A Voice from the Eastern Door
A Voice from the Eastern Door
Sorted by date Results 51 - 64 of 64
By Jennifer Herne, LVT As you may have noticed the weather is starting to cool off and with the cooler weather we don't have to worry about flea and tick prevention, right? Wrong. Flea and tick prevention is recommended year round. You are probably wondering why you should use preventative year round, to prevent of course. Fleas and ticks are more than just a nuisance, they cause disease, and on again off again preventive measures are not the optimum way to safeguard your pets and families. By t...
By Jennifer Herne, LVT We are all trying to save money these days, pet owners included, so what are you to do? Providing your pet with regular preventative care is the key to a long and healthy life. Investing in preventative healthcare can reduce your long term pet healthcare costs. So, what does that all mean? Well, preventative care is just what the name suggests-it can prevent diseases that can put your pet's life in jeopardy and be costly to treat. Regular wellness exams also often catch...
By Jennifer Herne, LVT There are many diseases that affect our pets. As a responsible pet owner here is some information that should help you. Most puppies are ready for a new home at 6 weeks of age, they are eating on their own and can get around by themselves pretty well. At 6 weeks of age the breeder should've already had the puppy its first "vet check". This vet check includes its first distemper /parvo combination vaccine, a physical exam to check for any abnormalities and also deworming. Y...
By Jennifer Herne, LVT True or False: Pets are supposed to have bad breath? False. An odor is not normal. Just like in people, bad breath is often a sign of disease and may require treatment to safeguard the pet's life. True or False: Pets don't need regular dental hygiene. False. Even with regular cleanings at your vet, your pet still needs regular tooth brushing to keep his breath sweet and his pearly whites sparkling! True or False: Pets' mouths clean themselves. False. Your pet's mouth does...
By Jennifer Herne, LVT This is a question that can cause more questions. Let's start by talking about the kind of food you feed your dog or cat; these are the most common pets that clients have questions about when it comes to their diet. You should be feeding your pet a high quality diet. You may wonder what a high quality diet is, and how do you pick the correct food. Veterinarians sell high quality foods. You may think the food is expensive but here are some things to consider; higher...
By Jennifer Herne, LVT Canine parvovirus is a highly contagious virus disease that can produce a life threatening illness. The virus attacks rapidly dividing cells in a dog's body, most severely affecting the intestinal tract. Parvovirus also attacks the white blood cells, and when young animals are infected, the virus can damage the heart muscle and cause lifelong cardiac problems. The symptoms of parvovirus are lethargy, severe vomiting, loss of appetite and bloody, foul-smelling diarrhea...
By Jennifer Herne, LVT There are many types of parasites in the animal kingdom and there are many types of mites in the animal kingdom. Some mites burrow in the skin and some mites, like the Otodectes cynotis prefer to live in the ear, they are more commonly referred to as ear mites. Ear mites are common and generally cause a relatively mild parasite infection. However, complications may arise when an animal has an immune hypersensitivity reaction that results in intense irritation of the...
Submitted by Jennifer Herne, LVT What kind of identification is on your pet? You may ask if you really need identification on your pet, the answer is yes. Many pet owners believe that losing their pet just won't happen to them, but mishaps do occur: the door is left ajar; the gate is left unlatched; or a hurricane, tornado or fire can ravage their community. Each year, an estimated 6 to 8 million pets enter shelters (Source: HSUS) and although visual identification such as a collar or custom...
By Jennifer Herne, LVT Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal condition caused by parasitic worms living in the arteries of the lungs and occasionally in the right side of the heart of dogs, cats and other species of mammals. Heartworms are classified as roundworms. Dogs and cats of any age or breed are susceptible to infection. The good news is that this condition is preventable by giving your dog or cat a once a month prevention pill. Puppies should be seen at the veterinarian fo...
By Jennifer Herne, LVT Fleas, flea infestation and flea allergy. The tiny flea can cause huge problems. They can wreak havoc in your home and on your pets. We are in the peak of flea season right now and if you don't have fleas you are fortunate, and most likely use preventative on your pets. It is recommended to start flea preventative on your pets in March or April, before flea season starts. So, do pets have allergies? Yes, they do. One type of allergy that pets develop is the allergy to...
By Jennifer Herne, LVT Cat spraying. This is not a great thing to talk about or to have happen in your home. No one likes the smell of cat urine, but do you really understand why your cat sprays? In most situations it is an unneutered male cat. So, why does he spray? Well there are many reasons a cat will urine spray and it goes back to nature. A cat will spray to mark his territory, simple right? No, not really. The act of urine marking is all over the animal kingdom. Yes, it is mostly done to...
By Jennifer Herne, LVT The summer heat is upon us. It is important to understand how important it is too keep your dogs cool in extreme temperatures. Did you know that dogs cannot sweat? Well, they sweat a very small amount through the pads on their feet but the main way they keep cool is by panting. In extreme heat panting isn't always enough to avoid heat stroke. It can happen quickly. This is why it is important to keep fresh cool water available for your dog at all times, especially outdoor...
By Jennifer Herne, LVT We have all heard kids say, "I'm bored, there is nothing to do". Well, what about your pets? Did you ever wonder why your dog has torn apart your couch while you were away or has your cat knocked over the lineup of pictures on your table? In a world where everyone works it's tough to leave your pets unattended at home, and what exactly does Fido do while you are away? Some dogs, and cats for that matter, are destructive. The reason is boredom. It is important to provide...
By Jennifer Herne, LVT Pets bring so much enjoyment to our lives, but owning a pet is a privilege, not a right, and along with that privilege comes responsibility. Here are some things to keep in mind if you are thinking about getting a pet and how you can become a responsible pet owner. Select a pet that fits your house and lifestyle. Only keep the number of pets that you can adequately provide food, water, shelter, healthcare and companionship for. Recognize that pet ownership requires...