There are many toxic items that your pet can get into at home. Toxic substances can be found in your cabinets, back yard, or even at your dinner table. Here are a few tips to help keep your pet safe and avoid an emergency trip to the veterinarian.

People Food:

Foods like raisins, grapes, avocado, onions, garlic and citrus fruit can be extremely dangerous to your pet. Chocolate is one of the worst things for pets to get into. Chocolate toxicity can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and even become serious enough to cause seizures.

Human Medication:

It can be as simple as dropping a pill on the floor or your pet snagging a pill vials off of a nightstand or table. Keep all human medications away from pets where they cannot reach them.

Heavy Metal:

I’m not talking about rock music here. Metal such as lead, zinc and mercury can poison your pet. Watch for lead which can be found in linoleum and paint chips.

Fertilizer:

Outdoor cats and dogs that ingest fertilizer can become very sick. It is important to contact us if your pet has gotten into any fertilizer or law care chemicals.

Insecticides:

Pets can be at risk if you guard your home against bugs and other pests. Ask a licensed pest control company what pet safe options they have. Also beware of flea and tick prevention for your pet. Applying the wrong treatment can be dangerous. Ask us for more information on the proper topical treatments.

Rat and Mouse poison:

Bait used to trap rodents contains ingredients that are toxic to pets. Pets are attracted to these toxins and they can be life-threatening. Always make sure your pet cannot access these harmful poisons.

Chemicals:

Your pet cannot tell when a substance can be deadly. Paint thinner, antifreeze, and pool cleaner, bleaches, detergents and disinfectants are a danger to pets. Substances in this group can cause gastrointestinal upset, depression, respiratory difficulties, chemical burns and even death.

Plants:

Household plants can be harmful to pets. Lilies are especially toxic to cats. If a cat ingests even a small amount of lily it can be deadly. Visit ASPCA’s website at the link below to learn more about what plants are and are not harmful to your pet.

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants/

Another helpful number to call if your pet has gotten into something toxic:

Animal Poison Control Center’s 24-hour hotline at (888) 426-4435.

Spaying or neutering your pet will give you the peace of mind that his or her puppies or kittens will never be euthanized in an animal shelter, experimented on in a testing facility, or die on the streets.

Approximately 4 million animals (that’s over 450 animals an hour) are humanely euthanized at animal shelters every year. These animals are not always strays that are born on the streets or pets that are sick, often they are the puppies and kittens of family pets.

Unfortunately these animals have to be euthanized because there are more dogs and cats entering shelters than there are people willing to provide loving homes for them. Even if you do find homes for your pet’s puppies or kittens, that means there are fewer homes available to take in other pets from shelters. Spaying or neutering is the only permanent method of birth control for dogs and cats.

Benefits for you and your pet:

Female pets that have been spayed do not go into heat. You won’t have the mess that comes with the female reproductive cycle or the boisterous, noisy male suitors. Spaying and neutering also reduces the risk of certain health problems, offering you more years with your beloved dog or cat.

Safe and effective:

Our licensed veterinarian will perform the spay or neuter operation while your pet is under anesthesia. We offer blood work before your pet’s surgery to ensure their body is healthy enough to undergo anesthesia and monitor your pet the whole time they are at our hospital and throughout their surgery.

Our veterinary staff can fully explain spay and neuter procedures to you. If you have a new puppy or kitten, don’t wait! Pets can become parents sooner than you think. We recommend spaying or neutering your pet as young as four months of age!

Financial assistance may be available

Spay or neuter surgery carries a one-time cost that is relatively small when you consider the benefits. It’s a small price to pay to make sure your pet’s offspring aren’t euthanized. For pets living in homes with limited income, reduced cost procedures may be available. Our Humane Society works hard to offer coupons that can help make spay and neuter services more affordable. Call Mohave County Animal Control to inquire about spay and neuter coupons (928)-753-2727.

Millions of pet deaths each year are a tragedy—but it can be solved. By spaying and neutering your pet, you can be an important part of the solution. Contact us today and be sure to let your family and friends know that they should do the same.

As pets age their needs change. When their faces start to gray and their steps start to slow, there are ways to ensure your pet’s senior years are comfortable and healthy.

Supplements:
At Stockton Hill Animal Hospital we carry Resources™ products. These all natural supplements help animals of all ages to feel their best the natural way. One product we carry called Canine Join Support Plus was developed specifically to nutritionally support dogs suffering from a variety of joint problems. We also carry a Resources™ product called Feline Pain Plus. This can help senior cats who have developed pain in their joints as well.

Senior Blood Work:
It is important to perform annual screening tests on all pets to ensure that there are no undetected medical conditions that may endanger their health. Senior pets are at a higher risk then younger pets for abnormalities in their organs or blood. We offer discounted senior blood work packages that will test your pet for any of these abnormalities. If we find any abnormalities in your pet’s blood work we can start a treatment plan to correct them and make your pet feel better.

Senior Pet Food:
A quality pet food is critical in keeping your pet healthy and active in their senior years. Help your older pets stay healthy on the inside and looking great on the outside with Science Diet® senior food. It has everything a senior pet needs to stay fit, strong and full of vitality. Plus, Hill’s super antioxidant blend promotes overall health and natural immunity, too, so your pet remains healthy throughout their senior years.

Vitamins:
Vitamin Supplements can be a great way to ensure your older pet is receiving the appropriate levels of vitamins and minerals. Resources™ has an antioxidant formula for both dogs and cats that is full of antioxidants. This will help get rid of free radicals which can initiate many diseases. We also carry Daily Health Vitamins and Minerals Plus™ for dogs which has maximized nutrition for your pet.

Senior Dental Care:
Dental disease is very common in older dogs and cats. This painful disease can be easily avoided by setting up a regular brushing routine and professional dental cleaning. We carry many other products that will help keep your pet’s teeth clean after their dental is done. We offer FREE dental exams at Stockton Hill Animal Hospital to check your pet’s teeth and gums. We are also having a 10% off dental special in the month of December 2008. Call today to set up an appointment with our Veterinarian.

While this is not a complete list of products to help your senior pet, it gives you some good ideas to help make your senior pet more comfortable. With care and attention, your senior pet will continue to live a full and fruitful life as a member of your family.