Looking for a dog breed that's just right for you? Check out this website:

http://www.breedbreakdown.com/

Our local groomers have informed us that they've been seeing a number of lice cases in dogs recently. We've also treated a few dogs in the past week for it. Lice are species-specific and are not transferable to humans, but can be spread from dog to dog.

If your dog has been scratching himself more than normal it could be due to lice. Lice are very small, but can usually be seen by the human eye. They look like little black dots and have a clear lining around them. They do not really look like bugs, but more like dirt. It is very easy to see the lice if your dog is infested, but many pet owners miss them especially in cases where dogs only have a few lice on them and they can be very hard to find. They attach themselves to the skin, so you have to push the fur around to look for them.

If you suspect lice, make an appointment and come and have us check your dog out. Lice is EASILY treatable with either a lice bath or a topical treatment like Frontline, K9 Advantix or Revolution (we offer all of the above). Below is a picture of a maltese with lice.

Today our friends at Animal Planet bring you some basic tips on how to train your first dog. We also have handouts in our clinic on kennel training, curbing destructive habits, and old-age pet care. As always, we appreciate our canine patients being on leashes and our feline patients in carriers. Don't have one or forgot your leash? Never fear, we have leashes and carriers in the clinic available for you to borrow.

http://animal.discovery.com/tv-shows/its-me-or-the-dog/training-tips/6-tips-training-first-dog.htm

Good Morning! We hope you and your pets are enjoying the snow outside. For some tips on how to keep your animals healthy and happy during inclement weather, check out this article by the ASPCA.

Brrrr—it's cold outside!  The following guidelines will help you protect your companion animals when the mercury dips.*

1. Keep your cat inside. Outdoors, felines can freeze, become lost or be stolen, injured or killed. Cats who are allowed to stray are exposed to infectious diseases, including rabies, from other cats, dogs and wildlife.
   
   
2. During the winter, outdoor cats sometimes sleep under the hoods of cars. When the motor is started, the cat can be injured or killed by the fan belt. If there are outdoor cats in your area, bang loudly on the car hood before starting the engine to give the cat a chance to escape.
   
   
3. Never let your dog off the leash on snow or ice, especially during a snowstorm, dogs can lose their scent and easily become lost. More dogs are lost during the winter than during any other season, so make sure yours always wears ID tags.
   
   
4. Thoroughly wipe off your dog's legs and stomach when he comes in out of the sleet, snow or ice. He can ingest salt, antifreeze or other potentially dangerous chemicals while licking his paws, and his paw pads may also bleed from snow or encrusted ice.
   
   
5. Never shave your dog down to the skin in winter, as a longer coat will provide more warmth. When you bathe your dog in the colder months, be sure to completely dry him before taking him out for a walk. Own a short-haired breed? Consider getting him a coat or sweater with a high collar or turtleneck with coverage from the base of the tail to the belly. For many dogs, this is regulation winter wear.
   
   
6. Never leave your dog or cat alone in a car during cold weather. A car can act as a refrigerator in the winter, holding in the cold and causing the animal to freeze to death.
   
   
7. Puppies do not tolerate the cold as well as adult dogs, and may be difficult to housebreak during the winter. If your puppy appears to be sensitive to the weather, you may opt to paper-train him inside. If your dog is sensitive to the cold due to age, illness or breed type, take him outdoors only to relieve himself.
   
   
8. Does your dog spend a lot of time engaged in outdoor activities? Increase his supply of food, particularly protein, to keep him, and his fur, in tip-top shape.
   
   
9. Like coolant, antifreeze is a lethal poison for dogs and cats. Be sure to thoroughly clean up any spills from your vehicle, and consider using products that contain propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol. Visit the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center more information.
   
   
10. Make sure your companion animal has a warm place to sleep, off the floor and away from all drafts. A cozy dog or cat bed with a warm blanket or pillow is perfect.

*From http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/pet-care-tips/cold-weather-tips.aspx

Every Thursday for the month of January, St. Francis Pet Clinic will be offering a vaccination clinic at a reduced cost. A vaccination exam will be $20 and each vaccination will be $10. This is a great deal at half-off our normal cost! This offer won't last long, so call us today to schedule your Thursday appointment.

Bella was the most popular name for dogs and second most popular name for cats in 2012 in what Banfield Pet Hospital is calling a trend in pet titles inspired by pop culture, celebrities, fictional characters and athletes.
Portland, Ore.-based Banfield, researching the files of 2.5 million clients, pointed to the popularity of the movie series “The Twilight Saga” for the rise in Bella, the role played by actress Kristen Stewart. The name Renesmee, Bella’s daughter in the movie, became 42 percent more popular over the past year, Banfield reported Thursday.
The book series “The Hunger Games,” which was released as a movie in March, has influenced pet owners as well. Katniss, a protagonist in the trilogy, was 18 times more common as a dog name and 14 times more common as a cat name than it was in 2011, Banfield noted.
Others pet names likely derived from a popular film were Frankenweenie and Frankendoodle, Banfield discovered. The Tim Burton animated movie “FrankenWeenie” was released in September.
Names that may have had celebrity influence were Snooki, after “Jersey Shore” star Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi; Lorenzo, after Polizzi’s son; and Blue Ivy, after singer Beyonce’s daughter.
The sports world apparently gave pet owners the idea to name their dogs and cats Eli and Ellie Manning, after New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning.
A light bulb went off in the heads of viewers of TLC’s reality TV show “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” because more than a few named their animals Honey Boo Boo.
In addition, music artists such as Ke$ha, Nicki Minaj and Lady Gaga saw their names adopted by pets, Banfield stated.
“It's fun for us to see how creative our clients can be when it comes to their pets’ names,” said Elizabeth Lund, DVM, MPH, Ph.D., Banfield’s senior director of research. “Pet owners have strong, emotional connections with their pet, so it’s fitting they would give their four-legged family member a name that holds personal significance and reflects their interests.”

Top 10 Dog Names (2012): 1. Bella 2. Max 3. Buddy 4. Daisy 5. Bailey 6. CoCo 7. Lucy 8. Charlie 9. Molly 10. Rocky*

Top 10 Cat Names (2012): 1. Kitty 2. Bella 3. Tiger 4. Max 5. Smokey 6. Shadow 7. Tigger 8. Lucy 9. Chloe 10. Charlie*
*Source: Banfield Pet Hospital

Dr. Josh Frost, DVM is offering a special on male neuters for cats and dogs every Wednesday from now until May 1st. Canine neuters are offered at the discounted price of $100 and feline neuters at $70. Call us today at 208-726-1157 to schedule your Wednesday appointment! Neutering your male helps prevent unwanted litters and undesirable behavioral issues.

Welcome to St. Francis Pet Clinic's new website. Here, you can learn about how we started, who we are, what services we offer, and how to find us.

St. Francis was started in 1989 by Dr. Karsten Fostvedt, and the clinic has grown over the years mainly by word of mouth. This website's goal is to connect with another generation of pet owners to provide updates on clinic specials, services, and news. The blog portion of the site will also feature pet-care articles from time to time, written by our qualified and caring doctors. 

We also have a Facebook page: www.facebook.com/stfrancispetclinic. Visit us there and "like" us!

Thanks for visiting us, and if you have any questions, comments, concerns or cures for cancer, contact us!