National Pet Preparedness Month

June is National Pet Preparedness Month! 

This is the perfect time to get your pets ready in case a disaster hits.

Unfortunately, many pets get separated from their families during disasters, which is why it is essential to plan for them when preparing for emergency situations.

Follow these pet preparedness tips from Ready.gov.

• Include your pets in your emergency plans
• Build a separate emergency kit for your pets
• Make sure to keep digital records and/or pictures to identify your pet after a disaster in case you become separated
• Create a list of places that accept pets if an emergency happens

When preparing your emergency plan:

• ID your pet. Make sure your pet's tags are up-to-date and securely fastened to your pet's collar. If possible, attach the address and/or phone number of your evacuation site. If your pet gets lost, his tag is his ticket home. Also consider microchipping your pets.
• Make sure to have a current photo of your pet for identification purposes.
• Make an emergency kit. You can find a full item list here.
• Identify shelters. For public health reasons, many emergency shelters cannot accept pets. Find out which motels and hotels in the area you plan to evacuate to allow pets well in advance of needing them. There are also a number of guides that list hotels/motels that permit pets and could serve as a starting point. Include your local animal shelter's number in your list of emergency numbers.
• Make sure you have a secure pet carrier, leash or harness for your pet so that if he panics, he can't escape.

During the disaster:

• Bring your pets inside immediately.
• Have newspapers on hand for sanitary purposes. Feed animals moist or canned food so they will need less water to drink.
• Animals have instincts about severe weather changes and will often isolate themselves if they are afraid. Bringing them inside early can stop them from running away. Never leave a pet outside or tied up during a storm.
• Separate dogs and cats. Even if your dogs and cats normally get along, the anxiety of an emergency situation can cause pets to act irrationally. Keep small pets away from cats and dogs.
• In an emergency, you may have to take your birds with you. Talk with your veterinarian or local pet store about special food dispensers that regulate the amount of food a bird is given. Make sure that the bird is caged and the cage is covered by a thin cloth or sheet to provide security and filtered light. 
• If you evacuate your home, DO NOT LEAVE YOUR PETS BEHIND! Pets most likely cannot survive on their own and if by some remote chance they do, you may not be able to find them when you return.
• If you are going to a public shelter, it is important to understand that animals may not be allowed inside. Plan in advance for shelter alternatives that will work for both you and your pets; consider loved ones or friends outside of your immediate area who would be willing to host you and your pets in an emergency.
• Make a back-up emergency plan in case you can't care for your animals yourself. Develop a buddy system with neighbors, friends, and relatives to make sure that someone is available to care for or evacuate your pets if you are unable to do so. Be prepared to improvise and use what you have on hand to make it on your own for at least three days, maybe longer.

Caring for your pet after the disaster:

• If you leave town after a disaster, take your pets with you. Pets are unlikely to survive on their own.
• In the first few days after the disaster, leash your pets when they go outside. Always maintain close contact. Familiar scents and landmarks may be altered and your pet may become confused and lost. Also, snakes and other dangerous animals may be brought into the area with flood areas. Downed power lines are a hazard.
• The behavior of your pets may change after an emergency. Normally quiet and friendly pets may become aggressive or defensive. Watch animals closely. Leash dogs and place them in a fenced yard with access to shelter and water. 

Tips for Large Animals.

If you have large animals such as horses, cattle, sheep, goats or pigs on your property, be sure to prepare before a disaster.

• Ensure all animals have some form of identification.
• Evacuate animals whenever possible. Map out primary and secondary routes in advance.
• Make available vehicles and trailers needed for transporting and supporting each type of animal. Also make available experienced handlers and drivers. Note: It is best to allow animals a chance to become accustomed to vehicular travel so they are less frightened and easier to move.
• Ensure destinations have food, water, veterinary care, and handling equipment.
• If evacuation is not possible, animal owners must decide whether to move large animals to shelter or turn them outside.

Head on over to Ready.Gov Pet and Emergency Planning page or the Humane Society's Disaster Preparedness Page for even more helpful tips!

Taconic Rt. 202 24 Hr. Veterinary Hospital In-House Service

Yesterday, our sales manager Rich performed an in-house service at the Taconic Rt. 202 24 Hour Veterinary Hospital to help with their recently purchased Richard Wolf Scope and accessories. 

While he was there, he was able to watch Dr. Berk and Dr. Carbone use the equipment to perform a biopsy via rhinoscopy in a cat with a possible tumor.

They very graciously allowed us to share the pictures.

Want more information on our in-house services?
Contact us today!

Make a Disaster Plan for Your Pets

From the Humane Society of

the United States.

"How to keep pets safe in natural disasters and everyday emergencies.

The best way to keep your pets safe during an emergency is to keep them with you.

1. Start Getting Ready Now

ID Your Pet

Make sure that cats and dogs are wearing collars and identification tags that are up to date. You'll increase your chances of being reunited with pets who get lost by having them microchipped; make sure the microchip registration is in your name. But remember: The average citizen who finds your pet won't be able to scan for a chip, but they will probably be able to read a basic tag!

Put your cell phone number on your pet's tag.

It might also be a good idea to include the phone number of a friend or relative outside your immediate area - in case you have had to evacuate.

Put together your disaster kit.

Use our checklist to assemble an emergency kit for yourself and your pet.

Find a safe place to stay ahead of time.

Never assume that you will be allowed to bring your pet to an emergency shelter. Before a disaster hits, call your local office of emergency management to see if you will be allowed to evacuate with your pets and verify that there will be shelters in your area that take people and their pets.

Contact hotels and motels outside your immediate area to find out if they accept pets. Ask about any restrictions on number, size and species. Inquire if a "no pet" policy would be waived in an emergency. Keep a list of animal-friendly places handy, and call ahead for a reservation as soon as you think you might have to leave your home.

Make arrangements with friends or relatives.

Ask people outside your immediate area if they would be able to shelter you and your pets - or just your pets - if necessary. If you have more than one pet, you may need to arrange to house them at separate locations.

Consider a kennel or veterinarian's office.

Make a list of boarding facilities and veterinary offices that might be able to shelter animals in disaster emergencies (make sure to include their 24-hour telephone numbers).

Check with your local animal shelter.

Some shelters may be able to provide foster care or shelter for pets in an emergency. But keep in mind that shelters have limited resources and are likely to be stretched during a local emergency.

Plan for your pet in case you're not home.

In case you're away during a disaster or evacuation order, make arrangements well in advance for someone you trust to take your pets and meet you at a specified location. Be sure the person is comfortable with your pets and your pets are familiar with them. Give your emergency caretaker a key to your home and show them where your pets are likely to be (especially if they hide when they're nervous) and where your disaster supplies are kept.

If you have a pet-sitter, they may be able to help. Discuss the possibility well in advance.

2. If you evacuate, take your pet

Rule Number One:If it isn't safe for you,

 it isn't safe for your pets. 

You have no way of knowing how long you'll be kept out of the area, and you may not be able - or allowed - to go back for your pets. Pets left behind in a disaster can easily be injured, lost or killed.

Rule Number Two: Evacuate early.

Don't wait for a mandatory evacuation order. Some people who have waited to be evacuated by emergency officials have been told to leave their pets behind. The smell of smoke or the sound of high winds or thunder may make your pet more fearful and difficult to load into a crate or carrier. Evacuating before conditions become severe will keep everyone safer and make the process less stressful.

3. If you stay home, do it safely

If your family and pets must wait out a storm or other disaster at home, identify a safe area of your home where you can all stay together.

• Close off or eliminate unsafe nooks and crannies where frightened cats may try to hide.
• Move dangerous items such as tools or toxic products that have been stored in the area.
• Bring your pets indoors as soon as local authorities say trouble is on the way. Keep dogs on leashes and cats in carriers, and make sure they are wearing identification.
• If you have a room you can designate as a "safe room," put your emergency supplies in that room in advance, including your pet's crate and supplies. Have any medications and a supply of pet food and water inside watertight containers, along with your other emergency supplies. If there is an open fireplace, vet, pet door or similar opening in the house, close it off with plastic sheeting and strong tape.
• Listen to the radio periodically, and don't come out until you know it's safe.

4. After the disaster

Your home may be a very different place after the emergency is over, and it may be hard for your pets to adjust.

• Don't allow your pets to roam loose. Familiar landmarks and smells might be gone, and your pet will probably be disoriented. Pets can easily get lost in such situations.
• While you assess the damage, keep dogs on leashes and cats in carriers inside the house. If your house is damaged, your pets could escape.
• Be patient with your pets after a disaster. Try to get them back into their normal routines as soon as possible. Be ready for behavioral problems caused by the stress of the situation. If these problems persist, or if your pet seems to be having any health problems, talk to your veterinarian.
• If your community has been flooded, check your home and yards for wild animals who may have sought refuge there. Wildlife can pose a threat to you and your pet. Check out our tips for humanely evicting wildlife.

5. Be ready for everyday emergencies

You can't get home to your pet.

There may be times that you can't get home to take care of your pets. Icy roads may trap you at the office overnight, an accident may send you to the hospital - things happen. But you can make sure your pets get the care they need by making arrangments now:

• Find a trusted neighbor, friend or family member and give him or her a key. Make sure this backup caretaker is comfortable and familiar with your pets (and vice versa).
• Make sure your backup caretaker knows your pets' feeding and medication schedule, whereabouts and habits.
• If you use a pet-sitting service, find out in advance if they will be able to help in case of an emergency.

The electricity goes out

If you're forced to leave your home because you've lost electricity, take your pets with you to a pet-friendly hotel. If it's summer, even just an hour or two in the sweltering heat can be dangerous. If you stay at home during a summer power outage, ask your local emergency management office if there are pet-friendly cooling centers in the area.

If it's winter, don't be fooled by your pets' fur coats; it isn't safe to leave them in an unheated house."

Click here for the original article.

National Hug Your Cat Day!

It's National Hug Your Cat Day!

(Or for many of you, what you normally do on a Saturday!)

Go ahead and give your fluffy friend a big hug!

Don't have a cat?

June is "Adopt a Cat Month"!

Contact your local humane society.

National Pet Day!

It's National Pet Day!

This is the perfect day to celebrate the furry friends of our team here at Endoscopy Support Services!

Jimmy's dog Bailey

Anthony with Ricky

Maria's dogs Francesca and Rocky

Maria's guinea pigs Rosie and Daisy

Rich's pet horse that keeps him company in his office

Tim's cats Milkshakes and Shocker

Tim's dogs Becky and Finn

Tell us about your furry friends!

National Love Your Pet Day

Happy National 

Love Your Pet Day!

Don't have a pet? 

Maybe today is the day you go take a trip to your local humane society to pick up a new friend!

Endoscopy in Cats and Dogs

Are you concerned if your furry friend needs to go for some endoscopic procedure? 

Don't be!

Our friends over at VCA Animal Hospitals have

 put together these two articles about 

Endoscopy in Dogs and Endoscopy in Cats 

to explain what exactly is to be expected.  

ESS Veterinary Videoscope - Colonoscopy

This video shows a colonoscopy on a feline
 patient using the HVP-2100 Video System. 

This footage demonstrates the high video quality
 of  the ESS Small Animal Endoscope.

The video was recorded with the 
iCap Image and Video Capture System.

To learn more about our products, 
check out our online store!

Happy National Poinsettia Day!

It's National Poinsettia Day! 

While these well-recognized symbols of Christmas are beautiful, don't forget to keep them away from your pets this holiday season, as they can be toxic if ingested!

USB Camera Set-Up

Here we have a veterinarian using our USB Camera to perform a Rhinoscopy on a cat. 

Find out more about this product at our online store!