Pets are naturally inquisitive, which can often lead to serious injury. Here are some tips on how you can make your house safer. That's shocking -Many animals love to chew. Keep electrical wires out of reach, or use a pet-repellent spray. They'd die for some chocolate - Chocolate can be dangerous. It contains theobromine, a powerful stimulant that is toxic to pets. Sweets, cakes and cookies can also upset an animal's G.I. tract and lead to diarrhea and vomiting. Common household killers -Cleaning agents, bleach, ammonia, disinfectants, drain cleaner, oven cleaner, paint, gasoline, rat poison. Keep them locked up. Check... Read The Rest

�CBC, chem seven, stat!" This may sound familiar If you watch such popular television dramas as ER, Chicago Hope, and Emergency Vets. But do you know what the terms mean? Blood tests help doctors determine causes of illness accurately, safely, and quickly and let us monitor the progress of medical treatments. To help you understand your pet's test results, this guide explains common tests. Complete blood count (CBC) This is the most common blood test performed on pets and people. A CBC gives information on hydration status, anemia, infection, the blood's clotting ability, and the ability of the immune system... Read The Rest

How Common is Heart Disease? Heart disease is frequently encountered in dogs. The function of the heart is to maintain an adequate flow of blood to the tissues and organs of the body. Acquired diseases affecting the heart valves or heart muscle can eventually cause the heart to fail and result in inadequate blood flow. How is Heart Disease Detected? A thorough physical exam, including listening to the heart and lungs with a stethoscope, is how veterinarians determine that heart disease may be present in your dog. To help confirm the diagnosis of heart disease, radiographs (x-rays) of the chest... Read The Rest

Why must my pet undergo anesthesia for a dental cleaning? Can�t the groomer just scrape the tartar off of his teeth? Tartar is made of bacteria and when it is removed from the surface of the teeth we worry that small pieces could be inhaled by the patient causing a lung infection. For this reason, �Non-anesthetic� cleaning is NEVER recommended. Anesthesia allows us to place an endotracheal tube in the windpipe to prevent infection of the lungs. Secondly, the most important part of the cleaning is the removal of plaque and tartar under the gumline. This is just not possible... Read The Rest

1. Set rules immediately and stick to them. 2. Avoid situations that promote inappropriate behavior. 3. Observe the pet and provide what it needs to be cared for and attended to. 4. Supervise the new pet diligently through undivided individual attention and training. Restrict the pet's access to a limited area of the house until training is complete. 5. Encourage good behavior with praise and attention. 6. Correct bad behaviors by providing positive alternatives. (A toy for a slipper, a scratching post for the sofa.) 7. Never physically punish or force compliance to commands. This may lead to fear biting... Read The Rest

The decision regarding euthanasia of a beloved pet may be the most difficult decision anyone makes in their life; obviously, the consequences are irrevocable. Whatever the decision is, it should be one that you can always look back upon and know that the best decision was made and that you would make the same decision over again in the same situation. So how do you know if it is time? There are several criteria used in evaluating life quality and you should consider them carefully. Is your pet eating? Basically, quality life involves eating or at least interest in food.... Read The Rest

By Leesa Tenney, CVT The arrival of a baby is a wonderful and joyous occasion for a family, but there is one member of the household-the family pet-who might need some special attention and understanding to help it cope with the new addition. Most pets will need some extra attention when a family introduces a new baby into their home. Dogs in particular may find it confusing and invasive when a new "member of the pack" enters the scene. A dog socializes in linear packs, which means it considers some family members as dominant to its own position and others... Read The Rest

It is never easy to see a beloved pet and friend in pain. Medical treatment of arthritis has greatly improved in the last several years thanks to the introduction and approval of several new drugs and supplements. And while there is not yet a cure for this debilitating disease, there is much you can do to control the pain, make your pet comfortable, and perhaps slow down the progression of the symptoms. The best results come from a multi-modal therapy comprised of multiple different treatments. Weight management and diet choice Weight management is the first thing that must be addressed.... Read The Rest

Pregnant women should be aware of a disease called toxoplasmosis. When acquired during pregnancy, it can cause birth defects, spontaneous abortion, or stillbirth. Toxoplasmosis is relatively common and is caused by a single-celled parasite, Toxoplasma gondii. Most people who get toxoplasmosis have few symptoms or none at all. Others may have swollen glands, fatigue, malaise, muscle pain, low fever, rash, headache, or sore throat. The common household cat is the only animal known to shed Toxoplasma parasites in its feces. If your cat is infected, you could get toxoplasmosis from the feces in the litter box or the garden. Toxoplasmosis... Read The Rest

What are the Health Benefits to the Dog? There are several health benefits to neutering. One of the most important concerns the prostate gland, which under the influence of testosterone will gradually enlarge over the course of the dog�s life. In age, it is likely to become uncomfortable, possibly being large enough to interfere with defecation. The prostate under the influence of testosterone is also predisposed to infection, which is almost impossible to clear up without neutering. Neutering causes the prostate to shrink thus preventing both prostatitis as well as the uncomfortable benign hyperplasia (enlargement) that occurs with aging. It... Read The Rest

Surgical sterilization of the female dog, commonly referred to as spaying, is one of the most significant aspects of female dog care an owner can provide. The benefits to the dog FAR outweigh simply not having puppies, though as pet over-populations looms as a societal problem it is important to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem. Spaying involves removal of the uterus and ovaries. It is a major surgery but a commonly performed one, ideally performed while a female dog is still a puppy, prior to her first heat cycle. WHY ALL FEMALE DOGS SHOULD... Read The Rest

FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) and FeLV (Feline Leukemia Virus) are both primary causes of illness and death in inside and outside cats. Up to 15% of sick cats are infected with one or both of the viruses. Both are contagious between cats, but not contagious to other species. FIV is spread mainly by fight wounds such as bites but can be passed from an infected mother to her kittens. FeLV is spread mainly through saliva and urine, including grooming and sharing of food, water and litter boxes. FeLV can also be spread from an infected mother to her kittens. Both... Read The Rest

Heartworm disease is a disease transmitted by mosquitoes. Although heartworms are very prevalent in our area of the country, there are still many people who are not familiar with this disease. To help explain how heartworms are spread, let�s take a dog that currently has heartworms. A mosquito bites this dog and takes in immature heartworms that are deposited into the skin of other dogs they bite. Once an infected mosquito has bitten a dog, these immature heartworms migrate to the heart where they develop into adult heartworms. Adult heartworms block blood flow, damage vessels, and can ultimately cause life... Read The Rest

Vaccinating your cat is an important procedure that, in most cases, will provide protection against an illness that may be life threatening. In past years, veterinarians have followed the vaccine manufacturer�s guidelines and recommended annual revaccination for diseases that were felt to be a threat to our patients. Recent studies have shown that annual revaccination may not be necessary for some diseases because many pets are protected for three years or longer when vaccinated. Although most cats do not react adversely to vaccination, some have had allergic or other systemic reactions after receiving a vaccine. Rarely, the allergic reaction can... Read The Rest

Vaccinating your dog is an important procedure that in most cases will provide protection against an illness that may be life threatening. In past years, veterinarians have followed the vaccine manufacturer�s guidelines and recommended annual revaccination for diseases that were felt to be a threat to our patients. Recent studies have shown that annual revaccination may not be necessary for some diseases because many dogs are protected for three years or longer when vaccinated. Although most dogs do not react adversely to vaccination, some have had allergic or other systemic reactions after receiving a vaccine. Rarely, the allergic reaction can... Read The Rest

Did you know that the rattlesnake vaccine reduces the likelihood of death, permanent injury or severe pain if your dog is bitten? The vaccine does not prevent or eliminate the toxicity of snake bites, but it can improve the outcome after a bite. Veterinary treatment is still necessary for vaccinated dogs. The vaccine is approved for dogs older than 4 months and initially dogs need two doses one month apart. Vaccination is best done twice a year, in March for spring exposure and August for fall exposure.... Read The Rest

Reverse sneezing is a disconcerting event in which a dog makes unpleasant respiratory sounds that sound like it is dying -- or will die in the next few minutes. Reverse sneezing sounds similar to the honking noise made by a dog with a collapsing trachea, but reverse sneezing is a far simpler condition that usually does not need any treatment. It is called reverse sneezing because it sounds a bit like a dog inhaling sneezes. The sound the dog makes can be so scary that many owners have rushed in a panic to emergency clinics in the middle of the... Read The Rest

Almost everyone knows that fleas and ticks are a potential problem with dogs and cats. However, we still see many patients that have severe flea and tick infestations. Not everyone knows how to tell if your pet is infested or how easy it is to prevent infestations. To detect fleas, part the hair and look in various areas on the body. The abdomen, which has less hair, is a good place to look. Sometimes fleas themselves cannot be seen. However, if fleas are present, you can often find �flea dirt� (digested blood). Flea dirt looks similar to ground pepper and... Read The Rest

RATTLESNAKE VACCINE Keep the babies together as long as they are about the same age; this will help socialize them to their own species and will help in keeping them warm. Try to assemble the following equipment: The Nest Box 1. The nest box in which the babies live should have tall sides so that they cannot climb out by mistake and become chilled. A cardboard pet carrier is perfect as it is portable, dark inside, and closable. These are inexpensive and should be available from a pet store or your veterinarian. 2. Place towels in the bottom of the... Read The Rest