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Online Store Up And Running
Capitol Illini is proud to introduce our online store! Through
our online store you can purchase a wide variety of products from
Elizabethan collars to cat treats, heartworm and prescription
medications to shampoos and conditioners, all with the ease of a click
of a button!
Capitol Illini’s online store is similar to other internet
pharmacies with the exception of some very important aspects. Our store
is safe and ethical, whereas some internet pharmacies are not. Our
products all come directly from the manufacturer not over seas. Some
product guarantees are not covered under internet pharmacy purchases,
but they are when purchasing from our store. All orders are
shipped directly to you for your convenience. Normal delivery is
two-five business days.
To get started simply log onto our website www.capitolillinivet.com.
Entering your email address will prompt a contact information screen.
Choose your veterinarian, fill in the necessary information. After
entering your zip code look up city/state if correct choose select.
When entering phone number be sure to have the area code and include
dashes (for example 111-222-3333)! Finally choose request an
account. Click on Shop On-line.
Below “Sign-In” click on “Get Started”. From here simply enter your
email address. A password will be sent to your email address.
Sign in under this password and you will be asked some security
questions. At this point you are also allowed to change the password to
one of your choosing. Do so and you are ready to shop!
The store also allows you to browse the products without having
an account so you can see what we have to offer before signing up
(although there is no fee to sign up or have an account). Log on today and begin conveniently shopping for your pet!
2007 Food Drive A Success
A big thanks to all those who donated food to our shelter food
drive this year! We collected 845 pounds of both cat and dog food for
local shelters including the Animal Protective League, and The Dog
P.E.N. Most of you are familiar with The APL, but The Dog P.E.N.
is a shelter located in Roodhouse, Illinois. Like the APL, they also do
adoptions on certain Saturdays of the month at Petsmart here in
Springfield.
We may not have reached our goal of 1,000 pounds, but many needy
animals will be well fed for a long time thanks to all of you!
Vetmedin
For the first time in over ten years the Federal Drug
Administration has approved a new drug to treat the signs of congestive
heart failure. That drug is a chewable tablet called Vetmedin.
Vetmedin has been shown to improve signs of congestive heart failure by
increasing cardiac output and providing critical vasodilatation.
Vasodilatation means enlarging the blood vessels, thus allowing better
flow through constricted vessels.
Congestive heart failure is one of the more common problems seen
in dogs today. It is a condition where the heart becomes weak and
inefficient. This can be due to underlying diseases such as
abnormalities of the heart muscle or a genetic defect of the heart.
Signs can include fatigue, labored breathing, coughing, and inability
to tolerate exercise. This could be as simple as not able to take their
normal walk, or go as far as usual. Other signs include loss of
appetite, restlessness, or even fainting. If you suspect your dog has
congestive heart failure please schedule an appointment with one of our
veterinarians right away. If your pet already has congestive
heart failure and you are interested in more information on Vetmedin
please call one of our offices. Vetmedin can be used along with other
heart medications. At this time this product is for canines only. You
can also visit their website at: www.vetmedin-us.com.
Litter Training Your Exotic Pet
You may be surprised as to how easy it is to litter train certain
exotic pets. Rabbits, ferrets, and hedgehogs are among the easiest. For
most of these exotic critters placing an appropriate container filled
with one-three inches of non-clumping litter in the cage is enough. An
appropriate container is indestructible, water resistant, and one that
will not break, tear, or splinter if chewed. Sturdy plastic containers
usually work well, and are easy to clean. If your pet doesn’t seem
interested at first place just a couple of drops of ammonia in the
litter. This smell attracts them and triggers the appropriate response.
Be sure the container is large enough for the pet to move around in.
Litter boxes need to be cleaned at least every other day.
Rabbits generally eliminate in the same spot. Placing the litter
box in this spot will help with training. For rabbits choosing the
correct litter to use is essential in their training and their health.
Many rabbits like to taste-test some of the litter. Generally organic
litters made from alfalfa, oat, citrus, or recycled papers are good to
use. It is best to avoid clumping litter, pine or cedar shavings, and
clay litter with deodorant crystals since eating these litters could
harm your pet.
Rabbits will not bury or hide their pellets like felines do. They
will leave the pellets laying on top of the litter, while the urine
soaks to the bottom of the box. Also rabbits like to spend a lot of
time in their litter boxes just laying or sitting in them, this is
normal.
Spaying or neutering your rabbit is also important. Unaltered
rabbits are territorial and like to mark territory with urine and fecal
droppings. Spaying or neutering them will be most important to ensure
proper results. Rabbits need to be sexually mature before spaying or
neutering. This is usually around six months of age. Rabbits adopted
from a shelter are generally already altered, however when purchased
from a pet store they usually are not. Spaying and neutering your
rabbit will also help with population control. Spaying your female
rabbit will decrease the chance of ovarian cancer. Neutering your male
rabbit can also reduce the chance of aggression appearing later on in
life. While litter training will not always work when the animal is
outside the cage, it works well to keep their cage clean and healthier
for the pet.
Is Your Pet Being Poisoned?
Many ordinary foods and medicines can harm your pets, some even
fatally. Do you know of the common ones? Out of the following only one
is not harmful to cats and dogs; chocolate, raisins, grapes, milk/dairy
products, toilet bowl water, second hand smoke, ibuprofen,
acetaminophen, onions, and garlic. So which one isn’t harmful you ask,
read on to find out. The joking phrase “death by chocolate” may not be
a joke when it comes to pets. Significant amounts of chocolate can
produce ranging effects from vomiting and diarrhea to panting,
excessive thirst, hyperactivity, tremors, abnormal heart rhythm,
seizures, coma, and death. Chocolate’s toxicity is based on its form.
Baking chocolate and unsweetened cocoa powder are the highest in
toxicity. Dark chocolate is more likely to be toxic than white
chocolate. Anytime chocolate is consumed by a pet your veterinarian
should be consulted.
Raisins and grapes can be deadly to dogs. These fruits contain an
unknown toxin that damages dog’s kidneys and cause irreversible kidney
damage and failure. The amount ingested or the size of the dog plays no
part in the toxicity. Each pet is different and it can take as little
as three grapes or raisins to fatally harm them! One of the biggest
myths is that milk is good for cats. Yes cats like milk, but in fact it
is not good to give cats or dogs milk. Pets can have adverse reactions
to milk and other dairy products. Diarrhea and stomach irritation can
occur. Signs include diarrhea and vomiting.
However unfavorable it may be pets have been known to get into
the toilet bowl for a thirst quencher. This in fact is ok. No harm will
come to your pets from drinking toilet water as long as it is without
the automatic cleanser.
Secondhand smoke is just as dangerous to pets as it is to humans.
Recent studies show that secondhand smoke increases the risks of heart
disease, lung and other cancers in our furry friends. Cats exposed to
secondhand smoke have an increased chance of developing squamous cell
carcinoma, a type of oral cancer. Researchers believe that the
carcinogens in tobacco smoke settle on a cat’s fur and are ingested
when the cat grooms itself. Pets can also have strong reactions to
smoke particles in the air. Just like members of their human families
they can develop respiratory problems, and asthma from secondhand smoke.
Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen are human pain relievers. They are
intended for humans only! One extra-strength acetaminophen tablet
(500mg) can kill a seven pound cat! Other pain medications can cause
organ damage. Always consult your veterinarian before giving your pet
any medications!
Onions and garlic contain two chemical compounds, sulfoxides and
disulfides, that damage red blood cells and cause anemia in cats and
dogs. Cats are more susceptible than dogs. Surprisingly human baby
foods can be toxic to pets because some contain onion powder. Since
onion and garlic are a popular ingredient in a lot of human food it is
better to keep their diets to pet food only! Signs of possible onion or
garlic poisoning include lethargy, intolerance of exercise, and
increased respiratory efforts. These signs may develop within twenty
four hours after ingestion, or can take several days for symptoms to
occur.
These are just several of the common exposures that could be
harmful to your pet. If you think your pet is having a reaction to
either the above mentioned items or a different one please consult your
veterinarian immediately. You can also call the ASPCA Poison Control
Hotline at: 1-888-426-4435.
The Venus View
Hello I am Venus the clinic cat of Capitol Illini Chatham, or
your highness as I like to be called. This year I have made several New
Year’s Resolutions that I would like to share with you.
First and foremost I pledge to train my employees to feed me more
than twice a day. I prefer to eat at all times and it seems they don't
understand this. I also intend to beg more during their lunches because
the small scraps they sneak me just aren't cutting it.
I will try to be a better cat by not laughing this year at the
bird who flies into the window by my perch in the break room. This will
be hard because the silly bird makes her nest in the same place every
year and has yet to figure out she can’t fly through the glass.
I will try to eat less bugs this year, they are great fun to torture but do a number on my stomach!
And finally I pledge to take more naps, currently I am only
sleeping nineteen hours a day, I could definitely improve this!
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