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 Spring is a time to get out and enjoy the sun again. As you spend more time with your pets remember a few things. We see an increase of Intestinal issues as our furry friends find things to get into as winter releases it hold on the landscape. It is also the time of year to get your pet tested for heartworm and begin the seasonal preventative for all the parasites'.
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 As the weather cools off and the colors of the Mother Nature pop, remember that fall has some hazards of its own. Wild Mushrooms: Fall is the prime time to pick mushrooms. However our furry friends don’t always know which ones are harmful. Always keep an eye out for any that your pet may eat. Hunting Season: Be aware of the hunters in the woods. Be sure that both you and your dog wear some orange. Household Poisons: As the weather cools and the pests begin to move in, more people make use of pest control such as rat poison and insecticides. Always keep these well out of reach for any pet. People are also topping off the antifreeze in cars and other systems. Always be on the lookout for anything harmful your pet may ingest around the house. Darkness: As the days get shorter and you have to spend time walking your best friend in the decreasing light, make use of reflective collars, leashes or a blinking light. These help make your pet more visible to you and other people. Holiday Treats: Halloween and Thanksgiving are right around the corner. Remember to keep all candy and human food out of reach. Also make sure to keep the trashcan put away so it is not a temptation. Fall Harvest: Make sure to pick up or restrict the access to rotting fruit and vegetables. Weather: Be sure that your animal has a safe and warm place to go as the temperatures falls. Your pet may spend less time outside.   If you are considering traveling with your pet, whether it be within the United States or abroad, it is important to be aware of each state and country’s rules and regulations for importation or movement of pets.
In the United States, the interstate movement of animals requires a pet health certificate. Furthermore, many countries and airlines require an official health certificate performed by a USDA accredited veterinarian. You should contact your veterinarian directly to find out if he/she is accredited. The process of obtaining the necessary testing or examinations can take days to weeks, so you should plan well in advance to be sure all paperwork is complete prior to your travels. Which country you are traveling to determines which type of health certificate you need. You can find out what all the requirements are for any country by visiting the website https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pet-travel/take-pet-to-foreign-country/export-pets A Health Certificate is issued by a vet stating that the animal is healthy and has been given all the vaccines and parasite treatments required. A health certificate is good for 10 to 30 days depending on where you are going. Here are a few things you need to have ready to get your animals' health certificate:
Canada only requires a Rabies Certificate to get in however the USA requires a health certificate to return. Mexico has its own special health certificate and does require parasite treatment within 30 days of entering the country. Hawaii requires rabies titers to be done at least 30 days before arriving, however keep in mind this test takes a couple of weeks so it is best to test at least 6 weeks before travel. It is best to look up and do everything on the checklist. You can get it at the website given above. Other International Health Certificates Different countries require different tests and procedures done in the months prior to travel. A checklist for all requirements can be found on the Aphis website. Depending on the country some of these have to also be signed by USDA Vet as well. This will add a couple of days to the process so be sure to acount for that when you are scheduleing the appointments.
People have a lot of questions about their pets' pregnancies. How long are they? When can the find out how many? What do you feed during and after?
Here are the answers to the most frequently asked questions. Dogs The gestation period is 58-68 days; avg. is 63 days or roughly 9 weeks. We can ultrasound to confirm pregnancy 23- 30 after breeding. An X-ray can be done around day 50 or later to get a count of how many to expect. We recommend an increase in food during the gestation followed by a slow transition to puppy food in the last few weeks of the pregnancy and while the dog is nursing puppies. Prepare a whelping box or area to introduce the animal to during the last 3 weeks so that she is comfortable in the space. Most dogs will began to display nesting behavior in the last couple of week before giving birth. The easiest way to know that your dog is about to whelp is to start taking a temperature twice a day for the last 1-2 weeks of the pregnancy to get a baseline. The temperature will drop by 1 to 2 degrees about 18 hours before labor. When active labor goes smoothly, it should all be over in a few hours. We recommend that if everything is going well the best thing to do is to stay back and let her do what comes naturally. You may help if it appears that she is not licking the sack off by tearing the sack and gently but vigorously rubbing the puppy with a warm and dry towel. You may also suction-bulb the fluid from the nose and mouth of the pup, and then return the puppy to the mother. SIGNS THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG AND YOU NEED TO CALL A VET.
If you have any questions be sure to call your veterinarian. Cats The gestation period is 60-69 days or roughly 9 weeks. You can tell that your cat is pregnant by an abrupt ending to the heat cycle. The shape and color of the nipples changes: swelling and change to a dark pink At about week 5, her abdomen will start to bulge. Cats will also become more affectionate towards their owners. In the last few days of the pregnancy the cat will begin to "nest' in a quiet area of the house. Very few cats have any problems while giving birth; it is best to leave them alone and just check that things are progressing so as not to stress the cat out. Be sure to feed your cat a nice balanced food through out the gestation period. Increase the amount as she gets closer to birth and after to help with milk production. They need lots of protein and the right minerals. SIGNS THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG AND YOU NEED TO CALL A VET.
If you have any questions be sure to call your veterinarian.  February is officially Pet Dental Month, but at BAH, we believe every month should be Pet Dental Month!
Did you know that by the age of 3, 80% of dogs have evidence of dental disease? More importantly, good oral health has been shown to increase your pet's life expectancy by 2 years! Dental disease is painful and can cause other problems as well. With dental disease, there is more bacteria in the mouth, and that bacteria can spread into the blood to the kidneys and heart. In fact, that bacteria can actually set up infections on the heart valves, a disease called endocarditis. The best way to prevent dental disease and support your pet's overall health is to have your pet's mouth checked out by a Veterinarian. This is especially true for cats, since they really hide it well when they're sick. One of our Vets would be happy to see your pet and help make recommendations based on YOUR pet's needs. Please call us for an appointment today. In the meantime, check out the website www.vohc.org (Veterinary Oral Health Council). Look at the list of VOCH Approved Products. These are oral health products that are heavily researched and proven to be safe and effective and preventing dental disease. The list contains everything from special diets, chews, rinses and water additives. Take a look and see if there's anything there your pet would enjoy!  It's that time of year again! The tree is up, stockings are hung, cookies are baking, and your pets are just looking for trouble... wait, what? Thanksgiving through Christmas is often the busiest time of year for us seeing sick pets. Dogs and cats can't help but find trouble with all the goodies around. Decorations, baked goods, fancy dinners, family visiting...it all adds up to a potential Vet visit. What are the most common issues we see? Check out this numbered list, then go puppy and cat-proof your home in time for the holidays! Common Hazards 1. The Christmas Tree - this symbol of Christmas is often a huge source of trouble for pets.
3. Delicious Holiday Treats Chocolate - most folks know this one, but did you know that even an ounce of dark or baking chocolate can kill a dog? A good rule of thumb is - if the chocolate is out, the dog will find it Nuts - many types of nuts used in baking are toxic to dogs and cats. Keep the nuts out of reach and the dogs out of the kitchen while you're baking! Grapes - that tasty stuffing everyone loves so much? Keep an eye out for grapes and raisins. While not toxic to all dogs, some dogs can have a reaction to even a single grape that causes kidney failure. There's no way to predict which dog will react, so it's best to avoid them all together! Human medications - okay, so it's not a delicious holiday treat, but if you've got family visiting, they're probably bringing their medications. Make sure everybody keeps their meds (human and animal) well out of reach because even a small dose of the wrong medication could make your pet very sick. Turkey skin, butter, bacon and ham - It's delicious, and your dog thinks so too. Unfortunately, rich foods like this can cause a very severe disease called pancreatitis. We see a lot of pancreatitis during the holidays, and it almost always requires hospitalization. Severe pancreatitis can be deadly! To spoil your dog on the holidays, try offering some canned dog food or low-sodium chicken broth in his dog food as a special treat. Lastly, keep in mind that pets sometimes find company stressful. Make sure your cat or dog has a quiet place they can "escape" to if the fun gets to be too much! Happy holidays from all of us at Bayfield Animal Hospital! We hope your holiday season is uneventful, and we'll see you in the New Year! THE USE OF ESSENTIAL OILS IS ON THE RISE. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WHAT IS SAFE TO USE AROUND YOUR FURRY FRIEND.
While there are a lot of benefits to the use of essential oils, always remember that dogs and cats do not react the same as humans. What is good for you may not be good for Fluffy. Here are a few tips and things to watch for.
WITH THE WEATHER GETTING HOTTER, OUR FURRY FRIENDS ARE ENCOUNTERING MORE WILDLIFE. BE ON THE LOOK OUT FOR THE DANGERS OF INTERACTION WITH WILDLIFE. Here are the most common issues we see.  Skunks : Skunks spray a very unpleasant liquid when threatened. In most cases your pet will just need a bath.(Skunk recipe on the Tips and Tricks page) Sometimes they get it in the eyes and mouth which causes more irritation, rinse these areas well with eye wash and water. In very rare cases the dog or cat will react to the toxic levels, seek veterinary care immediately. Skunks also carry diseases such as Leptospirosis, Canine Distemper and Hepatitis. Skunks and Rabies: Skunks are the primary carriers of rabies in the west. Rabies is usually fatal to humans and pets unless treated immediately. If you suspect that a skunk may have rabies, do not approach it - call animal control immediately for assistance. There are two forms of rabies in skunks: the "furious" form, where skunks become aggressive, and the "dumb" form where they become unfazed by human presence. Some other signs of rabies in skunks to look out for include activity during the daytime, an unsteady or disoriented gait, drooling, and/or foaming at the mouth.  Porcupines: Porcupines use the quills as a defense. They make shake them, which makes them rattle, as a warning to potential predators. If that doesn't work, they may charge backwards into the predator. The quills are loosely attached but cannot be thrown or projected. Quills have small barbs on the end. Quills detach into the attackers. Quills then need to be removed. This is best accomplished under sedation. Cutting to deflate the quill will not make it easier to pull! In most cases in makes in much more difficult. Seek Veterinary care.  Rattlesnakes: The venomous bite from a rattlesnake can cause a lot of tissue damage and even death in dogs and cats. To learn more about what to do read the blog post May 2017.  Prairie Dogs: Prairie Dogs are a major source of fleas in this area. They also are the main source of the Plague. They also can cause bite wounds that need to be treated. As with most mammals rabies is also a concern.  Mule Deer: We see dogs that have injuries from the sharp hooves of deer. The deer will charge and paw at dogs who harass them or their young. It is best to keep your distance.  Raptors: Eagles and Hawks have been known to carry away cats and small dogs. Always be mindful of what is around you. Injuries cause by the talons and falling can be severe.  Predators: Coyotes, Bears, Bobcats and Mountain Lions etc are natural predators to your four-legged friends. Any injuries sustained from these should be seen by a Vet.
 Bats: Bats are also one of the main carriers of rabies in the area. If you think one of your animals has been bitten by a bat they need to be seen.
Burr... It's Cold Outside!!! As old man winter starts to make his presence known don't forget to take a few precautions for your 4 legged friends. Even though they have fur coats they are still at risk for frostbite and hypothermia.
Hypothermia While it is true that the fur on some dog breeds is a good insulator. Others such as small breeds and ones with short hair( ie. Pitbulls, Boxers, Chihuahua, dachshund, ect.) have to overcome the cold by having a strong shiver reflex. Other factors such as wind, moisture and time can decrease the you pets ability to maintain a normal body temperature.
Signs of Hypothermia( low body temperature)
Frostbite What is frostbite? Damage or death to the tissues of the extremities( ears, tail and foot pads) from extended exposure to freezing conditions. It is caused by the constricting of blood vessels and the formation of ice crystals in the skin. Symptoms of Frostbite:
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