National Pet Week--May 6-12

Animal Maze!  

Can you help the sick pup get to his veterinarian?

Poetry for Cedar Pet!

Stillwater poet Ann Bushnell offered a commissioned poem this winter as a fundraiser for her church, and we signed up.  She made several visits to the clinic, visited with Dr. Baillie, and here are the results.  We enjoyed it, and hope you do, too.  (We like reading it out loud!)

Poetry for Cedar Pet Clinic Lake Elmo
by Stillwater poet, Ann Bushnell

CEDAR PET CLINIC LAKE ELMO

Doctors Baillie, Ulfeng, Plantz

are here to offer a fighting chance

for those with feathers, fur or hide.

Sick or hurt, they're brought inside

so their lives can be enhanced.  

The entire staff helps everyone,

owners, patients, all who come.

On the counter sits big Kitty Moe

who watches the ever-changing show

and he may let you pet him some.

They'll treat a parrot or your pet rat,

a beagle, a basset, a calico cat,

lizards, chickens, chinchillas, too.

I bet they'd take a kangaroo

if it should come to that.  

Clinic's in Lake Elmo, a country town,

but people come from miles around,

bring Buddy and Max, Bailey and Beulah,

Fifi and Daisy, Amelia, Tallulah,

some striped or spotted, brindled or brown.

It's not just patients that come through

to visit the Clinic, it's Girl Scouts, too,

and each first grade class across the street

is shown around. They think it's neat, and

draw animal pictures to say, 'thank you.'

Doctors and staff have been together 

for so many years, they have the measure

of each other.  They know their need is

for owners and patients to succeed;

these efforts give them pleasure.

Essential to the clinic is Peg, Doc's wife,

who designs the website,, cheers his life,

reads telephone holds, writes the blog,

appreciates every cat and dog,

and knows they are treated right.

This clinic has been Doc Baillie's dream

for forty years and now it seems

at last it has been realized.

Lake Elmo knows it has a prize --

The Cedar Pet Clinic and its team.   

FROM OUR VETS: Canine Influenza Disease and Vaccination

Dr. Baillie writes:  Recently, in both Minnesota and the national news, there have been reports of an outbreak of Canine Influenza H3N8  and increased recommendation for vaccinating certain dogs against this virus.  We have been following this story through the professional publications and want to put this story in context.

This virus is a mutation of the Horse Influenza virus and has caused significant outbreaks of respiratory disease; it started at greyhound tracks in 2004 and then spread to boarding facilities and dog parks in the Eastern and Southern states. The virus causes significant respiratory disease. The main symptoms are cough, runny nose and fever. Many exposed dogs will develop antibodies and clear the infection without getting sick. It spreads rapidly when close-proximity conditions exist,  primarily by aerosol spread and  direct contact with infected dogs.  It is similar to human influenza in that symptoms will vary tremendously between infected individuals; some  will have mild signs and others developing much more serious disease.  The biggest risk is the concern for secondary bacterial pneumonia. 

Treatment approaches would be to prevent  dehydration and place infected dogs on antibiotics.  We recommend that any dog with respiratory symptoms be seen and consideration be given to starting antibiotics.  Although there have been deaths associated with this virus, overall most dogs will respond to treatment and nursing care.  Vaccination does exist for this virus, but vaccinated dogs may still acquire the virus, show some signs of illness, and shed the virus.

The important thing to recognize that there has not been a case of this disease confirmed in Minnesota, Wisconsin or Iowa yet.  Screening tests are available for this virus and other causes of dog respiratory disease.  We will be happy to discuss testing your dog and treating if needed.

Currently, we are not recommending routine vaccination for Canine Influenza.  If you intend to travel to the East or South especially over the holidays or winter, and your dog will be going to dog parks or be boarded during your travels, please contact us to discuss the possibility of vaccinating your dog.  The vaccine is a series of two injections a couple weeks apart and it would be best to do this in advance of traveling.

Do call us with any questions about canine influenza and the health of your pet.  We'll be glad to consult with you.  http://www.cedarpetclinic.com