April Newsletter

Happy April! This marks the debut of our monthly newsletter, which will highlight important announcements, tips for keeping your pet healthy, and hopefully help you get to know us better.

Important Dates

• Mark your calendars - Doctor Ali returns from medical leave on April 14th. We can’t wait to have her back!

• Starting May 10th, we will be OPEN on Saturdays from 9AM to 1PM.

• Happy birthday to Dr. Ali, Dr. Garcia, Ericka, and McKenzie! 🎂🎂🎂

---

Monthly Topic

Heartworm Disease Awareness

Everything is bigger in Texas, and unfortunately that includes the numbers of heartworm positive cats and dogs. Maybe you already knew April is National Heartworm Disease Awareness Month, but did you know Texas is consistently in the top 5 states for heartworm-positive animals?

Here are some more not-so-fun facts:

• Heartworms are parasites that live in the bloodstream and chambers of the heart 

• They can grow up to a foot long, and live for up to seven years 

• Heartworm larvae are spread by mosquitoes 

• If left untreated (or treated improperly), heartworm disease can be fatal 

Treating heartworm disease in dogs typically takes up to three months. It’s an expensive process that involves multiple medications such as antibiotics, steroids, and an injected anti-parasitic drug derived from arsenic.

Your pup may be asymptomatic and raring to play, but it’s crucial to keep their activity to a minimum until medically cleared. As the heartworms die, they can cause serious complications like inflammation, aneurysms, and blood clots in the lungs. 

Common misconceptions

• “Cats can't get heartworms.”

  • Cats are slightly less likely to contract heartworms than dogs but the health effects can be just as devastating - and unlike with dogs, there is no cure for heartworm disease in cats.

• “My pets only need prevention during mosquito season.”

  • Mosquitoes don’t check the calendar, especially in Texas. Shifting weather patterns mean they can be active year-round. 

• “My pet doesn’t go outside, so they’re safe.”

  • As we all know, mosquitoes have no respect for personal space or boundaries! Up to 1/3 of heartworm positive cats are indoor-only.

TL;DR (Too Long, Didn't Read):

When it comes to heartworms, prevention is the best cure! That being said, there are treatment options for dogs, which leads us to our next section...

---

Employee Pet Spotlight

Name: Ronin

Nickname(s): Roniño, Mijo, Rice-a-Roni, Ro-ro-ro-your-boat

Employee parent: Elizabeth 

Breed: Pit Bull / Heeler mix

Age: 5

Likes: Dental chews, cuddles, sunny days

Dislikes: Nail trims, most other dogs, vacuums

Background: Elizabeth found Ronin as a stray in 2021. He was emaciated and showed signs of having been hit by a car, as well as possibly physically abused. His condition was so poor she initially thought he was a senior who had been on the streets for years, but Dr. Ali estimated he was only 1-2 years old. Shockingly, radiographs showed no broken bones, and his bloodwork came back looking far better than anyone had expected.

Since he was severely ill and unvaccinated, Ronin stayed at the clinic for a month receiving regular bandage changes and daily hydrotherapy. He was so weak, he had to be carried from his kennel for potty breaks. Just when he was ruled healthy enough to be vaccinated and go to his new home, he tested positive for heartworms! His treatment took place in the hottest months of the year and was a miserable time for everyone involved, but he pulled through and now he’s a fat, happy boy!

---

Hello

Ethan has been interning with us since last year, but now he is officially hired as a tech assistant! Many of you have already met Cheyenne, who joined us at the end of February. We're pleased to report her fellow technician McKenzie is joining us as of April!

Goodbye

Jessi was originally supposed to be with us for just a few shifts back in 2023, while we had technicians out on medical leave. We appreciate her sticking around this long, and wish her all the best in her future endeavors!

---

[Photo by Diego B. Provete]

Trivia Corner

Fun Fact

• The Pumpkin Toadlet is so teeny-tiny, it can't even balance when jumping. Here's why: [link]

Pop Quiz

• May's trivia question: How many eggs can a female flea lay in her lifetime?

Stay tuned for the answer in May's newsletter!

---

As this is a new project, we welcome any feedback! Too many photos? Not enough? Certain topics you'd like more information about? If you have suggestions, please let us know in the comments below or by shooting us an email at info@pmcod.net. We want to hear from you!