Posts in Category: Pet Health & Wellness

Along with an annual exam, wellness bloodwork provides insight to what is going on inside your pet.

Testing can reveal:

• Infection
• Liver disease
• Renal/kidney disease
• Diabetes
• Dehydration
• Thyroid abnormalities

Dogs and cats over the age of 8 have the greatest benefits to receiving this bloodwork. Many times pets appear normal upon physical examination, and their abnormalities on the inside go undetected without bloodwork.

The process of disease development in pets can be slow.  When an organ system starts to fail, that organ will compensate to bring function back to normal.  Overtime, this compensation mechanism will fail as well, and the pet will become ill.  Once the pet is in organ failure, treatment options are limited and prognosis is poor.

The good news is if caught early, three out of four pets have abnormalities that can be treated!  Bloodwork is collected in the clinic and sent out to our lab.  Results come back in 1-2 business days.  During the month of April we are offering $15 off wellness bloodwork for our patients.

Set Up Appointment for Wellness Blood Work Here.

If left untreated, heartworm disease is fatal.

It takes approximately 6 months for a dog to test positive for heartworm after being bitten by an infected mosquito.  Many times dogs do not show symptoms of the disease until it has progressed to the later stages.

This is why bringing your pooch to the vet for an annual heartworm screening is so important.  Once the test is completed, you can begin a monthly heartworm preventive like Heartgard Plus, a beef-flavored chew, which protects your pet against this deadly disease.  Currently, we are offering a $12 rebate on 12 months of Heartgard. Take advantage of this deal while it lasts!

Poppy, Mia, Dash & Buster are all patients at South Des Moines Veterinary Center.  One dog tested positive and has been treated for Heartworm Disease.  Can you tell which dog is positive?  The signs are not always clear from just their appearance.  Protect your pet from Heartworm Disease.  Once a month, every month.

Want to protect your furry kiddos from Heartworm Disease?  Set up an appointment here.

Our feline friends are wonderful companions, but they can also be curious critters when it comes to some of their behaviors.  Here are three weird cat behaviors explained.

My Cat “Head Butts” Me.

Does your kitty rub his face on you?  This is also known as “head butting” Don’t worry, this is a good thing! This is his way of saying “hello, you are my people and I trust you”.

Cats have scent markers in their cheeks and they are rubbing their pheromones on you when they “head butt” you.  This is just one of the many ways cats show their love for their humans.

My Cat Loves to Sit in Small Spaces.

If you’ve visited our office, you have probably met our charismatic clinic cat “Wesley”.  He is notorious for curling up in the recycle basket behind the front counter that is approximately one size too small to fit (what we would consider) Wesley comfortably.  However, with all his soft, plush beds scattered throughout the clinic, he still prefers to curl up in the basket.   So why does he prefer the small space?

Small spaces actually help cats feel more safe and secure.  This stems to when cats are in the wild, they aren’t going to take a nap in a big open space, are they? No, they are going to hide in an enclosed spot where they are hidden from any potential predators.  So, when they curl up in a box or hide in a small space, it means they are finding themselves a safe, secure spot.

My Cat Sleeps All Day and Keeps Me Up All Night.  

There’s nothing worse than when you are laying in bed at night just about to drift off to sleep and your cat decides to tear through the house like he’s chasing a ghost.  Cats need exercise and stimulation throughout the day to ensure a restful sleep at night.  Consider a cat food puzzle toy to make eating more of  a game or challenge.  Interactive toys, like a laser pointer or a Pounce toy are great ways to stimulate your cats body and mind.   It’s easy to think a cat is a “self-sufficient” pet, but they want companionship from their human friends just as much as we do!

If you would like to discuss your pet’s joint health care, set up an appointment today! 

National Kids and Pets Day is a fun day to celebrate the special bond that is held between our pets and kids.  It also reminds us what pets can teach our children as they grow up.

RESPONSIBILITY:   If your child is old enough to get involved with activities taking care of your pet, let her help!  She can fill the water bowl, brush the fur, or help pick up the pet toys.  As she grows older, she can assist with the feeding schedule, clean up feces from the yard, and even help with training.

COMPASSION: The compassion and nurturing that a child can learn from a pet will extend to other people as they grow, and even to their own kids one day.

HEALTH: In a world where technology is king, having pets can be a positive distraction from our devices.  It’s also a great way to encourage the kids to get outside more!

SOCIAL: A pet can help teach a child social skills and build their confidence.  Is your child learning how to read?  Have her read a story to the cat!  What’s better than having a best friend to talk to who will never judge you?

SAFETY: A pet helps teach our kids how to be safe with animals.  As parents, it’s our responsibility to teach our kids how to interact with animals appropriately and always supervise their interactions.  If you meet a new dog on a walk, does your child know to ask permission first before petting?

Thinking about adding a furry companion to your family?  Consider adoption first.

Spring has arrived in Iowa!  With the warmer weather comes flowers blooming, spring cleaning and lots of rain! This means there are potential springtime hazards for your furry companions.

Easter

When spring arrives, we know that Easter is not far behind.  With Easter comes lilies and candy, items that are very toxic to pets.  If ingested lilies can be fatal to our feline friends, even with just a few bites.  Chocolate goodies are also toxic to both dogs and cats.  The plastic grass in Easter baskets can also cause an obstructed digestive track, causing severe vomiting and dehydration.  If you suspect your pet has ingested any of these items, it’s time to visit your Veterinarian.

Rain and Puddles

The rainy and wet season increases the risk of your dog contracting Leptospirosis, a bacterial disease that is spread by wild anim als.  Leptospirosis (lepto) can cause liver and kidney damage.  It is also zoonotic, meaning we (humans) can also contract lepto.  We carry a vaccine that protects your pooch against the 4 most common strains of lepto.  

Screens

When the weather starts to get warm, we open the windows to welcome the breeze in.  Our felines love to lounge in the window sill.  Double check to make sure your screens are secure to prevent your cats from falling or jumping out.

Spring Cleaning

Keep those house cleaners and fertilizers away from your pets.  Almost all cleaning products contain chemicals that may be harmful to our pets.  Store your fertilizers, insecticides and herbicides out of reach of your pets.  Follow the instructions on the label carefully to ensure your pet’s safety.

Allergies

Spring can be a prime allergy time for pets just like us.  Pets typically express allergies through their skin.  If your pet is itchy, biting at his feet or skin seems irritated, there are many things we can do to help them feel more at ease.

Fleas, Ticks and Mosquitoes, Oh My!

With Iowa weather, we see this pesky critters throughout the year and recommend preventive all 12 months of the years for both dogs and cats.  If your pet is not on parasite prevention, now is the time to start!

To set up an appointment to see the doctor, click here.

You can also contact Pet Poison Helpline for immediate assistance.

1. IDENTIFICATION CHECK.  Does your pet have a collar and tags with updated info?  If your pet is microchipped, have you updated your contact information in the past year?  The holidays bring an increase of pets who will sneak out the door unexpectedly and end up in a shelter.  If you have guests visiting your home for the holiday or if you are leaving your pet with a sitter, this is an important step to ensure the safety of your pet.

2. SAFE SPACE.  Whether guests are coming to your home or you are traveling with your pet, make sure your pet has a safe space away from the activities.  This could be a crate or a guest bedroom.  Set up your pet with water, a blanket and a favorite toy to help him/her feel more at ease.

3. FOODS TO AVOID.  Many foods that are perfectly safe for humans, can be extremely toxic to pets.  It’s best to keep them on their regular diet to prevent any illness.  Here are some people foods that should be avoided at all costs:

• Fatty Foods.  Meat drippings or scraps even in small amounts can cause a life-threatening condition in pets known as pancreatitis.  Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas that can result in a trip the veterinarian.  Clinical symptoms of pancreatitis are vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite and abdominal pain.
• Desserts.  Most desserts contain chocolate which is well-known by most to be toxic to dogs.  Remember the darker the chocolate, the more serious the ingestion.  Many desserts and candies may also contain an artificial sweetener called xylitol. This is dangerous to pets.  It can cause a rapid drop in blood sugar along with liver damage.
• Raisins/Grapes.  These can be found in some of our Thanksgiving favorites and can cause acute renal failure even in small amounts.
• Bones. Turkey or ham bones can cause obstructions if eaten, as well as, can make your pet’s tummy upset.  It’s best to get a pet- safe bone or goodie for them to enjoy for the holiday.

Fall is the season for football, pumpkin spice lattes, sweaters, boots and ticks.

Wait, TICKS?

Yes, ticks!  Iowa provides two ideal situations for ticks: cool weather and a high deer population.

So how do you know if your pet is at risk for Lyme disease?  Here are some risk assessment questions:

1. Have you ever found a tick on your pet? On yourself or a member of your household?
2. Does your dog live in a suburban home next to wildlife areas?
3. Is your dog’s yard surrounded by tall brush or grass?
4. Does your dog go walking, hiking, picnicking, fishing or camping in wooded areas?
5. Does your dog frequent areas with lots of deer?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, talk to your veterinarian about Lyme disease.  You can also check out this prevalence map to see what tick-borne diseases you should be concerned about in your area.

The deer tick is very hard to spot on dogs.

Lyme disease is a growing concern because the disease is increasing in number and expanding geographically.  It is a potentially serious illness transmitted to dogs by the deer tick. Symptoms of Lyme disease in dogs are:

• Lameness
• Not eating
• Fever
• Stiffness
• Joint Pain/Swelling
• Depression

Lyme disease in dogs is largely preventable by using a tick preventive and an annual Lyme vaccine.

Has your dog or cat been itchy and uncomfortable lately?

Pets can display these symptoms any time of the year, but we tend to see an increase during this time of the year.  Thankfully, there are many things we can do as pet owners to help our pets find relief!

First things first: Are all pets in the home protected against fleas?

Even if your pets are 100% indoors, they all need to be protected.  We can carry fleas in just as easy as they can pick up fleas outdoors.  The cooler weather should not be an indicator that it’s okay to stop a preventive.  The fleas are still out in full force and ticks actually thrive in the 50-60 degree weather so tick protection is important as well during this time of the year. Click here for more info on flea and tick symptoms and preventive care.  If you see any of these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

Allergies:  Pets can get them too. 

While humans sneeze and have a runny nose, dogs and cats express their allergies through their skin.  If you notice your pet starting to itch a little more than normal, one thing you can do at home is give him a bath.  Make sure to use cool water and an oatmeal based pet shampoo for best results.  For dogs, you can wipe off his feet with a washcloth or baby wipe after going outside to eliminate some of the pollen he picks up outside.

Still uncomfortable?

If you pet is causing open sores from scratching or unable to settle down to rest, he should see a veterinarian.  There are a wide variety of medications that a veterinarian can prescribe to provide relief for your pet.

School has officially begun!  Whether you are pushing your kids out the front door or still wishing summer could last a little longer, the change in our schedule is inevitable.  A change in routine can cause some stress on our furry companions, so it’s our responsibility to help them adjust.  Here are a few tips to make things easier for them while they wait by the door for the family to get home!

1.  Establish Play Times.  Schedule play times before school and after school with the kids to ensure your pets are getting enough activity.  If you have a dog, plan an evening walk with the whole family.  Walks are great for both exercise and stimulation for your dog.

2. Turn On Some Tunes.  Play some slow and soothing music for your pet while you are gone.  This will take away the quiet and help them feel more at ease.

3.  Enroll In A Training Class.  When things get busy, it’s easy to get lax on the rules.  A training class is both good for our pup and us, as well.  It helps us establish boundaries with our pets and reminds them what they can and can’t do.

4. Use Adaptil (for dogs) and Feliway (for cats).  These are synthetic pheromones designed to mimic those released by a mother to her offspring to help them feel more comfortable in potential stress situations.  These products are available in diffuser form and a spray for your convenience.

5.  Purchase A New Toy For Your Pet.  Your pet deserves to be spoiled every once and a while, right?  While the kids are getting school supplies and new sneakers, pick up a new interactive toy for your pet to spice things up!  Your pet will thank you!