Early Detection Saves Pets

Tampa, Fla. (Vocus) January 7, 2009

Whether you commit to your new year's resolutions or not, veterinarians are urging you to commit to your pets this year by bringing them in for regular check ups. Regular check ups can result in early detection of critical health issues, which can lead to a loved one's life saved and less costly medical bills for pet owners.

"Many times we see pet parents come in on an emergency basis or when it is almost too late because they do not realize the consequences of waiting just a little bit longer," says Dr. Shaw, DVM, ACVIM, chief medical officer of Florida Veterinary Specialists (FVS). "We all understand that times are a little tough right now, but most owners can save themselves from more costly bills if they find the root of the problem early on, and more often than not it can save their pet's life."

Veterinarians have recently seen an increased trend in pets that arrive at the hospital that have died at home; possibly due to a treatable disease. Other pet owners are faced with the difficult decision to humanely euthanize their pets rather than commit to medical treatment that may be too costly.

"It is difficult and unfortunate to see pet owners have to put their pets to sleep because the illness has progressed to requiring costly medical treatment," says Dr. Shaw. "We believe it is important to provide access to treatments for difficult cases at our facilities. With regular check ups, pet owners could really benefit in the long run when they consult with their family veterinarian."

The current climate of the economy is affecting pet owners who are now more sensitive to their finances.

Dr. Shaw recommends taking immediate action and bringing your pet to your family veterinarian or the emergency room if one or more of the following occur:    

• Pet is not drinking
• Pet is not eating for more than 24 to 48 hours
• Pet is unable to sleep and get comfortable or rest for any period of time
• Pet vomits for more than one day or tries to vomit but is unable to do so
• Pet has any blood in vomit or stool
• Pet is poorly responsive or unresponsive

Florida Veterinary Specialists is a referral-based hospital with 24-hour emergency care services dedicated to providing a superior level of patient and client care through close cooperation with the family practitioner. Their specialized services include Acupuncture, Avian & Exotic, Behavioral Medicine, Cardiology, Critical Care, Dermatology, Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, Neurology, Oncology & Radiation, Ophthalmology, Radiology, Rehabilitation and Surgery. Florida Veterinary Specialists is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and is located at 3000 Busch Lake Blvd. in Tampa. In addition to its Tampa location, FVS has satellite facilities in Clearwater and Brandon. For further information, please visit http://www.fvs.com.

Florida Veterinary Specialists is a member hospital of BluePearl Veterinary Partners, along with NYC Veterinary Specialists (http://www.nyc-vs.com) and Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center of Kansas City (http://www.vseckc.com). BluePearl Veterinary Partners merged in 2008 and is one of the leading providers of emergency and specialized referral veterinary medicine.

Contact:
Tajiana Ancora-Brown
813.933.8944

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