Thursday, November 29, 2012

The Importance of Pet Health Care


Our pets give us love and companionship everyday. From the moment we bring them home, our pets become members of our families.  They play with us, love us and most importantly, rely on us.  As pet owners we get the pleasure of having them in our lives. Being a pet owner also comes with responsibilities. There are things we must do to take good care of them.  This includes proper nutrition, exercise, cleanliness and health care. 
 
Establishing a good relationship with your veterinarian insures that your pet receives appropriate health care specifically tailored to their needs and environment. Comprehensive examinations, vaccinations, internal and external parasite control and routine bloodwork greatly enhance your pet’s overall health and wellness throughout their lives. At some point in your pet’s life, they will likely need their veterinarian when faced with illness or injury. It is important that your veterinarian get to know your pet when they are healthy because treating illness can be very stressful. Knowing and trusting your veterinary professionals helps minimize the stress associated with managing your pet’s illness or injury.
 
Some pet owners do not visit their veterinarian annually. They may not want to spend the money or they may not make the time for appointments.  However, having a veterinarian oversee your pet's health is important as it may help avoid the expensive costs of illness or life threatening situations. Our pets cannot tell us when they are under the weather but with regular visits to the veterinarian, subtle signs may be noticed which could prevent potential health issues from developing into full-blown illnesses.

When choosing a veterinarian, be sure to choose a facility that is accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association. This guarantees that your pet will receive the highest level of pet health care available. Accredited hospitals take the responsibility of serving as a pet health care provider very seriously.  That is why they voluntarily undergo close scrutiny and are examined on over 900 standards every three years. Giving comprehensive examinations, using the latest vaccine technology, staying current with industry appropriate pet health issues and making sure pet owners are educated about these issues, insures that pet’s stay healthy and that their families stay healthy as well!
 

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Thanksgiving

As you gather around the table this Thanksgiving and give thanks for good food, good friends and family members, we will likely add a special thanks for our furry or feathery members of our families. A pet doesn't need much more than a pat on the head or an upbeat greeting but a special treat would probably bring an extra lick or cuddle from your best four-legged friend.
Holidays aren't an excuse to break from tradition and serve your pet chocolate or other foods that might upset his or her stomach. However, there are some terrific Thanksgiving treats that are perfectly pet-safe and guaranteed to make your critter feel extra-thankful for such a thoughtful pet parent. Here are just five:
  • Raw fruits or vegetables like broccoli, carrots or apples
  • Nylabones or healthy edibles (rather than real turkey bones which easily splinter)
  • A small serving of the lean part of the turkey (no bones or skin)
  • Organic or healthy treats (such as Faithful Friends treats sold here)
  • A new toy (especially if your pet is on a special or restricted diet)
Just be sure to give treats in moderation and especially avoid fatty foods. They can lead to gastointestinal upsets and even more serious illness. You certainly do not want to end up spending your holiday at the animal hospital with a sick pet! As much as we love having all of you as part of our family, we don't want to have to see you on Thanksgiving!
From our family to yours, we wish you a happy and healthy Thanksgiving!

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Your dog chewed your what?!




You're finally back home from a late night at the office. The last thing you want to deal with is seeing your belongings or furniture chewed up by your dog. Did he or she do it on purpose to get back at you for leaving them at home so long? No, it is simply not in their nature.

Dogs do not destroy things because they are angry or spiteful. The chewing is a way for your dog to relieve boredom or anxiety when they've been left alone for long periods of time.  Don't punish your pet for being a dog. Instead, give them something to keep them occupied or calm and both of you will be happier.


Chewing may result from your dog's natural instincts, especially if you own a hunting dog. Basset hounds and other hunting breeds enjoy chewing more than most other breeds and need a variety of chew toys to focus their energy on. Try switching out chew toys every few days so your dog has something new and interesting to chew on. Also, substitute a chew toy any time you see your dog chewing on furniture, clothing, or other off-limit items. Your dog eventually learns to use the chew toys over personal belongings.

Chewing also results from stress. Any recent changes in your dog's life such as a new work schedule, a move, or kids moving out of the house disrupts your dog's daily routine. This builds anxiety and requires a new routine for your dog to adapt to. Establish regular feeding times and walk times to create security and reduce chewing.

A lack of exercise, which leads to boredom, forces your dog to vent energy elsewhere. This usually creates bad habits  since your dog has to expend energy somewhere. Regular walks or general playtime gets your dog to use their energy in a more constructive manner. The time spent with you also keeps your dog emotionally stable. An exercise routine  helps when you have to leave your dog home alone because a tired dog is less likely to get into chewing-related trouble.

Finally, chewing can result from a lack of training. If you never corrected chewing behavior despite the damage it causes, your dog has no incentive to stop.


Taking action and implementing some of these suggestions should correct your dog's chewing problem. Of course, if your dog gets into dangerous situations, crating him or her when you are not home is always preferable to injury.  And above all, remember to give plenty of positive reinforcement when your dog exhibits positive non-chewing behavior!


http://www.entirelypets.com/baddog.html
 

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Why does my pet need a urinalysis?


Having your pet's stool sample tested is common. When visiting your veterinarian for a yearly examination and vaccinations, it is routine to bring a sample of stool to check for intestinal parasites. But what about other important diagnostic tests? It is likely that when you go to your doctor, one of the more common tests you receive is a urine screening. Why is it so important?

Urine analysis testing is one of the more common forgotten and inexpensive, yet extremely useful diagnostic tests that should be done on an annual basis. The urinalysis is an essential part of a health profile because it provides information about the kidneys and bladder, as well as other vital organs. Interpreting both blood and urine results together allows for verification of normal or abnormal results.

Our urinalysis evaluates for the following:
  • Urine concentration (this helps evaluate the kidney function)
  • Urine pH
  • Presence of crystals
  • Presence of bacteria
  • Cells (red blood cells, white blood cells, kidney cells, other abnormal cells)
  • Glucose
  • Protein
  • Ketones
  • Bilirubin
The results are useful in a variety of situations and not limited to those directly involving the urinary tract.  Because the analysis of both urine and blood support each other, complete interpretation of results is most accurate when they are assessed together. 

One example of how urine can be useful in a seemingly “healthy” pet is with diabetes.  Your pet may not show any outward signs of disease but based on chemical analysis of the urine, your veterinarian will be able to diagnosis diabetes before it becomes life threatening.
 
Talk with your veterinarian today about keeping your pet healthy with diagnostic screenings. When caught early, disease and illness is less expensive to treat and far more successful!

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Fleas and Ticks

Fleas and ticks are more than mere nuisances. They cause distress in dogs and cats and, more important, they cause disease. On-again, off-again preventive programs are not the optimal way to safeguard the health of pets and their families.

By the time a pet owner notices fleas on a pet, the fleas have injected salivary proteins, transmitted infectious agents and begun laying eggs. Ticks can transmit disease agents to a dog or cat before the pests are found and removed. Reactive treatments are insufficient to prevent disease in pets and their owners.

The Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) guidelines call for year-round, lifelong prevention of common external parasites, including fleas and ticks. The guidelines recommend using parasite control methods that consider the lifestyle and health of the pet, managing the pet’s environment, and preventing infestation to protect the health of the entire family.

Most insecticides effectively eliminate existing fleas from dogs and cats within 4 to 24 hours after application. While this helps relieve pet discomfort, reinfestation is common. Repeated applications often are necessary to bring the problem under control, and long-term control methods should be used to prevent reinfestation. Avoiding initial infestation altogether by placing pets on life-long prevention programs is the best option for pets and their owners.

Tick control is vital, since these bloodsucking parasites can transmit disease to pets and owners. Nearly a dozen tick species are encountered by U.S. dogs and cats. Most are potential disease carriers, transferring diseases as prevalent and concerning as Rocky Mountain spotted fever (Rickettsia rickettsii) and Lyme disease (caused by Borrelia burgdorferi). While not a perfect solution, disease transmission can be reduced by keeping pets on effective tick control programs and by vaccinating your dog for Lyme Disease.

Seasonal prevention is inadequate. While seasonal flea and tick control seems appropriate in many regions of the U.S., sporadic treatment makes it difficult to prevent initial infestations. Due to changing climatic conditions, flea and tick “seasonality” also is changing. Experience over the past 10 years shows every year has the potential to differ from the previous year. Determining start and stop dates for seasonally timed applications may be impossible, and geographic differences affect flea and tick prevalence and seasonality.

The best prevention for flea and tickborne disease is clear: year-round prevention of flea and tick infestation. Call us or visit our website at www.newhartfordanimalhospital.com for more information.

 
http://www.capcvet.org/expert-articles/the-case-for-year-round-flea-and-tick-control