Category Archives: Pet Care Tips

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Valentine’s Day is a great day to show the four-legged sweethearts in your life just how special they are. Below is a dog-approved recipe for making the four-legged loves of your life a treat they will remember!

 

Hound Hearts

  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/4 lb ground or minced chicken
  • 1/4 cup minced celery
  • 1 cup chicken broth (low sodium or sodium free)
  • 2 cups of cooked rice
  • 4 cups whole wheat flour
  • 4 tablespoons dried sage


1. Heat vegetable oil in skillet over medium/high heat. Add ground chicken and celery and cook, stirring frequently until meat is no longer pink, 3-4 minutes.

2. Place cooked chicken and celery, including oil, into blender with chicken broth. Puree.

3. Combine flour, cooked rice, chicken purée, and sage in a large bowl. Mix thoroughly.

4. Roll out dough on floured surface to about 1/4 inch thick. Using a heart shaped cookie cutter cut into heart shapes. Combine dough scraps and continue to roll out and cut into shapes.

5. Place cookies on ungreased, foil lined baking sheet, and bake in a preheated 325 degree oven for 30-35 minutes. Turn off oven and let cookies dry in oven for 3 hours or overnight. Makes about 5-6 dozen cookies.

Bark Appétit!

 

 

*Milo is our FIRST official Valentine of 2012!*

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Is Your Pet In Pain?

Here’s a great video from Colorado State University full of information about recognizing and treating pain in pets.

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Fourth of July

The Fourth of July is a blast for most of us, but for our pets it can be one of the most  traumatic days of the year. The loud booms and bright lights can resemble thunder and lightening which many animals are already fearful of. Because many dogs are terrified of fireworks there are a large quanitity of dogs that panic while searching for cover and sometimes get lost. It is important to keep your pets inside to help them cope with the loud noises and this also greatly reduces the risk of your pet running away. Many animal shelters report an influx of animals after Indepenence Day as pets attempt to run from the noise and get lost. Below are some tips to follow to keep yhour furry friends safe and comfortable while you are out eating great food and enjoying the festivities!

 

  • Don’t take your pets outside to see the fireworks.
  • Keep pets inside and turn the T.V or radio on to help mask the noise from outside.
  • If you take your dog outside to use the restroom be sure they are on a leash and wearing a collar with tags containing your contact information.
  • Buy your dog a new chew toy  for distraction and be sure to give it to your dog prior to the fireworks.
  • Don’t feed your pet any table scraps; fatty foods can lead to health problems such as pancreatitis.

 

Some animals simply don’t do well on Independence Day and can even become destructive. A number of animals need a little extra help coping with the fireworks, in this case it is best to contact your veterinarian to learn the best option for your pet. Don’t hesitate to call us with any questions, we want your pet to enjoy Independence Day, not fret it!

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Why does my dog eat poop?!?

The question that every dog owner wants an answer to is… why does my dog eat poop? Well, unfortunately there isn’t an easy answer to this question. “Poop eating” is actually a normal behavior which more dogs than not partake in. “Poop eating” is medically known as copraphagia which is defined as the ingestion of feces.

To answer the question, dogs eat poop because it’s simply what they do. To keep them from participating in this gross behavior there is 1 and only 1 solution, pick up any feces in the yard and keep the litter box covered and out of reach. There are medications you may be aware of  that go in your dogs food to prevent feces ingestion, but it is important to remember that it won’t keep your dog from eating other animals feces! The way it works is the dog eats a meal with the medication in it and when the dog has a bowel movement the medication is in the feces. The medication possesses an unpalatable taste after passing through the dog’s gastrointestinal system and turns the dog off, essentially making the feces less attractive (as if it wasn’t already for us humans). However there is a catch, it won’t keep your dog from eating other dog’s feces, only the ones that are treated with the medication.

For the most part coprophagia is simply disgusting but it is important to know a couple of dangers of this behavior. When your dog ingests other animals feces it is impossible to know if that animal is healthy, so it is important that your pet have regular intestinal parasite screenings to keep them parasite and worm free. Copraphagia can also cause halitosis, vomiting and diarrhea. Ask your veterinarian for more information!

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Fleas, Fleas and more Fleas!

Fleas are by far the most annoying pest. In South Carolina no animal is safe from fleas, therefor year round prevention is a must. At Wateree Animal Hospital it’s rare when a day goes by and a client doesn’t ask about flea control. One of the biggest mistakes that pet owners make is waiting to treat for fleas until they actually see one. The problem with this is that by the time you see one flea, there is a great chance that the one flea has brought an extensive list of relatives along for the ride. Did you know a female flea can lay 1,400 eggs in one month?

 Top Flea Mistakes

  • Not treating the source of the fleas
  • Using flea prevention only in summer
  • Incorrect application of flea products
  • Treating only the pet that appears infested
  • Not using flea products as prescribed
  • Waiting to treat until a flea is actually seen

Flea Treatments:

SENTINEL: A heartworm prevention that kills flea eggs, larvae, and pupae. Sentinel kills the flea before it becomes an adult flea. Should be administered by mouth with a meal once a month.

FRONTLINE: A topical flea prevention that kills eggs, larvae, and adult fleas. Should be applied directly to the skin between the shoulder blades once a month. (Also protects against ticks!)(Waterproof)

COMFORTIS: An oral flea control that kills eggs, larvae, pupae, and adult fleas. If fleas are present when Comfortis is given they die within minutes. Should be administered by mouth once a month with a meal.

ADVANTAGE: A topical flea prevention that kills flea larvae and adult fleas. Advantage will kill over 99% of flea larvae with 20 minutes of application. (Waterproof)

REVOLUTION: A topical heartworm/flea prevention that prevents flea eggs from hatching and kills adult fleas. Revolution should be applied directly to the skin once a month. (Waterproof)

To keep your pet, and house, flea free there are many options. Please don’t hesitate to contact one of our team members to help you decide which product is best for you and your pet(s). Just remember one female flea can lay 40-50 eggs per day…Makes you a feel little itchy doesn’t it? 

 

                                                    

 

                                      

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Harmful Foods

People food is oh so tempting, therefore it’s  important to know what foods are harmful to your pet. What you may consider a treat could actually be doing serious damage to your dog or cat. Never hesitate to call your veterinarian with questions about your pets diet. Listed below are some more common foods that your pet may come in contact with.

  • Chocolate
  • Gum and candy
  • Grapes
  • Raisins
  • Macadamia nuts
  • Avocados
  • Onions
  • Garlic
  • Salt
  • Tea Leaves
  • Coffee
  • Alcohol
  • Ray yeast dough
  • Spoiled foods
  • Fatty foods
  • Xylitol (artificial sweetener)
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Outdoor Dangers

Always be sure your pet is safe while enjoying the great outdoors by making yourself aware of these common threats. Immediately call your veterinarian with any concerns or questions that you have regarding any possible exposure to a potential toxin. Poisoning symptoms vary, but your pet may experience vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy or repiratory distress.

  • Algae
  • Antifreeze/Coolant
  • Firepit/Grill
  • Fences or gates
  • Deck lattice
  • De-icing salts
  • Compost (especially if moldy)
  • Gasoline
  • Oil
  • Pesticides
  • Fertilizer
  • Pools and hot tubs
  • Herbicides
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Rabies Clinic this sat

9/27 @ 11:00 pm

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