A new option in purchasing your pet’s medications
Your pet’s health and well-being, as well as your satisfaction as an informed pet owner, is our primary goal.  We realize you have choices in where to purchase your pet’s medications.  In making that decision it is important to consider your veterinarian’s expertise.  Your pet is an individual with distinct, individual needs that can best be served by your veterinarian.  East Hilliard Veterinary Services has joined a growing number of veterinary practices around the country offering a trustworthy competitor for online pharmacies.  Whether it is a prescription refill, heartworm preventives, flea and tick control meds, pain control meds, topicals, shampoos, conditioners, ear medications, whatever you need, you can order through us and the product will be shipped directly to your door.
We are working with ProxyRx, a Texas-based pharmacy, through a program initiated by our veterinary distributor, MWI.  We have had a trusted relationship with MWI for many years and we believe ProxyRx will be a great addition to our services.  Buying your pet’s medications through your veterinary office ensures that the medication has been properly tested for safety and effectiveness, has been properly packaged and stored, and has come from the original manufacturer. 
Here is how it works.  You call or e-mail us to request the medication(s).  Our client relations specialists will take your order and your credit card number, have the request approved by your veterinarian, then fax your order to ProxyRx.  Your order will be delivered to your home in three days or less.  Please call for more information and product pricing.

Traveling with your pet
With record high gas prices you may not be going very far this year, if at all.  AAA’s summer travel prediction is for only a very small decrease in American’s summer travel this year, however.  If you do plan to travel with your pet, here are a few tips for safe travel.

Traveling by car

  1. A visit to the veterinarian before your trip could help make your vacation much more enjoyable.  Have the veterinarian do a complete physical examination on your pet(s) and discuss any recommendations they may have for traveling with your pet.  If you feel that tranquilization will be necessary for your dog or cat, the veterinarian can prescribe it at that time.  It is recommended that you take a trial run with your pet to test the medication’s effectiveness during travel.
  2. Pets should travel in a well-ventilated crate or carrier.  There are a variety of wire mesh, hard plastic, and soft-sided carriers available.  Whatever you choose, get your pet used to the carrier for several weeks prior to your trip and make sure it is big enough for your pet to stand, sit, lie down, and turn around in comfortably.  Secure the carrier in your vehicle so it won’t shift or slide around.
  3. Plan to feed your pet a light meal three to four hours prior to your trip.  Try not to feed during the trip, and definitely don’t feed while in a moving vehicle.  Feed again after you’re settled into your destination for that day.
  4. Never leave your pet in a parked car!  If your pet show signs of heatstroke – excessive panting, lethargy, possibly vomiting and/or diarrhea – get to a veterinarian immediately!
  5. Don't allow your dog to travel with his head out of the window. Eye and/or ear damage could result.
  6. Take your pet’s vaccine records with you as well as their food and water bowls, litter pan, litter, and litter scoop for your cat, plastic bags for cleaning up, any medications you may need, collar with an updated ID tag (breakaway collars are best for cats), and a leash.  Bring several gallons of water from home.  Pets that are used to local tap water may not drink bottled water or the water at your destination.  And be sure to take something familiar like a blanket, bed, or rug and some favorite toys.
  7. We highly recommend having your pet(s) microchipped.  It would be a good idea to contact the microchip registration company before you leave on your trip to make sure they have current contact information.

Traveling by air

  1. Humane organizations such as the ASPCA recommend not flying with your pet(s).  There are risks that you have no control over when your pet flies in the baggage compartment or cargo bay.
  2. If you do choose to fly with your pet, you must have your pet(s) examined by a veterinarian and obtain an official health certificate from them within ten days of your scheduled departure date.  If flying to Hawaii or out of the country, make sure to check all the quarantine and health requirements of that destination.
  3. If your pet is small enough to travel in the passenger cabin with you, remember that reservations are still required.  And when you make that reservation, find out the crate size limitations.
  4. Try to book a direct flight.  You may even want to drive to a larger town in order to be able to fly direct.
  5. Pets flying in the baggage compartment or cargo bay should not be tranquilized.  And it is recommended they not be fed 12 hours prior to the flight.  Make sure they’ve had water available right up to the time you leave for the airport.  Freeze water in the bowl that you attach to the inside of the crate.  By the time your pet is thirsty it will have thawed, but it won’t be sloshing around during the loading process.
  6. Make sure your pet is wearing a collar (breakaway for cats and no choke collars for dogs) with an updated identification tag.
  7. Purchase an FDA-approved crate that is large enough for your pet to stand, turn around, and lie down in comfortably.  Place “Live Animal” stickers on each side of the crate and mark the crate with arrows to indicate the upright position of the crate.  Line the bottom of the crate well with absorbent material.  Make sure the crate door is not locked so airline personnel can open the door in case of an emergency.  The crate should be marked with the name, address, and phone number of the destination.  Securely tape a bag of food on the outside of the crate so that airline personnel can feed your pet if necessary.

In Memoriam
EinsteinTen years ago a cat was abandoned at the Ohio State University School of Veterinary Medicine.  He was left in a carrier on a loading dock at the school.   Apparently, someone had dropped off this sweet, handsome, healthy cat in hopes of finding him a good home.  Dr. Tom brought him to the clinic to see if he’d work out as our “hospital cat.”  The staff named him Einstein (sarcastically).  He turned out to be the perfect hospital cat. He was very friendly to our clients and their pets. And almost always a gentleman.
Occasionally, one of the veterinarians would take a patient from the exam room to our treatment area for bloodwork or a minor procedure, to find, upon their return to the exam room, Einstein sitting with the waiting pet owner. He would always start his day with a good claw stretch on the rug by our elevated bathtub, and then generally head up front to see if any of the staff would share some breakfast with him. (Often followed by a drink from the toilet.) Then he'd return to the kennel area for some official breakfast. He'd spend the day in a variety of places around the clinic but his favorite place, especially in his senior years, was on Dr. Chris' lap. If she was not there he'd just llie down in her chair and wait.
Einstein was euthanized on Friday May 23rd, surrounded by the people who loved him.

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