Holiday Tips to Keep Your Pet Healthy

Holiday Tips

1. Keep all  holiday treats: chocolate, nuts, candy, baked goods, out of your pet’s reach
2. Put non breakable ornaments on the lower 2 feet of your tree. Kitties and puppies will think ornaments are toys.
3. No poinsettias, they are toxic. 
4. Even a small amount of leftovers can make your pet extremely ill.
5. Make sure your pet has an escape area from company in case they get over whelmed.
6. Give your pet their usual treats. Too many or new treats can cause severe intestinal upset.
7. Cats may drink from your tree stand so avoid treating the water.
8. No tinsel, cats and dogs love to eat it.
9. When salting your driveway or sidewalk use pet safe product.
10. Consider donating to our local shelters, many more pets are being abandoned then ever before.

Canine Vaccination Series: The facts about Infectious Canine Hepatitis

Infectious canine hepatitis (ICH), caused by canine adenovirus type 1 (CAV-1), is a worldwide disease of dogs. CAV-1 infects a wide range of tissues, including the liver (hence the name hepatitis), kidneys, spleen and lungs. Infected dogs typically develop a fever and abnormal bleeding, and experience loss of white blood cells, which are a key component of the immune system. Opacity of the eye("blue eye") occurs in some cases. Death, chronic hepatitis or severe illness may occur, and recovery may be gradual in nonfatal cases. CAV-1 is shed in urine and can survive outside the host for weeks or months.  


Your dog can contract CAV-1 virus through direct contact with 
infected saliva, urine, or feces either with your dog’s mouth or nose. Even a dog dish that has been licked clean can carry the virus. The tonsils and lymph nodes are the first body parts effected. The incubation period can last 4-9 days, after which the virus enters the bloodstream.


Your dog receives protection against infectious canine hepatitis when they receive their annual canine distemper combo vaccine.  Part of the combo include infectious canine hepatitis. This is given once a year and occurs with their physical. 

Canine Vaccination Series: The facts about Distemper

Canine distemper is a widespread virus that causes high mortality in dogs. Puppies and dogs usually become infected through airborne exposure to the virus contained in respiratory secretions of an infected dog or wild animal (raccoons, foxes and skunks).

Exposure is considered inevitable during a dog's lifetime, so canine distemper vaccination is almost always recommended. Puppies and young dogs without immunity are at greatest risk. Canine distemper virus infects various tissues in the dog's body, producing diarrhea, fever, nasal and ocular discharge, respiratory disease, appetite loss and neurologic signs such as muscular spasms and paralysis. The disease is easily transmitted and often fatal.

Your dog receives protection against canine distemper when they receive their annual canine distemper combo vaccine. This is given once a year and occurs with their physical.