Know Your Pet and Tell the Vet!

24 Apr

The majority of pet owners take their pets to the veterinarian at least one time a year, sometimes more often. If possible it is best to use the same vet for the life of your pet; this enables the vet to have the animals health history and will make diagnosis of any illness much easier.

It is imperative that pet owners know their pets. Often time’s people only know that their pet is wonderful to them, providing much joy and companionship. They fail to recognize that their beloved ‘baby’ has aggressive behavior issues, or is extremely timid and fearful.

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Reasons for a Distended Abdomen in Dogs and Cats

26 Mar

Reasons for a Distended Abdomen in Dogs and CatsThe clinical demonstration of a distended abdomen in animals might have several reasons. The 3 big reasons for abdominal distention are extreme fluid buildup, fat buildup, and gas accumulation. Masses or tumors can also make a distended abdomen.

All dog with long-term abdominal distention should have a complete healthcare workup, such as an exam, blood work, and x-rays and ultrasound if indicated. Health care of abdominal distention will be based upon the specific cause revealed by this initial workup. Reasons for fluid buildup can consist of metabolic condition of the liver, kidney, pancreas; heart disease; chronic intestinal disease; as well as cancer. Prognosis for a dog or cat with a distended abdomen will be based on early identification and treatment of the actual causes.

The Amazing World of Pigeons

25 Mar

The remarkable pigeon holds a special place in people’s hearts and whether they are in the wild or in bird cages they have been a joy to watch for thousands of years. The bible first mentions the pigeon (or dove, which both belong to the colubiformes order that includes as many as 300 species) in the Old Testament in the story of Noah. Then they are also immortalized in the New Testament story of Jesus Christ’s baptism, becoming icons. These stories have only added to the mystic surrounding the love of these beautiful creatures. Whether in bird cages or simply in the wild, for tens of centuries Pigeons have lived with man. Archaeologists have found images in Mesopotamia that show the first depiction of a pigeon dating back to as early as 3000 BC.

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Dealing with Dog Aggression

23 Mar

A dog can be a man’s, woman’s or child’s very best friend. Dogs bring love, laughter, and friendship into our lives, but the human-animal connection might be seriously strained when a dog is aggressive. Dogs might be aggressive for several factors. Some of the more usual types of dog aggression include:

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Examining Age of the Pet

6 Mar

Probably the most typical questions given to a veterinarian on viewing a new pet, particularly one from the shelter or a stray pet, may be the approx . age of the pet. Although this is much simpler in young pets and kittens, it might be a lot more complicated to try and age a pet who’s adult or senior. Within equine medicine the length and wear and tear of the teeth might help age a pet, this isn’t as correct in small pet medicine.

FortiFlora Can Help Pets Manage Diarrhea During Times of Stress

3 Mar

Diarrhea in animals might have several factors such as a change in diet, dietary indiscretion, intestinal viruses, microbe infections, viral illnesses, organ problems, stress, anti-biotic use, immune problems, cancer, and more. However, even when the main cause of a pet’s diarrhea has been dealt with, the diarrhea sometimes continues. In these cases, a disruption in the balance of bacteria within the intestinal tract is often to blame.

In some cases the bacterial population colonizing the digestive tract needs a push in the correct direction. This means probiotic supplements such as FortiFlora are indispensable. FortiFlora for animals consists of live active cultures of the microorganism Enterococcus faecium that’s been shown to promote intestinal health and stability. Unlike another probiotics, FortiFlora includes a guaranteed amount of live active cultures. Particularly, every gram of FortiFlora contains 1 x 108 colony forming units (CFU) of Enterococcus faecium as well as higher stages of the antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E.

FortiFlora may be used as part of a diarrhea treatment plan or as a preventative measure when you are aware that the dog or cat is going to be stressed, changing diet programs, or on anti-biotics. Most animals enjoy the taste of FortiFlora; simply sprinkle it on top of their food and they’ll take it from there.

Why Dental Care is Important for Your Pet

15 Feb

Why Dental Care is Important for Your PetThe world of veterinarian medication, like human treatments, gets increasingly more specialized. Veterinary dental care is one of those specialty areas. In the past, pets were lucky if a veterinarian even appeared in their mouths. Nowadays, we’re working on routine dental care exams and dental treatments on several patients, old and young. When difficult extractions, crowns, and dental surgery are required, your veterinarian may do these solutions or refer you to a veterinary dental specialist.

Because our pets are living longer, we need to keep their mouths healthful well into their golden years. This starts early in life. Certain cat and dog breeds are predisposed to dental problems. If the owner is made aware of this early, much may be done to keep that poodle or Siamese mouth as healthy as possible for as long as probable.

Small dog breeds are more vulnerable to dental disease. It’s a fact. Plus, the toy breeds live quite a long time. Imagine about the tiny mouth and bone system of a Maltese, for instance. If teeth in a little jaw suffer from tartar, decay, and bone loss, and that dog lives to be 16, we need to begin taking care of that mouth early. If not ,, the dog will lose a lot of its teeth before it’s a geriatric. Worse than that, the dog may suffer and the tooth could be a source of infection, illness, and organ damage. Infections in the mouth may travel to the valves of the heart, the kidneys, and other internal organs, causing irreparable harm.

This is also true of several cats, purebreds getting a lot more dental illness than domestic cats. In certain cats with stomatitis, an illness affecting the dental cavity, it might be necessary to perform difficult, full mouth extractions to save that cat from severe pain and inability to eat. This might sound extreme but it’s the treatment of option for seriously affected cats. We have viewed cats with uncomfortable, bloody, smelly mouths go through full mouth extractions, and wake up and eat a full meal another morning! They’re relieved of pain and may go on to even munch on dry food again. With out this kind of oral surgery, these cats wouldn’t survive an ordinary life-span.

Several clients laugh at me when We discuss taking care of their pet’s teeth. It’s important to develop a plan that fits the pets’ needs and that the client will comply with.

Take a young golden retriever, a breed that usually has great teeth with little intervention. That dog might just need a fast clean or dental solution rubbed on its gums 3 times a week. If the owner and pup get used to this simple program early, there will be better compliance as the dog needs more care later in life. Not so with the 2 year old Chihuahua that was just adopted from a shelter. Once you tell the new owner that her new dog presently has dental illness, and that Chihuahua is trying to chew you in the exam room, you’ve got a challenge on your hands.

When this dog is feeling more comfortable, this owner might be able to perform some dental care. There are several pets and some owners, nevertheless, where a dental plan will not work in the home. These feisty little pups may need their teeth cleaned properly once or twice per year to keep their mouths as healthy as possible.

Many of the true of cats. You are able to teach several owners how to use a dental solution on their cats’ teeth and gums, however some cats will be impossible to treat. Same is true for giving that cat a pill. In these situations, alternative medicine routes are available and that cat will have to come into the hospital to have its teeth cleaned. You do not would like to get harm and cat bites may be serious. You do not want that nasty mouth chomping on your finger sending you to the hospital. Use common-sense.

At your yearly exam with your pet, listen to your veterinarians’ suggestions and do what you can. Understand how much oral care can be done at home and aim to include oral care in your veterinarian budget. If your veterinarian discovers serious dental disease, do not allow it go. Caring for these teeth, oral infections, and extractions early can insure a healthier mouth in the future.

Chocolate Toxicity is a Common Emergency at Valentine’s Day

13 Feb

Around holidays for example Valentine’s Day, it is very important for pet guardians to be careful about possible chocolate ingestion by their own pets. Chocolate toxicity is a very common emergency around the holidays and may be a critical, health-threatening condition. The ingredients in chocolate contain what these are known as methylxanthines, that are caffeine-like compounds that may cause serious health threatening consequences. The specific ingredient theobromine is the one we’re most worried about, and that pets have a problem metabolizing even in small amounts.

Signs and symptoms of chocolate toxicity might include initial nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, followed by heart symptoms such as arrhythmias and even seizures. Bleeding and death might even occur. Treatment includes induction of vomiting, as well as supportive IV fluid therapy. If seizures happen, Valium and Phenobarbital might need to be given. Antiarrthythmic medicine is also indicated for any heart arrhythmias. Since theobromine is eliminated really slowly in animals, therapy might need to be ongoing for up to a few days after ingestion. Prognosis is generally good, as long as treatment is performed within a short period of ingestion.

Pet Dental Health Month for Exotic Pets

9 Feb

Exotic Pets During Pet Dental Health MonthNational Pet Dental Health Month tends to focus on cats and dogs however some other animals gain from good dental health as well.

Rabbits and many pocket animals like guinea pigs may suffer from malocclusion of their teeth, that happens when teeth are out of alignment and become overgrown. This type of “off bite” may imply remarkable pain, bacterial infections, and even weight-loss and death for many pets. The vet may trim or remove teeth as needed or show you how to trim and file misaligned teeth. Several pets end up needing specific food or having their food softened while healing.

If your rabbit makes inflammation or infection in her mouth, there are actually products that might help. Maxi Guard Oral Gel can be used as exotic animals as well as cats and dogs. Zinc ascorbate taurine is probably the main compounds in the gel, however the zinc levels are secure for most pets.

Snakes and iguanas may often have ulcerative stomatitis (also known as mouth rot) or inflammation of their mouths as well. This really is one more situation that the Maxi Guard products might help treat. These pets might show cheesy-looking caked areas in the mouth and may drool. Antibiotics and a mouth wash might be prescribed by your veterinarian.

For birds, Maxi Guard may be used to treat low grade sinus infections. Birds can also need beak trims and beak care for mite infections-not exactly “dental” care and surely oral care! Turtles are another group of pets that often need beak trims. The vet may do this for you or teach you how. Birds and turtles with misaligned beaks need periodic trims to help them eat generally.

How Frequently My Pet Need a Heartworm Test?

8 Feb

Probably the most typical questions asked of vets is how often pets need to have a heartworm test.Probably the most typical questions asked of vets is how often pets need to have a heartworm test. Both the American Veterinary Heartworm Society and most vets do recommend annual heartworm testing. Although many pet guardians keep their animals on year-round heartworm medication, it’s still necessary to test pets annually for several factors.

The most essential reasons for a yearly heartworm test is that, although most products are very efficient in preventing heartworm infection, there’s still no product that is 100% successful. I have seen several cases in my veterinary career of animals on year-round heartworm preventative medication which have examined positive for heartworms. There has been increasing current concern about developing heartworm resistance to many of the older products, and until this problem is sorted out, it’s still best to have all pets examined each year. Also in the possibility that a pet is heartworm positive, there may be very occasional severe and even rare fatal reactions should a pet that’s positive for heartworms continue to get per month preventative.