North Memorial Animal Hospital

Veterinarian

Amanda McGrath

Why should you bother to spay or neuter your pet?

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The advantages of spaying or neutering are huge, not only for the pets but for the people that live with them!

A spayed female will not have  heat cycle. If a dog is not spayed she will come into heat about every 6 months, lasting for 3weeks at a time.  This can be a very messy time for a homeowner.  Often dogs do not like to wear any type of “diaper” and will pull them off, making it possible to stain all of your furniture and carpeting.

A cat that is not spayed will come into heat randomly.  It will not be messy in your house, but noisy.  A female cat in heat generally spends most of her time “calling” for a boyfriend.  It can be humorous at first, unless you intend to sleep at any point!

Dogs that are not neutered are more likely to “mark” in your home,  lifting their legs on anything they would like to claim as their own.  Another characteristic of an unaltered male dog is to roam.  Any chance they get to “find a girlfriend” they will, male dogs can smell a female in heat from very far distances.  At our hospital almost every single hit by car emergency is an unaltered pet!

Dogs and cats that are not spayed and neutered generally have more aggression towards other pets.  Hormone changes in female dogs during heat can trigger aggressive behavior. Cats are much more prone to fighting as are male dogs.

If you want the stress free life for both yourself and your pets, spaying and neutering are the best choices.

 

 

 

Ring in the New Year

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new years puppy
Ah the New Year! A blank calendar, a fresh start and plenty of resolutions.  If we had to pick the top three resolutions that should be on every pets list they would be:
 
1. Weight Loss –  over 50% of cats and dogs in the US are overweight.  All those extra pounds add up to an increase in some serious side effects.  Pets that are overweight have an increased risk of diabetes, an earlier onset of arthritis and higher risks of heart and metabolic diseases.  So in this new year instead of reaching for the treat bowl throw fidos’s favorite ball instead.
 
2 .Better Dental Care – Imagine if you will, that you have never brushed your teeth. Gross right?  Sadly this is the case for most pets. Dogs and cats need proper dental care to keep them at their best health.  Our office sells flavored tooth paste & tooth brushes. Stop in today and ask one of our trained staff to demonstrate how to properly brush your pets teeth.
 
3 .Get spayed or neutered – Every year it is estimated that 5 million pets are placed in shelters, of those 3.5 million are euthanized.  It is a hard fact that there are not enough homes for every pet.  Spaying and neutering is a sure way to lower those statistics.  Besides the moral reasons for the surgery there are countless other benefits including lower risk of cancer, less roaming and no messy heat cycles to deal with. 
 
Stay tuned in to this months blog posts as we dive in a little deeper on each of these topics.

 

 

Pet Insurance. What is it and how does it work?

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Pet insurance is alot like human medical insurance, it helps to cover costs for emergencies.  When an animal needs treatment and the owners cannot pay for it the situation is heartbreaking.  Pet insurance helps to alleviate this.  There are many different plans available, from emergency only coverage to plans that include vaccinations and preventative medicine. 

Here’s how it works:

  1. Have your pet treated by a licensed veterinarian
  2. Pay in full for the treatments performed
  3. Submit a claim to the insurance company
  4. Get remimbursed quickly for the covered charges

There are many things to consider when choosing a pet health insurance plan.  Here are some questions to ask about the policy:

  • Is there an age restriction? Some companies will start coverage after 8 weeks & some may restrict senior pets.
  • Is there a multi-pet discount?
  • Are any specific breeds not covered
  • Are hereditary conditions for your pet’s specific breed covered?
  • What are the deductibles, co pays and any caps on coverage?

Be sure to review the plan closely and make sure it offers the coverage you want.  Our office handles claims frequently and would be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Which pet food is better? Organic, Natural or Holistic

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Well, that depends. All 3 claims mean different things.  Just because one food is labeled organic, holistic or natural does not mean it is better for your pet.

Natural:

  • The term “Natural” means a feed or ingredient derived solely from plant, animal or mined sources that have not been produced by a chemical synthetic process.
  • The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) defines and regulates this term.

Organic:

  • Organic crops must be grown on land free of pesticides for at least 3 years.
  • Organic livestock is fed organic feed,  is not given antibiotics or growth hormones, and has access to the outdoors.
  • organic sealThe US dept. of Agriculture (USDA) defines and regulates this term.
  • Look for the USDA organic seal as proof of a certified organic pet food.  Pet foods with this seal must contain 95%-100% organic ingredients.

Holistic:

  • “Holistic” as it refers to pet foods is  not defined or regulated by any regulatory body.  Basically a pet food company can use this term on any food for any reason.

All three of these terms are frequently used on pet food marketing materials. Be a smart consumer and look for the AAFCO labels and feeding trials to help make your decisions.aafco label

5 Terrifying Facts about Ticks

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tick

Ticks are gross, they are also on the rise.  This year has brought record numbers of ticks and tick borne diseases to the area.  What was once was a mostly eastern PA problem has now shifted west.  Here are some things you should know about them.  

1. Ticks transmit disease, both to pets and people.  Every time your dog is heartworm tested we use a 4dx Plus test from Idexx.  This will let us know if your pet is positive for the tick borne diseases, Lyme, Anaplasma or Ehrlichia.

SNAP 4Dx Test2 .Ticks are arachnids. Meaning, they are more closely related to spiders and scorpions than insects. Just one of the reasons they are so creepy!

3. Ticks do not die in the winter.  Unlike most pests that die off after winter weather, ticks can remain active even when there is snow on the ground.  “Temperatures have to drop below 10 degrees F for a long time in order for ticks to start dying off,” according to Michael W. Dryden, DVM, PhD, professor in veterinary parasitology at Kansas State University.

4. Never crush a tick with your fingers. The CDC, Center for Disease Control, states that the best way to dispose of a live tick is by submersing it in alcohol,  placing it in a sealed bag/container, wrapping it tightly in tape, or flushing it down the toilet.

5. Ticks  can secrete small amounts of saliva with anesthetic properties so that the animal or person can’t feel that the tick has attached itself. If the tick is in a sheltered spot, it can go unnoticed.

tick on thumb

Call our office if you have any questions about ticks, or if you find one on your pet.

724-656-0980