Dr. Ford’s Blog – August
When consulting with clients about their pets, I am frequently asked about summer safety tips. Summer is a potentially dangerous time of year for your furry little loved ones; higher temperatures bring harmful pests, heat strokes and dehydration are all too common, and frightening firework displays have the potential to cause your pet to run away. I have comprised a list of items and activities I feel are most perilous with suggestions on how you can protect your feline and canine counterparts this summer.
Heat stroke and dehydration are very major health implications for pets, especially dogs. Walk your dog in the early morning or late evening when it’s most cool out. Even then, be sure to take along fresh water and stop in shady areas often to give your dog a panting break. If your dog must be left outside during the day, be absolutely sure to leave an ample supply of fresh water. Be wary of heat stroke symptoms, such as excessive panting, excessive drooling, weakness, lethargy, labored breathing, and even seizures. If your dog exhibits these symptoms, cool him down with cold water and towels, ice packs, small bowls of water, and by feeding ice chips.
Barbeques and parties abound this time of year, but you must celebrate with prudence. Many party-favorite foods are extremely harmful for dogs and cats. Substances like caffeine, chocolate, and alcohol, as well as fruits and vegetables, like grapes and onions, are highly toxic for cats and dogs. If you stock these items at your summer gathering, be mindful to keep them from the reach of your dog or cat. Human foods that are safe for cats and dogs include apples, peas, green beans, some popcorns, blueberries, and carrots.
As mentioned above, high temperatures in the summer bring harmful pests. Mosquitoes thrive in the warms summer months and bring with them harmful viruses. Many people use children’s mosquito repellant on their dogs or cats, but in fact, DEET is extremely toxic for animals. However, many pet stores sell pet-friendly insect repellants.
A vast majority of lost pet cases are reported on or near Independence Day. Fireworks displays are unpleasant and very frightening for dogs and cats and you should resist the urge to take your pet to them. It is best to leave your pets inside at home in a sheltered, quiet area. It may also be wise to leave a television or radio on at a normal volume to keep your pet company and to drown out the noise of the fireworks.
If the right precautions are taken, summer can be an enjoyable time of year for you and your pets. Please feel free to contact us with any questions concerning these or more summer safety tips. |
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Dr. Ford’s Blog – July
Last month we featured an article on our website about traveling with your pet, and in that article we briefly discussed microchips. In my blog this month, I would like to further address and inform you about what microchips are and why it is so important to microchip your pet.
The number one cause of pet death is getting lost. Over 10 million pets are lost every year and, without any form of ID, 17 percent of dogs and just two percent of cats ever return to their rightful home. Most of the rest - roughly three- to four-million - are euthanized.
The most effective way to prevent your dog or cat from becoming one of the aforementioned statistics is to have it tagged with a microchip.
A microchip is a small computer chip that is implanted just under the loose skin between the shoulder blades via a hypodermic needle. The process is simple and absolutely painless; most animals don’t react at all to the implant. Microchips are also anti-migratory; once the chip is in place, a layer of connective tissue forms around it and prevents it from moving through the body. What’s more, no long-term health implications due to the presence of the chip have ever been manifest. Programmed into the microchip is an identification number specific to your pet. This tiny computer chip, with its unique code, could save your pet’s life.
The brand of microchip we use at Quail Point Veterinary Hospital is HomeAgain. The HomeAgain recovery network is exclusively designed to further ensure the chance of reuniting you with your lost pet. If your pet becomes lost, you may call HomeAgain and report the lost pet. Recovery specialists will take down vital information and immediately issue a Lost Pet Alert, which is sent to local HomeAgain PetRescuers as well as local veterinary clinics and shelters. You will then be given the opportunity to print detailed and specific “Lost Pet” posters from the HomeAgain website. You will be provided with a list of local shelters and veterinary clinics to which you may take the “Lost Pet” posters. HomeAgain boasts an astonishing 500,000 lost pets returned home every year with the help of their recovery network.
Including the exceptional recovery network, HomeAgain membership comes with unheralded and exclusive benefits. One such benefit is the 24/7 Emergency Medical Care program. We have provided HomeAgain with our precise medical policies and procedures for a number of emergencies, as well as a list of our preferred emergency veterinary clinics. If, in the event of an emergency, we are closed or you are unable to reach us, you may call the HomeAgain 24/7 Emergency Medical phone number. You will be advised on what specific actions to take and, if necessary, will be directed to our preferred emergency clinic.
Another perk of HomeAgain membership is Lost Pet Medical Insurance. The insurance, with a $50 deductible, covers up to $3,000 for medical bills for any injuries your dog or cat incurs while lost, including medications prescribed by a veterinarian; diagnostic procedures, including X-rays and lab tests; surgical procedures necessary to treat injuries suffered while lost; dental services; and overnight hospital stays. Coverage is not automatic but is a great offer to consider.
Finally, HomeAgain membership provides Travel Assistance for Found Pets. If a lost pet is found 500 miles or more away from home, HomeAgain will pay up to $500 to fly the pet home to be reunited with its family. There is no deductible to pay for this benefit; it is automatically included with your HomeAgain membership.
In summary, HomeAgain Membership provides an Advanced Anti-Migration Microchip; the outstanding Lost Pet Recovery Network; the availability of Rapid Lost Pet Alerts; Personalized “Lost Pet” Posters; on-staff 24/7 Lost Pet Specialists; the completely cost-free 24/7 Emergency Medical Hotline; Travel Assistance for Found Pets; and lastly, Lost Pet Medical Insurance. All-in-all, a HomeAgain microchip and membership is an extraordinary deal.
It is especially important to microchip right now, as the number of lost dogs and cats increases drastically in the summer months due to loud and frightful firework displays. Thus, throughout the month of July, we are offering a 10%-off special on microchips. Please feel free to call or drop by for more informatio |
Dr. Ford’s Blog – May
Mother’s Day is a joyous holiday; it is a time to show gratitude towards the mothers in our individual lives and to celebrate and honor motherhood in general. In the veterinary industry, however, motherhood is not so celebrated. I would like to share in this month’s blog, this the month of Mother’s Day, the importance of spaying your dog or cat.
Cat and dog overpopulation is a major problem in America today. Determining the exact number of homeless cats and dogs is very difficult, but it is estimated that an astonishing 70 million stray cats alone run wild in the US. That number increases every year. A fertile cat can produce three to four litters a year, with four to six kittens per litter. A fertile dog produces two litters a year, with four to five puppies per litter. Many of these puppies and kittens will end up in shelters nationwide. Roughly five- to seven-million dogs and cats enter shelters annually, and of those, 60 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats are euthanized - about one every eight seconds. A large portion of animals that enter shelters are not just the offspring of stray dogs and cats; they are the offspring of unfixed family pets as well. The fight to control overpopulation starts with spaying your female cat or dog.
Not spaying your cat or dog has major health implications as well. Pyometra is a very harmful and often fatal condition that affects fertile female cats and dogs. During every heat cycle, which occurs about twice a year in female dogs and almost constantly in female cats, the can become infected and fill with pus. The infection can sometimes become severe enough to require a dangerous and costly surgery during which the infected uterus is removed. The risk of breast cancer is drastically higher for intact female dogs than the risk for spayed females. Female cats are also more susceptible to AIDS and leukemia viruses when they have sexual contact with an infected male. If a female cat contracts AIDS or leukemia, which are both untreatable diseases, and becomes pregnant, a third of its kittens will be born with it as well and will have to be euthanized if taken in by a shelter.
Many pet owners believe they don’t have to spay their female cat or dog because they have no intention of letting it out of the house or yard. I frequently receive questions from clients like, “If I don’t spay my cat (or dog), it will be fine as long as I don’t let it outside, right?” Wrong. Spaying your female cat or dog will greatly reduce possible health risks as well as help control the homeless pet population if your little loved one possibly escapes. |
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Kathy’s Blog – February
Congratulations on choosing to have a prophylaxis procedure done on your pet with us! Now what comes next? The oral care of your little loved one does not stop once the procedure is over. Regular oral examinations and dental cleanings must be a part of the lifelong health package of your cat or dog. I strongly recommend your dog or cat have at least one dental examination a year in order it detect any problems and to maintain a happy and healthy life. But the buck doesn’t stop at an annual dental examination.
You can do things at your home to care for your pet’s oral health, such as regularly brushing your dog’s teeth. We carry specially-formulated flavored enzymatic toothpaste, hygienic oral rinse, and therapeutic mouth wash. All are currently in-stock and available.
For pets that are much more difficult to hygienically care for, like cats, we recommend Hill’s Prescription Diet t/d. Prescription Diet t/d is a food that acts as a toothbrush, cleaning your pet’s teeth while it eats. You can mix t/d in with your pet’s current diet or give it as a treat. Either way, cats and dogs love it.
You can also avoid dental problems by being knowledgeable about what goes into your dog’s mouth. Obviously rocks, bricks, branches, and wires are harmful to your dog’s teeth, but even raw hides and toys can be too. Many chew toys or balls, depending on their composition, can fracture teeth and damage gums. I suggest soft toys with flexibility for your dog.
Dental care for your cat or dog is a never-ending practice. For more tips on how to care for your pet’s mouth, please feel free to contact us. |
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Dr. Fords Blog- January
To correlate with this month’s article about our new groomers Paul and Opal, I would like to share a little advice about the importance of having your pet groomed regularly. Obviously, regular grooming keeps your pet clean and attractive, but groomers often find dermatological ailments during the grooming procedure and can alert a technician about the problem for further treatment. It is just as important to groom your pet in the winter as it is in the summer. Trimming and brushing deeply replaces the old outer coat with a fresh coat. The old coat blocks the skin’s ability to regulate body temperature. Brushing and cutting out mats also help insulate the body better. Trimming between the footpads prevents little snowballs from accumulating between the toes, which pull at the hair and are bothersome to dogs.
During every regular groom, Paul and Opal trim the nails, which helps your dog grip floor surfaces better. They express the anal glands, which may become infected if left unexpressed. They also clean the ears, which can also get infected if left dirty.
If you have any questions or concerns about this subject, please feel free to call us.
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