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Lasers-Not Just for Science Fiction

May 14, 2012

When we think of lasers, many tend to think of spaceships and people shooting at each other with futuristic guns. Did you know that lasers are now commonly used in human and veterinary medicine?

We use lasers two different ways in our veterinary hospital. The first is laser surgery, where a laser replaces the scalpel normally used in surgery. This has several benefits for your pet including: reduced pain, reduced bleeding, reduced swelling, reduced infection and quicker recovery. If your pet is having surgery done, even just a routine spay or neuter, and you would like us to use our surgical laser,  just check it on the surgery release form when you drop your pet off.

The second type of laser we use is medical therapy laser. This is a different type of laser than the one used for surgery. Medical therapy laser has a variety of uses including: pain relief, wound healing, treating arthritic conditions, treatment of lick granulomas and more. Medical laser therapy is beneficial because it is a noninvasive way to treat these conditions that can be used along with medication and other treatments. It uses deep–penetrating light to stimulate the release of endorphins and stimulates injured cells to heal at a faster rate. Usually your pet will receive treatments over several weeks, although this can vary depending on what your pet is being treated for and the severity of the condition. The treatment itself can be done while you wait or you can drop your pet off if that is more convenient.

If you’d like to know more about the use of lasers in veterinary medicine, give us a call, we’d be happy to answer any questions you have or schedule an appointment so you can talk with one of our veterinarians to see if medical laser therapy would benefit your pet.

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Walk for a D.R.E.A.M.

May 8, 2012

 

    For more information go to  www.facebook.com/events/375453632496366/

 

 

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The Labrador Retriever

May 7, 2012

Every year the AKC releases its rankings on dog breeds based on the number of registered dogs in each breed, and for the past 21 years that breed has been the Labrador retriever.

What makes Labradors so popular? According to the AKC , “After being crossed with Setters, Spaniels and other Retrievers, the Labrador Retriever honed its skills as a true retriever. From this point in the breed’s history, “Labs,” as they are affectionately called, were bred primarily to perform as an efficient retriever of game, with a stable temperament suitable for a variety of activities beyond hunting.”

Their versatility is no doubt one of the things that has led to their popularity. Just a few of the jobs they’ve held are: guide dogs for the blind, service dogs, search and rescue, narcotics detection, therapy work and of course the job they were originally bred for, retrieving.

Labs are a large dog, averaging 65 to 80 pounds, and they have a short, dense coat that comes in three different colors: yellow, chocolate and black. They are bred to have an outgoing, non-aggressive temperament which makes them wonderful pets for active families.

However, a lab is not for everyone. They do best in homes where they can receive the attention and interaction with their owners that they crave. Also, as a sporting breed, they won’t be happy as couch potatoes, they want and need to get up and go.

If you think a Labrador retriever may be the dog for you, you can find more information on them at www.thelabradorclub.com  and www.akc.org . Also, like many popular breeds there is no shortage of Labradors in shelters and rescues in need of good homes, www.petfinder.com is a great place to start your search.

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Getting to Know Us, Part 2

April 30, 2012

This month in our Getting to Know You series I’d like to introduce one of our receptionists, Rachel.

Many of you have already seen Rachel’s smiling face while visiting our hospital. Rachel has worked at our reception desk for the past eight years.  She says that she really enjoys meeting people and getting to know them and their pets. Rachel and her husband Jared have been married six years and have two wonderful kids, Brooklyn, who is four years old and Kolten, who is a year and a half. Of course she also has furry family members as well, Magnum, a Labrador retriever and Mya, a Rottweiler. In her time off she enjoys shopping and is very involved with the youth activities at her church.

The next time you’re in the hospital, be sure to tell her hello!

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The Case of the Itchy Pet

April 23, 2012

Most people have dealt with allergies or know someone who has. We think of itchy eyes, runny noses and coughing. But did you know that your pet can have allergies as well? Finding out what your pet is allergic to can require a bit of detective work as well.

The symptoms of allergies in pets can vary quite a bit as well as the things they can be allergic to. Symptoms can be as varied as:

Sneezing

Coughing

Itching

Diarrhea

Chewing on skin or feet

Runny eyes

Red or crusty skin

Hair loss

Ear problems

Pets can be allergic to many of the same things as people, including:

Grass, trees, pollen

Mold

Fleas

Other animals

Different types of food ingredients

Prescription Drugs

Since there are such a variety of symptoms and things that pets can be allergic to, diagnosing exactly what your pet is reacting to can take time. Usually the most common allergies for your pet’s symptoms will be ruled out first. Often medication will be given to treat your pet’s symptoms and to see how he responds. Suspected food allergies may require that you feed your pet only one specific diet for an extended period of time to see if they improve.  If your pet is not responding to treatment your veterinarian may recommend allergy testing be done to find out what specific allergens your pet is reacting to. After the specific allergens are identified, your pet will need to be treated long term to desensitize his system to the allergens. While not a quick fix, allergy testing often has better results in the long run.

While diagnosing and treating allergies is not an easy process, your pet will greatly appreciate your efforts to keep her from feeling miserable. An itch free pet is a happy pet.

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Happy Cats

April 16, 2012

It’s very common at modern zoos to have enrichment programs for the animals that live there. These programs are ways to enhance the lives of the animals and give them much needed exercise and mental stimulation. It’s not only zoo animals that can benefit from enrichment activities though, our everyday pets can as well. Today I hope to give you some ideas of how you can help your indoor cats be even happier cats.

While cats that live outside have many opportunities for exploration, hunting and ‘normal’ cat behavior, the fact that the average lifespan for an outside cat is less than five years while indoor cats live an average of 12 to 18 years is more than enough reason for most pet owners to want their cats to be strictly indoors. There are things we can do to help replicate the great outdoors in an indoor setting though.

Cats like to hunt; it’s what they’re genetically wired to do. While most of us don’t want to have small rodents or birds flying loose in our house for our cat to chase, there are other options. There are many types of fishing poles with toys on the end made for cats. Laser toys are very popular with many cats as well, as they can try and catch the elusive red dot. Chasing these toys or the laser will help them get much needed exercise. Small furry toys or balls are fun for cats to chase and attack as well. The addition of catnip will add extra appeal for some cats.

Cats like to climb and while we can’t make our homes larger than they already are we can add vertical space. Cat trees come in a wide arrange of styles and colors. They can be covered with carpet, sisal rope or even large branches for our cats to claw and play on. Many cats love just to zoom up and down a tall cat tree as they play. If you have bookshelves in your home, you can leave a shelf clear except for a towel or blanket for an upper story kitty bed. Even cats that are declawed will often appreciate having a cat tree to climb and sleep on.

While it is easiest to feed our cats out of a bowl, it isn’t required. If you have a bored kitty, you can use a variety of different products such as the Slimcat Treat Ball ™, Kong Wobbler ™ or even feeding balls made for small dogs to put your cat’s dry food in. Your cat will have to roll the ball around to get the food to fall out. It may take a bit for some cats to get the knack of the toy, but with patience many cats will figure it out.

Another easy idea for giving your cat something to do is placing a bird feeder outside of a window. If there’s a platform or some other area the cat can sit and watch, so much the better. While she won’t be able to get to the birds, many cats enjoy watching them anyway.

These are just a few ideas to adding enrichment to your cat’s life. Spend a little time finding out what your cat likes to do for fun and be creative. You’ll both be happier for it.

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A Walk in the Park

April 9, 2012

We recently had a small dog in the hospital that had been attacked by a much larger dog. Sadly this is not that uncommon of a case for us to see, especially as the weather warms and more people are out with their dogs. There are some things you should keep in mind to help protect your dog and yourself when out on a walk.

·  Always make sure your dog is on a leash. Even the best trained dog can become distracted. Also if your dog is not overjoyed to meet strangers or other dogs, it would be best to avoid using a Flexi type of leash. You’ll have much better control with a regular 4’ to 6’ lead.

·  Not all dogs are friendly. This seems obvious, but a lot of people you may encounter when out walking your pet seem to be unaware of it. If someone is approaching you who is also walking a dog, you may want to cross to the other side of the street, or change direction to avoid them. This is especially true if you know your dog is not friendly with other dogs. If you know your dog is likely to bark and growl at a strange dog, possibly provoking an aggressive response from that dog, then do your best to avoid getting too close. It’s not that uncommon for someone approaching you to say “oh don’t worry, my dog likes other dogs”. They may not realize that not every dog feels that way. It’s better to avoid putting your dog in what you know will be a bad situation, even if it involves being slightly rude to someone to tell them to keep their dog away from yours.  Keep this in mind too if you have a very friendly dog. The other dog approaching you may not want to say hello, if their owner avoids you, don’t take it personally.

· Be aware of your surroundings. If you’re walking your dog, you may want to leave the headphones and mp3 player at home, so you can pay more attention while out on your walk.

· Be aware of what dogs live in your neighborhood. If you know there’s a dog that barks and growls at you while you walk by his fenced yard, you may want to avoid going by there, or cross the street before you get there. It’s especially important to know if there are any dogs that are routinely let out untethered in an unfenced yard. Not only can these dogs be a potential hazard for you and your pet, they can also endanger themselves. If a dog is routinely running loose, it is probably wisest to report it to the local dog warden.

· If you have a very small dog, consider walking them on a harness. In an emergency situation, where another dog comes out so fast you don’t have time to pick your dog up, you can use your leash to lift the dog by his harness up into your arms.

· You may want to consider carrying a product such as Direct Stop™ or a small air horn which can be used to deter a loose dog from approaching.

Most walks will be an enjoyable experience and good exercise for both you and your dog. It doesn’t hurt though to plan ahead to help prevent winding up in a bad situation.

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Microchipping Your Pet

April 2, 2012

One of the worst things many pet owners can imagine is having your pet become lost. Most of us are careful to do things to prevent our pet from getting out unsupervised, but accidents happen; gates can be left open, leashes break and dogs and cats can make a quick dash out the front door as you’re getting your pizza delivery. Hopefully your pet will have a collar with your phone number or other contact information on it. If you own a dog, he should also have his county dog license as well. But what if your pet doesn’t have a collar on?

This is where microchips can save the day. Not every pet, especially cats, wear a collar all the time. Microchips are small implants, about the size of a grain of rice, that are implanted in the loose skin between your pet’s shoulder blades. They are with your pet 24/7 and since they don’t require a power source will stay with your pet for life. When you get your pet microchipped, you are given a form to send in to register your pet and its microchip number. That number can be read by a handheld scanner and the registry contacted to get the owner’s contact information for their lost pet.

Almost all animal shelters and humane societies have scanners that they use to look for and read the chip number, if present, in a lost pet. In January there was a news story of a cat that was lost in Florida and found in Colorado. The kitty apparently snuck out a hole in a dryer vent. Luckily, the person who found him in Colorado took him to a local shelter where he was scanned and found to have a microchip which enabled them to contact his owner in Florida. How he got to Colorado is anyone’s guess.

While most of our pets won’t take cross country trips, it’s good to know there’s a way we can help them find their way home, even if it’s just from across town.

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Heartworm Disease

March 26, 2012

Many of us have enjoyed our past mild winter. We are not the only ones to appreciate the warmer weather though. Many insects such as mosquitoes may be getting an early start as well. While mosquitoes can carry a variety of diseases that affect humans and other animals, one of the main concerns for our animal friends is heartworm disease.

While many think of heartworm disease affecting only dogs, it can affect other animals as well, including cats. According to the American Heartworm Society though there are some differences in infections between the two species. Dogs are much more likely to become infected if exposed to infective larvae than cats are; the lifespan of worms in infected dogs is up to twice as long as it is in cats; dogs usually tend to carry a larger number of worms and are much more likely to have microfilaria or ‘baby worms’ circulating in their blood streams.

How can you tell if your pet has heartworm disease? Early in the infection there are often no signs. Later, signs can vary in dogs and cats and will also depend on the amount of worms present. As the worms start to grow they can cause blockages of blood vessels. Dogs can develop a persistent cough. They may have a hard time exercising due to damage to the lungs. Blood clots and aneurysms are also possible and animals can eventually develop heart failure. As with many other diseases, there may be loss of appetite and weight loss. Cats often have non-specific signs: coughing, weight loss, lethargy and vomiting. Sometimes cats can have symptoms similar to feline asthma.

Blood tests are usually run to positively identify heartworm infection. Radiographs can also help with diagnosing how severe the infection is and what damage may have already occurred to the lungs or heart. Your vet will work with you to set up a treatment plan for your pet.

Heartworms, however, are much easier to prevent than treat. There are a number of products available, most given monthly that can be used to prevent your pet from ever getting a heartworm infection. Your veterinarian can help you decide which one is best for you and your pet. So get out there and enjoy the nice weather and make sure your pets are protected from heartworms so they can enjoy it as well.

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Here Comes the Easter Bunny!

March 19, 2012

Easter is quickly approaching and pictures of bunnies are to be found all around us. Perhaps you’ve wondered if a rabbit would be a good pet. Well, as you should do before adopting any new pet, a little research is in order before you add that new family member.

Most of us at one time or another had a pet bunny or knew of someone who had a pet rabbit. It was usually kept in a cage or ‘hutch’ outside in a garage or barn. Rabbits were not seen as the type of animal that one would keep in the house. And while many rabbits are still commonly kept as outside pets, there is a growing trend to bring bunnies into the home as house pets.

Before deciding whether you want a rabbit as a pet, be it inside or out, you should learn a little about what a rabbit needs to stay happy and healthy. Domestic rabbits are descended from European Wild Rabbits. Unlike our native Cottontails that we commonly see outside, European Wild Rabbits live in large communal groups, or warrens, that are made of underground burrows. These bunnies have their own complex social structures. They can also be very aggressive towards other rabbits, especially ones that are not members of their warren. How does this affect our rabbits as pets? Well, a single rabbit kept in a small wire cage all of its life is not likely to be a happy bunny.  However, since they are also very territorial against strangers, if you think you may want more than one rabbit as a pet, you should consider getting two young rabbits at the same time, so that they can grow up together as friends.  Rabbits introduced to each other as adults may get along, but they may not, and while we think of bunnies as being cute and fluffy, they can do serious damage to one another if they fight.

Suppose you only want one rabbit though.  Then you get to be your bunny’s best friend! Rabbits enjoy cuddling and grooming their friends and a bunny that is licking your hand, or snuggling up beside you, is most likely expressing his affection for you. And since bunnies are social creatures, he will need a certain amount of your time every day to stay happy.

Bunnies are different from our more common pets, such as dogs and cats though. While most cats and small dogs like to be picked up and cuddled, rabbits usually do not. They will often enjoy hopping up on your lap, but generally don’t like to be picked up and held. In the wild, a rabbit that is picked up is usually some one’s dinner, so rabbits instinctively tend to become scared when lifted off the ground. Rabbits also have fairly fragile skeletons for their size and it is possible for them to seriously injure themselves if they start kicking while being held. While not quite as easily trained as cats, rabbits can learn to use a litter box.  And just as you need to puppy proof when you first get a pup, if you are considering adding a rabbit to your home, you will need to rabbit proof. Rabbits’ front teeth grow throughout their life so they have a strong need to chew, and while wild rabbits can chew whatever they want, a house rabbit that chews electrical cords will find itself in a very dangerous situation.

So what are some pluses of rabbits as pets? For starters, they’re quiet. If you live in an apartment or have neighbors nearby who might be upset by a noisy pet, a rabbit may be right for you.  They don’t require the time commitment of some pets, such as a dog, and while they do need room to exercise, their space requirements are much less as well. There are also few things cuter than a rabbit and while we tend to think of them as being rather lazy animals, they are incredibly fun to watch throwing a toy up in the air or doing bunny aerobics as they zoom around a room.

So, if you’re considering a rabbit as a pet, I hope this has given you some idea of whether or not one would be right for you. If you have further questions, such as specifics

on diet and health care, feel free to call us; we’d be happy to answer your questions. You can also find a lot of good information at the House Rabbit Society at www.rabbit.org. Just remember if you do get one, a bunny is not just for Easter.  With the proper care you can expect to have your furry friend for the next 8 to 12 years.

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