Brittany Glen Animal Hospital > Articles by: webmaster

Author: webmaster

5 Common Myths About Pets

by webmaster

Can you imagine a life without pets? Our pets bring us so much joy and enrichment. Life wouldn’t be quite the same without them. Although pets quickly become cherished members of the family, they aren’t people and don’t always behave or the react the same way your human family members do. Examining these common pet myths can help you better understand your furry friends.

Myth #1 – People and Pets Can’t Share Diseases

Zoonotic diseases are transmitted between people and animals. Rabies is the most well-known zoonotic disease, but it’s not the only one. Others include cat scratch disease, salmonellosis, roundworm, hookworm, ringworm and toxoplasmosis.

You can reduce your risk of contracting a disease from your pet by washing your hands after you pet him or her or handle urine or feces. Do you kiss your pet? Although the habit may help you feel closer to your furry friend, it may sicken you. Your dog or cat’s mouth contains bacteria that can make you ill. Although you’re much more likely to become ill if you have a weak immune system, it’s a good idea to save your kisses for your human family members.

Myth #2 – Pets Know Why You’re Yelling at Them

Pets don’t place the same value on your possessions as you do. When they’re bored, they may tear apart the couch cushion, knock over plants or get into other types of trouble. Behaviors we consider “bad” also tend to occur if pets feel anxious or have separation anxiety. Although your pet may cower if you begin yelling, that doesn’t mean that he or she understands why you’re upset or realizes that it has anything to do with the cushion he or she destroyed hours ago.

Yelling at your pet serves no purpose if you don’t catch your dog or cat in the act. If you do spot your pet about to tip over your favorite plant or dig into the garbage, a sharp “no” is all that’s needed. Although a long, loud lecture may make you feel better, it won’t have any effect on your pet’s future behavior.

If your dog tends to get into trouble while you’re away, confine him or her to one room or to a crate. Keep in mind that crates shouldn’t be used all day long. Keep anything your pet finds too hard to resist out of reach to prevent mishaps.

Myth #3 – Cats Have 9 Lives

While it would be nice if cats really did have nine lives, they can become sick or injured just as easily as any other pet. The belief that cats always land on their feet after falls isn’t true either. Cats have a natural righting reflex that allows them to re-position their bodies in mid-air. Unfortunately, if they fall from fairly low heights they don’t have enough time to right themselves and can experience serious injuries. In 1984, veterinarians at The Animal Medical Center in New York City studied the phenomenon. They discovered that cats that fell from higher distances had the best chances for survival.

Myth #4- There’s No Need to Brush Your Pet’s Teeth

Pet’s aren’t immune from tooth decay. Tooth loss can affect your pet’s ability to chew and may even lead to nutritional deficiencies. If your pet develops a bacterial infection due to severe tooth decay, the infection may even spread to the heart or brain.

Brushing your pets’ teeth with gauze or special brushes that fit over your finger can help reduce tooth decay. It’s usually easier to start brushing when your pet is young, although older pets can adjust to teeth cleaning with plenty of patience. If your pet absolutely won’t cooperate, don’t force the issue. Although teeth cleaning is beneficial, it’s not worth the risk of an injury to yourself or your pet.

Myth #5 – You Only Need to Take Your Pet to the Vet in the Case of Illness

Just like people, pets need regular medical care to stay healthy. In addition to detecting health problems, such as diabetes and kidney failure, regular veterinary visits help ensure that your pet receives vaccinations that prevent common diseases, such as rabies, distemper, bordetella, parvovirus, adenovirus, feline leukemia and canine influenza. Veterinarians can also offer helpful advice on behavioral issues and provide suggestions that will help your overweight pet lose weight.

Protect your pet’s health by scheduling a veterinary examination at least once per year. Call us today to make your pet’s appointment.

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Best Pet Costumes

by webmaster

Finding the Best Halloween Costume for Your Pet

Halloween isn’t just for people anymore. Pets are joining the fun as well with costumes made just for them. Although pet costumes are certainly cute, dressing up might not be the right choice for every pet. Before you go costume shopping, you’ll want to consider these factors.

Your Pet’s Personality

Some pets are perfectly happy to spend hours dressed as the Pope or Minnie Mouse. Others become agitated and upset if you place a hat on their heads for a few minutes. Wearing a costume shouldn’t be an unpleasant experience. If your pet doesn’t seem to like being in costume, don’t insist that he or she participates.

Halloween night is the worst possible time to discover that your cat or dog doesn’t want to be a cute spider or fierce tiger. Try the costume on your pet a few days or a week before Halloween and gauge his or her reaction. In some cases, you may be able to convince your canine or feline friend to dress up by gradually increasing the amount of time your pet wears the costume.

Safety and Comfort

The best costumes are the safest ones. When evaluating costumes, think about:

    • Flammability. Some Halloween costumes can be very flammable. In fact, the costume may go up in flames if your pet even brushes against a candle-lit pumpkin. Most manufacturers of pet costumes don’t address the issue of flammability in their product descriptions. Luckily, the costume label can provide useful information. Costumes made of synthetic fibers are more likely to be flammable than those made of natural fibers. If you buy one of these costumes, keep your pet away from candles and open flames.
    • Potential Choking Hazards. Does the costume contain trim or decorations that can be easily removed with a little chewing? If it does, you may want to choose another costume or remove decorations that could pose a choking hazard to your pet.
    • Comfort and Mobility. Look for costumes made of soft, comfortable materials that allow your pet to move around easily. Avoid masks or hats that interfere with your pet’s vision or cover their mouths and noses. The most comfortable costumes are made of lightweight, breathable fabrics.
    • Flexibility. Can you still use part of the costume if your pet doesn’t like wearing the entire outfit? Your pet might squirm out of the unicorn costume but may happily wear the horn headband.
    • Leash or Harness Compatibility. Searching for your lost pet probably isn’t the way you want to spend Halloween. Even the calmest pet can become anxious and run away when exposed to an array of frightening costumes. Choose a costume that allows your pet to comfortably wear their costume and leash together. Using a harness or leash will help ensure that your pet remains with you the entire evening. Be sure to put an ID tag on your pet’s collar, even if he or she is microchipped.
    • Visibility. Costumes should be made of brightly colored fabrics or contain reflective materials if you and your pet will be out after dark. If the costume is hard to spot in the dark, add a little reflective tape to increase visibility.
    • Your Pet’s Health. Costumes aren’t always comfortable for older pets with arthritis or younger pets with joint issues or other health problems. If your pet has one of these conditions, it may be best to avoid full-body costumes.

Regular veterinary visits are important for your pet’s health. Contact us to schedule your pet’s next visit.

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What Vaccines Are Right For Your Pet?

by webmaster

Which Vaccines Are Essential For Your Pet?

Concerns about potential side effects and the cumulative effects of vaccines may make you wonder if immunizations are really necessary. Although your pet can probably skip some vaccines, others are absolutely essential for good health and disease prevention.

Why Vaccines Are Important?

Vaccines boost your pet’s immunity and prevent him or her from developing serious diseases and illnesses, including rabies and distemper. Vaccines contain small amounts of weakened or killed viruses. After your pet receives the vaccine, he or she will develop antibodies to the disease. If your dog, cat or ferret is exposed to the virus in the future, the antibodies will quickly kill and attack the virus, preventing your pet from becoming ill.

Vaccines not only safeguard your pet’s health but also protect animals that are too young to receive vaccinations or can’t receive them due to certain health conditions. Vaccination slows or stops the spread of disease, keeping pets, and sometimes, people safe.

Before the rabies vaccine was introduced, pets and humans exposed to the virus faced certain death. Thanks to the vaccine, untold numbers of lives have been saved since it was introduced in the late 1800s. Unfortunately, rabies still kills thousands of people and animals a year in parts of the world where vaccinations are uncommon.

Which Vaccines Do My Pets Need?

Dogs, cats, and ferrets are vaccinated against the diseases most likely to affect them. Vaccines are grouped into two categories: core and non-core. Core vaccines prevent your pet from diseases most likely to occur where you live. Non-core vaccines are optional vaccines that could be needed depending on your pet’s risk factors.

Core vaccines for dogs include:

    • Adenovirus-2 (Adenovirus and hepatitis)
    • Distemper
    • Parvovirus
    • Rabies

Is Lyme disease widespread in your area?

Your dog may benefit from a non-core Lyme disease vaccination. Other non-core vaccines include bordetella (kennel cough), coronavirus, leptospirosis, and canine influenza.

Your cat will need these core vaccines:

    • Distemper
    • Feline Calicivirus
    • Feline Herpesvirus Type 1
    • Rabies

Feline immunodeficiency virus, feline leukemia, bordetella, and chlamydophila felis vaccines are non-core vaccines that may be recommended for some cats. For example, your veterinarian may suggest the feline leukemia vaccine if your pet spends times outdoors where he or she may be exposed to cats with the virus.

Core vaccines are given when your pet is a puppy or kitten, although they can also be given to adult pets that haven’t received them yet. Some vaccines need to be repeated every year, while others are effective for three years or longer. The rabies vaccine schedule varies depending on the laws in your area.

Ferrets receive distemper and rabies vaccines, but there are no non-core vaccines for these animals.

What About Side Effects?

Side effects can occur after vaccination, but most are mild and only last for a day or two. Common side effects may include mild fever, pain around the injection site, lethargy, reduced appetite, coughing, and sneezing.

Call your pet’s veterinarian immediately if your companion experiences nausea or vomiting, hives, trouble breathing, severe coughing or swelling around the face, eyes or nose.

Fortunately, most animals have only mild side effects after receiving vaccines. The temporary discomfort of side effects far outweighs the potentially devastating consequences should your pet develop rabies, distemper, parvovirus or other serious diseases.

Is it time for your pet’s vaccinations? Contact us to schedule your furry friend’s appointment.

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