com/en/us/pet-care/nutrition-feeding/benefits-of-corn-in-pet-foods

Xylitol, which is an artificial sweetener that is very toxic to dogs, is now being found in a few peanut butter products. While it is not currently found in any of the more popular brands, it is still something to be aware of. Here is a link for more information:

http://veterinarynews.dvm360.com/xylitol-now-found-certain-peanut-and-nut-butters?rel=canonical