The Mid North Minute: Mid North Animal Hospital's Newsletter
 

Leptospirosis is a bacterial vaccine which is now required by the city for Chicago’s dog-friendly park tag.  Called “Lepto” for short, this disease is transmitted by contamination of the environment with urine containing the bacteria.  This bacteria can live in many species including rats, squirrels, raccoons, skunks, and many more, including humans.  It is considered one of the most common diseases transmitted between humans and pets in the world today.  We have been considering vaccinating for Lepto due to the increasing number of cases reported (69 cases in Cook County, the highest of any county in Illinois), but this requirement has increased our speed of initiating vaccination.  When vaccinating, we will be vaccinating with all four strains of Lepto which are common in the area. Like all new vaccines to you or your dog, two doses administered two to three weeks apart will be necessary to achieve immunity. Once the initial series is complete, we will vaccinate on an annual basis.  You should discuss your dog’s need for vaccination with the doctor.

Metacam® Rebates are here!  Boehringer-Ingelheim, the manufacturer of the anti-inflammatory pain relief drug Metacam®, is now offering a client rebate program for long term users of this common drug.  Both of our doctors recommend this anti-inflammatory as our primary long term and short term pain medication, and many of our clients will benefit from this program.  Metacam® is the only non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug made by the manufacturer in liquid form for easy dose adjustment for your pet.  If you are giving this medication regularly, simply complete the registration form and our staff will handle the rest of the process for you. You should receive your first rebate coupon within 3-4 weeks, and it can be used on your next purchase of Metacam® through Mid North Animal Hospital.

Email? We know some of our clients would prefer their reminders and information from us sent by email, and we are encouraging you to update your email address with us so we can keep you in the loop.  Having your email address on file allows us to contact you quickly when your pet is due for a service, lets us send you our newsletter by email every month, keeps you aware of special offers, and allows you to sign up for Pet Portals®, a free, secure online window into your pets’ health. 

Flea and tick season is here already!  It was a relatively mild winter here in Chicago, and the fleas and ticks are ready for spring, so be sure to get your pet started back on Frontline Plus this month.  As always, we recommend year round administration of heartworm preventive for both cats and dogs!  Remember to take advantage of the benefits of buying these medications directly from Mid North Animal Hospital, including:  quality product with good shelf life, competitive pricing, manufacturer guarantees, and loyalty rebates and extra dose programs. Remember that the manufacturer of these products only recommends purchasing them through your veterinarian!

Tired of carrying those heavy bags and cases of special diets from our office to your home?   We are now able to ship some prescription diets directly to your home.  While this service is not yet available for all prescription diets, Royal Canin, Purina, and now, Iams Veterinary Formula Diets can be shipped directly to your home at no additional cost for standard shipping. Some prescription medication may also be shipped directly to your home; however, additional charges for shipping may apply.  If you’re interested, ask one of our receptionists today.

Enter below for a chance to win a complimentary Bottle of Metacam®, provided by Boehringer-Ingelheim

Detach this portion of the newsletter with your name, and contact information to be entered in our “Mid North Minute” Monthly Drawing for a complimentary bottle of Metacam® (credit applied to account). 

Your Name:  ________________________ Phone _______________ Email: __________________________