Pethood or Parenthood

Behavioral Problems

Are you tired of Fido taking you for a walk? Are your friends and family afraid to come over because your pet thinks it is part kangaroo? If these and other problems sound like your pet, call the Animal Clinic today to sign your pet up for obedience class. Our next class will begin on March 6th. They will be every Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. at the Hastings Police Dept. The March session will continue for 6 weeks. Dogs 6 months old and up are welcome. The Animal Clinic HIGHLY recommends that you bring your pet in to try out a wonderful training device called the Gentle Leader. The Gentle Leader is not a muzzle, but fits over the nose of your pet, which allows for COMPLETE head control. Your pet can still bite, bark, eat, drink, etc. It is absolutely the most HUMANE training device made. It puts no trauma on the trachea as a normal choke chain does. It comes in all sizes and colors for your pet’s best fit and style. Carrie Waddle, one of our Licensed Veterinarian Technicians, will be more than happy to help you with your pet’s fitting. She will also educate you with basic preventative care that is in the best interest for your pet. The Animal Clinic has a strict policy on having your pet up to date on their vaccinations. All pets need to be up to date on their Distemper-Parvo, Rabies, and Bordetella vaccination. Proof of vaccination is needed and will only be accepted if a Licensed Veterinarian gives them. Please call Carrie at (402) 463-9805 to sign up. Do not worry if your pet is too young right now, because we will have another session in August. Hope to see you there!!

The Weight of the Problem .... Managing Your Pet's Weight

Diet and exercise are as important to our pet’s health as they are to ours. Being overweight can lead to or exacerbate health problems including arthritis, respiratory difficulties and diabetes. Overweight pets are most often not as active which is often blamed on the aging process.

There are many specialized dietary products formulated to help your pet lose weight.

The veterinarian can determine if your pet is overweight. Blood and urine testing may be recommended to determine if there is an underlying medical condition causing the weight gain. If the test results are normal, a simple change in diet based on the doctors recommendation can return you pet to a healthier weight range. If a medical condition is detected, the doctor will offer a treatment plan that utilizes changes in diet, medication or additional testing or treatment.

Exercise is beneficial to both pets and people. Your pets should have playtime and/or walks on a regular schedule. This promotes both health and psychological well being for your pets. For older or arthritic pets, moderation is the key. Even short walks on a regular schedule are beneficial. If your pet has arthritis or other conditions, a veterinarian can help you create a regimen that is safe and comfortable.

Prevention is the best medicine for any health problem. The best way to avoid obesity is to feed your pet right. Fat cells begin to accumulate during the growth stage of your pet's life. So feeding an optimal food from the start is essential.

The benefits of weight reduction:

Although it is a challenge you and your pet can successfully meet and complete a weight loss program. With the help of our veterinary team and your determination, your pet can lose the weight needed live a long and healthy life. Taking off those extra pounds will make a noticeable difference in your pets overall attitude.

Important things to follow:

1.Work with the veterinary staff:

2.Follow their advice: The health care team will recommend how often your pet should be weighed, and they will keep track of the progress made. An exercise program designed to meet your pets needs as well as yours will be discussed and designed.

3.Practice good feeding habits: Many people believe they can just cut back on the amount of food they feed their pets, but this is only cutting calories, and is not meeting the nutritional needs of your pet. Always feed the amount recommended. Use a measuring cup when serving your pet, and divide the total daily amount of food by the number of times fed.

4. Remember, once your pet achieves target weight, don't fall back to a poor feeding practice again. The veterinarian will recommend the right diet to maintain a proper weight for a lifetime of good health.

Important tips to remember:

Follow the feeding guide recommended. Switching to a different diet should be done over a period of 1-2 weeks.

Don't feed treats or table scraps.

If you have more than one pet, feed a them a different times and keep them separated from each other when they eat..

Remove your pet from the kitchen and dining area when you are preparing food or eating.

Regular, moderate exercise will help your pet.

Ask our healthcare team members for advice.

Have your pet weighed regularly.

Science Diet has a complete line of foods for weight reduction and management as well as other medical conditions.

For more information on a weight loss management program for your pet contact our office.

Canine Senior Wellness & Testing

Large Breed dogs are considered to be of senior age when they reach six or seven years. Small breed dogs are considered to be seniors when they reach eight or nine years. Just as with people our friend's age, subtle changes can be occurring that we are unaware of.

1. Nutritional requirements change, and a dog's metabolism start to slow.
2. Commonly dogs may start to develop kidney disease, heart disease, diabetes or arthritis.

Annual wellness exams can help detect early changes in your dog's organ function. Discussions with the doctors and staff at the Animal Clinic may aid in recognizing acquired behavioral changes, organ dysfunction and pain that may be the result of aging. Many common problems associated with aging can be successfully managed through changes in diet, nutritional supplements and medications.

Senior wellness exams involve a physical exam, consultation with the doctor, and routine diagnostic testing. Physical exams associated with routine care visits and discussions between owners and doctors on an annual or semiannual basis are very important in noting changes in your dog's health as they age.

Changes in weight, sleeping habits, water consumption, behavior and activity, may be signs of manageable underlying disorders.

When large breed dogs reach six years of age and small breed dogs reach eight years of age we recommend doing some routine diagnostic tests. These tests include a complete blood count, serum chemistry panel, electrolyte panel, urinalysis (including an early renal detection test or ERD) and blood pressure. Utilizing the physical exam, discussions with you, and diagnostic testing, we can often detect early signs of organ dysfunction and may be able to make recommendations to prevent or slow progression of disease processes.

We recommend routine diagnostic testing every two years until large breed dogs reach ten years of age and small breed dogs reach twelve years of age. At that time annual diagnostic testing is recommended.

Wellness exams should be part of your dog's routine care. Annual visits for a physical exam and discussions with the doctor are important to a long healthy life for your canine companion.

1) As pets age, changes in mentation may be associated with a syndrome called Cognitive Dysfunction. Similar to form of memory loss in people, your dog may seem confused or lose the ability to go outside to eliminate. Some dogs show changes in sleeping habits. Often signs may improve with diet change and medication.

2) Nutrition is very important, as pet's needs change with age. Some dogs find it hard to maintain optimal weight as they age. Dog's with optimal body condition tend to live longer and are less likely to develop illness associated with diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure and arthritis. Choosing appropriate senior diets or prescription diets are extremely important.

3) Dental disease leads not only to painful teeth and gums but also to heart and kidney disease. Routine scheduling for cleaning and polishing as well as daily brushing are very important. Some dogs benefit from special diets formulated for periodontal diseases.

4) As dogs age the incidence of tumors increases. Watch carefully for lumps that may develop in the skin, and have them evaluated. Internal cancer can sometimes be difficult to recognize. Scheduled routine physical exams and noting changes in appetite, vomiting, or bowel movements is important. Routine diagnostic testing plays an important role in early diagnosis.

5) Heart disease is important in older dogs. Some dogs are predisposed to certain heart dysfunction based on inherited traits. Others acquire heart disease because of obesity and poor dental health. Abnormalities detected
on physical exam may lead to further diagnostic testing and treatment of heart disease to control clinical signs or prevent them from occurring.

6) Kidney disease is one of the most common causes of death in dogs. Proper nutrition, good oral hygiene and routine testing to detect subtle changes in kidney function are very important. Treatment is geared toward the prevention of further damage to the organ. Dietary management and control of underlying causes of diseases including high blood pressure, urinary tract infections and diabetes are important. The Early Renal Detection, or ERD test, allows detection of kidney dysfunction much earlier so treatment can be started before clinical disease is present.

7) Arthritis pain is common in older dogs. Weight management, nutritional supplements and prescription anti-inflammatory medicines can ease pain and return pets to normal activity and exercise.

Routine scheduled senior wellness testing can detect subtle changes in your dog's health when intervention is most useful and can save you 15-20% in health cost. Call the Animal Clinic at (402) 463-9805 if you have any questions or would like to schedule a visit with your dog and the doctor.