Table of Contents  Why is testing necessary? Why are Heartworm & Flea prevention so important? Is Dental Health really important? Why Castration and Spay are very important? Why does your pet need a health exam? Why do we need to prevent parasites? Why should I not feed my pet table food? Why is testing necessary? We run tests to confirm that your pet’s organs are functioning properly and to reveal any hidden health conditions that could put your pet at risk. We may screen for some of the following conditions: kidney, liver , anemia and internal infection. These conditions will help in determining your pet’s health status and ability to tolerate anesthesia. For, example , a pet can lose up to 75% of kidney function before showing any visible signs of illness. Testing helps us evaluate your pets health up front, so we can avoid problems related to anesthesia. Back to Top Why are Heartworm & Flea prevention so important? a) First of all, flea control and flea prevention is the priority. In order to prevent fleas and flea bites we need to fully understand what they are. Fleas have the ability to transmit tapeworms and create allergic reactions which can results in scratching, hair loss, and infection. It’s incredibly important to keep your dog away from fleas. After all, fleas enjoy thriving on your dog’s blood which can result in anemia and other medical disorders. They fester in moist, warm, and shady areas such as patios, porches, and dog houses. b) One important step towards maintaining good health is preventing potentially fatal diseases such as heartworm disease. We, as veterinarians, feel that heartworm prevention is ESSENTIAL and NECESSARY for your pet to enjoy a good, long , healthy life!. Heartworm preventatives can cause serious side effects in some dogs, including depression, lethargy, vomiting , anorexia, diarrhea, dilation of the pupil, loss of balance, staggering, convulsions, and hypersalivation. On the other hand , heartworm can be a devastating disease. Dogs with moderate or severe infestations display a chronic cough and can’t engage in much activity , as worms choke their heart and major blood vessels, reducing their blood (and thus oxygen) supply. The disease often leaves its victims incapacitated, incapable of doing much more than a slow walk without gasping for air, and kills many dogs. Even the treatment for heartworm disease can be deadly, regardless of which method is used, so it is important to understand the risks that you take if you choose not to give your dog heartworm preventative. Back to Top Is Dental Health really important? Many veterinarians stress the importance of oral hygiene because tooth and gum problems are common medical conditions seen in pets. If left unchecked, an unhealthy mouth can affect the liver , kidneys, heart and even the brain. So when you lean in to give your pet a smooch, ask yourself “ Does my pet need a breath mint?” Studies show that 98% of pets with bad breath are suffering from severe plaque build up. Bad breath not only means that your pet’s mouth may be a warehouse for unhealthy bacteria, tartar and plaque, but it can also contribute to the status of your pet’s breath. Low quality food can cause digestive problems, thus promoting bad breath. Your vet will clean and polish your pet’s teeth, removing the build up of plaque and bacteria. These annual checks are even more important if you do not regularly brush your pet’s teeth. If your pet's gum disease is caught in the early stages, the veterinary surgeon can treat the condition effectively. Looking after their teeth is an important part of preventive health care, whether it is a cat or dog. Back to Top Why Castration and Spay are very important? a)Castration may be performed for many reasons, including population control and treatment of certain medical and behavioral problems. Medical problems that may be prevented or resolved by castration include testicular cancer, prostatic disease, certain hernias, and some skin diseases. Behavioral problems that may resolve include roaming, attraction to females, and certain dominant, aggressive attitudes. • Castration is a surgical procedure. It is performed with animals under general anesthesia, and animals suffer little pain during recovery because we use pain relieving medications following surgery. The swelling should go away after several days. It is very important to prevent your pet from damaging the incision site by licking at the area. b) Spaying is performed for a variety of reasons, including population control and treatment of disease. Medical reasons for spaying include treatment of uterine infection, cancer of the uterus, ovaries, and mammary glands, and some skin conditions. Also, evidence suggests that some animals with diabetes and seizure disorders respond better to medication if they are spayed. Back to Top Why does your pet need a wellness exam? For millions of health-conscious Americans, the annual checkup has become a routine practice. Like people, dogs and cats can benefit from routine wellness exams too. But with one important difference - pets age is faster than people. On average, most dogs and cats reach adulthood by age two .Because dogs and cats age seven times faster, on average, than people, significant health changes can occur in a short amount of time. And, the risks of cancer, diabetes, obesity, arthritis, heart disease, metabolic problems and other serious conditions all increase with age. Many pet owners are not aware that taking a dog or cat to the veterinarian once a year is the same as a person seeing their doctor or dentist once every seven years, Pets need to have a wellness exam every six months so that veterinarians have the opportunity to detect, treat or, ideally, prevent problems before they become life-threatening. "Prevention is the real goal of twice-a-year wellness exams,". "When veterinarians see a pet on a regular basis, they can help pets avoid some preventable illnesses and diseases. We want twice-a-year exams to prevent or minimize disease and enhance your pet’s quality of life and increase the length of their life. Back to Top Why we need to prevent parasites? There are six major intestinal parasites of dogs and cats. Two types of examinations are used to identify these. A fecal flotation exam will help to identify hookworms, roundworms, whipworms, tapeworms, and coccidia. A direct fecal smear may also reveal these parasites, but is more commonly used to identify giardia infection and bacterial overgrowth. Intestinal parasites can cause severe internal problems such us pet having diarrhea, weight loss, increased scooting, a dull coat, or if you see worms under its tail, in its bedding, or on its stool. A routine fecal test by your veterinarian will detect the presence of parasites. Dog and Cat Parasite Eggs As Seen Under The Microscope In A Stool Sample Analysis Back to Top Why should I not feed my pet table food? (Which foods could be dangerous for my dog?) We know how much your pet means to you, so we put together some common hazards to keep you pets out of danger. This guide is to provide you with important pet safety information. Some foods which are edible for humans, and even other species of animals, can pose hazards for dogs because of their different metabolism. Some may cause only mild digestive upsets, whereas, others can cause severe illness, and even death. The following common food items should not be fed (intentionally or unintentionally) to dogs. This list is, of course, incomplete because we can not possibly list everything your dog should not eat.     Items to avoid Reasons to avoid Alcoholic beverages Can cause intoxication, coma, and death. Baby food Can contain onion powder, which can be toxic to dogs. (Please see onion below.) Can also result in nutritional deficiencies, if fed in large amounts. Bones from fish, poultry, or other meat sources Can cause obstruction or laceration of the digestive system. Small bones splinter easily & can cause internal damage. Cat food Generally too high in protein and fats. Chocolate, coffee, tea, and other caffeine Contain caffeine, theobromine, or theophylline, which can be toxic and affect the heart and nervous systems. Citrus oil extracts Can cause vomiting. Fat trimmings Can cause pancreatitis. Grapes and raisins Contain an unknown toxin, which can damage the kidneys. There have been no problems associated with grape seed extract. Hops Unknown compound causes panting, increased heart rate, elevated temperature, seizures, and death. Human vitamin supplements containing iron Can damage the lining of the digestive system and be toxic to the other organs including the liver and kidneys. Large amounts of liver Can cause Vitamin A toxicity, which affects muscles and bones. Macadamia nuts Contain an unknown toxin, which can affect the digestive and nervous systems and muscle. Marijuana Can depress the nervous system, cause vomiting, and changes in the heart rate. Milk and other dairy products Some adult dogs and cats do not have sufficient amounts of the enzyme lactase, which breaks down the lactose in milk. This can result in diarrhea. Lactose-free milk products are available for pets. Moldy or spoiled food, garbage Can contain multiple toxins causing vomiting and diarrhea and can also affect other organs. Mushrooms Can contain toxins, which may affect multiple systems in the body, cause shock, and result in death. Onions and garlic (raw, cooked, or powder) Contain sulfoxides and disulfides, which can damage red blood cells and cause anemia. Cats are more susceptible than dogs. Garlic is less toxic than onions. Persimmons Seeds can cause intestinal obstruction and enteritis. Pits from peaches and plums Can cause obstruction of the digestive tract. Potato, rhubarb, and tomato leaves; potato and tomato stems Contain oxalates, which can affect the digestive, nervous, and urinary systems. This is more of a problem in livestock. Raw eggs Contain an enzyme called avidin, which decreases the absorption of biotin (a B vitamin). This can lead to skin and hair coat problems. Raw eggs may also contain Salmonella. Raw fish Can result in a thiamine (a B vitamin) deficiency leading to loss of appetite, seizures, and in severe cases, death. More common if raw fish is fed regularly. Salt If eaten in large quantities it may lead to electrolyte imbalances. String Can become trapped in the digestive system; called a "string foreign body." Sugary foods Can lead to obesity, dental problems, and possibly diabetes mellitus. Table scraps (in large amounts) Table scraps are not nutritionally balanced. They should never be more than 10% of the diet. Fat should be trimmed from meat; bones should not be fed. Tobacco Contains nicotine, which affects the digestive and nervous systems. Can result in rapid heart beat, collapse, coma, and death. Yeast dough Can expand and produce gas in the digestive system, causing pain and possible rupture of the stomach or intestines.          © 2008 Foster & Smith, Inc. Reprinted as a courtesy and with permission from PetEducation.com (http://www.PetEducation.com) On-line store at http://www.DrsFosterSmith.com Free pet supply catalog: 1-800-323-4208 In order to make sure we are truly safe, it is important to always remember and to be aware of dangerous, toxic and often invisible hazards that could be lurking in our home. The older your home is, the more likely you have at least one if not more of these dangers in your home. For more information please call Animal Poison Control Center (ASPCA) at 1-888-426-4911 or for poison emergencies call at 888-426-4435. Back to Top