November Specials!!!
November 11th, 2011Loyalty Award
October 27th, 2011Pet Paradise Animal Hospital presented three of our awesome staff members with a Loyalty Award. This recognition was made not only for their outstanding performance throughout the years of employment but for being part of our PPAH family for over 5 years.
From left to right: Donna Shea (6 years), Jody Heiduck (8 years), Melissa Ahearn (6 years).
Thank you for your effort in the betterment of Pet Paradise Animal Hospital.
Come and celebrate with us!!!
September 23rd, 2011
Celebrating 10 Years Serving You and Your Loving Pets
Traveling with your pet
June 2nd, 2011Before you go
Ask yourself: will my dog be comfortable and happy on this trip? Some animals simply prefer to stay at home and a “homesick”, possibly motion-sick pet will ruin everyone’s trip. In such a case it’s probably wiser to leave your pet with a friend, relative or hire a “petsitter”. If that is not possible, you might consider boarding him or her at a clean, well-run kennel.
Plan ahead
If you do decide to take your pet along, you must take as much care with the preparation of your pet’s trip as your own. If you plan to travel by plane, bus, train or boat, find out if your pet will be welcome and what kind of reservations and transport arrangements must be made. If you’ll be staying at hotels, motels or campgrounds, you must check if animals are allowed or if kennel facilities are available. If you’re staying with friends or family, make sure your pet is also invited.
Traveling by plane (read more)
Allergies
April 19th, 2011Like people, dogs can suffer from allergies.
As in the human population, the incidence of allergies in pets seems to be increasing. While allergic humans may often sneeze, wheeze or even have serious respiratory difficulties, allergic reactions in pets are mostly characterized by skin problems, exacerbated by their primary symptom – itching and scratching. Dog allergies fall into three main categories: flea allergic dermatitis, atopy, and food allergy. Many pets can be affected by one or more allergy.
Food Allergy
What is food allergy and what are its symptoms?
Food allergy is an allergic reaction to one or more ingredients in a pet’s food. The most common allergens are beef and milk products, cereals (wheat, corn, soya), chicken and eggs. The exact cause of a food allergy is not known. Perhaps a change in the pet’s immune system causes certain ingredients to be perceived as “foreign”, initiating inflammatory mechanisms to fight off the perceived “intruder”.
The most common symptoms of a food allergy are itching, licking or chewing. Otitis Externa (ear infection) along with other skin problems are also common in conjunction with food hypersensitivity. Some pets may also have diarrhea and other digestive problems. Symptoms can appear at any age, whether a pet has just started a new diet or has been eating the same food for several years.
How is food allergy diagnosed?
The only effective way for your veterinarian to diagnose a food allergy is to put your pet on a “hypoallergenic” or “exclusion” diet for a minimum of 8-12 weeks. Such a diet contains ingredients to which the animal has not been exposed in the past. Because the source of protein causes most allergic reactions, exclusion diets use proteins – often venison, fish or duck – that are normally not found in regular pet food. An exclusion diet may comprise home prepared food or prescription commercial hypoallergenic products.
If your pet has a food allergy, there should be a significant reduction in the symptoms after the recommended period on the exclusion diet. To identify all the food allergens, your veterinarian will recommend adding a single protein back into the diet every 1-2 weeks, while watching for a recurrence, or worsening, of symptoms. If this happens, the veterinarian will recommend removing the offending ingredient from the diet. (read more)
Heartworm
April 8th, 2011Heartworm disease
Heartworm is a parasitic disease that can affect any dog regardless of age, sex or habitat. It is found in virtually all parts of the United States and many parts of Canada. Heartworm is spread by mosquitoes, and tends to have a higher incidence in areas heavily populated by mosquitoes. Dogs are considered the most common host for heartworms, however heartworms may also infect more than thirty species of animals (including coyotes, foxes, wolves, domestic cats, ferrets) and even humans, though transmission from animal to human (zoonotic infection) is extremely rare.
What are heartworms?
Heartworms are parasites that live in the blood of a dog’s heart and adjacent blood vessels. They can grow from four to twelve inches in length, reach maturation one year after infection and live for approximately five to seven years. Adult heartworms living in the heart produce offspring, known as microfilariae, which circulate in the animal’s blood. When a female mosquito bites an infected animal, it sucks out the blood containing the microfilariae. When the mosquito bites another pet, the infected larvae are transmitted. In many cases the infected dog will not show symptoms in the early stages.
Heartworm is the most serious common parasite for dogs because it stresses the dog’s heart by restricting blood flow and also damages other internal organs. The heart may enlarge and become weakened due to an increased workload, and congestive heart failure may occur. Left untreated, the disease can be fatal to dogs.
Blood screening tests can verify the presence of heartworms. Radiographs and x-rays are used to detect the disease in its later stages. Prompt detection prevents needless suffering.
Heartworm treatment and prevention
The good news is that most dogs with heartworm can be successfully treated, usually with drugs (adulticide, microfilaricide) that kill adult heartworms and their offspring. But prevention is the best cure – it’s safer, less expensive, and better for your pet!
There are a variety of options for preventing heartworm infection, including an injectable, monthly topicals and monthly chewable tablets. Preventative medications are extremely effective and when given properly, on a regular basis, can completely prevent your pet from contracting heartworm. But remember, year-round heartworm protection is as good as your diligence in remembering to give your pet the prescribed medication, as directed by your veterinarian!
Canine heartworm symptoms include:
- Difficulty breathing
- Coughing
- Fatigue, a dog that tires easily
- Listlessness
- Weight loss
- Rough hair coat.
Ask your veterinarian
Because of the regional and climate-dependant nature of the heartworm cycle, it is crucial to consult your veterinarian before giving any medication to your pet. Your veterinarian is your best reference, with expert knowledge of the heartworm cycle and transmission patterns in your region, along with the individual health and activity profile of your dog. Before starting a preventive program, all dogs that could possibly be affected with mature heartworms should be tested as preventive medicines may cause severe reactions in dogs that are already hosts to adult heartworms. A dog that is on a preventive medicine should be tested routinely to ensure on going protection – especially when a dose has been missed or forgotten.
Why is Blood Testing so Important?
March 3rd, 2011Have you ever found yourself at your Vet thinking “What is all this blood and mumbo-jumbo testing for?, Fluffy looks fine to me”. The simple answer is “early detection“.
Did you know that kidney disease is one of the major causes of illness and death in dogs and cats?
That’s right! At Pet Paradise we see severe kidney disease problems on a weekly basis. This is because symptoms do not usually appear until 2/3 of kidney function has been lost. If caught early, the animal can live with this condition for many years. Early detection is always the best policy, just as it is for our own health. Sometimes pets show no, or only subtle, symptoms of a problem. Consultation, physical examination, and testing will help discover health problems early in their course. Below is a brief description of the most common laboratory tests available for identifying diseases early:
CBC (Complete Blood Count) – These numbers tell how many of each type of white blood cells are present and whether or not the count is normal. White blood cells help fight infection. This count can go down with severe infection, and to the contrary the count can increase in response to inflammation and infection.
Chemistry Profile – This is a combination of several tests that measure enzymes associated with different body organs such as liver, kidney, and pancreas. It also provides electrolytes and protein levels.
Urinalysis – This test evaluates kidney function, and should be done every time a chemistry profile is performed. Urinalysis also helps to confirm whether or not an animal has diabetes.
T4 (Thyroid Test) – Thyroxine or T4 is the major thyroid hormone that regulates body metabolism. This is a “screening test“. Therefore, if the result is abnormal, more detailed thyroid testing may be necessary to verify the diagnosis.
Fecal Testing – Fecal tests are done to evaluate for presence of intestinal parasites. It is important to check periodically for parasites. At least twice a year, even if stools are consistently normal. Fecal Occult Blood – tests for blood in the stool. Small amounts of blood in the stool are usually not visible to the naked eye.
For more information visit your veterinarian or call us. We have handouts with lots of detailed information for each of the tests mentioned above.
Breast Cancer Awareness!
October 8th, 2010
Disaster Preparedness – ARE YOU READY?
August 26th, 2010
