Corner Animal Hospital : Online Pet Pharmacy and Veterinary Service

With the recent Menu Foods scare it might be a good time to review some of the symptoms pets show when they are ill with an internal disease. In some cases these symptoms are subtle and require careful observation on your part. Also, when a pet has multiple (and busy) owners it is easy to overlook the early signs of disease in pets.

Some symptoms of internal disease are obvious, the primary ones being lack of appetite and persistent vomiting or diarrhea, along with lethargy and a strong odor. Lets look at some of the more subtle symptoms that might indicate an internal problem.

A pet that does not eat its food as vigorously as it once did could indicate a problem anywhere from the mouth, to the brain, to the internal organs. Panting more than usual, even during the cooler time of the year, could indicate an internal hormone problem called Cushings disease or even discomfort or pain from arthritis or an internal organ problem.

Laying around more often, or gravitating towards warm areas could indicate another hormone problem involving the thyroid gland. Any eye or nose discharge that is persistent, and drains from only one side could indicate a number of problems. Subtle behavior changes that include a lack of recognition when your pet greets you, changes in sleep patterns, circling around a table in your house, staring into space, or wandering into a wall could indicate anything from an old age problem to a problem with a brain tumor or central nervous system infection.

A pet that drinks or urinates more than its usual amount is a potential symptom of many different problems. The same holds true if your pet experiences the opposite and drinks or urinates less. A significant change in the color of your pets stool, usually much darker or much lighter, is also a potential sign of many different problems.

One of the best ways to watch for any of these symptoms is to measure or monitor your pet’s drinking and eating habits. Use your calendar and mark your parameters down periodically. You can even weigh your pet monthly and write things down each time you weigh your pet. Any change that becomes apparent is an indication for a physical exam by a veterinarian.

Yearly Wellness exams that include a physical exam along with a fecal check for parasites and a routine blood panel go a long way towards identifying problems before they become well entrenched and difficult to treat. This is particularly true for our geriatric pets that commonly become ill but do not show any outward or apparent signs.

Cushings disease, technically called hyperadrenocorticism, is a hormone problem in which the adrenal glands produce to much cortisone. Even though it can appear in other animals, it is primarily a disease of middle aged and older dogs.

The small size of the adrenal glands, located at the top of each kidney, does not do any justice to their importance in regulating many body functions. In this disease an excess of the hormone called cortisol is released into the bloodstream. This hormone circulates throughout the body and has a profound effect on many of the internal organs.

In most cases the cause is a very slow growing tumor in the pituitary gland that stimulates the adrenal glands to produce and excess of cortisol. In a much smaller number of cases the adrenal glands themselves ban have an benign or malignant tumor that causes the excess secretion of cortisol.

Many of the symptoms of this disease are subtle, and can wax and wane. Things to watch for are excessive appetite or panting, drinking or urinating more than usual, a pot bellied appearance to the abdomen, or skin changes.

A routine physical exam with a blood panel can give us an indication of this problem. Specialized hormone tests are needed for a definitive diagnosis. Sometimes we even perform an ultrasound to try to visualize the adrenal glands.

Several different medications are used to treat the usual form of Cushings. Your doctor will tell you which one is appropriate in your pet’s case. Surgery is not commonly utilized and can lead to post operative complications. To learn substantially more about this problem follow this link: http://www.lbah.com/canine/cushings.htm

Every litter of puppies or kittens born contributes to the overwhelming statistics of animal overpopulation.  At the Corner Animal Hospital, we emphasize that prevention – spaying or neutering your pet – is the best way to help curb the problem of pet overpopulation.The benefits of spaying and neutering also include:

• More affectionate pets.
• Helping pets live a longer, happier life.
• Significantly decreasing the odds of your pet developing certain cancers, including breast and ovarian cancer in females and testicular and prostate cancer in males.
• Reducing roaming tendencies so your pet will be less likely to get lost, stolen, injured or killed.
• Helping animal shelters from being overburdened with a surplus of animals.

Taking these small steps can help ensure your pet will live a longer, healthier life!

The Corner Animal Hospital is located in Setauket, New York.

Call 631.941.3500 to make an appointment today to have your pet spayed or neutered.

Click here for directions to our Long Island vet location.

Whenever you travel with your pet be sure to take along his complete medical records, a photo, and proof of vaccinations, in case of emergency. Also, bring a picture of you with your pet so that people can recognize you as his owner.

It seems that today’s pets are more pampered than ever.  Pet owners indulge their furry friends with premium food and treats, colorful toys, and even dress them in posh, fashionable outfits.  They get them kitty condos and obedience lessons, vitamins and vaccines. But there is one aspect of pet care that even the most loving owners tend to miss: Pet dental disease prevention.

Dental care is one of the most commonly overlooked aspects of pet ownership, but ignoring it can not only cause major dental disease in pets, it can lead to more serious health problems including heart, kidney and lung disease.  Shockingly, according to the American Veterinarian Dental Society, 80% of dogs and 70% of cats show some signs of gum disease by age 2.

There are many types of dental diseases that dogs and cats can acquire.  The most common are :

• Gingivitis
• Tooth abscess, especially of the carnaissal teeth
• Cavities
• Cracked teeth
• Worn down teeth

So what should a conscientious pet owner do to prevent dental disease in their pet?

It’s essential that dental care in pets, as with people, be preventative.  Your pet’s teeth should have the tarter scraped off of them every 3-6 months, and be professionally cleaned under general anesthesia at least once a year.

The most important thing you can do at home to stave off dental disease is to brush your pet’s teeth.  Brushing regularly will keep gums healthy and prevent tartar build up. Obviously, some pets will be more complacent about having their teeth brushed than others.  Cats especially tend to balk at the idea of human fingers poking around their pearly whites. In these cases, you can slowly get your pet comfortable with tooth brushing by progressing from a finger, to a gauze pad or cotton swab (perhaps dipped in their favorite treat) on the gums, to eventually using a soft bristled toothbrush.  Remember to always properly restrain your pet before brushing their teeth to avoid problems.

If you think these precautions seem over the top or unnecessary, think again: Studies have shown that taking measures to prevent dental disease in your pet may add as much as 5 years to their life. So go ahead and buy Spot that fancy collar and splurge on a new toy for Tabby.  Just don’t forget to pick up that toothbrush while you’re at it!

Corner Animal Hospital : Online Pet Pharmacy & LI Veterinary Service

http://www.corneranimal.com

Buy the Medications Your Pet Needs With Confidence. Owned by Ivy League Educated Dr. Dorothy Hayes and Dr. Judith Lombardi Daniels. “We treat your pets as family members. Their health and comfort are our primary concern.”

Visit our Online Pet Pharmacy to shop for your pet’s meds at http://shop.corneranimal.com

It is important that your dog maintains a healthy diet that contains natural vegetables and lean cuts of meat and minimal processed foods. Many brands of dog food contain ingredients such as animal by-products, artificial flavors, and chemical preservatives, such as BHA, BHT, and Ethoxyquin. These can be harmful products that may lead to illness or other problems for your pet.

In many moist dog foods, there is an ingredient called wheat gluten that has made many dogs sick and has even caused death. Pet owners should read the labels of the dog food they buy and avoid products that contain those ingredients.

Dog owners should give their dog high-quality dog food that contains all natural ingredients. In order for dogs to stay healthy, they should also eat raw red meat. Animals, like humans, require the enzymes, amino acids and other nutrients in raw red meat. They also require raw animal fat in their diets to avoid skin and coat problems. Many pet owners think fat is bad for their dog; however, their systems need at least 30% of raw fat in their diet a day to stay healthy. Dogs’ digestive systems aren’t designed to digest cooked meat and fat. Many pet owners believe that raw meat contains bacteria and parasites that can be harmful to their dog, but dogs can’t get salmonella poisoning because their digestive systems are so acidic that it kills all bacteria and parasites.

How much to feed your dog depends on the food and the weight of the dog. Look at the recommended feeding amount on the container. Dogs should eat up to 2 times a day in measured “meals.” Dog owners should also avoid giving their dogs table scraps to ensure that your dog isn’t over eating. If you follow this advice, your dog will stay at a safe weight, have a healthy heart, and a longer lifespan.

When you get a puppy, it’s a lot like having a new child. It is your responsibility to take care of it, protect it, and make sure it stays out of harm’s way. And just like a child, puppies and their immune systems are subject to plenty of diseases that we can help prevent by taking the right steps when we first bring our new puppies home.VACCINES

Once you procure ownership of your puppy, immediately go to a veterinarian for an examination. Veterinarians can determine how healthy your brand new puppy is and what kind of vaccinations he/she needs. By looking at the puppy’s breeding/vaccination report, a vet can determine if the puppy does or does not need to receive any more vaccinations. If the puppy’s never been vaccinated it will most certainly receive the necessary vaccinations during that first visit. Most veterinarians use multivalent vaccines when vaccinating your puppy. Multivalent vaccines combine several different disease antigens into one shot so your puppy doesn’t have to receive several shots. Puppies receive vaccinations to prevent them from getting diseases at ages when they are most susceptible. Make sure to set a schedule with your veterinarian regarding when your puppy should come in for another vaccination (or “booster” shot).

SPAYING OR NEUTERING

If your puppy is not spayed or neutered, ask your veterinarian what might be a good time to have it done. Spaying a female dog prevents her from having unwanted puppies from the future. It also prevents the probability of disease, such as breast cancer and uterine infection. Male dogs that aren’t neutered are more at risk for testicular cancer and prostate disease. A male dog that isn’t neutered also tends to be more aggressive towards people and dogs alike. As a general rule of thumb, it is best to spay a female dog before her first heat cycle, and for a male dog it is normally best to have him neutered at 6 months. Regardless, check with your veterinarian to know the optimal time for either.

WORMS

Worms are parasites that can grow in your puppy’s intestines and feed off nutrients that pass through them. These are nutrients that your puppy needs. As soon as you can, bring your veterinarian a sample of your puppy’s stool. Your vet can examine it for worm eggs to determine if your puppy does in fact have them. If your pet does have worms, the veterinarian will be able to determine exactly what kind of species they are and give you the appropriate medicine or “wormer” to help get them out of your puppy’s system. Even if the puppy does not have worms, he/she can get them by exposure to another infected animal’s feces. Make sure to clean up feces left by your puppy every week and pick up after it on walks.

These are only some of the basic health issues to keep in mind when deciding to get a puppy. You should generally make sure to feed your pup well and exercise it to keep its health and immune system strong.

With summer’s high temperatures, the heat can be deadly to your pets. It may be time to make some changes in how you care for your pets. This includes things such as more water and shade. Above all, you need to be watching for the signs of heat stress in your furry friends. Also in this warm weather, you may be tempted to take your pet with you in the car, but the interior of a car can reach 120 degrees in a matter of minutes — even if you’re parked in the shade. You might want to play it safe and leave your pet cool at home for the dog days of summer.

Future pet-food labels that indicate the number of calories per serving could help obese animals, a veterinarians association recommended to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Tuesday.

“Pet owners do not always know how much to feed. They may not realize the high number of calories associated with some of the pet food they are giving their pets,” said John Branam, testifying on behalf of the American Medical Veterinary Association.

The FDA held the hearing as part of legislation passed last year that requires the Center for Veterinary Medicine to establish pet-food-labeling standards in two years.

According to the veterinary group, 54 million pets in the United States are obese, an “epidemic” that the association said is growing at an alarming rate.

Nancy Cook, vice president of the Pet Food Institute’s technical and regulatory affairs division, said calorie labels are unnecessary and won’t prevent obesity in pets.

“It doesn’t work for people,” said Cook, a voice for the industry’s manufacturers.

The labels contain serving sizes based on a pet’s size. Calorie information can be obtained from food manufacturers, she said.

But the veterinary group said it’s not consumers’ and veterinarians’ jobs to track down manufacturers for that information.

A standard nutritional label that lists the number of calories per weight of food and per household items, such as a can or a cup, would prevent owners from overfeeding their pets, the group said.

The information also would help consumers and veterinarians compare and choose the best food, Branam said. For example, two cups of one product could have the same calories as one cup of another.

Although pet obesity is determined by other factors, such as genetics, the environment and medical influence, a standard label would make it easier for vets to recommend portions, Branam said.

Written by The Seattle Times Company

When it comes to keeping your pets safe from flea and tick infections, Frontline is the name to know. It is the #1 trusted choice for flea and tick control by veterinarians. With just one dose, your dog or cat will be protected from fleas or ticks for at least a month. Frontline will not only kill any currently existing fleas or ticks already on your pet in the first twenty-four hours it’s been applied, but it will keep them off, not only killing full-grown pesticides, but also flea eggs and larvae. It’s also waterproof, allowing your pet to swim and be bathed without losing Frontline’s capabilities. It can be used on kittens and puppies at ages as early as 8 weeks old. For complete flea and tick control, choose Frontline.

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