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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Choosing the right veterinary hospital for you and your pet is almost as important as actually choosing your pet! It’s a good idea to choose the hospital before you choose your new pet. That way if you have a sudden emergency, you will not have the added stress of picking a veterinary hospital on the spot. Start your search by asking family and friends for recommendations. Doing this helps you begin to narrow down the hospitals. Once you have done that, visit the hospitals that are on your list.

Here are some things to keep in mind during your visits to potential veterinary hospitals :

• Office hours : Be sure to notice if there are regular office hours and make sure that the hours work with your schedule. Also make sure you find out who covers the hospital when the veterinarian is not available.

• Professional staff : The attitude of the staff is very important when choosing a hospital. Take notice of how routine phone calls are handled. Find out if you can request appointments with specific veterinarians and most importantly, make sure that you feel comfortable talking to the entire staff.

• Services : Some hospitals offer services that others do not. Find out what kinds of services are offered at the hospital you’re visiting.

• Emergency care : Not all veterinary hospitals handle emergencies, especially after hours. If the hospital doesn’t handle during or after hour emergencies, find out if they have an affiliate hospital where they send their patients to in the case of an emergency.

• Fees and payment : Find out what types of payment the hospital accepts. Also, are payments required on the day of a visit, or can you use a payment plan?

• Professional affiliations : Find out if the veterinarians are part of any national veterinary associations.

• Facility : Take a tour of the hospital and make sure that it looks clean and orderly. Also, check for any foul odors.

Once you have made sure that the hospital facilities meet your standards and expectations, you want to make sure that you are comfortable with the veterinarian as well. You should be able to comfortably communicate with your pet’s doctor. Make sure that you feel that you can ask questions and that the answers are clearly explained. Your relationship with your veterinarian is essential to your pet’s health. Your pet cannot tell the doctor when something is not right, so you need to be able to.

Choosing the right veterinary hospital is an important step in choosing a new pet. Be sure to carefully choose your hospital. Be sure that your pet is going to be as important to the veterinarian as it is to you! 

Does your cat suffer from hairballs? Hairballs in cats are actually quite common. Cats have many rough projections on their tongues that are called papillae. These papillae are used to help cats groom their fur. While the cat is grooming, it often ingests fur which gets caught in the cat’s stomach or small intestines. This causes a blockage or what is more commonly known as a hairball. Even though they are common, there are ways to help your cat prevent and treat them.

What types of cats are most susceptible?

There are three different types of coats that your cat can have: short hair, medium hair, and long hair. Cats with long hair get hairballs more often. Cats with soft fur also tend to get more. The soft fur sticks to the tongue easier than coarse fur. Indoor cats are also more likely to get hairballs. Since they do not spend time exploring outdoors, they spend more time grooming.

What are the symptoms?

Vomiting is the most common symptom of a hairball. The vomit may or may not contain fur. Other symptoms include not eating as often or as much, and hiding because they do not feel well.

How can I help to prevent them?

To prevent hairballs, you need to help your cat reduce the amount of fur they ingest and help the fur that is ingested pass easily through the digestive system. The best way to reduce the amount of hair that is ingested is to thoroughly brush your cat daily. Make sure to use a good wire brush, which pick up hair that your cat would otherwise lick up. Brush your cat for 5 to 10 minutes each day, making sure that the brushing is done slowly from head to tail. Most cats love being groomed and will enjoy the daily activity.

You should also let your cat go outside and eat some grass. Grass works as a laxative that helps them pass hair through their digestive systems. It also helps them to vomit up hairballs that have already formed in their stomach or intestines.

How do I treat hairballs?

To help the ingested fur pass through the digestive system, you could give your cat an intestinal lubricant, such as Laxatone. The lubricant breaks down the cat’s fur and keeps it from sticking to the lining of the stomach and intestines. To give your cat the lubricant, simply put a few drops on their nose or paw and let them lick it off. The recommended dose in cats is ½ to 1 teaspoonful for 2 to 3 days, then ¼ to ½ teaspoonful 2 to 3 times a week. If vomiting increases or continues after the treatment, bring your cat to the veterinarian for a more serious treatment.

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Is it time to bring your pet to the veterinarian for a checkup? Are you unsure of what to expect? It’s actually very important to understand what your veterinarian does to your pet during its annual exam. This helps you recognize when your pet is healthy and also if something is wrong. Here are the normal procedures that a veterinarian goes through on an annual physical exam:

Temperature
Taking the temperature of your pet is one the most important parts of the physical exam. A dog or cat’s average temperature is somewhere between 101 and 102.5 degrees. Even if an animal seems healthy, a veterinarian can often tell that something is not right if the animal has a high temperature.

Skin and Coat
A healthy pet should have a shiny coat and clean skin. A brittle, dry coat or flaky skin is an indication that something is wrong. If the skin and coat are not healthy, the veterinarian will likely suggest that you switch your pet from a grain-based diet to a meat-based diet. Within a few weeks, your pet’s skin and coat should be much healthier.

Ears
Normal ears should have smooth skin and should be without any wounds. The ears should be clean, dry and almost odor free. If your pet has an allergy or ear infection, you should be able to see it. However, infections usually start deep in the ear canal. The veterinarian will check for any infections that are in the early stages in order to eliminate them before they become a problem. Your veterinarian can prescribe any necessary medications and can show you the correct way to clean your pet’s ears.

Eyes
The veterinarian will examine the interior of your pet’s eye structures. Usually, pets do not have serious eye problems. The most common eye irritations among pets stem from contact with pollen, dust, or grass.

Paws and Toenails
Paw injuries usually heal on their own relatively quickly, but if your pet has really long toenails, they should be clipped shorter.

Mouth
Often pets with an infection in their mouth do not display any symptoms. However, many infections can be found in animals’ mouths including infected gums, objects stuck in between teeth, and even tumors.

Abdomen
A seemingly healthy pet can also have problems with its abdomen. A veterinarian can discover that your pet could have bladder stones, a tumor, only one working kidney, or is pregnant. By feeling the outside of your pet’s abdomen, the veterinarian can tell what’s going on in the inside. Often what’s on the inside is just as important, if not more important, than what’s on the outside.

Heart
During any physical exam, it is important that your veterinarian listens to your pet’s heart and lungs. By doing this, they can detect any heart valve or heart rhythm problems. If any heart problems are detected, further testing is usually recommended.

Bringing your pet in for a physical exam is an extremely important part of your pet’s health. Many times, a seemingly normal pet is actually unhealthy. Only a veterinarian would be able to detect such problems. Understanding the physical exam will help you understand your pet’s health and this will help your pet live a long and healthy life.

Heartworms are parasites that attack an animal’s heart and cause congenital heart problems if not detected. They are transmitted from animal to animal, after one is bit by an infected mosquito. Heartworms normally live in the right ventricle of the heart and in the nearby blood vessels.

Adult male and female worms that are living in your pet’s heart produce millions of baby parasites that circulate through your pet’s body. When a mosquito bites an animal with heartworms, it sucks up the baby worms and transmits them to the next animal it bites. Those worms now live in the heart of the newly infected animal, where they become adults and begin to reproduce.

When the baby worms are transmitted into the new animal, it takes approximately 6-7 months for them to become reproducing adult worms. They are only detectable when they are adults, so an animal needs to be infected for at least 6 months before it can be diagnosed through blood tests or X-rays.

Since heartworms can be spread easily from animal to animal, it is important to use preventative measures to protect your pet. Veterinarians recommend heartworm prevention for all dogs and as knowledge on heartworms in cats is increasing, prevention for cats is also becoming common.

In order to protect your pets from heartworm disease:

• Make sure you have your pet tested for heartworms before you begin to give them preventatives- unless they are less than 7 months old. If your pet is over 7 months and is started on preventative heartworm medication without initial testing, they are at risk for serious reactions to the medication.

• Puppies should be given a heartworm preventative by the time they are 8 weeks old.

• Puppies should be tested once they are 7 months old even if they are taking preventative medication.

• Dogs should be tested on a regular basis. Testing should be done every 2-3 years if the dog is regularly given the preventative medication, and every year if any doses of the medication were missed.

• In cats, one heartworm can cause sudden death, but it is difficult to test in cats. You can start the preventative medication without an initial test.

• Cats do not display the same symptoms as dogs. The symptoms in cats are similar to those of other common cat diseases. It is important to remember the possibility that such symptoms can be because of heartworm.

It is important to protect your pets from heartworms because it can be a fatal disease. However, if they are detected in your dog, there are curable treatments to use. A series of injections cause the adult heartworms living in the heart to die. The worms then continually break up into smaller pieces until they are small enough for the body to absorb. While this is happening, the dog’s heart is working harder than usual, so it is important that the dog does not do any strenuous exercise for 5 weeks. After 5 weeks, the dog is given a one day treatment to rid its body of the baby worms. Be sure that your dog receives a follow up test 6 months after the treatment to ensure that the heartworms are gone. There are currently no heartworm treatments for cats yet. The best way to treat a cat infected with heartworms is to begin using preventative medications to help alleviate your cat’s symptoms.

Does your pet like to play at the park or in your backyard? If so, your pet may be in contact with ticks! All pets that spend time outdoors can easily pick up a tick! It is very easy for a pet to get a tick and they can pick them up from a number of places. Such places include woods, parks, and even your own backyard. Some ticks cannot be seen because they live in dark, moist environments underneath plants and objects. Other ticks live in plain sight and are able to climb structures, such as fences, trees, or tall grass. A tick can easily attach to any pet close to them, so that being said, it is important to know how to prevent and get rid of them if your pet has one.

How Can I Prevent Ticks?

·         While ticks are usually found in woody, brushy, and tall grass areas, the best way to prevent ticks is to treat your entire yard for them. Treat your yard with an insecticide, focusing on areas where ticks would most commonly be found. Also make sure to mow your lawn regularly and keep your bushes trimmed.

·         You can also prevent ticks by treating your house for them. Ticks can move around a house very easily so it is important to treat the house thoroughly. Make sure you treat all carpets and upholstered furniture, including the sides and backs of the furniture because ticks can climb it. Be sure to treat walls and baseboards. Ticks will hide in baseboards and climb walls. Also make sure to thoroughly treat closets, storage areas, and other places where ticks can hide in your house.

·         You can also get a tick preventative for your pet. Tick preventatives kill ticks that attach to your pet. They are a good way to help protect your pet from tick-borne diseases such as Lyme disease.  A good product to use for your dog is called Preventic. It provides safe and effective control of ticks for up to three months and prevents new ticks from attaching and feeding within 48 hours after application.

What Do I Do If My Pet Gets A Tick?

·         If you have found a tick on your pet, you need to get it out. Pull your pet’s hair away from the tick. Then use tweezers to grab the tick. Try to get as close to the head as possible.  Do not squeeze the tweezers. Instead pull up and away from your pet, pulling the tick out. Do this slowly so you do not break off the head of the tick. Then flush the tick down the toilet.

·         If your pet has brought many ticks into the house and caused the house to be infested, continually treat the house as stated above. Also be sure to use a tick prevention product on your pet and check its skin every day. It may take several weeks to completely rid the house of ticks.

It is very important to be aware of the areas where your pet can pick up a tick and know what to do if your pet does pick up a tick. Ticks can carry many diseases, including Lyme disease, and easily transmit disease to your pet. During the summer season, a quick tick check every day is the best way to protect your pet.

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The liver is vital to your pet’s health. It is the main filtering and clearing house of the body. All blood supply travels through the liver to be detoxified. When functioning properly, it performs crucial processes like the regulation of blood sugar, the production of bile for digestion and the regulation of blood clotting. The liver also works as a filter to remove toxic substances, as well as helping to absorb fats and certain vitamins.

An overload of toxins can cause the liver to fail. Some pets are genetically prone to liver failure, while a lack of food can cause liver malfunction in certain animals, particularly cats. Bacterial or viral infections of the liver can also cause this vital organ to stop working. There are many causes of liver disease- such as genetics, copper storage diseases, drug induce diseases, poisons, pancreatitis, cushing’s disease, malnutrition, parasites, environmental stresses, cancer, trauma, and infectious diseases (bacterial, viral, fungal), just to name a few.

When the liver fails, both dogs and cats experience similar symptoms :

• Vomiting
• Loss of appetite,
• Weight loss
• Soft and/or gray stools
• Weakness and lethargy

Often times these symptoms are similar to other conditions and the liver remains untreated until it becomes evident that the animal is experiencing advanced liver disease. As the disease worsens, toxins begin to build up in the body and the signs of liver failure become more evident :

• Jaundice
• Convulsions
• Confusion
• Swollen abdomen from fluid accumulation

While advanced liver disease can be treated effectively, it is always best to identify the signs and begin treatment early. Do your pet a favor – if the above symptoms persist for several days, take your companion to your veterinarian. When diagnosed early, treatment of liver disease can be worthwhile. The liver is remarkable in its ability to regenerate itself and so many animals go on to live normal, healthy lives after experiencing liver failure. Diagnosis includes blood tests, X-rays and ultrasounds.

Denosyl SD4 For Dogs And Cats :

When liver function is compromised, the exact cause can often be difficult to determine. Supporting the liver, regardless of the cause, is essential if function is to be improved. Denosyl has been shown to markedly increase liver glutathione levels in dogs and cats. However, Denosyl’s activities go far beyond just increasing glutathione levels. It has also been shown to protect liver cells from cell death and may help cell repair and healing.

About half of dogs and cats with liver problems have a low hepatic glutathione level. Glutathione is a potent antioxidant that protects hepatic cells from toxins and death. Denosyl SD4 has been shown to increase these hepatic glutathione levels.

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Osteoarthritis affects over 20 million people in the United States alone. But we’re not the only ones at risk! Our pets can also develop this crippling form of arthritis. Below I will answer a few questions about osteoarthritis and what you can do to help your pet.

So, what exactly is Osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of joint disease in both humans and pets. It’s a type of arthritis that is caused by the breakdown and eventual loss of cartilage in the joints. Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative arthritis, becomes more and more frequent with age, affecting the hands (or in this case paws), feet, spine, and the large weight-bearing joints such as the hips and knees. The resulting stiffness, swelling, pain, and loss of mobility can seriously degrade your pet’s quality of life. Treatment is usually given in the form of an anti-inflammatory to help ease the individual’s discomfort.

What causes Osteoarthritis?

Most cases of osteoarthritis have no clear known cause. These cases are referred to as “Primary Osteoarthritis.” In the event that the cause is known, the condition is referred to as “Secondary Osteoarthritis.”

Primary Osteoarthritis is usually related to aging. With age, the protein make up of cartilage degenerates resulting in arthritis. Repetitive use of the joints over years also irritates and inflames the cartilage causing pain and swelling. So those dogs who loved to play fetch for hours when they were younger may very well be paying for it now! As osteoarthritis progresses, the cartilage continues to degenerate and in advanced cases, there can be total cartilage loss in the joint. This causes friction between the bones leading to pain and limitation of joint mobility. Cartilage loss occurs only in the most advanced cases; however it usually calls for surgery. While surgery is the less desirable treatment, in the event the condition has become unmanageable, surgery can greatly improve the quality of life.

Secondary Osteoarthritis is caused by another disease or condition. Some of the conditions that lead to Secondary Osteoarthritis include obesity, repeated trauma or surgery to the joint, gout and diabetes. Obesity leads to osteoarthritis by increasing the stress on the cartilage. Next to aging, obesity is the most common and powerful risk factor for osteoarthritis. It’s important to keep your pet lean and fit to help them fight the onset of osteoarthritis! Hormone disturbances such as diabetes and growth hormone disorders are also heavily associated with early cartilage wear; making it another common risk factor for Secondary Osteoarthritis.

This all sounds bad, what can I do for my pet?

Well, it might be time to move your cat’s litter box up from the basement and your dog’s water dish in from the garage. Osteoarthritis can make movement very painful, so be kind to your pet- move their essential items to an area that is easily accessible to them. It may also be time to trade in that door mat they sleep on for a nice comfy pet bed!

Now, outside of a few household changes, your pet will also need treatment to help ease their pain and the progression of the cartilage breakdown. Typically, treatment comes in the form of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, usually referred to NSAID’s for short. NSAID’s are widely used and are proved effective in reducing clinical signs and discomfort from osteoarthritis. A very effective treatment for dogs is Cosequin DS Chewable Tablets. These tablets are well tolerated by dogs and are proven to help with the pain and discomfort from osteoarthritis. Available in a variety of flavored tablets, they provide the nutrients the body uses to replenish cartilage. These pills are all natural and developed for long term use.

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It’s important to keep your pets tick free for their own safety. But most of us have adventurous little critters that want to run and play in the grass, leaves, and wooded areas where ticks are just waiting to drop off their perch and right onto your pet! Here are a few things you should know about ticks and your pets.

Ticks Are Disease Carriers!

It’s easy to underestimate the dangers of ticks since they are such small insects, but they actually pose a great threat to us and our animals, since ticks often carry diseases. Diseases that ticks can transmit to animals include Lyme Disease, which is transmitted by the deer tick and causes symptoms similar to that of Rheumatoid Arthritis. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever which is primarily found in New England and the West is a disease that causes depression, fever, rashes, skin hemorrhages, and joint disease. Dogs who live in wooded and mountainous areas often are at risk for this disease. Other possible diseases include Ehrlichiosis, a bacterial infection, and Babesoisis, a blood disorder.

Safe Tick Removal.

It’s important to check your pets often for ticks, especially during tick season and if they have been outdoors. The most common places ticks like to hide on animals are:

• Head
• Neck
• Ears
• feet

The following are the proper steps to help you safely remove and dispose of a tick you’ve found on your pet.

1. If you find a tick on your pet, remove it immediately! The longer it is attached to your pet, the greater the chance of disease. First to protect yourself, put on a pair of gloves so you do not have to touch the tick.
2. Use a pair of tweezers to carefully grasp the tick near the pet’s skin and gently pull until it lets go.
3. To help prevent inflammation and other infection, you may want to apply an antiseptic to the bitten area on your pet. Especially if it has left an open wound.
4. It’s important to properly dispose of the tick now that you have removed it from the animal. Acceptable methods include wrapping it in tissues and flushing it down the toilet or dropping it into a small container of rubbing alcohol. Don’t use water; ticks do not drown in water! And do not crush or burn them either, this may spread any infectious bacteria the tick may have.

Tick Prevention!

Pet owners should brush their pets often to check for ticks, especially after walks and trips outside in the woods or mountains. If you thoroughly comb and check your pet over within a few hours of being outside, you can greatly help prevent your pet from becoming infected by a disease from a tick. The best thing you can do for your pet is use some kind of tick prevention on them. Frontline is considered the #1 recommended tick and flea preventative by veterinarians. Frontline Plus will kill up to 100% of ticks on your pet within 48 hours and continue to keep them tick free for an entire month! (And the same product also keeps your pets protected from fleas too!) Many people enjoy ordering such products online because it’s so simple and reliable.

Here are the Corner Animal’s Flea & Tick products availble in our online pet pharmacy : http://shop.corneranimal.com/category_s/77.htm