What's New

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month! In recognition of this important cause several members of the Brooklyn Vet Group Staff will be walking to raise money for Ovarian Cancer research. Please join our team, TEAM SERENITY, or please support our cause! Thank you! Pass by BVG for information on Ovarian cancer in people and our pets. Thanks!

50% microchipping for your pet! Available by appointment only.
WHILE SUPPLIES LAST

VERG-SOUTH (Veterinary Emergency and Referral Group)
Located at 2220 Flatbush Avenue Brooklyn, NY (718)-677-6700.
Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for emergency services. Internal medicine consults available with referral Monday through Thursday.

Osteoarthritis is the most common cause of pain in dogs. It is a degenerative disease that causes inflammation within a joint leading to significant pain, stiffness, swelling and heat. Over time it can lead to decreased range of motion in the affected limb, lameness or a complete inability to move. Osteoarthritis begins when cartilage within the joint is damaged. Cartilage acts as the shock absorber for the bones and when it is damaged the bones suffer significant stress. This can occur with an injury, obesity, (added stress on the joints), or a congenital abnormality such as hip dysplasia. Inflammation occurs and triggers a response that further damages cartilage leading to a vicious cycle and eventually changes to the bones themselves. There are medical and surgical options to help relieve some of the pain associated with this process, but there is no cure. Recently, stem cell therapy has been introduced to help reduce some of the symptoms associated with arthritis. It has been shown to increase strength and range of motion within the joint while decreasing pain and strain on the affected area.

The stem cells used in this process are obtained from the animal itself. They are mature cells and NOT the embryonic cells obtained from a fetus that most would associate with stem cell research. A sample of the patient's adipose, (fat), is obtained and sent for processing. The adipose, like many tissues in the body, contain adult stem cells that are able to be extracted. Once the cells are isolated they can be injected into the joint with the arthritis. The stem cells act to block scarring and inflammation within the joint. They also increase regeneration and vascularization within the area further relieving pain and discomfort. This potentially may lead a greatly improved quality of life for the dog.

Prior to stem cell therapy your pet should receive a complete physical examination from your veterinarian. X-Rays will be needed to fully evaluate the joint for signs of any other disease. Bloodwork should be obtained to rule out any tick borne disease or secondary disease that can contribute to arthritis. Patients that are best suited for stem cell therapy include those that are not good candidates for surgical management, those that do not respond to medical treatment or those that have a poor quality of life. After all of the history and testing is complete the stem cells can then be collected.

Fat cells are used because they are easy to collect from the patient from either behind the shoulder or the groin area. A short period of general anesthesia is required for this procedure. Fat often contains a great deal of usable cells for treatment compared to other tissue in the body. If additional cells are obtained they can be frozen and stored for later treatments. After processing the cells are injected into the diseased area. Sedation is needed to ensure that the cells reach the appropriate area.

Stem cell therapy has been reported to improve symptoms in 75% of dogs suffering with arthritis. This results in a better quality of life for pets and their owners. The dogs become more comfortable and therefore have increased use and movement within the affected area. In severe cases arthritis can result in euthanasia due to the uncontrolled pain and the inability to walk. Stem cell therapy has reportedly given some of these dogs a second chance, extending their lives and keeping them more comfortable.

If you are wondering if your dog is a candidate for stem cell therapy or if you have any further questions about stem cell please contact one of the veterinarians at the Brooklyn Veterinary Group.

Join the Brooklyn Vet Group Staff Members in their fight to find a cure for Autism.
The staff of BVG is walking to raise funds to find a cure for Autism, a disease that affects 1 in every 150 children! Help us raise funds for this important cause. To donate please follow the following link or stop in the office at any time.

Thank you for all your support!!

http://www.walknowforautism.org/nyc/teambvg

Dental health is a crucial part of your pet’s longevity. Bacteria and plaque form easily on animals teeth since they do not brush as we do. The bacteria from the mouth is constantly swallowed and makes its way to vital organs. One of the bacteria’s favorite places to hide are the valves of the heart causing a disruption in blood flow and the heart to have to work extra hard. The bacteria can also affect the kidneys and the liver leading to decreased function of these vital organs.

To celebrate Pet Dental Awareness Month the Brooklyn Veterinary Group will be offering dental cleaning, scaling and polishing at 25% off the regular price!!

A pre-anesthetic examination will be required if your pet has not been seen by one of our veterinarians in the past 3 months. A small blood panel will also be necessary to determine if your pet is healthy prior to going under anesthesia for the procedure.

Our pets can develop high blood pressure or hypertension just as humans. An increase in blood pressure is caused by resistance of blood flow through a vessel. This resistance will cause the heart, which pumps and moves blood through the body, to work harder and eventually increase in size. This can lead to heart disease, clot formation and reduced blood flow to vital organs such as the kidneys and brain. All of the conditions are potentially life threatening.

Several serious illnesses will cause an elevation in systemic blood pressure as well. Kidney disease is one of the most common causes of secondary hypertension. Approximately 93% of dogs and 65% of cats with kidney disease also suffer from hypertension. Cats with hyperthyroidism also will have high blood pressure and should be monitored regularly. Other causes include Diabetes, Cushing’s Disease, Heart Disease, Polycythemia, (increase in Red Blood Cells), Central Nervous system Disease and acute collapse or weakness. Untreated hypertension can lead to congestive heart failure, blindness, renal failure or a clot or aneurism.

Some clinical signs of hypertension include dilated pupils, apparent, sudden blindness, hemorrhage in the eye, blood in the urine, seizures, disorientation, heart murmurs, trouble walking or collapse. In severe, unregulated cases the animal may have full blown congestive heart failure and exhibit a cough, collapse or exercise intolerance.

Measuring your pet’s blood pressure is an easy, noninvasive process and performed similarly to the way our pressure is obtained. Treatment involves investigation for an underlying cause which may include x-rays and bloodwork depending on the individual case. From there, medication to regulate the blood pressure would be administered by mouth. Blood pressure should then be monitored weekly until it has normalized. Once medication is begun bloodwork and urinalysis is required to prevent side effects of the drugs.

If your pet is known to have any of the diseases listed above or is exhibiting any of the noted clinical signs make sure you request to have his or her blood pressure tested immediately. Not addressing blood pressure could cause your pet a great deal of harm!

Recall -- Firm Press Release

The Hartz Mountain Corporation Recalls Vitamin Care for Cats Because of Possible Health Risk

Contact:
Mr. John Mullane (914) 391-0943

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 7, 2008 - The Hartz Mountain Corporation is voluntarily recalling a second specific lot of Hartz Vitamin Care for Cats due to concerns that bottles within the lot may have been potentially contaminated with Salmonella. Hartz is fully cooperating with
the US Food and Drug Administration in this voluntary recall. Hartz recalled a specific lot code of Hartz Vitamin Care for Cats last November due to similar concerns. Both lot codes were manufactured for Hartz by UFAC (USA) Inc. in 2007, and were removed from distribution last November. However, bottles from the second lot had been shipped to customers prior to their having been removed from distribution.

Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems, all of whom are at particular risk from exposure and should avoid handling these products.

Salmonella symptoms may include fever, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and nausea in both cats and humans. Anyone experiencing the symptoms of Salmonella infection should seek immediate medical attention. Owners of cats exhibiting these symptoms should also seek veterinary assistance.

The product involved is 739 bottles of Hartz Vitamin Care for Cats, lot code SZ 22771, UPC number 32700-97701. While normal testing conducted by Hartz and UFAC has not revealed the presence of Salmonella in any Hartz products, recent sampling conducted by the FDA did detect the presence of Salmonella.

Although the company has not received any reports of animals or humans becoming ill as a result of coming into contact with this product, Hartz is taking immediate steps to recover this product from consumers. Cat owners should check the lot code on their bottles, and, if the code is not visible, or if the bottle has lot code SZ 22771 or lot code SZ-16371 imprinted thereon, they should immediately discontinue use of the product and discard it in a proper manner.

Consumers can contact Hartz at 1-800-275-1414 with any questions they may have and to obtain reimbursement for purchased product.

     When: Sunday February 17th
     Where: Regina Pacis - 1258 65 Street
     Time: 11:30 am to 4:00 pm

With the holidays rapidly approaching the Brooklyn Veterinary Group would like to take some time to help out the Pets of the Homeless. An estimated 10% of homeless people also have pets with them out on the streets. Their owners have difficulty finding food themselves and therefore their beloved animals suffer as well. In conjunction with the organization Feeding Pets of the Homeless and Diamond Collar Boutique, the Brooklyn Veterinary Group will be collecting either food or monetary donations to support this wonderful cause. Both Brooklyn Veterinary Group and Diamond Collar Boutique will act as collection sites for all donation types. Monetary donations will be used to purchase food and supplies for the homeless pets. For more information regarding this organization please visit www.petsofhomeless.com or thediamondcollar.com. All donations will gladly be accepted at our office or Diamond Collar at the below listed addresses. Thank you all in advanced for the care, concern and much needed contributions!! Happy Holidays!!!

Brooklyn Veterinary Group
7624 New Utrecht Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11214

Diamond Collar Boutique
7523 13th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11228

Pet Food Recall

As most of you have heard there has been a massive recall in both dog and cat foods recently. The foods include many brand name diets, see below for full listing. Most of the foods recalled are moist or wet food selections. The ingredient in the foods causes kidney failure which if left untreated will result in death. Please check the list below to see if your pet’s food is on the recall list. If so contact our office at once. We are recommending bloodwork to evaluate your pet’s kidney function. Signs that may indicate kidney disease include, but are not limited to, lethargy, anorexia, vomiting, increase drinking and urination. Please do not hesitate to contact our staff with any concerns or questions regarding this recall.

List of called cat foods brands:
http://www.menufoods.com/recall/product_cat.html
(Above website has links to specific lot numbers for each brand, except for Eukanuba/Iams. It does not list Science Diet/Hills which is in the recall – see separate link below.)
Americas Choice, Preferred Pets
Authority
Best Choice
Companion
Compliments
Demoulas Market Basket
Eukanuba
Fine Feline Cat
Food Lion
Foodtown
Giant Companion
Hannaford
Hill Country Fare
Hy-Vee
Iams
Key Food
Laura Lynn
Li'l Red
Loving Meals
Meijer's Main Choice
Nutriplan
Nutro Max Gourmet Classics
Nutro Natural Choice
Paws
Pet Pride
Presidents Choice
Price Chopper
Priority
Save-A-Lot
Schnucks
Sophistacat
Special Kitty Canada
Special Kitty US
Springfield Prize
Sprout
Total Pet, My True Friend
Wegmans
Western Family
White Rose
Winn Dixie

List of called dog foods brands:
http://www.menufoods.com/recall/product_dog.html
(Above website has links to specific lot numbers for each brand, except for Eukanuba/Iams. It does not list Science Diet/Hills and Purina Mighty Dog which are in the recall – see separate link below.)
Americas Choice, Preferred Pets
Authority
Award
Best Choice
Big Bet
Big Red
Bloom
Bruiser
Cadillac
Companion
Demoulas Market Basket
Eukanuba
Food Lion
Giant Companion
Great Choice
Hannaford
Hill Country Fare
Hy-Vee
Iams
Key Food
Laura Lynn
Loving Meals
Main Choice
Mixables
Nutriplan
Nutro Max
Nutro Natural Choice
Nutro
Ol'Roy
Paws
Pet Essentials
Pet Pride - Good n Meaty
Presidents Choice
Price Chopper
Priority
Publix
Roche Bros
Save-A-Lot
Schnucks
Shep Dog
Springsfield Prize
Sprout
Stater Bros
Total Pet, My True Friend
Western Family
White Rose
Winn Dixie
Your Pet

Tech jeopardy was originally created by myself, an experienced technician of 13 years. It was designed as a learning tool to teach, in a fun manner, the key elements of becoming a good technician.
For me personally, learning was the best achieved by hands-on techniques as well as having a great teacher. Over the years we here at the Brooklyn Vet Group have adopted the phase "They just don't make them the way they used to." Constantly seeing young kids volunteering or working with no passion became very disappointing. These young achievers just did not have the push or drive any longer. My job over time was to find that answer.
As a young and inexperienced technician I had the luxury of having a doctor fresh out of veterinary school constantly there teaching, pushing and eventually expanding my mind in the field of veterinary medicine. As the years went on and the hospital became busier that same doctor now had to devote his time to larger matters. With the torch now passed on and the knowledge now gained I have taken it upon myself to try and better the caliber of technicians that can say they are part of the team. The trick is finding a way that will break through enough to have a positive impact.
Finally after many have come and gone, I decided to dive the fun and reward system a try and guess what it is working. Prior to the jeopardy meeting all techs are given a booklet of information containing some of the important aspects all techs should know. From prescription diets to alternative names of drugs, all information provided is relative to what it is we should know for daily life as a tech.
The winner of the vet tech jeopardy gets a free dinner certificate and the right to gloat. The runner up though not the winner also receives a prize such as personalized scrubs. The real prize honestly is the fact that knowledge is the best prize. Gaining knowledge in a field that is your knowledge is truly priceless.
Hopefully the jeopardy tradition lives on long after the day that I become a veterinarian. Whereas then I can be considered the doctor fresh out of school devoting my time to the techs I know have something special...the will and drive to learn.

Jeopardy Board

Recently some very happy families have found their lost pets safe and sound thanks to their microchips. Microchip implantation involves a simple injection under the skin between the shoulder blades of your pet. The chip is encoded with a number that any veterinarian or shelter can detect. The number remains on file at the manufactuers and contains all of the owners contact information which ensures the safe return of the pet. Here at the Brooklyn Veterinary Group we have had several happy reunions thanks to the microchip. Animals are spared the dreaded trip to the shelter and owners no longer have to spend days searching for their pets. With one simple click the owner is located and can be contacted immediately. If you are interested in this identification system please contact any of our Brooklyn Veterinary group Staff Members.

Tech jeopardy was originally created by myself, an experienced technician of 13 years. It was designed as a learning tool to teach, in a fun manner, the key elements of becoming a good technician.
For me personally, learning was the best achieved by hands-on techniques as well as having a great teacher. Over the years we here at the Brooklyn Vet Group have adopted the phase "They just don't make them the way they used to." Constantly seeing young kids volunteering or working with no passion became very disappointing. These young achievers just did not have the push or drive any longer. My job over time was to find that answer.
As a young and inexperienced technician I had the luxury of having a doctor fresh out of veterinary school constantly there teaching, pushing and eventually expanding my mind in the field of veterinary medicine. As the years went on and the hospital became busier that same doctor now had to devote his time to larger matters. With the torch now passed on and the knowledge now gained I have taken it upon myself to try and better the caliber of technicians that can say they are part of the team. The trick is finding a way that will break through enough to have a positive impact.
Finally after many have come and gone, I decided to dive the fun and reward system a try and guess what it is working. Prior to the jeopardy meeting all techs are given a booklet of information containing some of the important aspects all techs should know. From prescription diets to alternative names of drugs, all information provided is relative to what it is we should know for daily life as a tech.
The winner of the vet tech jeopardy gets a free dinner certificate and the right to gloat. The runner up though not the winner also receives a prize such as personalized scrubs. The real prize honestly is the fact that knowledge is the best prize. Gaining knowledge in a field that is your knowledge is truly priceless.
Hopefully the jeopardy tradition lives on long after the day that I become a veterinarian. Whereas then I can be considered the doctor fresh out of school devoting my time to the techs I know have something special...the will and drive to learn.

Jeopardy Board

Tirocini italiani al Brooklyn Veterinary Group
Un internship veterinario a Brooklyn

The Brooklyn Veterinary Emergency Service in Bayridge has sadly announced the closing of its facility. The hospital, located at 453 Bayridge Avenue will officially lock its doors on January 16, 2006. All emergncies should be handled by the Veterinary Emergency and Referral Group on 318 Warren Street in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn. They can be reached at 718-522-9400. This facility is open 24 hours and includes both emergency and referral care.

Greenies, the popular dog treat to help prevent the buildup of plaque and tartar, have recently come under investigation by the FDA. The treats, although very safe for most dogs, pose a significant risk to dogs that gulp their food or swallow without chewing properly. The treat then congeals into a large mass that can become trapped in the stomach or small intestine requiring surgical removal. Owners are urged to feed the treats responsibly.

With the warmer months fast approaching, the staff at the B.V.G. would like to ensure that your pets are kept healthy and safe. Here are a few tips to help prevent summertime illness and injury.

1. Internal and external parasites become a huge problem with the warmer temperatures. Ticks and mosquitoes can carry potentially fatal diseases. Fleas and intestinal parasites are common ailments seen during the spring through the fall and can be very difficult to treat. Make sure that your animals are covered by an adequate flea and tick preventative as well as heartworm preventative. We recommend that dogs are tested annually for heartworm disease as stated by the Heartworm Association of America. B.V.G. recommends Frontline® and Heartgard® products.
2. Always walk pets on a leash to prevent contact from unknown animals or other injury. Make sure pets are fitted with updated identification in case they are accidentally lost.
3. Dehydration can occur rapidly in warmer temperatures. Ensure that your pets have access to fresh water at all times. Bring water especially for your pets on outings as well.
4. NEVER leave an animal in a car unattended!! Even with the windows open the temperature of a car can reach 120 to 140 degrees within minutes. Temperatures of that degree are lethal!!
5. Avoid strenuous activity with your pet in extreme temperatures. You should be especially cautious if your pet is geriatric, overweight, or suffers from collapsing trachea or other diseases. Increased activity may lead to heat stoke or respiratory distress which are considered medical emergencies. Symptoms of heat stroke include excessive panting, collapse, warm to the touch and reluctance to move. If you notice any of these symptoms seek medical attention at once. Heat stroke can be fatal if left untreated.
6. Avoid walking pets on lawns or gardens treated with fertilizers or pesticides. Chemicals used in these treatments may result in irreversible neurologic disease.
7. Insect bite reactions are common in animals. If your pet is bitten by an insect watch the area closely for increased swelling. If noted contact your veterinarian at once. Also if your pet receives multiple bites bring them to your vet at once.
8. Always spay and neuter your pets!! Not only does this prevent many serious health conditions it also reduces the risk of pets running away and aggressive encounters with other animals.
9. Make sure that your pets are up to date on all necessary vaccinations before going out to prevent exposure to life threatening diseases. ** New York State requires by law that all animals are vaccinated for Rabies.**

For more information please contact the Brooklyn Veterinary Group at any time! Have a safe and healthy summer with your Pet!!!