In This Issue:

IN HOUSE LABORATORY SERVICES ADDED 

TO THE MET VET

    We are pleased to announce the addition of laboratory equipment to our facility which allows us to give faster service on most laboratory procedures. Our new blood chemistry and electrolyte equipment allows us to provide same day results for pre-anesthetic blood work or sick animal evaluations. We hope this additional service will offer our patients and clients greater convenience and peace of mind. 

GENERIC HEARTWORM PREVENTION AVAILABLE

    We are pleased to offer a less expensive alternative to Heartgard Plus to our clients. Iverhart is a generic version of Heartgard that contains the same active ingredient and provides the same coverage for heartworm, hookworm and roundworm prevention. Savings to our clients ranges from 10 to 25 % depending on the size of the tablet. If you need a refill on your heartworm prevention, ask the receptionist when you call for an appointment.

LEGAL CHALLENGES FOR

INTERNET BASED PETMEDS EXPRESS 

       For the second time in three years the internet based pet pharmacy, Pet Meds Express, has run into problems with the law and the Florida Pharmacy board. The board regulates licensing and practices of prescribing pharmacies in the state. The state board brought charges against PetMeds Express for several offenses. These allegations were brought in response to complaints across the country concerning prescriptions being filled without a veterinarian prescription or authorization, without a doctor-client-patient relationship and for distributing products not developed for sale in this country. Charges of a similar nature were filed in 1999 against the company. PetMeds settled the suit without admitting any wrong doing while pledging to abide by all regulating pertaining to their business. 

    PetMeds appears to have the most mercenary stance towards the veterinarian-client-patient relationship of all the internet pet pharmacies this practice has encountered. Dr. Washington has personally had discussions with staff members of PetMeds Express where the explanations of how his name was placed on a prescription when he specifically instructed PetMeds not to do so for medical reasons. There were pledges that the prescribing information would be forwarded yet no explanation was ever provided. This situation occured more than once. While no animals were harmed, the practice of providing prescription medications without the direction of a doctor that knows the patient is not only dangerous but unethical. For this reason, Dr. Washington advises extreme caution when selecting a source for low cost medications and will be happy to discuss this long standing problem with anyone that cares to make contact. For additional information on problems with PetMeds Express, please see the article from the American Veterinary Medical Association Journal.

NEW DEVICE ALLOWS FOR CLEANER EARS

    The Met Vet is pleased to offer a new procedure for cleaning problem ears in dogs. This new device, known as the Auriflush, provides temperature controlled positive pressure cleansing and suction evacuation of the canal of cleaning fluids --- without sedation!! In the past if a patient had seriously dirty or infected ears, the only solution was sedation or anesthesia and manually rinsing the ears to remove material. Now, warm water, with or without medication can be used to thoroughly cleanse the canals. The warmed solution often results those characteristic "ear moans" which translates into "Ooooooh! That feels soooooo gooood!" To schedule your pet for this comfort provider, please call the clinic for an appointment.

  GIFT BASKETS FOR YOUR PET!