(Saint Petersburg, FL - August 11, 2011)

It is widely known that MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) is a common infection diagnosed in people. However, most pet owners do not know that pets are also at risk of contracting this disease, and if not treated properly, can be fatal. According to Jonathan Lewis, President of COOL PET Holistic, a manufacturer of holistic remedies for pets, pet owners need to talk with their veterinarians to find the best course of treatment if MRSA is diagnosed. Lewis states that the overuse of antibiotics is a serious problem in both human and animal medicine and can cause ineffectivity of these treatments.

Just like people, pets that contract MRSA, typically do so following a surgical procedure. So, how can pet owners help prevent or simply recognize a MRSA infection? Here are a few pointers:

1. When scheduling surgery or another procedure, ask your vet if you can look where the procedure will be taking place. Make sure that the procedure area is organized and clean.

2. Keep a close eye on your pet's cuts and scrapes to make sure that these minor injuries are healing in a reasonable amount of time.

3. For surgery sites that do not appear to be healing quickly, ask your vet to take a culture as soon as possible in order to make an accurate diagnosis.

As long as MRSA is detected early, your pet can be be treated with the proper antibiotics and usually benefit from a full recovery.

 (Saint Petersburg, FL - August 11, 2011)