Rabies Clinic April 20

Annual Rabies clinic will be at the elementary school on Walton Rd. Saturday April 20, 2013.
Please have cats in carriers and dogs on leashes to minimize the excitement. Let's hope for good weather . Dr. B

Parvo Outbreak

CONROE, Texas (AP) — The staff of a Houston-area animal shelter has euthanized 60 dogs in the past week because of an outbreak of highly contagious parvovirus.
Conroe Deputy Police Chief Russell Reynolds says the outbreak was detected April 4 when two dogs showed the typical symptoms. Those include vomiting and foul-smelling diarrhea.

This news item points out the importance of keeping your pet up to date with "routine" vaccinations. Recently many people are asking to forgo boosters thinking less is better or even that these diseases are no longer a threat. In fact large outbreaks of Distemper and Parvo are being reported frequently and with the movement of adoption dogs around the country the risk is even greater! Dr. B

Our annual spring Rabies clinic is this weekend. Join us at the Seabrook Elementary School. saturday April 28th, for 9 to 12:00 noon. Dogs on leash , cats in carriers please. should be cool but sunny, $12 and your all set! Have a great Spring. Dr. B

Fall is in the air

After an extended hiatus i have returned to the blogosphere. After a busy Summer the building expansion is now complete and we hope to update the website oldtownanimal.net soon with pictures. The new space has been well received and allows more comfort and safety for our guests.
Dr. Kara Meehan has joined the practice in a partime roll for now. She has years of experience in emergency medicine and brings a thorough and gentle touch approach to her work. Please give her a chance to help you as we try to make appointments easier to fill in a timely manner.
Stay tuned for medical updates .

Rainy Rabies Clinic Success!

Wow, I can't believe how many people braved the weather to come to our annual Spring Rabies clinic. I thought we would be standing around freezing all by ourselves. Thanks for showing up! Each year we are making progress to get a higher percentage of pets in town vaccinated. Keep up the good work. Hope all enjoyed a nice Easter or Passover holiday. Dr. B

Distemper outbreak.

Officials in El Paso, Texas, have confirmed almost a dozen cases of canine distemper in the first two weeks of April, and say they're hearing reports of additional cases in several U.S. states. The AVMA advises dog owners to see the veterinarian if they notice early symptoms of the highly contagious virus, including lumps or swelling, marked weight changes or changes in behavior or fatigue. 
Obviously we are  a long way from Texas but it is a good reminder that these diseases can re-emerge whenever we let down our guard. Just keep current on the important core vaccines and you can have peace of mind.
Enjoy the weather!


Rabies clinic Saturday 4/23 at elementary school.
Dr. B

Distemper Outbreak in Memphis

We often talk about vaccines with owners that don't want to give " too many shots". That is our position as well. However with all the animals being transported around the country for sale or rescue the dangers of Parvo Virus or Distemper are very real. A recent outbreak of dogs in Memphis Tennessee led to many dogs being euthanized. These animals were overwhelmed with a disease that is easily prevented with routine vaccination. Parvo cases from the southwest come to New England all the time. Please be aware, ask questions and stay up to date on our recommended vaccinations.