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Raw Food For Dogs: The Facts

Raw Food For Dogs: The Facts
Posted by Orchid Springs Animal Hospital on Dec 21, 2011 in Education, Pets | 0 comments
By Dr. Mitsie Varga For a majority of pet owners, a quick trip to the local grocery or even pet superstore is the easiest way to pick up their pets’ food. People might debate favorite brands, but most will use some sort of commercial dry or canned diet for their four-legged friends. For a few pet owners though, preparing a meal for the family dog involves a little more work and...
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Make Sure Santa Visits Your Pet

Make Sure Santa Visits Your Pet
Posted by Orchid Springs Animal Hospital on Dec 9, 2011 in Education, Pets | 0 comments
By Dr. Mitsie Vargas Did you know almost 60 percent of pet owners will give their four-legged friend a holiday gift this season? Pets have successfully transitioned from the backyard to the beds; they’ve truly become an integral part of the family. This Howlidays remember that pets are not judgmental or materialistic! They simply enjoy “unwrapping” their gifts,...
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Happy Howlidays!

Happy Howlidays!
Posted by Orchid Springs Animal Hospital on Dec 3, 2011 in Education, Pets | 0 comments
By Dr. Mitsie Vargas The Holiday Season is usually known at our hospital as Pancreatitis Season because of the high number of vomiting cases we see each year. The main culprit is the abundance of rich foods and candies that go along with all the celebrations. Pancreatitis means inflammation of the pancreas. When pets consume foods that are extremely fatty (like the skin of turkey or...
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Pet Safe Thanksgiving!

Pet Safe Thanksgiving!
Posted by Orchid Springs Animal Hospital on Nov 24, 2011 in Education, Pets | 0 comments
This Thanksgiving Holiday is a great opportunity for pet owners to be aware of the myriad of hazards to go along with the holiday parties. The delicious smells of roasted turkey and baked goods may prove a very tempting opportunity for our pets to beg and steal way some foodstuffs. I always remind pet owners of the many foods that should be banned for pet consumption. These foods...
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Economy Affects Our Pets, Too

Economy Affects Our Pets, Too
Posted by Orchid Springs Animal Hospital on Nov 11, 2011 in Education, Pets | 0 comments
The sad state of the economy is affecting all of us, thus changing the way we spend our money. I’ve seen many pet owners try to save money by buying less expensive dog food, trying Internet pharmacies and skimping on monthly preventatives and grooming services. I am sympathetic to the plight of my clients but wanted to sound a word of caution when cutting corners on you pet...
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Pet Friendly Events Abound in October!

Pet Friendly Events Abound in October!
Posted by Orchid Springs Animal Hospital on Oct 12, 2011 in Entertainment, Pets | 0 comments
October is a busy month full of activities that cater to dog owners. The great weather and the hint of the Holidays converge to create several great events in which our Hospital is proudly participating. The first event that I fully endorse is “Howl at the Moon” this Saturday the 15th at The Humane Society grounds at 555 Sage Road off Dundee Road in Winter Haven. It will be a great...
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Annual Exam Important For Cats

Annual Exam Important For Cats
Posted by Orchid Springs Animal Hospital on Oct 4, 2011 in Home/Garden, Pets | 0 comments
By Mitsie Vargas Do we value dogs more highly than cats or are there other reasons for the inequity in cat’s veterinary care? Experts believe that cats and humans have interacted with each other for more than 10,000 years. From their humble beginnings chasing rodents away from our food, cats have vaulted into our homes and hearts as North America’s favorite pet....
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Pets Need Eye Care, Too

Pets Need Eye Care, Too
Posted by Orchid Springs Animal Hospital on Sep 23, 2011 in Home/Garden, Pets | 0 comments
By Dr. Mitsie Vargas As part of your pet’s regular check up, your veterinarian will spend time peering into the depths of the animal’s eyes. In the majority of cases, the doctor will see eyes that are bright, clear and free of any sort of abnormality. Occasionally though, pets present to their veterinarian with injuries, scratches or irritation to their eyes or eyelids....
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World Rabies Day

World Rabies Day
Posted by Orchid Springs Animal Hospital on Sep 18, 2011 in Education, Home/Garden, Pets | 0 comments
This September 28th is officially World Rabies Day. World Rabies Day, held each September, is designed to raise awareness and help people understand how they can help eliminate this threat. Here in the USA, we are extremely lucky vaccinations have practically eliminated the threat of rabies from our domestic animals. However, according to the Alliance for Rabies Control, 55,000 people...
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Beware of Mushroom Threat to Your Pets

Beware of Mushroom Threat to Your Pets
Posted by Orchid Springs Animal Hospital on Sep 3, 2011 in Education, Home/Garden | 0 comments
The recent rainy weather has resulted in the vast proliferation of lawn mushrooms in our area. Most mushrooms are considered poisonous unless correctly identified by specialists as edible. The majority of the lawn mushrooms are part of the Amanita family which are considered poisonous and unfortunately, very common in our area. Wild mushrooms can be ingested by our pets and this could...
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Is Heartworm Disease on the Rise?

Is Heartworm Disease on the Rise?
Posted by Orchid Springs Animal Hospital on Aug 28, 2011 in Education, Home/Garden | 0 comments
Every month, lots of dog owners, and a few cat owners, give their pets some form of heartworm prevention. But recent studies are showing increasing numbers of heartworm positive pets across the country. Some people believe the worms now have the upper hand. Has our trusted protection failed us? Dog owners, and a growing number of cat owners, understand that once -a-month heartworm...
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Acupuncture Gives Rescued Pug Second Cha...

Acupuncture Gives Rescued Pug Second Chance
Posted by Orchid Springs Animal Hospital on Aug 21, 2011 in Home/Garden | 0 comments
By Dr. Mitsie Vargas Biscuit is a sweet looking pug that suffered through a string of health issues resulting in her being abandoned. She was very weak on her hind legs, extremely thin, pale and lethargic. She was not able to play or exercise for more than a minute or she would faint. She was acting depressed and unlike the happy-go-lucky attitude of her breed. The worst issue was the...
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Dog Behavior Myths

Dog Behavior Myths
Posted by Orchid Springs Animal Hospital on Aug 8, 2011 in Home/Garden | 0 comments
By Dr. Mitsie Vargas Behavior issues are seldom simply due to one issue. Genetics, environment and early experiences all play a role. In addition any medical conditions or even medications can contribute to behavior changes. Therefore, your veterinarian is the BEST person to consult when pet’s display behavior issues and sooner is always better than later. One of the most...
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Dog Days of Summer

Dog Days of Summer
Posted by Orchid Springs Animal Hospital on Jul 31, 2011 in Education, Home/Garden | 0 comments
By Dr. Mitsie Vargas This week when I heard the term lazy dog days of summer for the 19th time I knew I had to find out the origin of that common term. A little Internet research and I came out with a very interesting mix of historic facts and myth about dogs. The Dog Days, also known as canicular days, typically extend from July 24 through August 24 in most of the Northern...
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Top Ways to Save on Pet Care

Top Ways to Save on Pet Care
Posted by Orchid Springs Animal Hospital on Jul 22, 2011 in Business, Home/Garden | 0 comments
By Dr. Mitsie Vargas •           Research the breed.  Find out breed inherent problems ahead of time (Chihuahuas  have heart disease;  Maltese and Persian teeth issues;  Shar pei and Abyssinians kidney disease;  Golden Retrievers Boxers and Maine Coon cancer).  Does the temperament fit your lifestyle?  Working breeds kept indoors suffer behavioral issues. DNA...
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Enjoy a Pet-Friendly Fourth of July

Enjoy a Pet-Friendly Fourth of July
Posted by Orchid Springs Animal Hospital on Jul 1, 2011 in Home/Garden | 0 comments
By Mitsie Vargas We all love the fun and festivities of the July 4th celebrations. However, our pets may not have the same appreciation of these patriotic displays. Every year after the 4th I end up treating injured dogs or cats. Some have escaped from their yards, some have broken teeth from destroying their carriers and some have stress related GI problems. All of these are...
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Insect Bite Hypersensitivity on the Rise

Insect Bite Hypersensitivity on the Rise
Posted by Orchid Springs Animal Hospital on Jun 18, 2011 in Environment, Home/Garden | 0 comments
By Dr. Mitsie Vargas Summer is here and with it comes loads of stinging bugs. The past week we saw three cases of wasp/bee sting allergic reactions. All the pets recovered uneventfully, but their swollen faces scared 10 years off their parents! We also saw dozens of itchy pets with a variety of dermatitis, hot spots and rashes due to allergic reactions to fleabites. This week my...
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Wildfires Threaten Our Pets

Wildfires Threaten Our Pets
Posted by Orchid Springs Animal Hospital on Jun 8, 2011 in Home/Garden | 0 comments
By Dr. Mitsie Vargas The current Arizona wildfire situation has been all over the news. Little thought is paid to the thousands of animals that die during out-of-control wild fires. Every year thousands of people also die in house fires. Sadly, those who survive a house fire often lose cherished four-legged family members to the smoke and flames. According to the U.S. Fire...
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Even ‘Bad’ Dogs Can Reform

Posted by Orchid Springs Animal Hospital on May 12, 2011 in Uncategorized | 0 comments
By Dr. Mitsie Vargas This year the National Dog Bite Prevention Week is May 15-12, and I was recruited by the American Veterinary Medical Association to be the voice of their Spanish National Bite Prevention Campaign. It is an honor to help an awareness campaign that focuses on prevention. I believe all dogs have the potential to bite under the right stimuli and that pet owners and...
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Protect Your Pet From Heat Exposure

Posted by Orchid Springs Animal Hospital on May 5, 2011 in Uncategorized | 0 comments
By Mitsie Vargas, DVM, CVA With temperatures on the rise, many of us don’t realize that our pets can have trouble with heat too. On a hot Florida day, a dog or cat, or child for that matter, could be stressed to the point of physical illness just because of the heat. On this weekend when you enjoy Mayfaire-by-the- Lake with your furry companion, please be aware of their heat...
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