By: Melissa Foy, LVT, Head Surgical Nurse

Dental Health Month is right around the corner in February. The reason we dedicate one month to dental health is because of its huge importance to your pets health. Its easy to say, "Yeah my pets mouth stinks - don't all pets mouths stink?" Yes and no. There could be a major reason that your pet is producing halitosis (bad breath) such as: dental disease, tooth root abcess, gum disease, or even cancer. The doctors can't make those full assessments until your pet is safely under anesthesia and a full oral exam can be performed. In most cases a simple dental cleaning will be performed getting your pet back on track. In other cases extractions may need to be done to help with any issues brewing in your pet's mouth. Bi-yearly dentals are ideal in most cases, but yearly dentals can alleviate so many minor problems that can easily turn into major problems. Once a dental cleaning is performed, regular brushing of the teeth is recommended. So don't put your pets oral health to the way side. Just like us, oral health is so important in the over all health of your pets. So make sure to mark your February calendar as Dental Health Month and make an appointment for a dental cleaning and receive 10% off.

When you come home to find a mess on the floor, it is easy to assume that the dog vomited. Vomiting is very common in dogs, as they often eat weird things! There are actually many other causes of vomiting, including parasites, kidney disease, liver problems, pancreatitis, and food allergies. Overall, there are probably at least 101 causes of vomiting.

When you take your dog to the veterinarian, the doctor will ask questions and determine if the dog is truly vomiting, or if the dog really has regurgitation, because they have different causes. You will be asked if you saw the process and what the mess looked like.

Vomit

Vomiting has many causes, but results in the stomach ejecting its contents through the mouth. Very active vomiting can also cause intestinal fluid to be brought up. When vomiting, a dog will often precede the act by retching, actively using the abdominal muscles, to force the contents up and out of the body. The process is often strenuous and dynamic.

Continuing Reading

By: ShaShawn, ABCDT

Over the past five years, animal behavior has really gained ground. All species have had some time in the spotlight, but canine behavior training has grown significantly. One of the most recent studies, conducted by a neuroscientist at Emory University, has shown that dogs have the same capacity to experience emotions (such as love and attachment) as humans. The researcher had trained dogs to enter an MRI scanner - quite a feat on its own - in order to measure their brain responses to hand signals. What he found was a similar response to humans in a region of the brain called the caudate nucleus, which is associated with positive emotions evoked by anticipation of things people enjoy. So from a behavioral standpoint, dogs have more in common with us than we ever thought!

Also, behaviorists and trainers are finding that mental stimulation is becoming more and more important to a good mental state of dogs. Have you ever heard the phrase "An idle mind does the devils work?" What do you think a dog thinks about when he or she is left alone while you are at work or out running errands? We have computers, bills, work, friends, problems, etc. to keep us thinking and completely occupied. What does a dog have to think about? What to chew, how did mom get that treat in that cupboard, what is in the trash can, ooh who is outside, what was that sound, what is that smell? Mental stimulation is not the same as physical stimulation. For more information on what mental exercises may be good for your dog, call us and set an appointment to meet with me.

By: Thomas J. Armstrong, DVM

While vaccinations are important, the traditional model of bringing pets to the veterinarian every year just to get their shots is no longer the basis of preventative health care in pets. In fact, as newer, longer lasting, and more effective vaccines continue to pass the efficacy test in dogs and cats, it will become less and less necessary to receive booster vaccinations for certain diseases. Already, canine parvovirus protection is lasting up to three years in adult dogs and canine distemper vaccination as puppies is being shown to possibly create lifelong protection. As the vaccine companies restructure their vaccines to make them less of a combination and more as individual vaccines, the vaccination protocols at animal hospital, including ours, will continue to evolve.

That is why our approach for many years now has been to not charge for individual core vaccines that all cats and dogs need. We charge the annual wellness visit with vaccines, and that flat rate covers any core vaccines the patient needs. We set that policy in place for two reasons: First, by not charging for each individual vaccine, it saves the client money, and any core vaccines that are given are therefore decided upon based on the needs of the individual pet, rather than the price. Second, we have believed for a long time that the annual physical exam is the most important part of regular preventive health care. This view changes the focus of the office call from vaccines to a much more comprehensive and effective preventive health care program based on complete physical exam by the veterinarian as well as a discussion of health care needs and recommendations with you as the client.

Continue Reading