I wonder if it filters out TidyBowl!

Dog Breed of the Month -- Australian Shepherd

Australian Shepherds Are Way To Smart! 

Click on the link above to learn more.

Dog Breed Of The Month

Mastiffs are great dogs and make good pets.  I always look forward to their visits!  Click the link below to learn more about this breed. 
Mastiffs

Whelping: New Puppies On The Way!! | petMD

Having puppies may be a time of stress if you don't know what to expect.  The article belows answers many common questions we answer each week.


Whelping: New Puppies On The Way!! | petMD

Does your kitty tell you what to feed and which foods are the favorites? Here why!

Why cats are so finicky about food.  Sound thinking by Dr. Larsen.

http://www2.insidenova.com/lifestyles/2012/jul/12/why-cats-are-so-finicky-about-food-ar-2047407/

Age is not a disease in our pets. But it does come with a set of problems, just as for us.

Service dogs help Wash. soldiers battling PTSD

This articles discusses how therapy dogs help troops in Washington state with PTSD.  Did you know we have an organization at Fort Leonard Wood that also is assisting some of our returning troops?  It's called Battle Buddies, and our hospital assists them in a small way.

Service dogs help Wash. soldiers battling PTSD | Local News | The Seattle Times

Another "Best Friends" agrees with us. Spay and neuter at 4 months of age

Want to know why we chose to become AAHA accredited? This video explains!

Marijuana in Pets

This article discusses a common poisoning vets see in dogs.

http://www.record-bee.com/ci_20585975/vets-see-dogs-poisoned-by-pot

InsideToronto Article: 24/7 VETS: Talking about heart disease and why annual checkups are important

Heart disease is a common problem in our pets, especially the smaller breeds.  The article linked below has some good information.

InsideToronto Article: 24/7 VETS: Talking about heart disease and why annual checkups are important

April Is Heartworm Awareness Month

What Is Heartworm Disease?

Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal condition caused by parasitic worms living in the arteries of the lungs and occasionally in the right side of the heart of dogs, cats and other species of mammals, including wolves, foxes, ferrets, sea lions and (in rare instances) humans. Heartworms are classified as nematodes (roundworms) and are filarids, one of many species of roundworms. Dogs and cats of any age or breed are susceptible to infection.

Filarids rely on different insect species to be transported from animal to animal. The specific filarid causing heartworm in dogs and cats is known as Dirofilaria immitis.

Dogs or other animals harboring adult worms are the recognized reservoir of heartworm infection. The disease is spread by mosquitoes that become infected with microfilariae while taking a blood meal from an infected dog. Within the mosquito, the microfilariae mature into the infective larval stage. When the mosquito then bites another dog, cat, or susceptible animal, the larvae are deposited on the skin and actively migrate into the new host. For about 2 months the larvae migrate through the connective tissue, under the skin, then pass into the animal's venous blood stream and are quickly transported to the arteries of the lung. It takes a total of approximately six months for the infective larvae to mature into adult worms that begin producing offspring, microfilariae. Adult heartworms can live for five to seven years in the dog.

In the dog, the larvae progress in their development to an adult form of the worm, and live in the pulmonary vessels, where they continue the life cycle and cause extensive injury. The period of time when heartworms are reproductively capable is referred to as patency. In cats, it takes seven to eight months before adult worms potentially reach patency in the pulmonary vessels, and this is referred to as transient patency, as reproductive capability in the cat is usually very short (months) compared to that of dogs (years). In most cases the cat is not an effective reservoir host, since microfilaria are produced in less than 20% of the cats.

In the cat, the larvae molt as well, but fewer worms survive to adulthood. While dogs may suffer from severe heart and lung damage from heartworm infection, cats typically exhibit minimal changes in the heart. The cat's primary response to the presence of heartworms occurs in the lungs.

Learn more about Heartworm In Dogs

http://www.heartwormsociety.org/pet-owner-resources/canine-heartworm.html

Learn more about Heartworm In Cats

http://www.heartwormsociety.org/pet-owner-resources/feline-heartworm.html

 Before starting a preventive program, all dogs should be tested for heartworms. Giving preventives to dogs that have adult heartworm infection can be harmful or even fatal to the pet.  This is why it it so important to have your dog tested for hearthworms before starting a preventative.

Schedule an appointment in April to learn more about how you can prevent Heartworm and Intestinal Parasites in your dog.  573.336.3759

Snow Day!

We will be closing early today, February the 13th, at 3 PM, due to the weather.

Valentine's Day and Our Pets

Valentine's Day is special for our pets also.  This article highlights several potential hazards for our smaller family members.  And accidents do occur.  As this article mentions, alcohol toxicity can occur in pets.  One of the first emergency calls I ever received involved an intoxicated dog.  The owner has a party and the guests set their drinks on the floor.  "Fluffy" helped himself and became very ill, to the point of needing hospitalization and treatment.  "So let's be careful out there!"

ASPCA Valentine's Day Tips

February is Pet Dental Health Month.  Keeping a pet's teeth and mouth clean is important to their overall health. Watch this video to find out how NOT to receive adequate pet oral hygiene.

Dr Hackworth

Problems With Your Dog's Knee

This video discusses one of the most common orthopedic surgical problems we diagnose and treat.  I hope this information helps.

Pain In Our Pets

We see a lot of dogs and cats with pain that their owners mistakingly believe is just their pets "getting older."

Pain is as real in our pets as in us.  Watch this video.

Heartworms Are Serious!

Heartworms can cause serious problems, even death.  This video shows a surgery to help a dog that is so ill, she would probably die soon.  The lesson is to keep your dog on heartworm preventive year round.

Don't watch this video before eating..

Heartworm Removal Surgery