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Some Pets At High Risk for Diabetes

Some Pets At High Risk for Diabetes
Posted by Orchid Springs Animal Hospital on May 21, 2012 in Pets | 0 comments
By Dr. Mitsie Vargas According to the Centers for Disease Control, diabetes affects more than 25.8 million people in the United States. This condition leads to heart disease, strokes and is a leading cause of death. Sadly, as our four-legged companions mirror what’s happening to us, some pets, especially our cats, are at increasingly high risk for this disease. Diabetes is a...
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DNA Testing For Pets

DNA Testing For Pets
Posted by Orchid Springs Animal Hospital on May 8, 2012 in Pets | 0 comments
By Dr. Mitsie Vargas For thousands of years, humans have selectively bred a variety of domesticated animals, creating many different breeds and unique types. While these historic farmers and breeders were focused on producing the highest quality of wool from sheep or the muscular build of a Rottweiler, they were unaware of other, more destructive traits that were passed on as...
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Is Sleeping With Your Pet Really Dangero...

Is Sleeping With Your Pet Really Dangerous Or Just Hype?
Posted by Orchid Springs Animal Hospital on Apr 24, 2012 in Education, Pets | 0 comments
By Dr. Mitsie Vargas Most pet owners don’t read or keep copies of the periodical, Emerging Infectious Diseases. But, when a newspaper cited this journal in an article describing the dangers of sleeping with pets, people took notice. When the same story was repeated hundreds of times, across all kinds of markets over 18 months, more and more individuals began to wonder of their pets...
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Beware of Gifting Living Beings this Eas...

Beware of Gifting Living Beings this Easter
Posted by Orchid Springs Animal Hospital on Mar 29, 2012 in Pets | 0 comments
Around Easter, many pet stores stock up on hot items including live chicks and rabbits. These animals are often given to young children as presents. After Easter the number of relinquished rabbits and chicks overwhelms many shelters. There is a current proposed bill in the Florida legislature that will result in extremely young and delicate chicks, ducks and bunnies being sold as...
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Feeding Cats Kibble Can Make Them Obese

Feeding Cats Kibble Can Make Them Obese
Posted by Orchid Springs Animal Hospital on Mar 21, 2012 in Pets | 1 comment
By Dr. Mitsie Vargas For many cat owners feeding their cats with a high quality dry kibble has been the standard. Some experts are now saying that these commercial diets are at the center of an epidemic of obesity and diabetes among our feline friends. So, how do you know what’s the purrrfect food for your kitty? To try and find an answer, veterinarians and nutritionists are...
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PGTV Program Takes On Senior Pet Care

PGTV Program Takes On Senior Pet Care
Posted by Orchid Springs Animal Hospital on Mar 9, 2012 in Pets | 0 comments
By Dr. Mitsie Vargas Just as people are living longer than they did in the past, pets are living longer, too. In fact, the percentage of senior pets has nearly doubled in just over a decade, and there is every reason to expect that the “graying” pet population will continue to grow. Aging is a natural process. Although many complex physical changes accompany the golden...
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Keep Your Pets Safe In A Natural Disaste...

Keep Your Pets Safe In A Natural Disaster
Posted by Orchid Springs Animal Hospital on Mar 3, 2012 in Pets | 0 comments
By Dr. Mitsie Vargas The recent streak of deadly tornadoes remind us that we must be prepared in case of a natural disaster. Our pets rely on our preparations and their safety is a big concern for us as pet owners. Here is some advice on the steps and supplies necessary to prepare your pet for an emergency situation: 1. Do not leave pets behind during an evacuation. If you must...
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Secondhand Smoke Harms Our Pets Too

Secondhand Smoke Harms Our Pets Too
Posted by Orchid Springs Animal Hospital on Feb 24, 2012 in Education, Pets | 0 comments
In the past 45 years, the number of smokers in the United States has decreased to less than 20% of the population and almost 70% of those current smokers want to kick the habit. Could an understanding of how secondhand smoke affects our pets help encourage more people to quit? The history of smoking tobacco may reach back many hundreds of years, but research in the 20th century has...
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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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