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!

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
 

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!

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

Halloween!

Halloween is right around the corner! While this day focuses on children, candy and costumes, we should remember that our pets can get into mischief as well.

7 things you can do to make Halloween safer for your pet

Don't feed your pets Halloween candy, especially if it contains chocolate or xylitol (a common sugar substitute found in sugar-free candies and gum);

Make sure your pet is properly identified (microchip, collar and ID tag) in case s/he escapes through the open door while you're distracted with trick-or-treaters;

Keep lit candles and jack-o-lanterns out of reach of pets;

If you plan to put a costume on your pet, make sure it fits properly and is comfortable, doesn't have any pieces that can easily be chewed off, and doesn't interfere with your pet's sight, hearing, breathing, opening its mouth, or moving. Take time to get your pet accustomed to the costume before Halloween, and never leave your pet unsupervised while he/she is wearing a costume;

Keep glow sticks and glow jewelry away from your pets. Although the liquid in these products isn't likely toxic, it tastes really bad and makes pets salivate excessively and act strangely;

If your pet is wary of strangers or has a tendency to bite, put him/her in another room during trick-or-treating hours or provide him/her with a safe hiding place;  keep your pet inside; avoid letting your pet outdoors during trick or treat hours.

Taking a few simple precautions will help insure 

your children and your pets have a safe and

Happy Halloween!

What To Do About Animal Cruelty

Hitting defenseless animals, keeping them chained without exercise or leaving them exposed in severe weather all count as abuse. Mistreating animals can (and often does) escalate into domestic assault. Studies have shown a link between violence toward animals and violence toward spouses, children and elders. If you witness an animal in imminent danger, you should get the authorities involved by dialing 911. Avoid taking action by yourself. The police will respond. You can choose to remain anonymous, or by identifying yourself, you can help in future prosecution.

Hoarding occurs when someone possesses multiple animals without providing adequate food, care and sanitation. Hoarders often fail to understand the consequences of their actions and may exhibit signs of mental illness. Reporting hoarding can be a first step toward getting that individual into new or additional treatment. Call your local animal control officer or police department. Those agencies have the power to remove the animals or take corrective action, and they’ll involve social services if necessary.

Neglect is the most common form of cruelty and it’s on the rise. As more Americans struggle with financial difficulty, many pets are put at risk of starvation, abandonment and death. Neglected animals may belong to neighbors you’ve known for years. They may try to hide the neglect due to embarrassment.
 
What Happens After You Report?
Most animal control officers view seizure and criminal charges as a last resort. Generally, officials or volunteers will attempt to educate the owner and provide that person with alternatives. If charges are brought, animal cruelty can range from a misdemeanor to a felony in certain cases.

Unfortunately, most states don’t have the resources to investigate and prosecute all incidents fully. You may have to follow up on your original complaint to make sure action was taken. Email your state legislators, and let them know that animal cruelty is a serious issue. It’s going to take persistent action to strengthen ordinances, laws and enforcement.

Nonprofit and volunteer organizations are on the front lines and under financial pressure as more and more animals arrive in their care. Look for rescue societies, shelters and community resources in your area, and volunteer or donate. Many nonprofit groups coordinate with authorities on cruelty issues. You may be able to report incidents through them.

If people stay observant and have the courage to act, it can make a huge difference! 

For more reading and local resources, visit the following URLs: www.aspca.org/ and www.humanesociety.org/.
http://www.healthypet.com/petcare/DogCareArticle.aspx?title=When_Stopping_Animal_Cruelty_Its_Good_Be_Nosy

Dog Bite Prevention

Did you know that ...

 

• 4.7 million people in this country are bitten by dogs every year
• children are by far the most common victims
• 800,000 Americans receive medical attention for dog bites each year
• children are far more likely to be severely injured; approximately 400,000 receive medical attention every year
• most dog bites affecting young children occur during everyday activities and while interacting with familiar dogs
• senior citizens are the second most common dog bite victims

There are a number of things that you can do to avoid dog bites, ranging from properly training and socializing your pet to educating your children on how, or if, they should approach a dog. Information is one of the best preventions.

 

How can you protect your family?

 

Be cautious around strange dogs, and treat your own pet with respect. Because children are the most common victims of dog bites, parents and caregivers should:

• NEVER leave a baby or small child alone with a dog.
• Be alert for potentially dangerous situations.
• Teach children – including toddlers – to be careful around pets. Children must learn not to approach strange dogs or try to pet dogs through fences. Teach children to ask permission from the dog's owner before petting the dog.

 

Dog Bite Emergencies

 

If you are bitten by a dog, here is a checklist of things you should do:

 

• If the dog's owner is present, request proof of rabies vaccination, and get the owner's name and contact information.
• Clean bite wound with soap and water as soon as possible.
• Consult your doctor immediately or go to the emergency room if it's after office hours.
• Contact the dog's veterinarian to check vaccination records.