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YOU AND YOUR PET
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MU A/ By Robert L. Stear, D.V.M.
I I / Mana 9 er of Veterinary Services
''HSsßßolcs?>rss*'i VH ( \ orc * en Laboratories
HUMAN VACCINE
FOR PUPPIES:
COMBINATION
PROTECTION AGAINST
CANINE DISTEMPER
Canine distemper is a
dreaded disease that occurs
most often in puppies. By 12
weeks of age, the average
pup is very likely to have
been exposed to canine
distemper - CD, as your
veterinarian calls it.
Symptoms of canine dis
temper are similar to those
of an upper respiratory
ailment. A runny nose, flat
and dry cough and loss of
appetite are the first signs.
This is followed by a high
temperature, vomiting, a
white crusty material around
the eyes and nose, thirst and
diarrhea. If secondary infec
tion sets in, there be
muscular twitching, convul
sions or paralysis.
Canine distemper is a
highly contagious disease
caused by a virus that is
carried through the air. It is
more common in the colder
months, although a pet may
contract the disease in any
weather. The infection can be
spread very quickly by the
sick dog or by the people
caring for it. Even a cough or
sneeze from an infected
animal or windblown germs
from the urine of a pet with
distemper can spread the
infection.
To prevent distemper, it is
improtant to have your pup
vaccinated as soon as it
comes into your home and to
follow with booster shots at
intervals set up by your
veterinarian.
Puppies receive what are
known as maternal anti
bodies from their mother’s
milk. These antibodies tem
porarily protect the pup from
specific diseases which the
mother is immune to. If the
mother has distemper im
munity, for example, she
will pass on distemper
antibodies. If the antibody
level is high enough, it will
neutralize the effects of vac
cination.
From six to 12 weeks of age
as the pup is weaned and
becomes fairly active, it runs
/ChristmasSMo
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every happiness at Christmas.
Etheridge-Smith Cos.
an increased risk of exposure
to canine distemper. This
increased risk happens at the
same time the pup is losing
the antibody protection
which it received from its
mother. At six weeks of age,
about half of all pups lose
their maternal antibodies;
by 12 weeks, almost all dogs
are susceptible to canine
distemper.
Researchers have dis
covered that human measles
virus will protect puppies
between six and 12 weeks of
age from canine distemper
and will be unaffected by the
pup’s maternal antibodies of
distemper. The distemper
measles concept for dis
temper protection has been
perfected in a vaccine which
is capable of protecting pups
against distemper better
than ever before, whether or
not maternal antibodies are
present. Your veterinarian
can give you details about
this vaccine.
The death rate from
distemper is high, and many
pets that survive are dis
abled. Blindness in one or
both eyes may result from
discharges affecting the
cornea. Similar discharges
sometimes leave the animal
deaf or without the sense of
smell. Permanent damage to
the nervous system may
cause chorea (twitching) for
the rest of the pet’s life.
If there is a case of
distemper in your neighbor
hood, keep away from the
house and everyone in it.
Even a short visit from a
member of the family with
the diseased pet could carry
the virus to your pet.
If your dog should suffer an
attack of distemper, good
nursing care will be vital to
bring him through. Your pet
should be kept quiet and
isolated in clean, warm and
dry quarters. Simple foods
such as beef broth and
coddled egg may be given in
small amounts. Your pet
may need to be spoon-fed
several times a day. Follow
the advice of your veteri
narian concerning medicines
and treatment.
Canine distemper is a
dreaded disease that can
usually be prevented.
THE JACKSON PROCRESS-ARCUS, JACKSON, GEORGIA
U.S. Senator
9 jiff
Sam Nunn
THE HEW QUAGMIRE
One of the major questions
facing the new Administra
tion and Congress in January
will be whether or not
America should have a
national health insurance
program.
In my opinion, we should
defer serious consideration of
a massive new national
health insurance program un
til the federal government
cleans up the duplication,
waste, fraud and abuse in
current federally sponsored
health care programs.
This year the Senate
Investigations Subcom
mittee, of which I serve as
Acting Chairman, has con
ducted an extensive probe of
fraud, corruption and mis
managmeent in the Depart
ment of HEW. In the
Guaranteed Student Loan
Program, we found one in
dividual who took about $20,-
000 illegally and scores of
others who so mismanaged
the program that taxpayers
may lose as much as one
billion dollars in bad loans.
In the Social and
Rehabilitation Service, we
found an employee who took
approximately $12,000 from
businesses heavily involved
in contracts supervised by his
agency. Believe it or not, this
man was a key official in a
program which has as one of
its major purposes the detec
tion of fraud in the Medicaid
program!
In both cases we sent our
investigative materials to the
Justice Department for ap
propriate legal action.
But these are just two cases
of corruption. Although we
may find other such cases, I
believe that most federal
employees are honest and
dedicated. The overriding
problem is not one of corrup
tion but management.
It is my belief that HEW,
the largest federal depart
ment, is not manageable,
may never be, and should be
restructured.
Within HEW, there is an
atmosphere which lends itself
to inefficiency, ineffec
Booster shots at prescribed
intervals will keep your pet’s
immunity at a high level so it
can resist infection. See your
veterinarian. Distemper is
much easier to prevent than
to treat.
tiveness and even dishonesty.
These are not casual obser
vations of mine; rather they
are based on extensive staff
investigations and recent
hearings conducted by the
subcommittee.
The patchwork of overlap
ping programs, confusing
regulations, cumbersome
bureaucracies, and conflic
ting laws make effective
management difficult if not
impossible. Moreover, the
funneling of $l3O billion this
year more than one-third
of our national budget
through more than 50,000
grants, 14,000 contracts,
through cities and states,
hospitals, schools, suppliers
and consultants creates a
breeding ground for abuse.
Earlier this fall, Congress
adopted legislation I in
troduced which establishes
an Office of Inspector
General in the Department of
HEW to combat fraud and
abuse. This is an important
first step, as our hearings
have shown. Even if Congress
were able to pass legislation
responsive to every scheme,
every type of fraud and abuse
—and even if all the culprits
were caught we still would
not have solved the real cause
of the problems. This cause is
structural.
In my opinion, the federal
government must begin to
reorganize the Washington
health bureaucracy. In the
final days of the 94th
Congress, Senators Ribicoff,
Magnuson, and myself in-
with joy and love.
TFe chime in with a
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appreciation for all our £*vjij|
friends and neighbors. 'i^
Jil
Mclntosh State Bank
MEMBER FDIC
THURSDAY. DECEMBER 23. 1976
troduced a bill to separate
Education from the mam
moth HEW. We will pursue
this legislation vigorously in
the 95th Congress.
By separating Education
from HEW, Congress would
free the Secretary of Health
and Welfare to devote his full
time to meeting the health
needs of Americans and to
cleaning up the management
of our welfare programs. In
addition, a separate Depart
ment of Education with
Cabinet level status would
enable us to give education its
proper priority and would
permit the establishment of a
more efficient and more
manageable department.
HEW has a responsibility
to deliver important and, in
many cases, essential services
to our people. Unfortunately,
because of red tape, excessive
bureaucracy, cumbersome
mismanagement and outright
fraud, a substantial portion
of these services is not
reaching the people. We must
channel these billions for
their intended use and make
HEW more responsive to the
needs of our people and more
concerned about the dollar of
the American taxpayer.
Too Long
An imaginative executive
of a credit service sent the
following letter to one of his
delinquent accounts: “Dear
Sir: After checking our files,
we note that we have done
more for you than your
mother did....we’ve carried
you for 15 months! ”
Reflecting
on priceless
presents
Sadly, the true meaning
of Christmas has been lost
somewhere between “Peace
on Earth,” “Good Will To
ward Men,” and “If the
Johnsons spend $75.00 for
our gift, we’ll have to spend
that much for theirs, al
though heaven knows
where we’ll find the mon
ey.”
Jesus knew little of Phase
4 and price ceilings, and the
wise men weren’t known as
such because they could
spot a gift that looked like
it cost SIOO, when it really
cost them $6.95.
The true "gifts” are in
deed priceless . . . “Love”
marked down must sell
for $25.00. “Friendship”
I’ll be your chum for $15.00
a day . . . now there’s a bar
gain that the gift-grabbers
will spot and line up for
long before the seller opens
his heart.
“Loneliness,” no thanks
we’ve had plenty of that
all year... too depressing at
Christmas time. Solve it
with a tie, not your stand
ard 4>/i" silk rep, but the
other kind: a bond between
people.
And so, when you hear
them say Christmas is for
giving and for getting,
make your neighbor under
stand its real meaning:
“forgiving” and “forget
ting,” and that’s one gift
not found in your local chic
boutique. When was the
last pre-Christmas sale held
in a manger?
YOUR WEEK AHEAD e, damis
Forecast Period:
December 26 Jan. 1,1977
ARIES Not a time for hasty decisions. Look for
Mar. 21-Apr. 19 the facts and avoid embarrassment thru
impulsive action.
TAURUS Friends could be a source of confusion Be
Apr. 20-May 20 confident in your own good judgment. Ad
justments may have to be made
GEMINI A favorable time for social get-togethers.
May 21-June 20 Interesting new people come into your cir
cle. Cultivate their friendship.
MOONCHILD Talk things over with your partner. There
June 21-July 22 just may be a surprising new development
you have been totally unaware of.
LEO An opportunity presents itself for some
July 23-Aug. 22 deeper study of moral issues or foreign af
fairs. Others look to you for guidance
VIRGO The resources of others are of concern to
Aug. 23-Sept. 22 you. You tend to dampen the enthusiasm
of someone close, feeling their ex
travaga nee is unwarranted.
LIBRA Happiness comes thru the partner Plans
Sept.23-Oct. 22 and ideas generated by your active
imagination are well received.
SCORPIO Health matters take on added signifi-
Oct. 23-Nov. 21 cance. A physical check up may & in
order, just to make sure all is well.
SAGITTARIUS Your thoughts turn to speculations and in-
Nov. 22-Dec. 21 vestments. Seek wise counsel in un
familiar matters. Let your creative talents
work for you.
CAPRICORN There’s a possible change of address in
Dec. 22-Jan. 19 store for you. Question around disposition
of property comes up. Have ready an
swers.
AQUARIUS The neighborhood comes alive w'ith a
Jan. 20-Feb. 18 great deal of tension and stress. Use your
calming influence to smooth ruffled
feelings.
PISCES ft’s a good time to review your accounts
Feb. 19-Mar. 20 now that your shopping trips are over, and
make sure of your financial picture.