With both Valentine’s Day and Easter coming up, your pets need to be protected from ingestion of toxic plants like Easter lilies, Tiger lilies and Daylilies. In addition, all chocolate needs to be kept out of your pet’s reach. Chocolate can be very toxic, causing vomiting, diarrhea and sometimes, even death--depending on your pet’s weight and how much chocolate was ingested.  Call your veterinarian immediately if you suspect your pet has ingested a toxic plant or chocolate.

St. Patrick’s Day is March 17th and a fun time for pet owners. However, alcohol ingestion can be deadly to your pets. Even small amounts of alcohol can have major side effects on your pets.  If your pet should ingest alcohol, call your veterinarian immediately.

Spring is the time of year when we start taking our pets out for walks and to dog parks so they can start shedding those extra pounds after being cooped up for the winter. Exercise needs to be gradually reintroduced to avoid any orthopedic injuries, such as torn ligaments or muscles.

Along with the snow melting and the spring rain comes the puddles of standing water outside. These puddles can contain many bacteria and protozoal organisms that can sometimes cause vomiting and diarrhea. Any time diarrhea is present, your pet should be tested for intestinal parasites.  As your veterinarians and in accordance with the advice of the Center of Disease Control, we recommend a minimum of one intestinal parasite test per year.  It's a simple test that uses about a teaspoon of stool to check your pet for intestinal parasites.  Some intestinal parasites are transferable to humans and it is important to protect your pet as well as your family. 

All vaccinations should be up-to-date so that, when your pets are exposed to other animals, they are protected. Dog parks, grooming parlors, and kennels are common sources where dog's come in contact with each other and spread contagious viruses.  Stray cats that approach open windows and screened doorways are a source for contagious viruses to your inside cat, while outdoor cats are always at risk of exposure. Your dog’s vaccine risk assessment as well as your cat’s vaccine risk assessment should be reevaluated by your veterinarian annually to assure your pet is fully protected.

ALL DOGS AND CATS SHOULD BE VACCINATED AGAINST RABIES!! Rabies is present in the area and each year there are several cases of rabies reported. 

All dogs should be tested yearly for heartworm disease and be given monthly heartworm prevention. Cats do not need to be tested but they should also be on monthly heartworm prevention. Heartworm disease is spread by mosquitoes.  Therefore, any dog and both indoor and outdoor cats can be exposed to heartworms. Heartworm disease can be fatal to both dogs and cats. Cats are more resistant to the heartworms and may only have 1 to 3 heartworms in the heart, but their lungs are more sensitive to the effects of the heartworms and cats often die suddenly from thromboembolisms (blood clots) caused by adult worms. The treatment for heartworm disease in dogs is a form of arsenic and dogs can also die from thromboembolisms in the lungs as the heartworms are dying off in the body.  Heartworm disease is much easier and less costly to prevent than it is to treat.