GVH Resources: Articles
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Our website’s Memorial Page is a special place where we can remember and cherish our beloved pets with photos and special thoughts or memories. If you would like to include your dear ones on the page feel free to contact Wendy or Amanda N. at our office.
Have you experienced the loss of a beloved animal family member? Would you like support during the grieving process? You are welcome to call or email any of the veterinarians at the Guilford Veterinary Hospital to discuss your loss. In addition, there are a number of organizations with trained individuals that are willing to listen and help answer any questions that you may have or help you to handle a variety of feelings. Both Tufts University and Cornell University offer pet loss support hotlines through their veterinary schools (Tufts 508-839-7966 and Cornell 607-253-3932). Their websites which can be found under the resources link also offer internet support groups, books, and other useful information, including how to discuss the loss with your children.
These resources can be used in any of the distressing situations during which you may find yourself separated from a beloved pet. Common examples include having to give up a pet due to relocation, allergies, financial constraints, etc or a pet that has become lost or missing. Regardless of the situation, animals are part of the family and dealing with their loss can sometimes be as hard as losing a human family member and we are here to help you through the difficult time.
FREE DENTAL CONSULTATION IN FEBRUARY
According to the American Veterinary Dental Society (AVDS), 80% of dogs and 70% of cats have periodontal disease by the age of three. Together, with proper dental care, we could increase your pets life by two to five years!
FEBRUARY IS DENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH! Call today to schedule your FREE dental consultation with one of our skilled veterinary technicians during the month of February! We'll get you and your pet on the right track with their dental health with individual case recommendations!
Dental Health for Pets
Did you know that periodontal disease is the number one disease affecting our pets? By the age of three, most of our pets are suffering from some form of dental disease. Just like people, our dogs and cats need to have regular oral examinations and receive regular dental care to protect their teeth, gums and overall health. This includes home care as well as occasional and sometimes more routine professional care.
Click here to read more…
Cold Weather Friends
Now that winter is here, it is important to be mindful of the impact the cold weather can have on our pets. One particular problem in cold and windy weather is frostbite. Frostbite can occur anytime a pet is outside for an extended period of time in temperatures that are below freezing. Frostbite typically affects the extremities including tips of ears, toes, or tails. Signs of frostbite include discoloration of the affected skin (pale, gray, or blue), pain at the sites, and areas of black or dead skin may appear up to days later. If you notice these signs in your dog or cat, please bring them in to the hospital so one of our veterinarians can assess the injuries and initiate treatment right away. A good rule of thumb to follow is that if it is so cold outside that you don’t want to be out there, then neither would your pet. Even if your pet is an outdoor animal, you should provide appropriate shelter to help them stay out of the elements and keep warm. Please ask if you have any questions about preventing frostbite in your pets.
Yearly Rabies Vaccines for Cats
We are now recommending the 1 year Purevax rabies vaccination for our feline patients. Although this may initially seem like a step backward from the 3 year vaccine, we have made this decision for the health of our feline friends. Some cats have a propensity to develop a cancerous tumor (fibrosarcoma) at certain vaccination sites. The risk of this is small, but very real. It is thought that these tumors may be caused by the chemical adjuvant found in certain vaccines. The adjuvant is what stimulates the exaggerated immune response needed to get a sustained reaction from the immune system so the vaccine will result in immunity for up to 3 years. The Feline Purevax Rabies vaccine has been formulated specifically to address this issue and is adjuvant-free. This results in the shorter period of immunity of one year. Although we recognize the inconvenience of an annual vaccine, we feel that the benefit of decreasing the risk of a serious cancer is worth it and have made this a part of the preventive care for all of our feline patients.
We have a new approach to an old problem!
After reviewing our protocols and experiencing a couple of challenging flea seasons, we have decided upon a new approach to controlling internal and external parasites. We now recommend a combination of Sentinel and Parastar for dogs and Revolution for cats.
Sentinel is a product that contains milbemycin (active ingredient in Interceptor) and lufenuron, which is an insect growth regulator that prevents flea eggs from hatching and prevents development of flea larva. This product controls heartworm disease, hookworms, roundworms and whipworms as well as preventing flea infestations in your home. Parastar contains fipronil (the active ingredient in Frontline), which helps to control ticks and kills adult fleas. We feel that this combination will provide exceptional control of parasites for our canine patients.
For cats we currently suggest the use of Revolution, which is a topical medication that helps control intestinal parasites, heartworm disease and external parasites such as fleas, ticks and ear mites.
Please speak with your veterinarian about this new approach for your pets.
Time for a Check-up!
Yearly exams are very important to maintain your pet’s health. Animals instinctively hide illness and rarely cry if in pain. With the history that you provide during the visit and the examination by the veterinarian, we may find illness that you may not have been aware of. Common conditions that may cause pain to your pet often without your awareness include diseases of the teeth, heart, liver and kidneys, not to mention infections and even cancer. Even young animals are subject to certain metabolic diseases that may cause distress and yet go unnoticed for a long time. Scheduling a yearly exam can help to keep your pet happy and healthy.
Did You Know…
The artificial sweetener Xylitol, which is found in many sugar-free products including chewing gum, is toxic to dogs at small doses.
It can cause their blood sugar to drop very low which is dangerous. This can happen anytime between 30 minutes and 12 hours after ingestion. Higher doses can cause serious problems with the liver which may not show up for up to 72 hours.
If your dog eats anything containing xylitol, contact your veterinarian or the Animal Poison Control center for instructions immediately.