Travel Tips for Pets wit Car Sickness

Summer travel time brings more car sickness questions. Here are a few tips to help:

Avoid feeding a few hours prior to travel.
Get animals used to car travel with short trips prior to long ones.
Frequent stops for bathroom, water and exercise breaks.
Car harnesses or crates create more comforting environments for many pets.
Less stress is best.
For certain pets, anti-nausea or anti-anxiety products may be necessary.

Talk to your veterinary team for specific tips to help your pet overcome either travel anxiety or travel nausea issues.

Dental X-rays for Animals?

This allows analysis of teeth roots which allows a decision to be made if the tooth requires extraction or not, was an extraction completely successful or is further surgery needed.  Extractions are traumatic and if a tooth is healthy, should not be done. The only way to know for certain is with dental films (just like human dentistry). Ask your veterinary team about dental x-rays whenever your pet is undergoing a dentistry or anesthesia.  This is a wonderful, low cost diagnostic tool that hopefully will lower anesthetic time, unnecessary surgery or allow a missed infection to be found.  

Christmas Hours

This holiday season, we will be closed the following days: December 24, 25, 26, 31 and January 1. All other hours are as usual. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Winter Safety for Pets

Winter is once again approaching.  As the environment changes so do risks for our animals. Frostbite is seen every year in most vet clinics.  If animals are outdoor animals then proper shelter and warmth should be provided. Cleaning snow, salt and sand from out pets feet will help prevent irritation.  Neighborhood cats and wildlife love to climb into a parked car engine due to its warmth. Bang on the hood before starting your car to wake any sleeping critter. Antifreeze is very toxic and spills should be cleaned up right away.  Exercise for out pets is still very important but being careful in icy areas can prevent some injuries from ruining an otherwise wonderful winter walk.  For more information, contact your veterinary care team.

The holidays are also around the corner. Common injuries occur with some pets and Christmas trees or decorations.  Ingestion of wrapping material, new toys, getting into the garbage for good tasting things and access to chocolate can all be concerning.  Make your house a happy and safe holiday environment for you and your pet.  

Why Does My Pet's Breath Smell?

Eating feces, cleaning anal glands, disease issue such as kidney disease can all potentially cause bad breath but the number one reason is dental disease.  Often veterinarians are presented with a case of what is believed to be a skin problem but in reality is a dental issue and since the animal is cleaning themselves they are spreading this smell over their coat.  Have your pets teeth checked yearly during their annual exam.  Certain animals may require a dental exam at 6 month intervals to monitor progression properly.  Prevention is the most important thing we as pet owners can do.  Talk to your veterinary care team about prevention options for your specific pet.