With the leaves changing and the temperature dropping, the fall season is prime time for those high energetic hunting dogs.  It is a time of year hunters look forward to throughout the year. 

Much of the joy of the hunting season comes from the time we spend working with our dogs in the field and watching them excel at what they were bred to do.

Each breed of dog is bred for a specific style of hunting.  The Labrador Retriever is bred for flushing birds and retrieving the bird to the hunter's hand.  They are also great for duck hunting and love the water! 

Pointing breeds, such as Vizslas, German Shorthair Pointers, and English Setters, are meant to track the bird, hold point (literally pointing the bird out to the hunter) so the hunter can flush the bird out, and once shot, the dog is commanded to fetch and retrieve the bird to hand.  Watching these dogs in action is quite remarkable!

Caring for these canine athletes is extremely important as they work very hard throughout the hunting season.  The energy that they use needs to be replenished through proper diet and exercise.  It is important to prepare these dogs in advance so they have the needed stamina dog once the season begins.

Hunters train and work with their dogs in the field and with trainers in the months prior to fall.   Conditioning your dog and getting them in shape ahead of time helps decreases the likelihood of injury that may end a promising hunting season. 

Diet is also important as these dogs burn many calories in the field and need the extra nutrition. There are numerous diets available and your veterinarian can help you find the right one for your dog.  Many of these diets have a higher calorie count for energy and higher ratio of protein to fat. 

Most hunters also increase the amount they feed their dog during this time and many switch to a special food while in the field.  With the extra energy hunting dogs will expel in the field, proper diet helps not only with endurance, but also with mobility and general health of the hunting dog.

First aid kits are a must-have for every hunter and their dog.  Hunting dogs are prone to many dangers in the field such as barbed wire fences, skunks, and bees.  Make sure to take along any special medications your dog may be on, as well as eye and ear rinse, gauze for wrapping, and scissors.  Keeping your dog's nails short will also help prevent lameness due to torn nails. 

Hunters should speak to their veterinarians about bringing antibiotics for infections, anti-inflammatory medications for possible injuries, anti-histamines for allergic reactions, and topical antibiotics for nicks and scratches.  In some areas anti-venom may be a wise choice for those dogs sharing the field with rattle snakes!

Hunters should also discuss proper parasite, flea, and tick preventative with their veterinarian.  Dogs in the field are at a higher risk for these things and should be protected before heading out for a trip.  Our veterinarians have a check list hunters can use to be sure their dogs are ready, and their first aid kit is fully stocked.

With the proper preparation and training, hunters and their dogs can enjoy this season safely.

Carver Lake Helps With Hurricane Relief

Turn on the TV and you are bound to see photos and stories of those suffering from Hurricane Katrina.  Many of us here at Carver Lake began to feel helpless.  With everything that had happened we felt like we should do something, but what could we do to help ease the devastation?

In mid-September we received a call from the University of Louisiana's Veterinary School.  They were looking for veterinary clinics around the United States to donate their space, time, and money to collect supplies to help the animals that had been displaced by the hurricane. 

What better way to help than to aid the animals!  So we had one week to collect as many supplies as we could before they would be loaded onto a semi and taken down South.  We were worried that we wouldn't be able to do very much in one week, but we underestimated the giving nature of our clients. 

With the help of many clients, coworkers, and their families Carver Lake was able to pack the back of Dr. Hunters SUV full with food, water, litter, fax machines, paper supplies, toys, treats, bowls, kennels, and medical supplies to help the homeless pets (and the volunteers working with them) in New Orleans.

We want to thank everyone who have donated supplies or money to the hurricane relief.  Whether you helped Carver Lake or did it on your own, you should be proud.  The United States is a wonderful place to live and Americans have shown time and time again that we take care of each other, regardless of where we live.

Candy, pumpkins, costumes, and trick-or-treaters are just some of the things that make Halloween such a fun holiday.  Unfortunately, these same things can be very dangerous to our pets.  Before the big day arrives there are some precautions every pet owner should take.

Experienced trick-or-treaters know that the main focus of Halloween is all the great food, and most of our pets would agree. Be sure not to leave candy or pumpkins unattended during the holiday season.  Chocolate, even in small amounts, can be quite toxic to animals.  Other tasty treats can be dangerous to our four-legged friends if eaten in excess.  Pets may also be curious about holiday decorations such as candles, so please don't leave any lighted candles or pumpkins unattended.

Although most trick-or-treaters are only out for the treats, there are some individuals who may be out for the tricks as well.  Dogs and cats who are outdoors during the evening hours are prime targets for Halloween pranks.  Be sure to keep animals indoors on Halloween night and escort them outside when necessary.

Many animals get very anxious or excited when people come to the door.  For the safety of your pets and the children trick-or-treating, these animals should be kept in a kennel or separate room during prime trick-or-treating hours.  Halloween night can be filled with many new sights and sounds.  Some animals may be overly sensitive to these unfamiliar stimuli.  We recommend that owners of these animals take similar precautions to those taken for the Fourth of July.

Halloween can be a fun experience for both pets and their owners if the proper precautions are taken.  For more information about how to prepare your pet for Halloween please contact us at Carver Lake Veterinary Center.

20 Baby Turtles Rescued!

On Friday, September 2nd, 2005 twenty baby snapping turtles were found by a family in Woodbury.  The turtles were trying to cross the road near the family's townhome complex.  The family was worried because there was no pond nearby for these turtles to go to.  They called Carver Lake Veterinary Center for guidance.

The turtles were brought here to release into our pond.  Dr. Hunter estimated that the babies were only 3 days old and approximately 3 inches in length.

The turtles were released back into the wild soon after their arrival.  Upon their happy return to the pond, they buried their way into the mud to test their sea legs.

When rescuing turtles please use proper precautions.  Turtles carry the bacterium Salmonella, so be sure to where latex gloves when handling.  Wild turtles do not make good housepets.  They carry numerous diseases and are illegal to keep captive.

If a large turtle is found, the best way to remove it from danger is to lead it with a large stick.  The turtle should bite onto one end of the stick and you can then lead it to safety.

Turtles are very determined reptiles.  If you find them crossing the road, please place them closer to their destination.  If you place them on the other side of the road they will attempt the great journey again. 

If an injured turtle, or other wildlife is found, they can receive care here at Carver Lake or at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Roseville.  Please help keep our wildlife safe and happy!