With the winter season underway, your pet will feel the effects of the cold weather. But for older pets, mobility may become an issue as the result of arthritis or joint pain. Thankfully, there are medications and treatments that can help your pet remain pain-free during the winter months, including Adequan.
Adequan is a very safe, FDA-approved, injectable medication used to help improve joint and bone health. For all dogs and cats that have already started to feel the pain due to arthritis, this medication is imperative. The drug is administered with a simple injection. It helps keep the cartilage healthy and intact so that the bone in the joint cannot touch other bones. For cats, this is one of the only safe, long-lasting arthritis medications available.
For those looking for a holistic solution, your pet’s arthritis can also be treated with acupuncture. Acupuncture is defined as the insertion of needles into specific points on the body to cause a desired healing effect. It works great for arthritis by decreasing the inflammation and discomfort your pet may be experiencing. Pets that are limping or having difficulty getting up or running may benefit from these treatments.
In conjunction with Adequan and/or acupuncture treatments, arthritic pets should be kept on supplements. Antioxidants and glucosamine supplements are great to help promote joint health. At times, pain medications and anti-inflammatories may be used.
Any veterinarian at Central Veterinary Associates is able to administer Adequan injections. For those looking to have acupuncture performed on their pet, they should schedule an appointment with Dr. Frank DeFeis, who is trained in veterinary acupuncture. If you would like to start your pet on supplements, anti-inflammatories, Adequan and/or acupuncture prior to the start of the warm-weather season, call Central Veterinary Associates, P.C. to schedule an appointment.
As the winter season approaches, the temperature begins to drop. It is this time of year that animals can become vulnerable to the weather. Central Veterinary Associates is offering pet owners tips on how to keep your pets safe and healthy this winter:
• Keep your cat inside. If cats are left unattended outdoors, they can freeze, become lost or stolen, injured or killed. Cats who are allowed to stray are exposed to infectious diseases — including rabies — from other cats, dogs and wildlife.
• Before getting into your car, bang loudly on the hood of the car before starting the engine. Outdoor cats like to sleep underneath cars. When the engine is started, the cat can be injured or killed by the fan belt.
• Never let your dog off the leash on snow or ice, especially during a snowstorm. Dogs can lose their scent and easily become lost. More dogs are lost during the winter than any other season, so make sure that your dog always wears his identification tags.
• When your dog comes in from the snow, ice or sleet, be sure to wipe down his paws and his stomach thoroughly. Your dog may have rock salt, antifreeze and other potentially dangerous chemicals on its paws which, if ingested, can make them sick. In addition, their paw pads may also bleed from snow or encrusted ice.
• Never shave down your dog during the winter, as a longer coat will provide more warmth. When bathing your dog, be sure to dry him off thoroughly before taking him out for a walk. If you have a short-haired breed, consider getting him a coat or a sweater with a high collar or turtleneck with coverage from the base of the tail to the belly.
• Never leave your pet alone in a car in cold weather. The inside of the car holds in the cold, causing the animal to freeze to death.
• If you have a puppy that may be sensitive to the cold, it may be difficult to housebreak your pet outside. Train him inside on old newspapers. If your dog is sensitive to the cold because of old age, illness or breed, take him out only to relieve himself.
• If your dog likes to spend a lot of time outdoors, increase his food supply, especially the amount of protein, to keep him and his fur in tip-top shape.
• If you spill any antifreeze, be sure to clean it up immediately. Pets are enticed by the sweet-tasting liquid, although it is poisonous to pets. Ingesting antifreeze leads to illness in dogs and even death. If possible, use products that contain propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol.
• Make sure your companion animal has a warm place to sleep, off the floor and away from all drafty areas. A cozy pet bed with a warm blanket or pillow is ideal.
It is very important to keep your pet safe and healthy during the winter season. The extreme cold may have an adverse effect on your pet’s health, so pet owners have to take the necessary precautions for their pets when taking them outside. In the event they become ill as a result of being exposed to the elements, please bring them to a veterinarian immediately. Here at Central Veterinary Associates, its animal hospital is open around the clock. Central Veterinary Associates guarantees that your pet will be seen the same day and given the highest standard of care and service.
The holiday season can be a very joyous one for your pet, but it is just as important to make sure it is a safe one. Central Veterinary Associates offers these tips to keep your pets free from danger while enjoying the holiday’s festivities:
• Watch your pet around the Christmas tree — Make sure the tree is properly secured in its stand so it will not fall on your pet. The water in the stand can sicken animals because of certain fertilizers or bacteria found in the water. Do not put aspirin in the water (some people place aspirin in the tree water to make it stronger). It can cause serious health problems for your pet, even death.
• Keep ornaments and tinsel out of reach — Ingestion of ornaments and tinsel can lead to serious ailments. Tinsel is a favorite of cats but, when ingested, will result in intestinal blockage. Hang the ornaments and tinsel at a height where the pet cannot reach them.
• Make sure the tree area is kept clean — Shards of glass from a broken ornament can cut an animal’s paws, mouths and bodies. If swallowed, it can be deadly. Pine needles from the Christmas tree can puncture an animal’s intestinal lining. If you see falling pine needles or broken ornaments, please sweep up and throw into the trash can.
• Put away cleaning supplies after cleaning up — In the rush to get the house ready for the holidays, pet owners might leave cleaning products within their pet’s reach. Floor cleaner, furniture polish and window cleaner are considered toxins. Be sure to place cleaning products that are not in use away in an area where animals cannot reach them.
• Watch out for holiday lighting — Pets may chew on the wiring, which will cause shock and electrocution. Keep the wiring out of the reach of pets and unplug all holiday lighting when not in use. Bubbling holiday lights contain fluids that are toxic when ingested.
• Put away children’s toys after opening them — Pets may think of children’s toys as their own personal chew toys. Small plastic pieces and rubber balls become ingested, causing blockages. These objects would need to be surgically removed.
• Keep holiday plants out of reach — Holly, mistletoe, poinsettias and lilies are very beautiful, but to pets, they are very poisonous and can be very dangerous. Such plants, if ingested, cause serious health problems in pets.
• Avoid feeding human food to your pets — People love to feed their pets under the table for this holiday season, but they are unknowingly harming their animals. Chocolate contains theobromine, which, for dogs, can result in diarrhea, seizures and death. Macadamia nuts contain toxins which can affect the digestive, muscular and nervous systems of dogs. Gravy can cause pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas resulting in pain, vomiting and dehydration. Chicken, fish and turkey bones can break off and tear through the animal’s intestinal tract.
• Hold onto your drinks — Coffee and tea contain dangerous components called xanthines, which cause damage to the dog’s nervous system or gastrointestinal tract and heart muscle stimulation. Animals are also attracted to the sweet smell of alcohol. Each year, hundreds of dogs die after a single bout of alcohol consumption. Keep such drinks out of reach.
• Give your pets some room — When meeting visitors for the first time, pets can be overexcited. Your pet may jump on the visitor or act aggressively by barking or hissing. Some pets may also urinate on the floor. When hosting a party, set up a separate area for your pets with plenty of food and water.
• Protect your pet from the elements — The weather outside is definitely frightful in the winter, especially for pets. Dressing your dog in a doggie sweater or booties is not only stylish, but protects your pet from the harsh winter weather, especially if you have a short-haired or small-breed dog. Booties prevent your dogs’ paws from frostbite. Most importantly, the rock salt should be cleaned off the booties; if ingested, it can result in vomiting.
In response to a canine influenza outbreak at a local pet boarding facility, Central Veterinary Associates is urging all pet owners to have their pets vaccinated against the canine flu, if they have not already done so, prior to having their pets boarded. In the event their pet becomes ill as the result of the virus, Central Veterinary Associates provides emergency care around the clock, including holidays.
According to the American Medical Veterinary Association, canine influenza is a highly contagious respiratory infection that is caused by a virus ― the same virus found in horses with equine influenza. Dogs with a mild case of canine influenza may develop a soft, moist cough that lasts for 10 to 30 days and may have a thick nasal discharge, which is usually caused by a secondary bacterial infection. For dogs with a more severe case of canine flu, they may develop high fevers of 104 to 106 degrees Fahrenheit and have clinical signs of pneumonia, such as increased respiratory rates and difficulty breathing.
On November 21, a canine flu outbreak was confirmed at PetSmart’s doggie day camp and boarding facility in Farmingdale, New York. Eight dogs were diagnosed with the strain of canine flu. This is the third incident to occur in the Greater New York area in the past couple of months. On October 5, Bergen County, New Jersey officials closed down its animal shelter after a number of dogs came down with the flu. A few days later, several dogs were sickened by the virus at a boarding kennel in Rockland County, New York.
More boarding facilities are increasingly concerned about the risk involving canine influenza. In a nationwide survey of 127 facilities conducted by Merck Animal Health, more than 25% surveyed already require dogs to get the canine flu vaccine before boarding. The survey further shows that 78% of the facilities to train its staff to identify canine flu and 43.3% of them have a local veterinarian who offers a flu vaccine.
It is important to vaccinate your pet for canine flu before bringing them to a boarding facility. There may be another pet with the virus that has not been vaccinated and is able to spread the virus to other unprotected animals. Pet owners must take the necessary precautions to keep their pet safe from the virus.
Central Veterinary Associates currently offers canine flu vaccinations and pet boarding services and provides emergency care in the event an animal becomes sick. The Valley Stream hospital is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, including Christmas, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. For more information or to make an appointment, call 1 (888) 4CVA-PET (428-2738).
With Thanksgiving just around the corner, pet owners should take precautions and special care of their pets during this special occasion. Central Veterinary Associates offers these tips to keep pets healthy and safe this Thanksgiving:
• Never Give Pets Undercooked Food — Undercooked turkey or any pastry batter can be very dangerous to pets. Undercooked treats may contain salmonella, which could lead to severe food poisoning. Symptoms of salmonella poisoning include lethargy, fever, vomiting and bloody diarrhea.
• Watch Out for Bones — Giving your pets turkey bones to gnaw on can be extremely hazardous to their health. Apart from the choking hazards associated with bones, there can be tiny pieces of bones in turkey meat than could also cause severe damage to their intestines.
• Don’t Overfeed Your Pets — Treating your pets with a few morsels of boneless, well-cooked turkey or a taste of mashed potatoes is perfectly fine, but it’s important not to let them overindulge. Altering your pet’s diet too drastically or suddenly over the holidays can cause severe stomach upset, diarrhea and even a severe inflammatory condition of the pancreas known as pancreatitis.
• Talk to Your Guests — If you are hosting Thanksgiving at your home this year, make sure to inform your dinner guests about your pets. Let your visitors know not to feed your furry friends any bones or table scraps. Also remind your guests not to leave any coffee or alcoholic drinks lying around, since alcohol and caffeine are both toxic to pets.
• Keep Lit Candles Out of Reach of Pets — Make sure any lit candles are kept as far away as possible from pets. All candles should be kept out of your pet’s reach in case they accidentally knock them over, which could present a fire hazard.
• Never Give Pets Chocolate — An ingredient in chocolate can be extremely toxic to dogs, so make sure to keep all desserts and candies far away from your pet’s reach.
• Keep Pets Away from Herbs and Spices — While herbs and spices will make your stuffing delicious, it can be very dangerous to pets, especially cats.
• Keep Your Veterinarian’s Number on Hand — In case of an emergency, it’s important to keep your veterinarian’s number close by.
It is important to keep your pet safe during the Thanksgiving holiday. People think it might be harmless to feed your pet a special meal because it is the holiday season but the truth is, it may make your pet sick. In the event your pet does become ill, take them to a veterinarian immediately.
Central Veterinary Associates is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year, including Thanksgiving Day. Should you have any problems with your pet, please contact Central Veterinary Associates at 1 (888) 4CVA-PET (428-2738).
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