Top 3 New Year's Resolutions for Your Pet

January 2013, HHVC

1) Weight Loss: Over 50% of American pets are either overweight or obese. That's 93 million dogs & cats! This is the single most important thing the owner of an overweight pet can do for their friend. Recent studies have shown that we can increase a dog's lifespan by two years or more by keeping that extra weight off! In addition to improving the pet's quality of life and lengthening their lifespan, weight loss can reduce the risk of Diabetes, high blood pressure and arthritis. Reduction of calories and increasing exercise are the keys to weight loss. Talk to our weight coaches about how they can help your pet! 2) Dental Care: This is not a cosmetic issue for our pets; it is a serious health issue. Often people are not aware of the potential consequences of dental disease. Although dogs don't typically get cavities like we do, they certainly do get periodontal disease and that's where the biggest risks lie. Periodontal disease (inflammation & infection of the gum tissue around the teeth) can lead to kidney failure, heart disease, liver infection, and many other problems. The more bacteria present deep in the periodontal pockets, the higher the risk. But pet owners can't see those nasty pockets & often don't realize the dangers. A simple adage: Bad breath is NOT normal! Eighty percent of pets over the age of three have dental disease. After all, imagine if you didn't brush or floss your teeth for 4 to 5 years and never had them cleaned by the dental hygienist it's a miracle dogs don't have more problems with their mouths than they do. And remember, dogs use their mouths like we use our hands... a painful mouth is tremendously detrimental for them. They just don't have the means (or the inclination) to complain! Talk to us today about your pet’s teeth! 3) Monitor Labwork for all Pets ages three and up. Labwork is a unclear term at best, but typically includes basic blood chemistries to look at the kidneys, liver, electrolytes, blood sugar and pancreas. The CBC or complete blood count gives us a view of the white and red blood cell numbers and ratios of different types. These things all give the veterinarian a pretty impressive view of what's happening inside the patient. After all, animals can't tell us what they're feeling, so the vet has to be part detective to get a good picture a pet's health. For seniors, this is best done every 6 months since dogs and cats age so much more quickly than we do. Detecting an illness early on typically improves the prognosis for the patient and makes treatment more straight-forward (and often less costly). Many diseases common to middle-aged and senior pets can be easily managed if detected early on. HHVC

Celebrating Christmas with Your Pet

December 2012, HHVC

It's easy to forget about the little things that can harm your pets during the holidays. Make sure you are careful with the following five Christmas traditions around your pets. Chocolate Chocolate is very harmful for pets and in some cases can cause major illness or even death. Make sure any chocolate is kept up high enough that pets cannot get to it. As well, educate your family on the dangers of chocolate. This way your children will not feed your pets chocolate as a Christmas treat. Christmas Tree Having a real Christmas tree is great. However, if that tree falls on your pet, it could be deadly. Make sure your tree is properly secured so it cannot be pulled down or tipped over by your pets. String and Tinsel String, tinsel, ribbon and other Christmas decorations are wonderful additions to the holidays. However, your pet may view them as beautiful, sparkling toys to eat and play with. Make sure any Christmas decorations you use are properly secured or placed so your pets cannot ingest them. Christmas Lights Nothing is more beautiful than a home with Christmas lights. However, when your pet is indoors or outdoors they could potentially chew the lights and electrocute themselves. Make sure you are watching your pets whenever they are around any Christmas lights. This way you know your pet is not chewing any cords. Plants Many holiday plants can be deadly for your pets. Make sure you research each plant you want to get before purchasing it for your home. Christmas would not be as wonderful if your pet eats a plant and needs an emergency trip to the veterinary clinic. Have a happy holiday season with your family and pets. HHVC