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  • What World Rabies Day Means To Your Pet

    What World Rabies Day Means To Your Pet

    When rabies pops in your head you are probably thinking of a ferocious dog foaming at the mouth. While the drool, the frothing mouth, and the angry disposition are an accurate representation of a typical case of rabies, there is more to rabies that you should definitely know.

    Rabies is something you DON’T want your pet to end up with. It can affect all mammals.  Always fatal, rabies is a viral infection that affects your pet’s brain and central nervous system (CNS). Primarily spread through the bite of infected animals such as foxes, raccoons, bats, and skunks, rabies is a zoonotic infection that can affect all mammals, meaning it can be transmitted to humans.

    Risks/Symptoms

    Rabies is known to cause several symptoms, but there are some early signs. Early stages may merely cause mild abnormalities with the central nervous system, such as weakness and loss of coordination. This can last up to three days before progressing rather rapidly to the severe symptoms many are familiar with, ranging from paralysis to extreme behavior swings.

    Here’s a list of signs and symptoms to watch for:

    • Lack of coordination
    • Excessive salivation
    • Fever
    • Paralysis
    • Change in bark tone
    • Change in behavior/irritable/unusually shy or aggressive
    • Excessive salivation
    • Inability to swallow
    • Diagnosis/Treatment
    • Seizures

    If you think your pet may have been bitten or scratched by a potentially rabid animal, it’s crucial to contact your veterinarian immediately! Your pet must be quarantined to prevent the spread of the disease, and the amount of quarantine time depends on several factors, including state and local regulations, whether or not your pet was vaccinated against rabies, and/or whether or not the animal your pet encountered is a confirmed rabies case.

    Since there are other diseases that can cause behavior changes similar to those caused by rabies, your veterinarian may want to run tests to rule out other issues.  Furthermore, we recommend calling us for more information on protecting your pet from rabies.

    SOURCE: Pet Health Network
    COPYRIGHT: Local Value

  • Do Dogs Dream?

    Do Dogs Dream?

    There is no reason to believe that dogs do not dream, although it is not ascertained scientifically. There are certain behaviors associated with dogs when they are either asleep or fully awake. These include whining, tail wagging, leg paddling, and twitching noses. These activities definitely arouse curiosity about the idea of dogs’ dreams.

    Current information on dogs and dreams

    Although scientific knowledge on this aspect of dogs is limited, there is plausible data that may lend credibility to the occurrence of dreams in dogs. Matthew Wilson, a professor of neuroscience and graduate student Kenway Louie conducted an interesting study on memory, sleep, and dreams. One experiment on rats revealed that after the rodents were trained to complete a track for treats, a distinct pattern of neurons was created in their brains.

    This experiment was conducted again as the rats were asleep. It revealed the same distinct brain activity that was evident as the rats were running on the track. Additionally, the memories of the rats at both instances played at near similar speeds.

    Application to Dogs

    The main question is whether the data on rats and humans can be applied to dogs. Matthew Wilson seems to believe so. He bases this belief on the fact that the hippocampus; the organ responsible for the collection and storage of memories, functions the same way in all animals. He concludes that the same dreaming process that occurs in humans must also occur in dogs.

    In humans, most dreams occur during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Dogs also exhibit this sleeping patterns and activities associated with dreaming such as rapid eye movements, leg paddling, and twitching can be observed during this phase.

    Inference In Relation To Dogs

    Going by the information from the study by Wilson and Louie, it is definitely not far-fetched to believe that dogs possibly reenact their favorite daily activities. Sigmund Freud’s theory about dreams being a safety valve for unconscious desires could possibly be true. These canines may be dreaming about activities that they are looking forward to doing.

    SOURCE: Pet Health Network
    COPYRIGHT: Local Value

     

  • 10 Tips To Being A Responsible Pet Owner

    10 Tips To Being A Responsible Pet Owner

    What does it mean to be a responsible pet owner? I’m sure if you asked fifty people, you would get fifty different answers, but the overall outlook would be roughly the same. We want nothing but the best for our fur babies…even if that means restricting them from table scraps, limiting their toys, etc. Here are 10 tips to being a better, more responsible pet owner.

    1. Carefully choose your dog. Don’t purchase a puppy because they are cute. Your dog selection should be based on your lifestyle.
    2. Socialize your dog.  Make sure your pet is socialized and if your dog is a puppy, make sure to socialize them. The goal is to make your puppy comfortable and at ease around other people and animals.
    3. Don’t threaten your dog. Don’t put your dog in a position where it feels threatened or teased.
    4. Train your dog. Basic commands are always a work in progress so don’t think you train them and that’s it. Continue to stimulate Fido’s mind with commands like “sit”, “stay”, “leave it”, “come”, “take nicely”, etc.
    5. Excercise.  Exercise your dog regularly and they will thank you! It will keep them healthy and stimulate them mentally.
    6. Not too much action.  Avoid highly excitable games like wrestling.
    7. Leashes.  Use a leash in public to make sure your dog is controlled at all times. You are in control of your dog and you want that to show to others.
    8. Keep your dog healthy. Make sure your pets vaccinations are ALL up to date. If you can’t remember when your dogs shots where, contact us.
    9. Spay or neuter your dog. If you decide to spay or neuter your dog you have options. Give us a call and discuss your options with us so you can make a decision that is right for you, your family and your dog.
    10. Fence your dog.  If you have a fenced yard, make sure the gates and fence are secure. You don’t want your dog to run out in the street and risk getting hit by a car or even taken. There have been cases of dogs running away and other people taking the pet tag off and keeping it so don’t run risk!

    SOURCE: AVMA
    COPYRIGHT: Local Value

  • 6 Tips For A Happy & Healthier Cat

    6 Tips For A Happy & Healthier Cat

    It’s Happy Healthy cat Month and there are many things we as pet owners can do to assure our best friends are happy and healthy.  As a veterinarian, pet owners often ask us what they should be doing in order to help keep their pets healthy. To help others with similar concerns what follows are my top six pet health tasks to promote the well-being of your cat.

    1. Yearly veterinary examinations – Annual examinations are as essential as food and love. Don’t wait for your feline to be sick before taking him to the veterinarian. Bring your cat in for a wellness exam at least once a year. Older pets and pets with medical issues may need to be seen more frequently.
    1. Dental care – Commit to keeping your cat’s teeth clean and healthy. What does this entail? First, take your kitty to the veterinarian for a checkup and cleaning if necessary at least once a year.
    1. Vaccinations  – Most people wouldn’t skip vaccinating their kids and shouldn’t overlook vaccinating their pets. Immunizations protect our pets from devastating diseases caused by viruses and bacteria.
    1. Microchips – If your cat doesn’t already have one, make sure you microchip your pet. While collars and ID tags are important, they are not a guarantee that your pet will be returned home if they ever get lost.
    1. Spay and neuter your cat – Besides helping prevent cat overpopulation and being the responsible thing to do, spaying and neutering your dog or cat has important health benefits.

    Follow these tips and enjoy Happy Healthy Cat Month all year round. Always reach out to your local vet if you have any further questions on your cats wellness and happiness.

    SOURCE: Pet Health Network
    COPYRIGHT: Local Value

  • 5 Labor Day Tips for Pets

    5 Labor Day Tips for Pets

    It’s not just humans who love the summer. Our pets love the summer just as much as we do. Our dogs love to bask in the sun as much as swimming, running or just enjoying a nap in the yard with the family. There are some tips to make sure your Memorial Day doesn’t get out of hand.

    1. Think twice about giving that bone to your dog

    While it’s very tempting, it can also be life-threatening. Along with bones, BBQ bits, like gristle and fat should never be given to your dog. Certain breeds and dogs that are overweight are subject to pancreatitis.

    1. Make sure your pet has plenty of fresh water and shade

    Our pets, especially dogs, get much thirstier than we do when they get hot, and other than panting and drinking, they really have no way to cool themselves down. Get your pet in the shade as often as possible. While dogs and cats like to sunbathe, direct sunlight can overheat them (especially dogs) and cause heat stroke.

    1. Never ever leave your pet in the car

    It can take minutes – yes, MINUTES – for a pet to develop heat stroke and suffocate in a car. Most people don’t realize how hot it gets in parked cars.

    1. Keep pets away from fireworks

    For us, fireworks are the highlight of the night, however, many pets are terrified of them. The loud noises and bright lights easily scare pets, which will make them want to get as far away as possible. Fireworks are also harmful to pets even when they’re not lit, as they contain hazardous chemicals.

    1. Make sure your pup has his ID tag on

    We love bringing our pets places, it means we get to spend more time with them! However, when you bring your pet to an outing, be sure they are wearing their collar with up-to-date ID tags just in case they wander off. It never hurts to be careful.

    SOURCE: Pet Health Network
    COPYRIGHT: Local Value

  • National Dog Day – Obedience 101

    National Dog Day – Obedience 101

    As pet owners, we’ve always celebrated our pet’s birthday. National Dog Day is no different. We go to the local pet store and pick up some toys and healthy treats and spend extra attention on them. After all, they deserve it!

    National Dog Day is a good day to dust off some old tricks that you and your canine buddy used to practice or brush up on his obedience drills. Here are a few tips:

    1. Understand the basics of how your pet learns – Behaviors that are reinforced are more likely to be repeated, and behaviors that are ignored are more likely to be stopped because they bring no benefit to your pet.
    1. Your dog cannot understand human speech – Dogs “speak” to each other using body language and various types of vocalizations so learning to understand what your dog’s signals mean can lead to stronger relationship.
    1. Always be positive when working with your dog –  Dogs enjoy learning if they don’t feel unduly stressed and you want to focus on building a positive relationship.
    1. Keep your training sessions short and train in small increments throughout the day – Dogs learn best in small increments, and by making sessions shorter it becomes more likely you’ll find the time to train your dog every day.  Your dog will get bored fast so that’s another great reason to train in short sessions.
    1. Teach your dog new behaviors in quiet, low-distraction areas – Once your dog is behaving well, slowly add in distractions. Don’t be surprised if you have to go back to square one with some behaviors after distractions are added in.
    1. Make training part of your daily routine – Ask your dog to sit before going in and out of doors, have your dog do “down stays” while you’re watching TV, etc. By asking the dog to do these behaviors as part of “daily life” the dog will learn to offer these behaviors without prompting.
    1. Make sure everyone in your household is on the same page – This is very important because your dog can learn bad habits from a roommate or family member when you are not around. Make certain everyone is on the same page. Be sure everyone uses the same words and hand signals that you use with the dog for each behavior. Being 100% consistent helps your dog to learn faster and find training less confusing.

    SOURCE: Pet Health Network
    COPYRIGHT: Local Value

  • Honoring International Assistance Dog Day

    Honoring International Assistance Dog Day

    A service or special assistance dog is specially trained to assist humans with disabilities. They are many of people’s eyes and ears, assisting with sight or hearing. But there is more to just sight and hearing.  Many service dogs help companions cope with various mental conditions like post-traumatic stress syndrome and autism.

    Service dogs might also support people with medical conditions including diabetes, epilepsy, narcolepsy and severe allergies. They can be trained to pull wheelchairs or carry oxygen, life-support equipment or medications for their human partners. The list goes on and on.

    Service dogs earn another important designation: They are protected under the 1990 Code of Federal Regulations for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This provides access to service animals working with their humans in any area where the public is permitted. It is not unusual to find service dogs with their human partner in malls, restaurants, theaters, hotels, amusement parks, on trains, buses or planes. Anywhere people go, their service companions may follow!

    Therapy dogs come in all shapes, sizes and breeds. They are trained to provide comfort, affection, and entertainment to people in nursing homes, hospitals, prisons, schools and retirement homes. These working dogs are often used in therapeutic environments such as assisting with teaching children experiencing learning disabilities and as stress-reducers with victims of accidents, crimes, and natural disasters/crises.

    Therapy dogs are not service dogs — and are not protected by the ADA regulations. Public institutions may limit or prohibit access to a therapy dog. Training required for a therapy dog designation varies, but it is much less rigorous than that of service dogs.

    Regardless of the tag, working dog, service dog, therapy dog or professional working dogs remain our best friends, favorite family, loyal assistants and, in most cases, our heroes!

    We have all seen a police dog, service dog or therapy dog in our lives and hopefully when you see them you will honor these guys for their loyalty and courageous efforts!

    SOURCE: PetFul
    COPYRIGHT: Local Value

  • International Cat Day – Learning About Your Cat

    International Cat Day – Learning About Your Cat

    For International Cat Day we want to talk about learning about your cat. We all know that cats dance to the beat of their own drum. They are independent and don’t need human interaction with the exception of food and a 15 second head scratch. Anything more than 15 seconds and you’ll get bit! Kidding aside, we’re going to cover:

    • Body Language
    • Personality

    Learning these elements will strengthen the bond of your furry one so let’s get started:

    1. Learn your cat’s body language – Look at the entire cat. Although we rely on certain key body parts when assessing posture, such as ear and tail position, the posture of these specific body parts must be taken into context with the entire posture of the cat.

    Body postures can be subtle. For example, your cat may put her ears back a little, which may be hard for us to see.

    Breed variations. Manx cats have a shortened tail or are missing the tail altogether, which may make it more difficult to communicate with us.

    Body postures may change over time. Your cat may start out with fearful body postures, but as they learn that their behavior is effective, (i.e. their aggression works to drive scary people away) they may start to look more confident, even though her underlying motivation is fear.

    Most cats with behavior problems tend to be fearful and stressed rather than confident. Panting, Ears laid back, flattened against the head, refusing food, tail tucked under the body, legs tucked under the body, leaning away, crouched body are all signs of a fearful and stressed cat.

    Learn your cat’s personality  – You’ll learn a lot when you can interpret your cat’s wide vocabulary of meows. They’ll tell you when it’s time to get up (when your cat wants you too!), when they are feeling affectionate and if they’re feeling threatened or in pain.

    “Meow” is an all-purpose word. Your cat may be saying “meow” as a greeting (“what’s going on?”), a command (“Give me food, stop petting me”), an objection (“Touch me at your own risk”) or an announcement (“Here’s your mouse”). Some people have watched their cats walking around the house meowing to themselves.

    Purring is a sign of happiness (mostly). Cats purr whenever they’re happy, even while they’re eating. Sometimes, however, a cat may purr when they are anxious or sick, using a purr to comfort themselves, like a child sucking his thumb.

    Growling, hissing or spitting indicate a cat who is annoyed, frightened, angry or aggressive. Leave this cat alone.

     A howl (they sound like loud, drawn-out meows) tells you your cat is in some kind of distress—stuck in a closet, looking for you or in pain. Find your cat if they are making this noise. However, in unneutered and unspayed cats, these sounds are part of mating behavior (and very annoying). And if your cat is elderly, they may be suffering from a cognitive disorder (dementia) and may howl because he’s disoriented.

    SOURCE: PetSafe
    COPYRIGHT: Local Value