Handy Health Tips
for our canine and feline friends
Heartworm Prevention:
Your pet needs to be on heartworm preventative all year round. Heartworms are transmitted to pets through mosquitoes. Texas has the opportunity for mosquitos to breed all year long. If you think your pet doesn’t need it because it’s an indoor pet…your wrong! How many times have you seen a mosquito in your home or inside at work? Also, your pet has to go outside for at least a matter of minutes to potty and that is all it takes for a mosquito to infect your pet. Heartworm testing and preventative is very inexpensive compared to the costly treatment required once your pet has heartworms. If your pet is infected with heartworms, the treatment can be very hard on your pet, and your family, as you try to confine your pet to a cage life for several months. We recommend a product called Sentinel which is given for the prevention of heartworms, intestinal parasites (worms), and a great flea control. It is an all-in-one product that is a chewable tablet given once a month.
Flea Prevention:
Did you know the fleas you see make up ONLY 5% of the flea population?
Did you know that in 2 months 12 fleas can turn into 2000 fleas?
Did you know fleas live in your couch, bed and carpet?
Flea control is recommended all year long, however, is more important during the spring and summer months. Watch for hair loss around the base of the tail. Many pets will bite and chew this area when they have fleas. If you have a flea problem, talk to our experts about how to solve it.
Schedule Regular Veterinary Check-ups:
Pets age 7 times faster than people and bigger pets age faster than smaller pets. Most dogs and cats are fully grown by age 2 and many pets are considered senior citizens by age 8! Bringing your pet to the vet once a year is like a person seeing a doctor just once every 7 years. Twice a year wellness exams are recommended (Equivalent to 3.5 years for a person). You can help detect, treat and prevent health problems for your pet. Everyone is accustomed to annual vaccinations but for the ideal care of your pet, you should have other services included on an annual basis. Recommendations for annual services for your pet (similar to a person getting a physical).
- Vaccinations
- Physical Exam
- Fecal (check for intestinal parasites, including the ones that can be contageous to you!)
- Heartworm Test
- Bloodwork (CBC, Chemistry, Urinalysis) suited for your pets age
- Dental Exam preferably with x-rays
- Abdominal X-Rays
Dental Health:
Does your pet have bad breath?
Has your pet lost interest in eating or had a change in eating habits?
Does your pet paw at their face and mouth?
Does your pet seem depressed?
These symptoms could signify a serious health risk with potential damage to teeth, gums and internal organs such as the heart, liver and kidney conditions, which could be life threatening. How would your teeth look if you did not brush every day? Daily Brushing of your pets teeth is very important to the health of your pet and can save you a lot of money! Approximately 80% of pets show signs of oral health disease by age 3. Please do not skimp on the importance of dental health care for your pet. Oral health is essential to maintaining the overall health and well-being of your pet.
Seperation anxiety:
To help ease seperation anxiety, you can fill a “Kong” with treats your pet loves and only give it to them when you leave the house. Pick treats that will be slightly difficult for your pet to remove from the inside of the "Kong." This will help to distract your pet so they do not stress as much over being alone.
Spay / Neuter:
The cost of spaying or neutering your pet is less expensive than the cost of raising puppies for 1 year. Spaying will also prevent female dogs and cats from getting a potentially deadly infection in their uterus called a pyometra, which in the end can cost 3 times or more the cost of a regular spay. Neutering male dogs and cats before 7 months of age can save you money on the cleaning costs at home since it is only natural for an intact male to mark his territory, which may include your living room furniture!
Don't Skimp on Nutrition:
Always feed your pet a high quality pet food and treats. Don't be fooled by fancy packaging in grocery stores. Hill's Science Diet is what we recommend. It is formulated by veterianrians specifically for your pets age and health condition whether it be for a puppy, adult, senior, allergies, kidney disease, arthritis or skin and coat conditions. Ask our staff about what pet food or treat is better for your pet and how to compare it to the food you are currently buying. With high quality pet food you can actually feed less and have a more satisfied and healthy pet. Table scraps are not recommended, so please resist the temptation. Although your pet may love the taste, table scraps can actually cause a very painful and possibly deadly disease called pancreatitis! It is always better for your pet to only eat their specific high quality pet food and treats. Anything else can cost you more and negatively affect your pets health in the long run.
Food Allergies:
Pets can have food allergies just like people do. However, their symptoms are usually a little different from ours. If your pet has continual ear infections, skin rashes, or diarrhea it may be caused by the food you are feeding your pet. Ask your veterinarian what kind of food they would recommend.
Harmful or potentially deadly for dogs and cats:
Keep the following away from your pets at all times!
Chocolate in all forms
Coffee Grounds
Yeast Dough
Macadamia Nuts
Fatty, Rich and Spicy Foods
Poultry or Other Soft Bones
Avocado
Chewing Gum, Candy and Breath Fresheners that contain Xylitol
Grapes
Raisins
Onions
Tea
Alcohol
Salt
Garlic
Rotted Food
Cleaning Products
Insecticides / Rodenticides / Herbicides
Anti-Freeze
Medications / Vitamins not intended for your pet
Soaps
Toothpaste
Sun Blocks
Potpourri
Moth Balls
Tobacco
Plants
The list goes on and on……
Go to www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/ to learn more.
If you suspect your pet has gotten into any of these substances you should call your veterinarian or animal poison control immediately:
*Trick or Treat* Candy can be harmful to your pet. Please keep it up and away from your pets reach. Chocolate is toxic and can cause your pet to get very sick! If you notice your pet has gotten into the candy, immediately call your veterinarian to discuss the treatment recommendations.
Animal Poison Control 888-426-4435. For a fee charged to your credit card, they offer advice when your pet has consumed possibly poisonous products.
Zoonotic Diseases:
These are diseases or parasites that can be transmitted and/or infect animals and humans. Another good reason to vaccinate and test for internal parasites.
Cat Scratch Disease
Ehrlichiosis
Giardia
Leptospirosis
Lyme Disease
Rabies
Ringworm
Toxoplasmosis
Roundworms
Hookworms
Provide Regular Grooming:
When bathing your pet use a high quality shampoo and conditioner made specifically for your pet. Please do not use human shampoo, it's too strong for them and it will dry out their skin! Also, bathing too often can strip natural oils from your pets skin and set them up for irritation and dry skin problems, so no more than once a week unless the doctor prescribes it.
Daily brushing is also a good idea. This will decrease tangles, matts, dirt and debris while distributing natural skin oils. Just make sure your pet is completely dry before you start. We recommend the Furminator for our thicker coated canine and feline friends. The Furminator is a De-Shedding Tool that will really do the job!
Don't forget about your pets nails. Make sure you or your veterinarian trim your dog’s nails often, once a month or every other month is recommended. Long nails can catch on upholstery or carpet and break off causing pain to your pet. Long nails can lead to arthritis in their toes if not properly maintained.
Watch for your dog scooting their bottom on the ground. This can be a sure sign of full anal glands. If your pet is scooting, see your veterinarian to have the glands expressed. If left untreated, anal glands can rupture and require a much more costly treatment. Another indication of scooting could be worms which also should be treated by your veterinarian immediately.
Summer Planning:
Watch for allergies! Pets will often chew or lick on their feet, rub their face, and scratch their ears. All of these symptoms can be signs of allergies. Allergies can be seasonal, food or flea related. Visit your veterinarian to diagnose the problem.
For Thick or Long haired pets you may want to consider a summer shave. Never shave all the way down to the skin. Pets can get sunburns just as easily as humans and their fur helps protect their skin from the sun. A professionally trained groomer can make your long or thick haired pet look outstanding as a short haired pet!
Make sure your pet always has a fresh supply of water and a place to lay in the shade. Some pets also enjoy having a kiddie pool in the yard to cool off or a fan blowing in an area just for them. Pets can overheat easily and overheating can be very dangerous and costly to treat. You may also want to pick an area of the house you can contain your outside pet so they can stay in the A/C while your away during the heat of the day.
Ear infections are common in the summer time. They usually start from water getting into your pets ears, by either swimming, bathing, sprinklers or even rain. Be sure to clean out your pets ears after every swim or bath. It is not a bad idea to clean them at least once a week. Ear cleaner can be bought at your veterinarian's office.
Most dogs love going for rides in the car but do not ever leave your dog locked up in a car! Dogs can suffer heatstroke even when the temperature is as low as 70 degrees. Dehydration is also a serious concern. Immediately bring your pet to the vet if you notice prolonged panting or lethargic activity during the hot summer days.
Have you ever seen an egg cook on concrete? Would you like to walk on that same concrete barefoot? Pets can burn their paws on concrete and asphalt too! Always test the ground with your own bare feet before taking your pet on a walk.
Fourth of July! Plan ahead! Many pets run away because of the loud noise of fireworks. Make sure your pet has a safe place to stay. You may want to turn up the TV or radio to block the noise of the fireworks. Just in case, make sure your pet has identification tags or a microchip. Microchips are a great way to make sure your pet gets home and can be implanted at your vets office!
Winter Planning:
Pets get cold too! Be sure to provide a warm dog house with some blankets that your pet can snuggle into for the cold months. Better yet, you can designate a specific area in the house for your outside pet to spend the cold nights in the same warmth you enjoy.
Cats sometimes search for warmth under the hood of a car! Try honking your horn a few times before starting the car.
Grooming is still important during the winter. Fall leaves can lead to lots of matting in your pet's fur. Daily brushing will help decrease the chance for mats.
Mushroom season! Some mushrooms are toxic to pets. Don't let your pets eat mushrooms during their daily walks.
Snake season! Watch your hunting dogs. Immediately take your pet to their vet if you notice any punture wounds or swelling. Ask us about our rattlesnake vaccination.
Many pets can suffer from dry skin because of low humidity in the air. You can use a humidifier in your house to add moisture to the air and help prevent dry, flaky, and itchy skin.
Please call with any questions. We are happy to help you!