As we all settle into the shorter days of Autumn and look forward to the outdoor activities of the season (football games, apple picking, sweatshirts and even an indoor fire…) we hope you are well and coping with our new normal. Please take a minute to read three important updates:
Our Pets Need Your Suport – Proposed Xylitol Legistation
Xylitol is an artificial sweetener used in many everyday products, including sugar-free gum, vitamins, cough drops, peanut butter, and more. It’s also highly poisonous to pets, especially dogs, and frequently not listed on the ingredient label, making it difficult for pet owners to know to be concerned. Xylitol impacts your pet’s sugar levels, leads to liver failure and is life threatening if not treated very quickly. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center reports that xylitol poisoning calls have increased dramatically over the last 15 years. In 2018, xylitol-related calls increased more than 30 times over 2005!
To address the rise in xylitol poisoning of pets and better inform pet owners of the risk of xylitol, Representatives David Schweikert (R-Ariz.) and Greg Stanton (D-AZ-9) introduced the Paws Off Act of 2021 (H.R. 5261). This bipartisan legislation would simply require food containing xylitol to include a warning label specifying its toxic effects to dogs and other pets.
Should be easy, right? They need our help to ensure this important legislation passes for all pets. Please call or email your Representatives and ask them to support the Paws Off Act of 2021 (H.R. 5261). Some of the local Representatives are:
Brian Fitzpatrick (Newtown, New Hope, Levittown, etc.) 215.579.8102 fitzpatrick.house.gov/email (to send an email)
Bonnie Watson Coleman (Trenton, Ewing NJ) 202.225.5801
A Change in Hospital Protocol – No Shows
As you probably know, the entire veterinary industry is challenged with increased demand for services, a severe shortage of staffing at every level and new COVID protocols further stretching resources. There are more sick patients waiting to be seen than we can accommodate on a daily basis even with regularly overloading the appointment schedule. This equation just doesn’t work.
We thank everyone for their patience with longer wait times for routine appointments and non-emergent surgeries. Unfortunately, we are currently seeing more than 13% of our available appointments filled with appointments that are eventual No Shows/Last Minute Cancellations. These appointments could have easily been filled with sick animals if we had known in time
Effective October 1, 2021 we are implementing a No Show policy for all appointments. Any appointment not cancelled by 4PM on the previous day will be charged the exam fee for the appoint slot scheduled. This is easy to avoid, you are sent reminders at least 3 times for all appointments, just let us know if you need to reschedule. We do our best to respect your time, we need everyone to respect their fellow clients in need and our medical team as well. While this change will not impact the majority of the Newtown Vet family, it will hopefully help us see additional patients every day.
2022 Newtown Vet Calendar is Underway – Please Submit Pictures by October 25th
One of the fun things that hasn’t changed during Covid is our annual pet calendar. Pictures can be sent to NVHCalendar@newtownvet.net. We will do our best to include at least one picture from every family and remember, no people please. We hope to have finished calendars back before Thanksgiving & remember, 100% of the proceeds go to local Rescue Groups. You can reserve your copy today!
Stay safe and enjoy the Fall!
The Doctors & Staff at Newtown Vet Hospital