Love Your Pet Day

The month of February, seems to be all about love, and our pets are no exceptions. Today is Love Your Pet Day!  Give a special treat to your pet or just some extra cuddle time today.  We also share in your love for your pets!

February is coming and that means it's almost Pet Dental Health Month

February is coming and that means it's almost Pet Dental Health Month! Oral care is so important in your pet’s overall health. Call us today to schedule your pet's appointment.

Cold Weather Pet Safety Tips

Know the limits: Just like people, pets’ cold tolerance can vary from pet to pet based on their coat, body fat stores, activity level, and health. Be aware of your pet’s tolerance for cold weather, and adjust accordingly. You will probably need to shorten your dog’s walks in very cold weather to protect you both from weather-associated health risks. Arthritic and elderly pets may have more difficulty walking on snow and ice and may be more prone to slipping and falling. Long-haired or thick-coated dogs tend to be more cold-tolerant, but are still at risk in cold weather. Short-haired pets feel the cold faster because they have less protection, and short-legged pets may become cold faster because their bellies and bodies are more likely to come into contact with snow-covered ground. Pets with diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, or hormonal imbalances (such as Cushing’s disease) may have a harder time regulating their body temperature, and may be more susceptible to problems from temperature extremes. The same goes for very young and very old pets. If you need help determining your pet’s temperature limits, consult your veterinarian. Provide choices: Just like you, pets prefer comfortable sleeping places and may change their location based on their need for more or less warmth. Give them some safe options to allow them to vary their sleeping place to adjust to their needs.

Stay inside. Cats and dogs should be kept inside during cold weather. It’s a common belief that dogs and cats are resistant than people to cold weather because of their fur, but it’s untrue. Like people, cats and dogs are susceptible to frostbite and hypothermia and should be kept inside. Longer-haired and thick-coated dog breeds, such as huskies and other dogs bred for colder climates, are more tolerant of cold weather; but no pet should be left outside for long periods of time in below-freezing weather. Make some noise: A warm vehicle engine can be an appealing heat source for outdoor and feral cats, but it’s deadly. Check underneath your car, bang on the hood, and honk the horn before starting the engine to encourage feline hitchhikers to abandon their roost under the hood.

 Check the paws: Check your dog’s paws frequently for signs of cold-weather injury or damage, such as cracked paw pads or bleeding. During a walk, a sudden lameness may be due to an injury or may be due to ice accumulation between his/her toes. You may be able to reduce the chance of iceball accumulation by clipping the hair between your dog’s toes. Play dress-up: If your dog has a short coat or seems bothered by the cold weather, consider a sweater or dog coat. Have several on hand, so you can use a dry sweater or coat each time your dog goes outside. Wet sweaters or coats can actually make your dog colder. Some pet owners also use booties to protect their dog’s feet; if you choose to use them, make sure they fit properly.

Wipe down: During walks, your dog’s feet, legs and belly may pick up deicers, antifreeze, or other chemicals that could be toxic. When you get back inside, wipe down (or wash) your pet’s feet, legs and belly to remove these chemicals and reduce the risk that your dog will be poisoned after (s)he licks them off of his/her feet or fur. Consider using pet-safe deicers on your property to protect your pets and the others in your neighborhood.

Collar and chip: Many pets become lost in winter because snow and ice can hide recognizable scents that might normally help your pet find his/her way back home. Make sure your pet has a well-fitting collar with up-to-date identification and contact information. A microchip is a more permanent means of identification, but it’s critical that you keep the registration up to date. Stay home: Hot cars are a known threat to pets, but cold cars also pose significant risk to your pet’s health. You’re already familiar with how a car can rapidly cool down in cold weather; it becomes like a refrigerator, and can rapidly chill your pet. Pets that are young, old, ill, or thin are particularly susceptible to cold environments and should never be left in cold cars. Limit car travel to only that which is necessary, and don’t leave your pet unattended in the vehicle. Prevent poisoning: Clean up any antifreeze spills quickly, as even small amounts of antifreeze can be deadly. Make sure your pets don’t have access to medication bottles, household chemicals, potentially toxic foods such as onions, xylitol (a sugar substitute) and chocolate.

Protect family: Odds are your pet will be spending more time inside during the winter, so it’s a good time to make sure your house is properly pet-proofed. Use space heaters with caution around pets, because they can burn or they can be knocked over, potentially starting a fire. Check your furnace before the cold weather sets in to make sure it’s working efficiently, and install carbon monoxide detectors to keep your entire family safe from harm. If you have a pet bird, make sure its cage is away from drafts.

Avoid ice: When walking your dog, stay away from frozen ponds, lakes and other water. You don’t know if the ice will support your dog’s weight, and if your dog breaks through the ice it could be deadly. And if this happens and you instinctively try to save your dog, both of your lives could be in jeopardy. Provide shelter: We don’t recommend keeping any pet outside for long periods of time, but if you are unable to keep your dog inside during cold weather, provide him/her with a warm, solid shelter against wind. Make sure that they have unlimited access to fresh, non-frozen water (by changing the water frequently or using a pet-safe, heated water bowl). The floor of the shelter should be off of the ground (to minimize heat loss into the ground) and the bedding should be thick, dry and changed regularly to provide a warm, dry environment. The door to the shelter should be positioned away from prevailing winds. Space heaters and heat lamps should be avoided because of the risk of burns or fire. Heated pet mats should also be used with caution because they are still capable of causing burns. Recognize problems: If your pet is whining, shivering, seems anxious, slows down or stops moving, seems weak, or starts looking for warm places to burrow, get them back inside quickly because they are showing signs of hypothermia. Frostbite is harder to detect, and may not be fully recognized until a few days after the damage is done. If you suspect your pet has hypothermia or frostbite, consult your veterinarian immediately.

Be prepared: Cold weather also brings the risks of severe winter weather, blizzards and power outages. Prepare a disaster/emergency kit, and include your pet in your plans. Have enough food, water and medicine (including any prescription medications as well as heartworm and flea/tick preventives) on hand to get through at least 5 days. Feed well: Keep your pet at a healthy weight throughout the winter. Some pet owners feel that a little extra weight gives their pet some extra protection from cold, but the health risks associated with that extra weight don’t make it worth doing. Watch your pet’s body condition and keep them in the healthy range. Outdoor pets will require more calories in the winter to generate enough body heat and energy to keep them warm – talk to your veterinarian about your pet’s nutritional needs during cold weather.

Source: https://www.avma.org/public/PetCare/Pages/Cold-weather-pet-safety.aspx

Senior Pet Month: Packages for Senior Pets

We can provide you with information on how best to care of your senior pet. Check out our Senior Pet Packages below!

FELINE SENIOR

7 Y EARS AND ABOVE

Indoor Senior Cats

$436 

($300 Savings)

$149 Initial Payment

$24/mo for 12 months

Outdoor Senior Cats

$496 

($350 Savings)

$149 Initial Payment

$29/mo for 12 months

COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION 

VACCINATIONS 

FVRCP-P, RABIES, FELV 

(OUTDOORS), FIV 

(OUTDOORS) 

INTESTINAL PARASITE EXAM 

COMPREHENSIVE SR. BLOOD WORK 

FELV/FIV TEST (OUTDOOR) 

FELINE HEARTWORM TEST 

DENTAL CLEANING 

RADIOGRAPHS (SEE CANINE SR) 

BI-ANNUAL EXAMINATION 

GLAUCOMA SCREENING 

EKG - CARDIAC SENIOR SCREEN

CANINE SENIOR

7 Y EARS AND ABOVE

$595 

($300 Savings)

$149 Initial Payment

$37/mo for 12 months

ALL OF THE ABOVE FOR ADULTS 

- PLUS- 

COMPREHENSIVE SR. BLOOD WORK 

RADIOGRAPHS (X-RAYS) 

SENIOR SCREEN/BASELINE 

CHEST AND ABDOMEN

BI-ANNUAL EXAMINATION 

GLAUCOMA SCREENING 

EKG - CARDIAC SENIOR SCREEN 

Don't Ignore Breathing Difficulties in Shortnosed Dogs

Unfortunately, the only thing normal about noisy breathing for dogs with "pushed-in" faces is
that it is an expected response to a shortened upper jaw, which creates excess soft tissue in the
back of the throat.

Some dogs are affected to the point where they experience brachycephalic (the scientific term for
breeds with pushed in faces) obstructive airway syndrome or BOAS. If left untreated, problems
can get worse to the point where an animal can collapse due to a lack of oxygen.

Owners of affected dogs may be putting them at risk if they do not recognize the problem and
seek treatment, according to researchers Rowena Packer, Dr. Anke Hendricks and Dr. Charlotte
Burn of the United Kingdom's Royal Veterinary College.

In their 2012 study, the researchers discovered that owners of such dogs as pugs, English
bulldogs, Pekingese, French bulldogs, Boston terriers, Cavalier King Charles spaniels, Shih tzus
and others were not aware of the signs of BOAS. In fact, 58% of surveyed owners said their dogs
did not have breathing problems even when more than two-thirds of the dogs showed difficulties
during exercise.

What to watch for
According to Packer, while it is not yet known which are the best predictors of BOAS, signs to
look for include:
• Increased and abnormal breathing noise that sounds like snoring, both when the dog is
awake and asleep
• A shortness of breath while exercising or playing
• Effortful, labored breathing with obvious abdominal movements
• Interrupting exercise, play or eating to catch their breath
• Inability to exercise for reasonable periods of time without becoming out of breath
• Difficulty cooling down after a walk; panting for long periods
• Physical collapse while exercising
• Difficulty sleeping and/or periods where the dog stops breathing during sleep
• Restlessness and difficulty getting comfortable at rest, stretched out head and neck
position, forelegs spread and body flat against the floor
• Gastrointestinal (GI) problems, such as difficulty swallowing, and bringing up food,
stomach content or a lot of saliva.

"If you notice these signs, take your dog to your veterinarian for an assessment to learn whether
they are compatible with the disease or due to a different problem," says Hendricks.
"If left to develop," says Burn, "BOAS can lead to secondary problems due to the effort required
to breathe—putting pressure on the voice box, digestive system and heart. In addition, the more
severe the breathing problems, the greater the severity of GI signs. They may reflect
inflammation of the esophagus, stomach ulcers and, in some cases, hiatal hernias, when part of
the stomach can become displaced into the chest cavity during breathing."

Option for severe BOAS
If your veterinarian believes the dog may have BOAS that requires treatment, he or she may refer you to a veterinary surgical specialist. There, the dog's airway is likely to be examined
under general anesthesia to assess whether it shows the abnormalities associated with BOAS—an
elongated soft palate, collapsing voice box and narrowed nostrils.
If present, these abnormalities would be surgically corrected, says Packer. That could mean, for
example, that excess tissue in the nose and throat would be removed.
Surgery may improve clinical signs, she says, but the dog may never be "normal," because of the
head structure and is likely to remain susceptible to heat stress.
For severely affected dogs, where significant secondary problems have occurred—for example,
severe laryngeal collapse—then treatment choices may be limited. In some cases, either
permanent tracheostomy or euthanasia may be recommended.

"That is why it is vital," says Hendricks, "that owners recognize the clinical signs of BOAS and
perceive them to be a ‘problem' as early as possible, so that these secondary changes can be
avoided by early intervention."

Options for mildly affected dogs
For all dogs, including those that have had surgery or have been determined by a veterinarian to
only be mildly affected, owners can help with some lifestyle changes, says Burn. Owners should
do the following:
• Closely monitor the dog to keep it at a healthy weight. Being overweight or obese can
exacerbate the condition.
• Use body harnesses rather than collars on walks so the airway is not compressed by a
neck collar if the dog pulls at the leash.
• Avoid walking on hot or humid days. On particularly warm days, keep dogs calm and
indoors in a cool, aerated room with access to water.
• Avoid having dogs in particularly stressful or exciting situations.
Originally published by Healthy Pet.

MEET THE STAFF: Charlotte Thomas, Technician

Meet Charlotte Thomas, Technician at Fayette Veterinary Medical Center! Charlotte joined the practice in spring of 2012, as a Veterinary Technician. She is always bubbly and optimistic. Charlotte is married with 2 boys, 1 girl, 2 dogs, 1 guinea pig, 9 chickens, a rooster and 9 fish. Charlotte loves spending time at the ball field watching her children play, camping, and going to the beach. We are grateful to have Charlotte on our team!

Dog House Repairs Month

Does your dog have his or her own house? It's Dog House Repairs Month! Make sure that it’s in good shape this summer! Check the interior corners for beehives, and make sure to repair leaks and splinters in the wood.