Once your pet is a new member of the family, it will require a lot of attention and care not only while it is young but for its entire life. Puppies and kittens require examinations and vaccinations every 3 weeks until they are 4 to 5 months of age.  In addition, they require the proper monthly heartworm, tick, and flea prevention throughout their lifetime. 

It is very important to have your pet spayed and neutered.  Many rescue groups and humane societies will have this performed at their facility prior to adoption.  However, if this surgery is not performed by the Humane Society, you should take your pet to your veterinarian to be spayed or neutered. 

Just like newborns, puppies and kittens may become ill.  Ideally young animals are healthy and do not become ill, however new owners need to be financially able to provide proper care for their new pet if he or she does becomes ill.  In addition, just like children, new pets require hard work and dedication.  Puppies are notorious for eating everything in sight, chewing shoes, socks, rocks, grass, furniture, etc. They need to be monitored very closely at all times while they are puppies, to make sure they do not swallow something which may make them ill and to prevent damage to your home.  In addition to keeping a close eye on them, puppies need to be trained to be house broken and listen to commands.  This takes a lot of time and patience.

As pets get older, they are susceptible to many of the same diseases that people are.  Arthritis, kidney disease, diabetes, liver disease, hypothyroid disease, and cancer are a few of the diseases that our pets may be diagnosed with as they get older.  If your pet becomes ill, it can become very costly to treat and care for them. It is important to understand when adopting a new animal that they will become a part of your family for up to 10 and sometimes even 20 years.  A new owner must be prepared to provide a lifetime of care and love to their new animal.

  There are so many dogs and cats that need a home and family. The best thing you can do for an animal is to give them a loving and caring place to call home.

 Millions of animals are put to sleep every year because rescue groups become overcrowded with abandoned animals and are unable to find homes.  In every state, there are humane societies and rescue groups for animals that have been abandoned or found on the streets.  It is not uncommon for people to seek out breeders to purchase specific breeds of dogs or cats.   Before spending a great deal of money on your new pet, it is worthwhile to visit your local Humane Society or rescue group.  Many times the specific breed of cat or dog you are looking for may be at your local shelter or you may just fall in love with a pair of soulful puppy eyes.  In addition, with a little research you can find rescue groups that are just for certain breeds, such as Saint Bernard rescue.  With all the abandoned animals that live in shelters and need homes, it would be wonderful to give them the loving home that they deserve, especially during the holiday season.

There are so many animals that are in need of a caring and loving home.  The holidays are a wonderful time of year to bring a new pet into your home and family.  It is important as new owners to be prepared for the responsibility and care your new pet will require.  Before bringing home a new pet, please consider and be prepared for the years of care, attention, and love that they will need.  With the preparation and understanding of the care and responsibility a pet requires for his or her lifetime, a new pet can add nothing but happiness and love to your home for many years.  The best and most loving homes for animals are prepared homes. Your new pet will thank you with many years of fond memories, love, and devotion.   

Have a Happy Nerdel Holiday Season!

Written by:  Alison Birken, DVM

With the approaching holidays, veterinarians will soon be treating some of the most serious cases of food indiscretion and food toxicity.  At this time of the year, it is very important for you, as pet owners to have a good working knowledge of which foods are potentially harmful to your pets.

In general, any kind of “people food” can cause an upset stomach in your pet.  Unlike humans, dogs and cats generally eat only one type of food.  The result is that their gastrointestinal tract becomes accustomed to digesting only that food.  Similar to people, the intestines of dogs and cats contain certain types of bacteria, which aid in their digestive process.  When we feed our pets new foods that they can not digest easily, it can result in serious abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting and other gastrointestinal symptoms. Your pet may be affected for several days, becoming lethargic and refusing to eat. Fortunately, in most cases, after a few days he or she will begin a rapid recovery.  So, always keep in mind that there is a real risk involved when you decide to give your pet a new food.

To this point, the foods that I have referred to as “people food” can cause mild to moderate symptoms in your pet. In addition to these, there are other foods that can be quite toxic to your pet and can cause serious disease.  The following is a list of those foods, which veterinarians caution you to never feed your pet. 

The Following is a List of Toxic Foods to Never Give Your Pet

 
CHOCOLATE:
Chocolate contains Theobromine and caffeine which are both classified as Methylxanthines.  Dogs are extremely sensitive to the effects of Methylxanthines.  All chocolate is not the same and does not have the same toxic effects on dogs.  The general rule is the more bitter the chocolate the more toxic it can be.  For instance, unsweetened baking chocolate has 7 times more Theobromine in it then milk chocolate and will have more toxic effects when digested in the same quantity.
The clinical signs associated with the toxic effects of chocolate are the following:

increase in Central Nervous System (CNS) stimulation
increased heart rate (tachycardia)
abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias)
hyperactivity
vomiting

 
If your pet has ingested chocolate and is exhibiting any of these clinical signs, please have him or her evaluated by your veterinarian immediately. Do not feed your pet chocolate.
 
ONIONS:
 
Onions are members of the genus Allium.  Pieces of onion, onion powder, or even cooked onion can cause damage to the red blood cells, which can result in an anemia, or a low red blood cell count, in dogs and cats.  Onions cause oxidative damage to the red blood cells which result in hemolysis.  Hemolysis means your pet s body is attacking its own red blood cells.  Clinical signs associated with onion toxicity include;

vomiting
weakness
pallor- pale mucous membranes and gums
brown coloration of  the urine
anemia
 
Many of the holidays foods we cook contain onions, and onion powder.  We should remember this when we want to give our pet a taste of stuffing or mashed potatoes.  If you note any of these clinical signs in your pet, please see your veterinarian immediately.
 
 
MACADAMIA NUTS:
 
Macadamia nuts may cause problems if ingested by dogs.  Clinical signs that can be associated with macadamia nut toxicity include:
 
weakness
depression
vomiting
ataxia
tremors
hyperthermia, or increased body temperature.
 
The exact cause for the sensitivity is unknown.  If your dog is exhibiting any of these clinical signs after ingestion of macadamia nuts, please see your veterinarian.
 

RISING BREAD DOUGH:
 
Ingestion of rising bread dough can be life threatening to dogs.  The animal’s rising body heat will cause the bread to rise in the stomach and release ethanol.  Clinical signs associated with bread dough toxicity include:
severe abdominal pain
bloating
vomiting
depression
lack of coordination
depression
 
If your dog is exhibiting any of these clinical signs after ingestion of bread dough, please see your veterinarian.
 
GRAPES AND RAISINS:
 
If eaten in large quantities, some types of grapes and raisins have been shown to cause kidney failure in dogs.  The cause of the toxicity is unclear.
 
 XYLITOL:
 
Xylitol is a natural occurring sugar substitute.  It is found in many sugar free gums, candies, and other foods.  This substance is actually toxic to dogs in large quantities.  It can cause as life threatening hypoglycemia, or low sugar level.  The cause is unknown.  In very high doses it can cause liver failure and bleeding tendencies (coagulopathy). 
 

 It is important to understand that our pets are not like us.  They cannot eat all the different types of foods and treats that we eat.  The holidays are quickly approaching, and this time of the year veterinarians see the most cases of food indiscretion and food toxicities with our pets.  Try to remember this when your pet is begging you for a taste of what you are eating.  If we do not give them a taste of our food, they will love and appreciate us more for keeping them healthy and happy.  Happy holidays and have a safe and wonderful holiday season. 

There are many diseases that can be easily prevented by administering vaccines.  Making sure your pet visits their veterinarian every year for physical examinations and required vaccination administration are an extremely important part of keeping your pet strong and healthy.

Vaccinations are classified as core vaccinations meaning required, and non core vaccinations, or optional.  Non core vaccinations should be administered based upon your veterinarian’s recommendations according to the individual pets risk and lifestyle.

The following is a guideline as to which vaccines your pet should be receiving as a puppy or kitten and then into their adult lives.

Feline (Cat) Vaccinations

Core Vaccines

1) FVRCP (Herpesvirus-1, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia Virus)

• Begin vaccination at 6-8 weeks of age
• Booster every 2-4 weeks until 14-16 weeks of age
• Revaccinate in 1 year, then every 1 to 3 years according to your veterinarian’s recommendations based upon risk and lifestyle

Non-Core Vaccines

1) Feline Leukemia

• Vaccinate at 8-10 weeks and booster in 3-4 weeks
• Revaccinate annually if at risk
• Considered a core vaccine for all kittens and then “at risk” after 1 year

2) Chlamydophilia

• Not used- consider for “at risk” animals

3) Feline Infectious Peritonitis

• Not used- consider for “at risk” animals

4) Bordatella

• Not used- consider for “at risk” animals

5) Feline Immunodeficiency Virus

• Not used- consider for “at risk” animals

Canine (Dog) Vaccinations

Core Vaccines

1) DA2P (Distemper Virus, Adenovirus, Parvovirus)

• Begin Vaccinations at 6-8 weeks of age
• Booster every 2-4 weeks until 14-16 weeks of age
• Revaccinate in 1 year, then every 1 to 3 years according to your veterinarian’s recommendations based upon risk and lifestyle

2) Rabies

• Vaccinate at 12-16 weeks of age
• Revaccinate in 1 year, then every 1 to 3 years according your to veterinarian’s recommendations based upon risk and lifestyle

Non-Core Vaccines

1)      Bordatella/ Parainfluenza

• Begin vaccination at 6-8 weeks of age
• Booster 3 weeks later
• Booster every 6-12 months as needed depending upon risk

2) Leptospirosis

• Begin vaccination at 12 weeks of age
• Booster 3 weeks later
• Booster every 6 to 12 months depending upon the risk

3) Lyme

• Begin vaccination at 12 weeks of age
• Booster 3 weeks later
• Revaccinate yearly

4) Canine Influenza Virus

• Begin vaccination at 6-8 weeks of age
• Booster 3 weeks later
• Booster every 12 months as needed depending upon risk

These are a general guideline for vaccination protocols.  The vaccinations your pet should receive, as well as the frequency should be in light of each individual veterinarian’s doctor/patient/client relationship, and individual risk assessment. Talk to your veterinarian to find out what’s right for your pet.  Vaccinations are critical in the prevention and elimination of disease.  Veterinary vaccinations are safe and effective, and the benefits far outweigh the risks.

When you go into a pet store or your veterinarian’s office, there are many brands of foods to choose from. One of the most important requirements that I make sure all my clients do when choosing the brand of food to feed their pet, is that it has been approved by the AAFCO (Association of American Food Control Officials). This organization assures that the pet food is well balanced for your pet with all the proper nutrients that they need. So whether you chose from Purina, Science Diet, Eukanuba, or any other brand of food, make sure the food is AAFCO approved. http://www.aafco.org

In addition to a proper well balanced diet, feeding your pet the right type of treats is important in maintaining their weight. As a general rule, I recommend feeding your pet no more then 10% of his or her diet as treats. Some healthy treats that I recommend are carrots, chicken, turkey, or low calorie dog treats which can be purchased at your local pet store.

There are many ways to make sure your pet is staying within his or her proper weight group. As veterinarians we evaluate pets based upon a body condition score. This score is graded from a 1 to a 9 with 1 being too thin and 9 being too overweight. . When your pet comes to see your local veterinarian, we want your pet to receive a 5 out of 9 body condition score. Please click on the following chart to review what your pets’ healthy weight should be…

Just like you and me, regular exercise is very important in maintaining your pet’s weight and health. Swimming, walks, and fetch with a ball or stick are some wonderful ideas that you can do with your pet for exercise. Many nearby beaches are pet friendly. Dog parks are a great place where your pet can run and play with other dogs.

Maintaining a proper weight for your pet with regular exercise and a well balanced diet is crucial in giving them every opportunity to live a long healthy life. Our pets rely on us to make healthy decisions for them. By maintaining their weight, choosing a proper diet plan, and exercising them regularly, we are helping our pets to have many years of health and happiness.

Emerald Hills Animal Hospital
(954) 983 2300 – phone
(954) 983 6021 -fax

The adult heartworm lives mainly in the large arteries leading to the lungs. These arteries, termed the pulmonary arteries, originate from the heart, hence the names name Heartworm Disease.

The Following is a diagram of the lifecycle of Heartworm Disease

All different ages and breeds of dogs and cats are susceptible to heartworm disease. If your pet becomes infected, the following are some of the symptoms you may see:

1. Difficulty breathing such as panting or shortness of breath and fatigue
2. Fainting spells
3. Coughing
4. Weight loss
5. Cats may exhibit gagging or vomiting

It is important to note that many dogs and cats may be positive for Heartworm disease but not exhibit any clinical signs at all. In addition, many of the symptoms listed a bove can be associated with other diseases. If your pet is exhibiting any of these abnormalities, he or she should be evaluated by your veterinarian immediately.

DIAGNOSIS

A very simple blood test is used in diagnosing Heartworm disease. This should be performed once a year when your pet visits his or her veterinarian for their routine annual examination. The blood is placed on a device termed a SNAP test. This SNAP test detects the amount of circulating antigen in your pet’s body. In simpler terms, the test determines whether your pet’s immune system is actively fighting a heartworm infection. In addition, the infection may occasionally be detected by ultrasound or x-ray images of the heart and lungs. Usually, however, these tests are used once the diagnosis of Heartworm disease has been established to determine the extent of the infection.

TREATMENT

Usually, all but the most advanced cases of heartworm disease can be successfully treated in dogs. This unfortunately, is not true for cats. Currently, there is nothing approved in the United States for the treatment of heartworm infection in cats, thus prevention is imperative.

Adult heartworms in dogs are treated using a drug called an Adulticide , which is injected directly into the muscle. A series of treatments are performed, and hospitalization is generally recommended. When your pet is sent home, exercise should be limited to leash walking for the duration of the recovery period, which is generally one to two months. Re-infection during treatment is prevented by administration of medication.PREVENTION

Although Heartworm disease in dogs is a potentially fatal disease, prevention is safe, easy and inexpensive. Treatment, on the other hand, is complicated and expensive, taking weeks for an infected animal to recover. There is no effective treatment for heartworm disease in cats, so it is imperative that disease prevention measures be taken. There are many options for Heartworm Disease prevention in both dogs and cats. These include daily and monthly tablets and chewables, as well as monthly topicals. Any of these choices are extremely effective, and when administered properly on a timely schedule, heartworm infection can be completely prevented. Please contact your veterinarian regarding which Heartworm prevention is best for your pet.

Our pets rely on us to keep them healthy, and happy. In doing so, easily preventable illnesses such as Heartworm Disease should be a part of your routine care for your pet. It is our responsibility to maintain the prevention program that you and your veterinarian have selected for your pet. In turn, our pets will thank us with a long life of health and companionship.

Dogs younger then 10-12 months of age should be on a food formulated for puppies – these diets have more calories, fat and protein then adult formulated diets designed to meet the needs of growing animals.

Puppies should be fed 2-3 times per day.

Adult dogs may be fed 1-2 times per day.

Every AAFCO approved dog food has a weight based guideline on the bag of food, advising how much your pet should be fed per day. Consult your veterinarian regarding the proper weight your pet should be. This ideal weight should be used as your guideline to measure how much food your pet should be eating daily.

I advise feeding large dogs, such as Labradors and Golden Retrievers, diets formulated specifically for these large breeds. Small dogs, such as Yorkshire Terriers and
Chihuahuas, should be fed diets formulated for smaller breed dogs.

When giving your pet treats, make sure the total amount of treats given in one day does not exceed 10% of your pet’s total diet.

Try and pick healthy low fat treats such as carrots, green beans, or plain chicken. Low calorie/fat treats can be purchased from your local pet store.

Avoid feeding your pet people food and other foods that they are not accustom to eating. One of the most common causes of gastrointestinal upset in pets, are eating
foods they are not use to eating

Many pets have allergies to certain foods- consult your local veterinarian for the proper type of diets designed for dogs that have food allergies.

Many pets, as they get older, develop diseases such as liver disease, Diabetes Mellitus, or kidney disease- consult your veterinarian for proper diets that are specifically
designed to help support certain disease processes.

Whenever changing diets, it is important to slowly change their diets over a 2 week time period as to avoid gastrointestinal upset. Consult your local veterinarian when
making any diet changes.

Top 10 preventive health tips

1. It is important that puppies start receiving vaccinations at 8 weeks of age. Required vaccinations include Distemper Virus, Adenovirus and Parvo Virus.
   Vaccinations that are recommended, in addition to the required vaccinations, include Bordatella/Parainfluenza, Leptospirosis, and Corona. Vaccination boosters are
   given to your puppy every 3 weeks until they are 16 to 18 weeks of age. After 16-18 weeks of age, your puppy needs to receive a rabies vaccine by law.
2. I strongly recommend spaying and neutering your pet. Many diseases can be prevented by spaying and neutering your pet.
3. After your pet has received all of his or her vaccination boosters, and a rabies vaccine, yearly checkups and vaccine boosters are recommended.
4. Yearly examinations are very important in the overall health of your animals. Pets cannot tell us when they are not feeling well. In general, it is not until
   they are very sick when we notice they are acting differently. Yearly examinations and checkups by your veterinarian are very important in helping to catch disease
   processes early, and improve the overall health of your animals.
5. After the age of 7 years, I recommend performing a senior wellness profile on your pet yearly. In addition to your pets’ yearly examination, and vaccination
   boosters, a blood and urine sample would be submitted to the lab for a CBC, Chemistry, and Urinalysis. This allows your veterinarian to more thoroughly evaluate
   the health of your pet as they get older. Consult with your veterinarian regarding these further diagnostic tests.
6. Maintaining your pets’ weight within the normal recommended range is very important. Consult with your veterinarian regarding the proper weight for your pet
   and diet plans to maintain this ideal weight.
7. Daily exercise and keeping your pet fit is crucial in affording them a long healthy life. Teaching your pet how to chase and catch balls, swimming, hiking,
   daily walks around the block, in addition to other exercises, are great ideas for keeping your pet fit.
8. Monthly heartworm and flea preventions are crucial in preventing certain tick borne diseases as well as heartworm disease. There are many products available.
   Consult with your veterinarian regarding which products are ideal for your pet.
9. Maintaining your pets’ teeth with routine dental cleanings is essential in preventing disease. Many problems such as gingivitis, tooth root abscesses, and blood
   infections can be prevented by keeping your pets teeth clean. Consult with your veterinarian regarding dental cleanings, brushing your dog’s teeth at home, and products
   which can be used to help keep tartar from building up.
10. Being attuned to your pet and how he or she behaves is very important in preventative health care. If your pet is not acting the same, for example eating less,
    drinking more, not as active, panting, or limping, to name a few, consult with your veterinarian and schedule an appointment. These subtle changes may be a sign of
    systemic disease.