6
08, 2024
Household Poisons
Many common pet poisons are in our homes and yards. Some of the more common ones to watch for are: Methylxanthines- chocolate and caffeine Ethylene glycol- antifreeze Indoor plants Metaldehyde- snail bait poison Household cleaners- bleach and lye Silica gel packs Acetaminophen- tylenol Xylitol- sugar free sweetener in chewing gum Rat poison Fertilizers Insect bait stations Walnuts Alcohol Strychnine Insecticides NSAID's- Ibuprophen Helpful Tips: Keep medications off night table Plastic weekly pill holders look and sound like dog rattle chew toys Keep purses with medication high and out of reach Store pet medications apart from human medications Do
2
08, 2024
Scaling and Polishing Teeth
Proper dental care involves more than just scraping tartar off the teeth. Thorough dental care involves scaling, probing and polishing. These can only be accomplished on an anesthetized pet. It is not realistic to think that somebody can scrape tartar off of an awake pet and be as thorough as we can on an anesthetized pet. When these procedures are performed properly we can reverse the gingivitis process and keep the teeth and gums healthier for a longer period of time. Scaling & Polishing Scaling teeth is greatly facilitated by a special instrument called an ultrasonic scaler. By vibrating tartar off the
2
08, 2024
Home Care of the Surgical Patient
Introduction When you pick up your pet after surgery you will be given a chance to talk with our staff, and you will be given post operative instructions specifically for your pet and the surgery performed. These are the instructions to follow. The information on this page is good general information on other things to do at home, as long as they don't contradict your post operative instructions. Preparing the Home Environment Set up an area with no noise, no drafts, and where there will be no other animals or children. Set it up for warmth in the cooler months,
2
08, 2024
Symptoms of Diseases
It is sometimes difficult to determine if your pet is ill, especially since many pets have subtle signs of illness that they easily hide from owners. Here are 7 basic areas you should observe on a daily basis to help determine if your pet needs an exam by one of our doctors. If you have any doubt that your pet is ill you should not hesitate to seek veterinary care since animals like our domestic pets, and especially birds, are masters at hiding serious illness. You don't want to wait until your bird looks like this before bringing it in In addition
5
07, 2024
In Home Exam
Introduction Pets are experts at hiding illness, so paying close attention to the hidden or subtle physical changes that precede some diseases can be highly beneficial. There are several basic physical parameters that you can assess at home on a weekly (we even recommend daily when feasible) basis to alert you to a medical problem before it becomes entrenched and difficult to treat. When you bring your pet in for an exam one of our doctors or nurses will show you how to do this simple exam. The limiting factor in most cases is your confidence. There are four basic