So what's up with Febreze, the Proctor & Gamble product that is used to remove fabric odor? Is it dangerous? Many of you have been e-mailing us with the Internet rumor that this product has been killing pets. Well here's the news according to the manufacturer and several well-respected web sites.

Febreze will not harm your pets with routine use. It contains ingredients that have been tested safe around dogs and cats, including water, modified starch from corn, low levels of alcohol, small amounts of perfume, and a common preservative. Zinc chloride, another ingredient that is not in the recent improved formula, is also found in eye-drops and mouthwash, as well as some pet foods.

Veterinary toxicologists working for the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) National Animal Poison Center says, "All information reviewed to date suggests that there is no evidence that Febreze represents any risk to pets when used according to label instructions. Presently, the Center considers the product safe to use in households with pets."
In addition, the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory reports that it has "not received any cases indicating adverse reactions to Febreze."

To stay safe, we suggest you do the following. Do not spray Febreze directly on your pet. If you have birds, we recommend that they be removed from the room until the product application has dried and the area has been ventilated. Birds are very sensitive to many household products.

We're glad you asked!

New Law Concerns Ferrets

A new Florida law that took effect January 1, 1999, affects the health care of pet ferrets. Ferrets must now be vaccinated for rabies. If you have an unvaccinated ferret, call our office to make an appointment (561-746-5501).

The other part of the law states that ferrets that bite someone will now be quarantined until it is determined whether they are infected, instead of automatically being destroyed.

Cat Health Risk

Feline Bordetella bronchiseptica (FeBb) could pose a significant threat to your cat. Now it's possible to protect your cat against one of the primary causes of upper respiratory infection (URI). A vaccine was just released.

One of the most common diseases in cats is URI. A recent research study indicated over 85% of cats had been exposed to FeBb. And since it's a highly contagious bacteria, you'll want your cat protected.

Still a concern is heartworm disease in cats. A preventative is available for this deadly disease, but not enough cat owners are protecting against this devastating problem.

Separation Anxiety in dogs

Some new drugs are now in our pharmacy that can help your dog. The first one, Clomicalm, will treat separation anxiety in dogs when given along with behavior modification. Separation anxiety is often associated with extreme destructiveness when the dog is left alone, as well as other signs such as soiling and barking.

Helping older dogs

The other new drug we have is called Anipryl. It is given to older dogs to treat "senility" (no, it may not be just the natural decline associated with aging). Call for a consultation.
(For more info about these drugs, as well as other pet care articles, click on the Pet Care tab above.)

A Better Feline Rabies Vaccine is now available

We're looking out for the health of your cat. At Harmony Animal Hospital we are using the new Merial Purevax feline rabies vaccine. This is the first and only rabies vaccine that removes the ingredient that is suspected of causing fibrosarcomas (a type of cancer) at the injection site in some cats.

Ultrasound for your pet

Now available at Harmony is the ability to do ultrasound diagnostics. Also known as a sonogram, it is a non-invasive procedure which provides the veterinarians with a living, moving picture of your pet’s internal organs, much like a series of moving x-rays.

It is less risky and more affordable than surgical procedures. Ultrasound is frequently used for identification of abnormal masses, evaluation of the heart, bladder, and pregnancy diagnosis among other procedures. For pregnancy, it can be diagnosed at a much earlier stage. For something like cardiac problems, it shows the heart function including the movement of the valves within the heart. This may be used in conjunction with x-rays and EKG and gives a much fuller diagnostic picture of the problem. It also allows for much earlier drug intervention in slowing the progression of heart disease and allows for a more accurate monitoring of the heart in response to medication.