Your Kingman Veterinarian and Animal Hospital » General

Why your pet NEEDS to have bloodwork done at least once a year.

Dr Andrews — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 15:38:28 +0000

Chewaca is a 10 year old Schnauzer who is a regular patient of ours. She came for her 6 month examination and Bordetella vaccination in May. Her owner said she had been doing very well and nothing had changed with her. Because she was a senior patient (7 years and older) and her last senior blood work and been done almost a year ago, we advised her mom that she was due to have her blood tested again so we took a little blood from Chewaca and sent it in to our lab to have some Senior Blood Testing run.

When we received the results, there were some abnormalities that made us suspicious that Chewaca could have a disorder called Cushing’s Disease. The first signs of Cushing’s are usually drinking and urinating more than usual, neither of which she was doing. Despite this, the blood work was pretty convincing, so we pursued more testing to confirm our suspicions. Sure enough, she DID have Cushing’s Disease! We did a few other tests to look for problems that Cushing’s Disease can cause, such as urinary infection and high blood pressure. Fortunately, she did not have either at this point. With Cushing’s Disease, we only treat if the pet is having complications from the disease. The great thing is, now that we know Chewaca has it, we know what to look for and will be able to treat her symptoms much sooner, increasing her quality of life!

So, why does your pet need to have bloodwork at least once a year? We want your pet live as long and as healthy a life as possible. We can do so by finding and preventing disease early on. Having your pet’s blood tested at least once a year is one of the easiest and best ways to do this. This helps us to find early signs of illness, just like we did with Chewaca, BEFORE your pet is showing signs of illness. Often, by the time a pet is showing signs of being sick, it is too late to treat them. Just as our doctors screen us for heart disease, breast cancer, prostate cancer, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc to find things or prevent them before they become a bigger problem, our pets need and deserve the very same! Call to schedule to have your pet’s blood tested today!

Looking for a cure for Hyperthyroidism for your cat?

Dr Andrews — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 15:48:01 +0000

Then look no further. Radiocat has it! One injection injection of Radioiodine (I-131) cures 98-99% of Feline Hyperthyroidism cases. Traditionally, we have treated cats with either surgery or with medication. Surgery can be risky and there can be side effects and it doesn’t always cure the cat. Medication is life long, does not cure the disease, and can have potential side effects and require blood monitoring.

Hyperthyroid cats have a tumor that is producing too much thyroid hormone. Almost all of these turmors are benign but they are speeding up the cat’s metabolism, causing an increase in water consumption and urination, increase or decrease in appetite, hyeractivity or lethargy, weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea, increased heart rate, abnormal heart rhythm, even death!

Radioiodine is now the treatment of choice. It requires only one injection to cure your cat of hyperthyroidism. It destroys the thyroid tumor, wherever it may be, safely and effectively. Having cured over 35,000 cats, it is the best and most cost effective treatment for your cat! Learn more at www.radiocat.com.

Home Dental Care

Dr Andrews — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 14:44:11 +0000

There are several ways you can care for your pet’s teeth every day.

A complete home dental care program for your pet often will include brushing as well as a special pet food that helps care for your pet’s teeth while he or she eats.

Even if you aren’t able to brush your pet’s teeth every day, by incorporating a special pet food into your pet’s daily routine, you can provide the dental care needed to keep your pet healthy. Be sure to talk with your veterinarian about the options that exist and which are right for your pet.

Brushing Your Pet´s Teeth

STEP 1: Introduce a brushing program to pets gradually. Avoid over-restraining your pet and keep brushing sessions short and positive. A cat or small dog can be held in your lap. Praise and reassure your pet throughout the process.

STEP 2: At first, dip a finger into beef bouillon for dogs or tuna water for cats. Rub the soaked finger gently over the pet’s mouth and teeth. Make the initial sessions short and positive.

STEP 3: Gradually, introduce gauze over the finger and gently scrub the teeth in a circular motion.

STEP 4: Finally, you can introduce a soft toothbrush designed for pets. Use a sensitive or ultra-soft brush designed for people or a brush designed for pets. Special pet toothbrushes are available from your veterinarian or specialty pet store. Don’t use toothpaste designed for people because it could upset the animal’s stomach.

Avoid feeding pets table scraps because they can increase the build up of plaque and tartar, and can lead to other health problems.

Feed your pet a nutritionally balanced food. Hill’s® Prescription Diet® Canine t/d® and Feline t/d® are specially formulated pet foods with dental benefits for dogs and cats. This food is available through veterinarians and is clinically proven to reduce the accumulation of plaque, tartar, and gingivitis.

Please visit petdental.com for this article and for more information on caring for your pet’s teeth.

Free Dental Exams and 10% off Dental Cleanings for February!

Dr Andrews — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:48:54 +0000

We know times are tough and Stockton Hill Animal Hospital is trying to make it a little easier to care for your pet’s teeth during the month of February. As always, we are offering free dental exams, so we can evaluate your pet’s teeth to see what they need to have done and to discuss proper dental care for your pet. And for those pets who are needing to have their teeth completely cleaned, we are taking 10% off the regular dental cleaning price. Don’t delay! Call 757-7979 today to schedule your free dental exam and take advantage of 10% off dental cleanings this month!