Yes, it is that time of year again.  When the weather starts warming up so do our favorite little bugs and parasites.  Now is the time to get your pet started on their preventative care to keep our pets healthy all year long.  Our biggest concerns this time of year are Heartworms, Roundworms, Hookworms, Ear Mites, Fleas, and Ticks.

Heartworm is a disease transferred by mosquitoes.  Heartworms live in the hearts and lungs of dogs and cats.  Treatment for Heartworm is expensive and difficult, and if left untreated it can be fatal.  It is much easier to prevent Heartworm by using a monthly preventative.  We recommend Heartgard Plus for dogs/puppies and Revolution for cats/kittens.

Roundworms are year-ound parasites that spread to dogs and cats through an environment contaminated with feces of infected animals.  Roundworms live in your pet's intestine and cause diarrhea and other problems.  It is possible for Roundworm to spread to people, and especially children,  in the same manner.  You can protect your pets and your family all year with Heartgard Plus for dogs, and Revolution for cats.

Hookworms are also a year round problem in this area.  Both dogs and cats can be infected if they ingest eggs or larvae in contaminated feces or soil.  Hookworms cause many similar problems as Roundworms and are prevented in the same way. Like Roundworm, Hookworms can also cause problems in people.  Using monthly Heartgard Plus for your dogs and monthly Revolution for your cats will help to keep everyone safe and healthy.

Ear Mites can affect both dogs and cats, but are more common in cats.  Ear mites feed on the ear lining and cause irritation and brown crusty debris.  Revolution will help keep this nasty parasite off your cats.

Fleas are a nuisance for pet owners and a horrible discomfort to pets.  They can cause allergic reaction and hair loss to the skin and can quickly infest an entire household. Pets can pick up fleas just from being outdoors (and especially from interacting with wildlife like the dog pictured!)  By using Frontline or Advantix on your dogs, and Revolution on your cats you can keep this pesky bug from irritating your pets.

Ticks are a big problem for dogs in this area when the snow cover is gone.  Certain ticks can carry diseases like Lyme and Ehrlichia.  Advantix and Frontline are two products that will kill ticks within 24-48 hours and thus help prevent them from spreading any diseases.

Spring is a great time to enjoy the outdoors with your pets.  With the right preventative care you can feel comfortable knowing that your pets and family are protected.  If you have questions or need to purchase any of these products please call our clinic.  More information on these products and the parasites they protect against can be obtained at...

Heartgard: www.heartgard.com
Revolution:  www.revolutionpet.com
Frontline:  www.frontline.com
Advantix:  www.k9advantix.com

Carver Lake Staff Members Attend Veterinary Conference

The annual MAVT (Minnesota Association of Veterinary Technicians)/ MVMA ( Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association) convention was held on February 3rd and 4th in Duluth.

Dr. Kate An Hunter, Certified Veterinary Technician Jessica, and Veterinary Assistant Teresa had the chance to attend.  Every year there are a large number of speakers, labs, and activities.  Jessica and Teresa attended lectures with topics including diabetes management, raw food diets, avian flu, and CPR.  Teresa attended a lecture on equine chiropractics.  As President of the MVMA, Dr. Hunter attended lectures, presented speakers, and helped with convention organization.

At the closing of the conference the MAVT arranged for Jeff Cowin, wildlife biologist (Animal Planet's Corwin's Quest) to present "Behind the Scenes of Corwin's Quest".  Jeff was very outgoing and funny!  He told the story of his first encounter with a snake, and how he became involved in the "animal world".  He also hosted a question and answer session with MAVT members.  Jeff even stayed until everybody who wanted an autograph received one.

Overall the convention was a success.  The staff at CLVC is enthusiastic about continuing education and implementing our knowledge to our patients.

Join Carver Lake Veterinary Center at the 20th annual Bark in the Park as we  walk to raise money for the  Humane Society for Companion Animals on Saturday, May 6th.



The walk takes place at Colby Lake Park in Woodbury.  Activities and registration begin at 8:00am and the walk officially starts at 9:30am.  Be sure to arrive early to enjoy the informational booths and fun games for you and your pets.

Visit Dr. Kate An Hunter at the"Ask a Vet" booth throughout the morning.  For a small donation to the shelter you can ask her a pet related question.  She would love to visit with you and of course your pets!

This will be Carver Lake's 3rd consecutive year of entering as a team, and we would love for you to join us.  Last year our team won the prize for most team members and came in second for most money raised by a team raising over $2000!   Donations go directly to the Humane Society for Companion Animals and are used to house, feed, and care for the homeless animals that come to the shelter throughout the year.

We hope that you will join Carver Lake's team this year.  If you want to walk with us you can get a pledge sheet from our clinic or the shelter, or give us a call and we can mail one to you.  On the day of the walk make sure to fill out the "team section" on your registration form and then take your form to the "team" registration table.  This assures that your donations get counted towards our team total.

After registering we hope you enjoy the day's events and join us as we gather at the "Ask a Vet" booth at 9:20am before the walk begins.

If you are unable to attend, but would like to donate money, you can stop by the clinic, or mail a check made out to HSCA (Humane Society for Companion Animals) to our clinic.  Please mark your envelope "Attention Julie." 

If you would like more information on this event contact Julie at Carver Lake, 651-578-3290, or check out the Humane Society for Companion Animals website at www.hsca.net.  We hope to see you there!

Technician Laurie Gets Married!

On Saturday, February 25th, all of us at Carver Lake gathered to celebrate the marriage of Technician Laurie to her husband David.

The wedding was held at the Fort Snelling Chapel.  Laurie made a stunning bride and the ceremony was very heartfelt.  The reception later that evening was full of dancing, laughter, and love.  Laurie, Dave, and all of her Carver Lake friends enjoyed themselves as they danced the night away.

Laurie and Dave enjoyed a honeymoon in Jamaica following the wedding.  They are a great pair and we are all very happy for them.