Practice Updates:
What’s New?
New Product for Dogs
Introducing Librela: Advanced Care for Canine Osteoarthritis
Video: Canine Arthritis: Emma and Shiva – Before and After a Treatment to Relieve Their Pain
Your dog is more than just a pet – they’re family! As they age, ensuring they live without pain becomes a priority. Librela is an innovative new solution providing advanced osteoarthritis care and profound pain relief with just one monthly injection. Librela specifically targets nerve growth factors to stop OA pain at the source, allowing your dog to enjoy comfortable movement again.
Benefits of Librela:
- First-of-its-kind: Librela is the only monthly monoclonal antibody injection providing prolonged relief from canine OA pain.
- Monthly Convenience: Just one injection a month keeps OA pain at bay.
- Safe Metabolization: Functions like your dog’s natural antibodies, minimizing liver or kidney involvement.
- Unique Action: Unlike NSAIDs, Librela tackles OA pain by countering NGF effects, a primary cause of canine OA pain.
- Enhanced Quality of Life: With reduced pain, dogs can enjoy increased activity once again and improve overall health.
Proven Track Record:
Although new to our offerings, Librela is not an experimental medication. It has been commercially available in Europe since 2021, and there exists a wealth of documented data highlighting the positive impact of dogs’ lives in Europe and Australia for numerous years.
Why Choose Librela?
- Innovative OA Pain Relief: Starting this November, experience the revolutionary treatment for canine OA.
- Holistic Compatibility: Librela works harmoniously with other pain and OA treatments.
- Organ-friendly: Ideal for dogs with limited kidney or liver functionality.
Know the Signs of Osteoarthritis:
As dogs grow older, they sometimes mask the pain they feel, but there are important signs that may indicate your senior dog is suffering from osteoarthritis pain:
- Reluctance to walk, jump, or play
- Limping or holding up a paw
- Lagging behind on walks
- Less interest in toys or interaction
- Sleeping more during the day
- Whining, groaning, or other vocalizations
- Changes in appetite or bowel habits
OA can affect dogs of all ages, sizes, and breeds. Nearly 40% of dogs show signs of OA pain, but less than half are diagnosed. Have you noticed changes in your dog’s activity and behavior? Use this checklist to identify your dog’s activities and behaviors that may be signs of osteoarthritis. Then click “See Report”. Your responses can be printed or emailed to share with your veterinarian.
Additional Resources:
- Dog Osteoarthritis Pain (OA) Checklist
- Pet Owner Resources – What is OA Pain?
- Is Your Dog Showing Signs of OA Pain? (Pre-Visit Resource)
- Back to Play PLAN Fitness
- Librela Prescribing Information
- Technical Bulletin: The New Science of Osteoarthritis (OA) Pain and Inflammation
Eager to find out how Librela can put some pep in your dog’s step? Call us or text us at (904) 717-0777 to schedule your visit with our team. At Del Mar Veterinary, we’re not just about treatment. We genuinely care that your furry family enjoys the best quality of life.
New Product for Cats
Solensia: A Breakthrough in Feline Osteoarthritis Management
Solensia™ – Back to Normal Video
Solensia (OA Pain) – Before and After Video
Cats with Osteoarthritis Pain (OA): Before and After Treatment Video
Feline OA is highly prevalent, but it can be difficult to diagnose cats when they don’t visit. Your cat is more than just a pet – they’re family! As they age, ensuring they live without pain becomes a priority. Solensia is an innovative new solution providing advanced osteoarthritis care and profound pain relief with just one monthly injection. Solensia is an injectable monoclonal antibody therapy administered monthly to control feline osteoarthritis (OA) pain
Understanding Feline Arthritis
Arthritis, a condition that causes inflammation of the joints, is not just a human affliction; it significantly impacts our cats, too. Recognizing the signs of arthritis in cats is the first step towards providing them with the relief they need. Symptoms can include:
- Reluctance to jump
- Reduced activity
- Changes in grooming habits
The Challenge of Diagnosis:
Diagnosing arthritis in cats presents unique challenges. Unlike humans, cats are inherently skilled at concealing pain and discomfort, a survival instinct that can make it difficult for even the most attentive pet owners to notice that their cat is suffering. Arthritis tends to develop gradually, further complicating the timely diagnosis of this condition. Cats with arthritis may show only subtle changes in behavior that could easily be overlooked or mistaken for normal aging such as a hesitance to jump and play or avoiding stairs. Cats may also groom less frequently than before, leading to an unkempt coat, or they may over-groom areas that are painful, which can cause bald spots.
The Role of Solensia in Managing Feline Arthritis:
Solensia feline arthritis treatment represents a significant advance in veterinary medicine. It’s specifically designed to target and alleviate the pain associated with arthritis in cats, making it easier for them to move and enjoy life. Solensia offers targeted relief without the side effects commonly associated with traditional pain medications.
Benefits of Solensia for Cats with Arthritis:
The introduction of Solensia has brought new hope to cats suffering from arthritis and their owners. This treatment has been shown to significantly improve mobility and reduce pain, allowing cats to return to their normal activities and have an improved quality of life.
Choosing Solensia for Your Cat:
Deciding on the right treatment for your cat’s arthritis involves understanding the options available and consulting with veterinary professionals. Whitney Veterinary Hospital is at the forefront of providing advanced care for cats with arthritis, and our team is here to guide you through the decision-making process. Our dedicated team will work with you to determine if Solensia is the right option for your cat and outline a treatment plan tailored to their needs.
Ensuring the Best Care for Your Cat:
At Del Mar Veterinary Hospital, we are committed to providing the highest standard of care for your pets. From innovative treatments like Solensia to routine check-ups, our team is dedicated to ensuring your cat lives a happy, healthy life. If you’re noticing changes in your cat’s mobility or behavior, don’t wait. Early intervention can make a significant difference in managing arthritis and maintaining your cat’s well-being. Give us a call or text us at (904) 717-0777 to discuss how we can help your cat live a happier, more comfortable life.
OA can affect cats of all ages, sizes, and breeds. Nearly 40% of all cats have clinical signs of osteoarthritis. Have you noticed changes in your cat’s activity and behavior? Use this checklist to identify your cat’s activities and behaviors that may be signs of osteoarthritis. Then click “See Report”. Your responses can be printed or emailed to share with your veterinarian.
Take the Feline OA Pain Checklist Quiz to learn more!
Additional Resources:
- Cat Osteoarthritis Pain Checklist
- Has Your Cat Stopped Acting Like “Your Cat”?
- Article: The Impact of Chronic Pain on Your Cat’s Quality of Life
- Article: Everyday Signs of a Cat in Pain
- Article: Recognizing Your Cat’s Normal vs. Not Normal
- Solensia Prescribing Information
Caring for a cat with arthritis can be a challenging journey for pet owners. As our beloved cats age, they might not leap as high or move as smoothly, and it’s our job to ensure their golden years are comfortable. Enter Solensia, a revolutionary treatment that’s transforming feline arthritis management. At Del Mar Veterinary Hospital, we’re excited to share how this innovative therapy can improve the quality of life for cats dealing with the discomfort of arthritis. If your cat shows signs of arthritis, call us or text us at (904) 717-0777 to explore how Solensia can help.
Dr. Nieves and the Staff at Del Mar Veterinary Hospital are pleased to welcome Purina ProPlan Veterinary Diets and Pro Plan as our recommended pet food lines.
To deliver the best medical care possible, our doctors and staff participate in regular continuing education to learn and evaluate new medical procedures and products for pets with specific health conditions. Therapeutic (prescription) diets play an important role in the prevention and management of many diseases in dogs and cats.
Deciding on a diet line is no easy task and we were specifically looking for a company with diets that could provide these characteristics:
- High Quality/Effective Nutrition
- Latest Advances in Science/Technology
- Excellent Palatability (Taste)
- Convenient Home Delivery with $0 shipping (on ALL orders)
- Reasonable Prices with Client Discounts!
PURINA ProPlan Veterinary Diets meet all of our needs!
We will have most of the most commonly used Purina Veterinary Diets (prescription) in stock. Soon, most Royal Canin will no longer be stocked routinely and available on our online pharmacy Vetsource.com. All diets can be switched to the Purina diet. Our doctors and staff have begun feeding the Purina diets to our animals, and also feeding our boarding and hospitalized animals on these high-quality diets with GREAT results.
We’re excited about the change and we’re confident you’ll be pleased with our choice.
If you have any questions regarding this change, we’ll be happy to address them at your next visit or by phone. To help make this transition as hassle-free as possible, please stop by before the completion of your current pet food for your first comparable Purina Veterinary Diet!
Order through www.ProPlanVetDirect.com to receive 20% off (with auto-ship) with convenient FREE delivery to your home.
20% OFF 1st Automatic Shipment – Promo Code: AUTO20 (Offer valid 1/1/23-6/30/23)
HOW TO ORDER? Watch a brief video HERE.
WE ARE HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE ARE A…
YES! We are officially the first veterinary hospital in North Florida to become a Fear Free Certified Practice, and the only one in St. Johns County. All of our staff, from Dr. Nieves, our Patient Care Coordinator, our Certified Veterinary Technician, to our Hospital Director, a Fear Free Certified Professional.
What does this all mean to you and your pet?
A trip to the vet shouldn’t be an experience that fills your pet with fear. The last thing we want is for your pet to fear the one place that is fully committed to ensuring they live a happy and healthy life! Our mission is to make coming to the vet a happy and stress-free experience for the whole family and we do this through a series of steps-from your home to the car to your visit and your trip home again.
We think the Fear Free certification program says it best: “Fear Free visits eliminate fear, anxiety, and stress, and create an experience that is better and safer for all involved, including pets, owners, and veterinary health care teams.”
Here are a few things we are dedicated to for a Fear Free Visit:
- Reducing or removing anxiety triggers that can cause pets to become fearful at home, in transport, or at the hospital.
- Helping clients deliver calm pets to our hospital.
- Enhancing the quality of medicine in our practice.
- Improving safety for our amazing veterinary team.
We’re happy to answer any questions!
You can find more info on our website: /fear-free/
CHECK US OUT! THIS IS WHAT WE DO…
FEAR FREE – Not only does it help you practice better medicine, look out for pets’ emotional well-being, build team culture, increase bottom lines, create a safer workplace, and provide master-class customer service…but the simple experience of watching patients leave your practice happy and feeling like their friend again will remind you why you went into this profession in the first place ❤️
2024 Pet Holidays and Veterinary Awareness Days
Courtesy of amcny.org, fearfreepets.org, avma.org & aaha.org
In December 2024, we celebrate:
Awareness Months
National Cat Lovers’ Month
Safe Toys and Gifts Month
Awareness Weeks
December 25–January 3 | Hanukkah
December 26–January 1 | Kwanzaa
Holidays and Awareness Days
December 2 | National Mutt Day
December 3 | Giving Tuesday
December 4 | World Wildlife Conservation Day
December 5 | Celebrate Shelter Pets Day (first Thursday after Thanksgiving)
December 9 | International Day of Veterinary Medicine
December 10 | International Animal Rights Day
December 13 | National Day of the Horse
December 25 | Christmas Day
December 27 | Visit the Zoo Day
December 31 | New Year’s Eve
In January 2025, we celebrate:
Awareness Months
One Health Awareness Month
Walk Your Dog Month
Walk Your Pet Month
National Train Your Dog Month
Adopt a Rescued Bird Month
Holidays and Awareness Days
January 2 | National Pet Travel Safety Day
January 2 | Happy Mew Year for Cats Day
January 5 | National Bird Day
January 6 | National Cuddle Up Day
January 6 | National Standard Poodle Day
January 7 | National Alaskan Malamute Day
January 8 | National Labrador Retriever Day
January 9 | National Australian Shepherd Day
January 13 | National French Bulldog Day
January 14 | National Dress Up Your Pet Day
January 15 | National American Eskimo Dog Day
January 17 | National Boxer Day
January 19 | National Conservation Dog Day
January 20 | Penguin Awareness Day
January 21 | Squirrel Appreciation Day
January 22 | National Yorkshire Terrier Day
January 22 | National Answer Your Cat’s Question Day
January 24 | Change a Pet’s Life Day
January 24 | Peanut Butter Day
January 29 | Seeing-Eye Guide Dog Anniversary
January 29 | Tuxedo Cat Appreciation Day
Del Mar recognizes the following six (6) holidays:
New Year’s Day (1/1)
Memorial Day (5/31)
Independence Day (7/4)
Labor Day (9/5)
Thanksgiving (11/28)
Christmas (12/25)
We might be open some of these days, so always give us a call, check us out on Google (NOT Yelp), or visit our social media pages (Instagram or Facebook) to confirm if we will be able to assist you.
YES! We are AAHA Accredited because we only want the best for you.
AAHA Accreditation – Our hospital was evaluated on approximately 900 rigorous veterinary standards of excellence. Thanks to our amazing team, we are proud to be among the top AAHA-accredited hospitals in the United States and Canada.
AAHA-accredited hospitals are recognized among the finest in the industry and are consistently at the forefront of advanced veterinary medicine. The Standards of Accreditation are continuously reviewed and updated to keep our accredited practices on the cutting edge of veterinary excellence. AAHA standards address patient care and pain management, surgery, pharmacy, laboratory, exam facilities, medical records, cleanliness, emergency services, dental care, diagnostic imaging, anesthesiology, and continuing education.
For more information about our AAHA Accreditation, click HERE. To watch a video on what makes a veterinary practice AAHA Accredited, click HERE.