October 2007 Newsletter

Lone Mountain Animal Hospital
October 2007 Newsletter

Pet of the Month
Say hello to our special pet featured as LMAH’s November Pet of the Month. This month’s winner is a female Chihuahua mix named “Falcore.” Visit our website to learn more about her.

Superbugs Can Affect Pets Too
Drug resistance is a growing problem in both the human and veterinary medicine. News of this is
apparent with the recent school closings in Washington due to the superbug, MRSA. MRSA
stands for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Staphylococcus. aureus is a bacteria
that is commonly found on people’s skin and in their nasal passages. The superbug name comes
from the fact that MRSA is highly resistant to most antibiotics available. Eighty-five percent
of MRSA infections are picked up while a person in hospitalized. In fact, healthcare workers
have been documented to be frequent carriers of this bacteria. Indiscriminate antibiotic use and
misuse of antibiotics have been implicated in the rise of MRSA worldwide. In 2005 19,000
Americans died from MRSA infections.

In dogs 90% of skin infections are due to a different bacterial species, Staphylococcus
intermedius. Staphylococcus aureus is less commonly seen in animals. However, early data
shows that MRSA may be a problem in pets too. MRSA can be passed from people, to animals, and then back to people. However, not all animals that acquire MRSA become ill, some become
“colonized” with the bacteria and only harbor the bacteria in their body. More research is
underway at the University of Missouri at Columbia as they study the possibility of MRSA
spreading from pets to people.

What can you do to prevent MRSA for yourself and pets?

* Wash your hands frequently.
* Always use the full course of antibiotics when prescribed for yourself or your pets.
* If your pet develops abscesses, wounds, or other infections, request a culture whenever
possible.
* Avoid pet contact with people actively being treated for MRSA infections.

Thanksgiving Holiday Hours
The Thanksgiving holiday is coming up! Remember that the holiday goodies can cause
gastrointestinal problems for our pets. Do not share ANY bones with your dogs- all bones have
the potential to cause injury, blockage, or perforation. Have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

Holiday Hours
Wednesday, November 21st- 7am-5pm
Thursday, November 22nd- CLOSED
Friday, November 23rd- 7am-7pm