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Fun facts, information, and ideas for your furry friends!
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Pudgy Pooches and Big Kitties
Obesity is now a problem for a third of our pets. A
little pooch on your puppy might seem cute, but an extra 5 pounds on a
dog who should weigh 17 pounds is equivalent to an extra 50 pounds on a
person who should weigh 170 pounds. Obesity can lead to diabetes, heart disease, and joint problems.
We
love our pets. The problem can be with loving them too much—giving them
table scraps or extra treats to pacify the sad eyes. As many as 89
percent of pet owners feed their animals table scraps occasionally,
according to an AAHA survey. Unfortunately, people food can be high in
fat and low in the vitamins your pet needs. Plus, table food tastes so
good Daisy can become a picky eater, refusing her own food. Besides, a
begging dog can interrupt many meals!
There
are now pet bakeries, frozen dog desserts, and even recipes for
homemade treats. But how do you know the “right” treat for your pet?
Most pets will be just fine with a light or low cal version of their
favorite. Fruits and veggies are a great crunchy treat to try.
Carrots,
broccoli, and green beans are low calorie and high in fiber and
vitamins. Some produce can be harmful, though. Onions can be harmful,
and grapes and raisins can also be toxic. If you have a question, our
doctors can help sort out which treats are best for Fido’s waistline.
So, the big question— How
can I tell if my pet is overweight? Weight in numbers alone can depend
on the size and breed of a dog, so a good indicator is the BCS, or Body
Condition Score. This is based on each pet’s body. You
can get an estimation of your pet’s BSC right at home. When placing
your fingers on the side of Fido’s (or Fluffy’s) rib cage and rubbing
gently, you should be able to feel his ribs easily. If you have to
press to find the ribcage, your pet may be overweight.
Our
veterinarians can help recommend a weight reduction plan and food based
on your pet’s body condition score. Keeping your pet at a healthy body
weight will help her joints, organs, and waistline!
Measuring
your pet’s food with a measuring cup is also a good way to keep an eye
on the amount fed. Most food packages have guidelines for weight/age
feeding amounts. Exercise such as walking, playing ball or frisbee will
help trim away unwanted pounds in no time.
If
your pet still seems to be unable to lose weight or continues to gain
despite all efforts, there could be a medical reason for the excess
weight, such as a thyroid condition, which can be treated by a
veterinarian. If you suspect your pet may have a medical problem,
please call us at 695-4455 for an appointment with one of our doctors.
Source: www.healthypet.com
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Effective January 1, 2009!!
Given
our community’s ongoing animal overpopulation issue, City leaders
unanimously approved sweeping changes to the collection of local animal
laws known as Chapter 5. The ordinance, which was approved in December
2007, institutes a permitting and licensing process for variety of
animal related concerns beyond general pet licensing. One of the most
important areas relates to the licensing of intact or unsterilized dog.
These permits will go into effect January 1st, 2009.
Effective January 1, 2009, any owner or keeper of a dog that is not spayed or neutered must obtain
an annual intact dog permit. There are exemptions for dogs that qualify
for certified medical exceptions (from a licensed veterinarian) or dogs
less than six (6) months old.
What
this means to you: If you have a dog or cat that is not neutered or
spayed by January 1, 2009, you may be subject to a fine and a mandatory
court appearance unless you obtain a permit! Find out more by calling
us at 210-698-1800 or check out the Animal Care Services website at : http://www.sanantonio.gov/animalcare/intactanimal.asp
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'Round the House
Even if you and your dog are the home type, there are some changes you should be aware of, too. Previously, when your pet was vaccinated for Rabies and received his rabies tag, you went to get a city license from a local store, usually H.E.B. or city hall.
San Antonio has recently changed their law on city licenses. Now once your pet has received their Rabies vaccines, the city is requiring them to have a microchip—an AVID or Home Again is fine— to be registered. You send your pet’s Rabies certificate—which includes their microchip number—into the city. This will register them like getting a tag previously would. You will not receive confirmation from the city that your pet is registered, but it will be on file.
If you have adopted your pet from a shelter or someone else, you should make sure the microchip information is updated. Otherwise, the organization or person who has previously registered the pet is retained as the legal owner. Since a microchip is also considered proof of ownership, you would want to make sure it reflects the right information. To insure your pet’s chip will show you as the owner, you can call AVID or Home Again, or the specific manufacturer of your pet’s chip.
If you need more information, we would be glad to answer any questions, or you can visit the Animal Care Services website about the new licensing laws at http://www.sanantonio.gov/animalcare/licensing.asp
Your pet will then be current and legal in town, no matter where you live!
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Heartworm Hints and Flea Facts
Mosquitoes are not only a nuisance to us, they can be dangerous to our pets. Mosquitoes can carry heartworm larva which can be transmitted to your pets.
Even if your cat or dog only goes outside to the bathroom, they can still be infected. It only takes one mosquito bite. The larva migrate through the bloodstream to the heart, where they can grow 6 to 14 inches long. Several hundred may be present in the dog. Heartworms can damage lungs, liver, and kidneys in addition to the heart. They can kill your pet! Heartworms have infected all breeds of dogs, large, small, long-hair, short-hair, inside, outside, in all 50 states. They can also infect cats. It only takes 3-4 heartworms to kill a cat.
Heartworms can be treated in dogs once infected, but the treatment is costly and can be hard on the dog. The good news is that heartworm disease is 100 % preventable.
There are 2 products that we recommend using for heartworm prevention. The first option is a monthly chewable that protects against heartworms, roundworms, and hookworms. The second option, that is more commonly used in our area, is Revolution. Revolution is a monthly topical product that not only prevents heartworms, but also helps control fleas, ear mites, and other parasites on dogs AND cats. Either way, preventing heartworms is our goal. The prevention is much less expensive than the treatment, and is much better for your pet.
Have trouble remembering to give your heartworm prevention regularly? Ask us to set up follow up phone calls and one of our caring staff will call and remind you that it is time to dose your monthly heartworm medication. Also, the website at http://us.merial.com/pet_owners has an e-mail reminder service you can sign up for. A handy monthly reminder is e-mailed to you to remind you to protect your pet from heartworms.
Flea infestations are a common problem in our area. Adult fleas can jump as high as 13 feet, and just one flea can produce 40-50 eggs per day. So for that one flea you see, there could be thousands more. Fleas suck blood when they bite, causing itching and irritation to the skin. If your pet has any allergy problems, just one flea bite could cause severe skin reactions including red inflamed skin and hair loss. Fleas can also spread tapeworms to your pet.
Tapeworms are intestinal parasites that can cause weight loss. These are seen as small, white, rice –like worms in the stool. Puppies and kittens can be especially affected by fleas, since they have such low body weight. An infestation of fleas can cause anemia, a low red blood cell count, that can result in death. Fleas are easily killed and infestations prevented.
Revolution (which is also our main heartworm preventative) and Frontline are the two main types of flea and tick prevention available through our hospital. They both kill fleas and ticks for 30 days at a time, and begin working within several minutes. These products kill ticks, which can carry Lyme and Ehrlichia diseases. Texas is home to all four types of ticks. Protecting your pets year round is the best way to ensure they are flea free. Advantage is also available for flea control.
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