It can be a tough not to share your food when an adorable, doggy snout makes its way into your lap at the dinner table.
But relinquishing a bite isn't always the best idea. Many human foods, including chocolate, grapes and avocado, can be harmful to your dog.
You don't have to cope with the guilt-induced puppy eyes. Instead, consider whipping up some canine-safe treats for your pup to enjoy. These 17 recipes below are definite tail-waggers. And, they look so scrumptious, we won't blame you if you sneak a nibble yourself.
Note: Be sure to consult your vet before introducing new ingredients into your pet's diet.

• 1                                                                                           Peanut Butter, Banana & Parsley Treats                           Margarita In The Rain                                                              Get the Peanut Butter, Banana & Parsley Treats recipe by Margarita In The Rain
• 2
  Cheddar Blueberry Biscuits
  Live Laugh Cook
  Get the Cheddar Blueberry Biscuits recipe by Live Laugh Cook
• 3
  Chewy Apple, Carrot Oatmeal Biscuit
  Brownie Bites
  Get the Chewy Apple, Carrot Oatmeal Biscuit recipe by Brownie Bites
• 4
  Peanut Butter Bones
  Teacher-Chef
  Get the Peanut Butter Bones recipe by Teacher-Chef
• 5
  Peanut Butter Bacon Treats
  Sally's Baking Addiction
  Get the Peanut Butter Bacon Treats recipe by Sally's Baking Addiction
• 6
  Mint Buckwheat Biscuits
  Lola The Pitty
  Get the Mint Buckwheat Biscuits recipe by Lola The Pitty
• 7
  Oatmeal Cinnamon Peanut Butter Chicken Biscuit
  Just A Smidgen
  Get the Oatmeal Cinnamon Peanut Butter Chicken Biscuit recipe by Just A Smidgen
• 8
  Pumpkin-Peanut Butter Biscuits
  Grab A Plate
  Get the Pumpkin-Peanut Butter Biscuits recipe by Grab A Plate
• 9
  Apple Carrot Treats
  My Baking Addiction
  Get the Apple Carrot Treats recipe by My Baking Addiction
• 10
  Carob Chip Cookies
  Minnie In Manhattan
  Get the Carob Chip Cookies recipe by Minnie In Manhattan
• 11
  Spinach Green Goodies
  Bitter Sweet Blog
  Get the Spinach Green Goodies recipe by Bitter Sweet Blog
• 12
  Cheddar & Applesauce Biscuit
  The Scrumptious Pumpkin
  Get the Cheddar & Applesauce Biscuit recipe by The Scrumptious Pumpkin
• 13
  Banana Carob Chip Muffins
  Live Laugh Cook
  Get the Banana Carob Chip Muffins recipe by Live Laugh Cook
• 14
  Flaxseed & Wheatgerm Dog Biscuit
  Rustic Garden Bistro
  Get the Flaxseed & Wheatgerm Dog Biscuit recipe by Rustic Garden Bistro
• 15
  Sweet Potato Peanut Butter Sandwiches
  Live Laugh Cook
  Get the Sweet Potato Peanut Butter Sandwiches recipe by Live Laugh Cook
• 16
  Peanut Butter & Coconut Biscuits
  Tidy Mom
  Get the Peanut Butter & Coconut Biscuits recipe by Tidy Mom
• 17
  Corn Grits, Peanut Butter & Honey Biscuits
  17 And Baking
  Get the Corn Grits, Peanut Butter & Honey Biscuits recipe by 17 And Baking

See the full article at ​http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/13/dog-treat-recipes-homemade-woof-woof_n_5671894.html

Homemade Cat Treat RecipesLooking to supplement your pet’s diet with some tasty homemade cat treats? Try your hand at making your own. We’ve collected some easy recipes that will be sure to have your cat pawing for more.
Sunflower Cat Treats
An easy treat for all your household pets, these snacks combine sunflower seeds, fruits, veggies, peanut butter, oats, flour in a large bowl and add in molasses to make a dough. Roll it out and cut into shapes using Santa, stocking, reindeer, or paw cookie cutters and bake or dehydrate until dry. Once they’re fully dried, gift wrap and stuff kitty’s stocking with them for a delicious, healthy treat.
See the full recipe from Rodale here.
Baby Food Mini Morsels
These can treats are a breeze and can be made using baby food of any kind — meat, fruits or veggies. Combine three jars of food for every cup and a half of cream of wheat (or wheat germ). Add a splash of tuna juice and mix well. Pop spoonfuls in the microwave and cook on high until each morsel is firmed and cool in the fridge.
See the full recipe from PetFinder here.
Savory Cheese Bites
If your cat loves cheese, these bites will be sure to make his Christmas wishes come true. Combine flour, cheddar cheese, parmesan cheese, yogurt and cornmeal and knead into dough. Roll the dough out and use those handy holiday cookie cutters to cut into shapes and place on a cookie sheet. Bake the treats for about 25 minutes and let cool before letting your cat sneak a bite.
See the full recipe from Petplace here.
Chicken Biscuits
These easy cat treats are a great alternative to commercial treats that tend to use meat by-products or flavoring versus the real deal. Combine shredded cooked chicken, chicken broth, and margarine in a bowl and add flour and cornmeal to form dough. Bake on a cookie sheet and share with fellow cat owners for a festive snack.
See the full recipe from Petplace here.
We hope you and your pet enjoy recipes we’ve listed here, but please note that you should check with your vet before changing your cat's diet.

Pet Overpopulation

Approximately 17 million dogs and cats are turned over to animal shelters per year. Only 1 in 10 animals successfully find a home. The suffering and sorrow associated with pet overpopulation is overwhelming. The tragedy is much of it could be eliminated by simple operations. Spaying and neutering surgeries are performed under general anesthesia and are helpful in many ways. By spaying and neutering pets, people can help lower the numbers of unwanted and homeless dogs and cats. By helping to keep the pet population in check, you increase the chances of adoption for already homeless animals.  UGA research finds sterilized dogs live longer.

Spaying Your Female Pet

A spay, or ovariohysterectomy, refers to the sterilization of a female pet, and involves the surgical removal of the uterus and both ovaries. This surgery requires your pet to be placed under general anesthesia. The most common reason to perform a spay is to prevent estrus (heat cycles) and unwanted offspring. Other reasons include prevention of mammary tumors or hereditary/congenital defects, prevention and treatment of pyometra (infection of the uterus), neoplasia (cancer of the ovaries, uterus, or vagina), or other disease processes (such as uterine torsion, uterine prolapse, vaginal prolapse, and control of some endocrine abnormalities like diabetes and epilepsy and dermatoses like generalized demodex).

Special Information Regarding Mammary Tumors In Dogs & Cats

DOGS:

Approximately 50% of mammary tumors are malignant (cancerous), and approximately 50% are benign (non-cancerous).
Any breed is susceptible, however there is an increased predisposition in Poodles,Cocker Spaniels, Dachshunds, Terriers, and German Shepherd dogs.
The development of mammary tumors in the dog is clearly hormone dependent.
The risk for malignant tumors in dogs spayed prior to the 1st estrus (before their 1st heat cycle) is 0.05%.
The risk for malignant tumors in dogs spayed after the 1st estrus (between their 1st and 2nd heat cycles) is 8%.
HOWEVER, the risk for malignant tumors in dogs spayed after the 2nd estrus (after their 2nd heat cycle) rises to 26%.
Later spaying does NOT reduce the risk for malignant tumors, while the risk for benign tumors seems reduced by ovariectomy even at a later age.
Spaying your dog eliminates the risk of uterine and ovarian cancers, as well as eliminates the risk of pyometra (infection of the uterus).
THEREFORE, IT IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED TO SPAY YOUR DOG BEFORE ITS FIRST ESTRUS CYCLE FOR THE MOST HEALTH BENEFITS. SPAYING YOUR PET EARLY IN LIFE HAS PROVEN TO HAVE THE MOST HEALTH BENEFIT IN REDUCING THE RISK FOR MALIGNANT TUMORS.

CATS:
Approximately 90% of mammary tumors in cats are malignant.
Any breed is susceptible, however there is an increased incidence in Siamese and domestic short-haired cats.
Hormonal influences seem to be involved in the development of mammary tumors in the cat. A study found that cats spayed (ovariectomized) at 6 months of age had an approximately 7-fold REDUCED risk of mammary cancer compared to intact cats. More recent studies have also been able to show that spayed cats have a 40% to 60% lower risk of developing mammary cancer than intact cats.
THEREFORE, IT IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED TO SPAY YOUR CAT.

Neutering Your Male Pet

Neutering should be considered if you are keeping any male dog or cat as a pet. A neuter, or castration, refers to the sterilization of a male pet, and involves the surgical removal of both testicles. This surgery requires your pet to be placed under general anesthesia. Neutering, or castration, reduces overpopulation by inhibiting male fertility and decreases male aggressiveness, roaming, and undesirable urination behavior. It helps prevent prostatic diseases, perianal adenomas, and perineal hernias. Other indications for castration include congenital abnormalities, testicular or epididymal abnormalities, scrotal neoplasia (cancer), trauma or abscesses, hernias, epilepsy control, and control of endocrine abnormalities. Neutering helps to eliminate the risk of testicular cancers and torsion, and helps to decrease the risk of prostatic disease.

Preoperative and Postoperative Care

Here at Hope Animal Medical Center, we recommend spaying and neutering your pet at 4 to 6 months of age for the most health and behavior benefits. We will advise you to withhold food and water from your pet the night before surgery is scheduled in order to decrease the risk of nausea and/or vomiting during or after surgery. Preoperatively, we perform pre-anesthetic bloodwork to screen for any pre-existing abnormalities that may cause complications during surgery. If all bloodwork results are normal, then we proceed with surgery. We offer a complimentary overnight stay for all of our spay and neuter patients; however, most of our patients are able to go home the same night after surgery. Postoperatively, the veterinarian and veterinary technician will review instructions and advice that should be followed to ensure a safe and healthy recovery of your pet. Once a pet has fully recovered, you can feel confident that you have helped your companion to live a longer, happier, healthier life while not contributing to the overpopulation of animals.

Please call us at 706-546-7879 if you are interested in having your pet spayed or neutered. During the month of JUNE 2014, we are offering a 20% discount off all our spay and neuter surgeries.

Sincerely,
Dr. Jeni Gustafson
Dr. Sherri Turick
Dr. Angela Dodd
Dr. Lisa Stacy
Hope Animal Medical Center

Heartworms are transmitted to dogs and cats by mosquitoes. Heartworm disease develops when a dog or cat is bitten by a mosquito carrying microscopic heartworm larvae (juvenile worms) of a parasite called Dirofilaria immitis . As a mosquito feeds, these larvae are deposited on the pet’s skin and quickly penetrate the skin to begin their migration into the pet’s bloodstream. The larvae migrate through the bloodstream and tissues, eventually reaching the heart and lungs. Adult heartworms can grow 10 to 12 inches in length and make their home in the right side of the heart and pulmonary (lung) arteries, often causing lung disease and heart failure.

Heartworm disease is a major health problem for dogs living in the United States and throughout the temperate and tropical regions of the world. Once thought to be only a disease of dogs and other wild canids (foxes, wolves, and coyotes),  recent studies indicate that heartworm infection in cats is more common then ever believed. Without the protection of a heartworm preventive, your  pet could get heartworm disease – a potentially deadly illness of the heart and lungs. While there is treatment available for dogs that get infected with heartworms, treatment can be expensive, difficult and can lead to serious side effects. However, there is no approved treatment for feline heartworm infection. Therefore, heartworm prevention given to your pet once monthly year-round is strongly advised to protect your pet from contracting this potentially fatal dise ase. 

The good news is that heartworm disease is essentially 100% preventable! Various heartworm preventives are available, including monthly oral and topical formulations. Heartworm preventives are effective when given properly and on a timely schedule. All heartworm preventive medications work by killing heartworm larvae acquired during the previous month and do not continue to protect pets from future infection. This is why it is important to administer heartworm preventives to your pet once every month year-round. All approved heartworm preventives are highly effective, safe, easy to use, relatively inexpensive, and often provide treatment for additional parasites. Please remember, it is your responsibility to faithfully maintain the preventive program you have selected in consultation with your veterinarian. The best way to eliminate the risk of heartworm infection in your pet is to institute a year-round preventionprogram. Prevention is always more safe and affordable than treating dogs with adult heartworm infections.

 Clinical signs of heartworm disease in dogs and cats can vary. Recently infected dogs may show no signs of the disease. Some common signs of heartworm infection in dogs include coughing, difficulty breathing, exercise intolerance, decreased appetite, weight loss and lethargy. Left untreated, heartworm disease may be fatal to your dog as it can cause “caval syndrome”, a sudden obstruction of blood flow through the heart and lungs, or development of heart failure. Signs of heartworm disease in cats range tremendously, from mild and subtle in appearance to severe and life threatening. Symptoms of feline Heartworm Associated Respiratory Disease (HARD) can mimic many common diseases of cats such as hairballs, asthma, or pneumonia. Signs of disease may include loss of appetite, sluggishness, intermittent vomiting (not associated with eating), coughing, wheezing, and respiratory distress. The presence of just one heartworm may result in permanent damage – or even death – to a cat or kitten. In fact, sudden death may be the first and only sign of heartworm infection in some cats.

 Detecting heartworm disease in both dogs and cats involve  simple blood tests; however, heartworm disease in dogs and cats do have some differences. Numerous blood tests are available for detecting heartworm infections in dogs, and your veterinarian will perform the test most appropriate for your dog. Tests cannot consistently detect infection until heartworms are at least six to seven months old. Moreover, tests are unable to detect infections if only male worms are present or if there are only one or two female worms.  All dogs more than six months of age should be tested for heartworm infection before starting a preventive program. Annual heartworm testing is recommended for monitoring the success of any heartworm prevention program in dogs. If your dog tests positive for heartworm disease, then your veterinarian will need to perform a thorough physical examination, blood tests (e.g. a CBC and chemistry profile), and radiographs to assess your dog’s level of risk and stage of disease. To reduce complications, your veterinarian will educate you in great detail before beginning treatment. While the heartworm medication melarsomine dihydrochloride (Immiticide) is extremely effective in eliminating adult worms, some dogs will not be completely cleared with a single course of treatment. Testing is recommended six months after treatment to ensure all heartworms were killed. If tests are positive, additional adulticidal treatment may be indicated.

 For the feline population, two blood tests are currently available to assist in diagnosing heartworms in cats . Unfortunately, test results do not always produce clear answers, even with professional interpretation. Positive tests indicate heartworms were present, but do not necessarily mean the pet is still infected. Moreover, since tests cannot diagnose very early infection or those infections cause by only one or two worms, negative test results are not always accurate. Even when heartworm disease is highly suspected, confirming a diagnosis through testing in the cat can be difficult. Multiple blood tests along with chest x-rays and ultrasound imaging of the heart and lungs are often needed to make a diagnosis. Since no safe treatment exists for the elimination of heartworms  in cats, the best option is the routine use of heartworm preventives to inhibit development of infection.

 All dogs are at risk for heartworm disease no matter where they live. Cats are at risk wherever dogs are at risk. The prevalence of heartworm disease has increased steadily since it was first identified. It now affects dogs in all 50 states. Even indoor cats can get heartworm disease. Some people think that indoor cats are safe from heartworm disease, but mosquitoes can get indoors, and cats can get out. Please visit the website of the American Heartworm Society ( www.heartwormsociety.org) for more in-depth information regarding prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of heartworm disease.

We strongly recommend heartworm preventives for your pet once monthly year-round. Here at Hope Animal Medical Center, we carry a variety of products that can help you and your pet. Below is a brief explanation of the different products we have available.

 FOR DOGS:
Heartgard = Ivermectin/Pyrantel pamoate, oral heartworm prevention plus intestinal parasite control (hookworms and roundworms), lasts 1 month
Trifexis = Spinosad/Milbemycin Oxime, oral flea control plus heartworm prevention, intestinal parasite control (hookworms, roundworms, and whipworms), lasts 1 month (DOGS ONLY)
Iverhart Plus = Ivermectin/Pyrantel pamoate, oral heartworm prevention plus intestinal parasite control (hookworms and roundworms), lasts 1 month (DOGS ONLY)
Revolution = Selamectin, topical flea/tick control plus heartworm prevention, lasts 1 month
**NEW** Proheart 6 = Moxidectin, injectable heartworm prevention plus intestinal parasite control (hookworms), lasts 6 months (DOGS ONLY)

 FOR CATS:
Advantage Multi = Imidacloprid/Moxidectin, topical flea control plus heartworm prevention, intestinal parasite control (hookworms and roundworms), and earmite treatment/prevention, lasts 1 month
Revolution = Selamectin, topical flea control plus heartworm prevention, intestinal parasite control (hookworms and roundworms), and earmite treatment/prevention, lasts 1 month.
Heartgard = Ivermectin, oral heartworm prevention plus hookworm intestinal parasite control, lasts 1 month

Please call us at 706-546-7879 for more information or visit our clinic’s website at www.hopeamc.com.

Sincerely,
Dr. Jeni Gustafson
Dr. Sherri Turick
Dr. Angela Dodd
Dr. Lisa Stacy
Hope Animal Medical Center
1150 Mitchell Bridge Road, Athens, GA 30606
706-546-7879

www.hopeamc.com

Spring has sprung!

We all want to wish you a Happy March! With the warmer weather, we officially mark the beginning of flea and tick season. Fleas and ticks are external parasites that affect dogs, cats and humans too. The harmful effects of fleas and ticks can include more than just itchiness and discomfort. In fact, both fleas and ticks can carry serious diseases that are dangerous to both owner and pet. Thankfully, there are a variety of products available at Hope AMC that can help ensure protection from these pesky parasites.

FleasIn addition to itchiness, or pruritus, fleas can cause numerous health problems in our pets. Fleas are small, brown, wingless insects that bite the skin and feed on blood. Because they feed on blood, flea infestations can lead to anemia. When a flea bites a pet, it injects small amounts of saliva into the skin that works to prevent blood clotting and allows it to better siphon blood. Some pets are allergic to the flea saliva, which can cause severe skin reactions, known as flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) or flea bite hypersensitivity. Fleas can also carry tapeworm larvae, which a pet can ingest and become infected with tapeworms and then pass through its feces (often looks like “pieces of rice”). Plus, fleas can carry the organism Bartonella henselae, one of the causes of “cat-scratch disease (CSD)” in humans.

TicksTicks are another blood-sucking parasite of the arachnid family related to mites and spiders. Ticks are most commonly found on the ears or in between the toes, but they can be found anywhere on the body. Ticks can be harmful in small or large numbers, as they can transmit serious diseases to both animals and humans. Tick-borne diseases include: Ehrlichia, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Lyme disease. Erhlichia can cause anemia, low platelet counts, bleeding, fever, lethargy, neurologic disease and multiple leg arthritis. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever can cause fever, neurologic disease, breathing difficulty, bleeding disorders and anemia. Lyme disease, caused by the organism Borrelia burgdorferi, is transmitted by the deer tick and can cause multiple leg arthritis, weight loss, lack of appetite, lethargy and fever. Ticks can also cause localized inflammatory lesions of the skin, and occasionally, a syndrome called tick-bite paralysis: weakness or paralysis associated with a toxin the tick secretes as it feeds.

Signs of InfestationOften times pet owners will find fleas or ticks on their pets; however, some pets with flea allergy dermatitis/flea bite hypersensitivity may just be itchy, but no fleas are visible. Finding an adult flea is just the “tip of the iceberg” as the flea has other life-cycle stages that are more numerous and often times too small to see easily. Fleas lay eggs that fall off the pet into the surrounding environment. These eggs hatch into larval-stage fleas then form a pupa before maturing into an adult flea. Other signs of flea infestation are finding pepper-like debris (flea feces) in the pet’s fur, pruritus (itching/scratching/over-grooming), and irritated skin. Flea infestations can lead to secondary skin infections as well. Another indicator of a flea or tick problem is if pet owners find a tick or small bites on themselves.

Flea and Tick PreventivesFortunately, there are a variety of flea and tick preventives available through your veterinarian. These products are safe and effective, and come in either topical or oral formulations. It is crucial that products designed for dogs should never be used for cats and vice-versa. The use of over-the-counter products is not recommended as they can have harsher ingredients and harmful side effects, especially if used incorrectly. Harmful side effects can include: allergic reactions, muscle tremors, seizures, and in severe cases, death for a pet. We have a variety of products here at Hope Animal Medical Center that can help you and your pet. We recommend using flea/tick control products once monthly year-round as insects are a year-round problem here in the south. Below is a brief explanation of the different products available.

FOR DOGS:Capstar = Nitenpyram, oral flea control, kills fleas quickly, lasts 1 day only
Comfortis = Spinosad, oral flea control, lasts 1 month
Advantage = Imidacloprid, topical flea control, lasts 1 month
K9Advantix = Imidacloprid/Permethrin, topical flea/tick control, lasts 1 month (DOGS ONLY)
Frontline = Fipronil/S-Methoprene, topical flea/tick control, lasts 1 month
*NEW* NexGard = Afoxolaner, oral Flea and Tick control, lasts 1 month (DOGS ONLY)
Preventic Collar = Amitraz, tick collar, lasts 3 months (DOGS ONLY)
*NEW* Seresto Collar = Flumethrin/Imidacloprid, Collar that repels and kills ticks and fleas, lasts 5-8 months
Trifexis = Spinosad/Milbemycin Oxime, oral flea control plus heartworm prevention, intestinal parasite control, lasts 1 month (DOGS ONLY)
Revolution = Selamectin, topical flea/tick control plus heartworm prevention, lasts 1 month

FOR CATS:Capstar = Nitenpyram, oral flea control, kills fleas quickly, lasts 1 day only
Comfortis = Spinosad, oral flea control, lasts 1 month
Advantage = Imidacloprid, topical flea control, lasts 1 month
Advantage Multi = Imidacloprid/Moxidectin, topical flea control plus heartworm prevention, intestinal parasite control, and ear mite treatment/prevention, lasts 1 month
Frontline = Fipronil, topical flea/tick control, lasts 1 month
Revolution = Selamectin, topical flea control plus heartworm prevention, intestinal parasite control, and earmite treatment/prevention, lasts 1 month.
*NEW* Seresto Collar = Flumethrin/Imidacloprid, Collar that repels and kills ticks and fleas, lasts 5-8 months

Please call for more information or visit our clinic’s website at www.HopeAMC.com.

P.S. Due to SNOW days in February we are extending the Dental Month 20% discount through March! Please call and schedule a dental consult today.

Do you have questions about dental care for your dog?

Here are some common questions asked about pet dental health:

Q: I’ve heard dental problems are common in dogs. How will I know if my dog has a dental problem?

A: Dental disease is the most common disease in dogs. About 70% of dogs over the age of 3 are affected with dental disease. Check for redness or bleeding at the gum line, as well as tartar accumulation on the teeth. Also look out for signs of discomfort or foul smelling breath. If any of these symptoms are noticed, contact your veterinarian for a dental check-up.

Q: What is tartar and why is it so bad?

A: Bacteria naturally inhabit yours and your pet’s mouths. If allowed, it will breed on the surface of teeth to form an invisible layer of plaque. Plaque accumulation will eventually mineralize and thicken around the base of the tooth at the gum line and become visible tartar.  Tartar begins to irritate the gums, causing inflammation known as gingivitis. If not removed, this process will continue and gums will become even more inflamed, leading to infection known as periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is a serious condition which can lead to gum recession and eventually loss of teeth. Infections from periodontal disease can spread to other parts of the mouth, as well as internal organs such as the heart, liver and kidneys.

Q: What can I expect when I bring my dog in for a dental exam and cleaning?

A: A dental exam will include examination of the mouth, teeth, and gums, as well as a full physical examination to rule out any underlying health issues. If it is determined your pet would benefit from having tartar and plaque removed, your veterinarian will perform a dental cleansing and polishing. Plaque and tartar can only be removed by those specially trained and is performed under anesthesia. Blood work is needed to determine adequate liver and kidney function to ensure that anesthesia can be given safely during a dental cleaning. It may also be determined that your dog be started on antibiotics prior to a dental cleaning. During the cleaning, careful attention is made to remove the tartar above and below the gum line.  Gum recession can occur when tartar accumulates below the gum line. If a diseased or loose tooth is found, an extraction may be necessary.  Fluoride applications may be given to strengthen tooth enamel, along with antibiotics given to treat any bacterial infection. In addition, polishing the teeth creates a smooth surface which deters bacteria from accumulating. Polishing is an important part of preventative care because plaque and tartar naturally begin to form on teeth in as little as 6 hours after a dental cleaning.

Q: What about special dental diets and treats?

A: Special dental diets can play a role in reducing the accumulation of plaque and tartar formation. There are veterinarian approved diets that have tartar reducing ingredients or have larger kibble which are textured to aid in plaque removal. In addition, there are also special canine chew toys and treats that have tartar controlling ingredients. Many products such as oral rinses and water additives are also available that cut down on bacteria or have plaque reducing enzymes. Your veterinarian can give you specific dietary and dental aid recommendations that will help guide you in your pet’s dental health program. Daily brushings are the best form of tartar prevention in between dental cleanings.

Q: How do I go about brushing my dog’s teeth?

A: As important as the cleaning and polishing is to remove hardened deposits on the teeth, the prevention of plaque build-up is just as important. A dental program should include daily brushings using a veterinarian approved toothpaste and toothbrush. This helps maintain good oral hygiene and prevent build-up of disease causing plaque and tartar. Be sure to choose toothpaste made for dogs, which comes in a variety of canine-friendly flavors. Human toothpaste should NEVER be given to your dog, as it may contain harmful ingredients.

When it comes to your dog's dental health, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

Schedule your dog's dental evaluation today!

Dr. Jeni Gustafson
Dr. Sherri Turick
Dr. Angela Dodd
Dr. Lisa Stacy

Come celebrate dental health with us and enjoy 20% off dental scaling and polishing procedures. (Discount does not include blood work, extractions, medications, or any additional services).

Rabies is a highly fatal viral infection of the nervous system that affects all warm-blooded animal species, including people. The rabies virus is shed in saliva and transmitted most often from one animal to another through bite wounds. It then travels up through nerves, the spinal cord and eventually the brain. Once in the brain, the signs of rabies occur and death usually occurs within 10 days; it can take weeks to months for the virus to reach the brain, however. Throughout the world, 35,000 people die each year from rabies. In the United States, about 3 people succumb each year to rabies.

Signs of rabies infection include:

• Aggression
• Extreme lethargy
• Abnormal mental status
• Seizure
• Drooling (the muscles of the throat are paralyzed and the animal cannot swallow)

Diagnosis: Diagnosing rabies can be difficult. In the early stages, the virus has not yet attacked the brain and the animal acts normally. There are no body changes and no test that can determine if an animal or person was exposed to the virus. Unfortunately, the only way to diagnose rabies is to examine brain tissue, and this can only be done after the animal is dead. This means that testing your pet for rabies is not a test he can survive. Euthanasia is required.

Once signs of rabies develop, there is no cure and the disease is fatal. There is no treatment for those animals in the final stages of the disease. If your pet is showing the signs of rabies, euthanasia and testing is recommended. If your pet is euthanized or dies for reasons not related to rabies and has bitten someone within 10 days before its death, testing is required by law. People exposed to rabies can receive injections to reduce the risk of rabies infection but these injections have not been extensively tested in animals. For information about human testing of advanced rabies, consult your family physician. Due to the serious risk of transmission to humans, animals that have been bitten by another animal with confirmed rabies should be euthanized. For these reasons, reducing the potential risk of rabies in our companion pets is very important.

It is so important that vaccinating your pet for rabies is required by law. The best way to prevent rabies exposure is to have your pet appropriately vaccinated. All states agree that the first rabies vaccine should be given when a pet is around 4-6 months of age. A booster injection 1 year later is necessary. After that, laws vary and some areas require annual rabies vaccination, whereas other areas allow vaccination every 3 years. The vaccine must be administered by a veterinarian. The purpose of the rabies vaccination is to help your pet fight off a rabies infection if it should be exposed to the virus. The vaccine is not a cure for rabies and pets vaccinated against rabies can still become infected with the virus. After initial vaccination, it takes about one month before peak levels of rabies antibodies are reached and the pet is considered immunized for rabies. If you adopt an adult dog or cat without an accurate vaccination history, initial rabies vaccine should be administered with a follow up vaccine one year later. After that, local laws regarding frequency of vaccination apply.

It is also important to reduce your pet’s risk of exposure to wildlife. This is done by keeping your cats indoor and your dogs confined or leash walked only. Allowing your pets to roam will only increase the risk of exposure to rabies. In the United States, rabies is most commonly found in skunks, raccoons, foxes, coyotes and bats. Despite their bad rap, rabies in ferrets is quite uncommon. Recently in the United States, cats have become the number one domestic animal diagnosed with rabies. It is suspected this is due to more cats being kept as pets and allowed to roam their neighborhoods. Both indoor and outdoor cats are required by law to be vaccinated against rabies. Every state and county requires every pet to be vaccinated for rabies. Even indoor cats could be at risk of getting out and being bitten by a rabid animal. An additional benefit is that IF your cat ever does bite someone, you and your cat will be in compliance with the law since your cat will have had all of the required rabies vaccines.

Rabies perpetuates because of the wild animal reservoirs. Foxes, raccoons, skunks, coyotes and bats have high rates of rabies infections and exposure to these animals is the primary method rabies is spread to our pets and us. In people, the current US cases of rabies have been associated with bat exposure. Bats have tiny sharp teeth. You may have been bitten but do not know it and may not find any marks. Children and incapacitated people may be unable to tell if a bite occurred. Consult your physician immediately if: A. you were sleeping and woke to find a bat in your room, B. a bat is found in a room with an unattended child, mentally challenged individual or intoxicated person, or C. if the bat is not available for testing, many physicians will recommend rabies exposure treatment.

If a person is bitten by an unvaccinated dog or cat, euthanasia and testing is recommended. Another alternative is to isolate the animal for 6 months. If after 6 months no signs of rabies appear, the animal can be vaccinated and released from quarantine.

If a person is bitten by a vaccinated dog or cat, the animal is observed for 10 days. If signs of rabies develop, the animal should be euthanized and tested for rabies. The reason for the 10 day quarantine is that if the animal was shedding the virus when he/she bit the person, he/she would be dead from rabies within 10 days. If the animal appears normal after 10 days, then he/she was not shedding the virus at the time of the bite. It does not, however, mean the animal is free from rabies. The virus may not have reached the brain yet. (If this is the case, the animal was still not contagious when he/she bit the person). Contact your physician for human treatment guidelines and recommendations. Every animal bite should be reported to your local rabies or animal control center.

World Rabies Day Mission: The mission of World Rabies Day is to raise awareness about the impact of rabies in people and animals, how easy it is to prevent it, and how to eliminate the main global sources. Even though the major impact of rabies occurs in regions of the world where many needs are present, rabies should no longer be neglected. The tools and technology for human rabies prevention and dog rabies elimination are available.


World Rabies Day is Saturday, September 28, 2013

World Rabies Day events have educated 150 million people and vaccinated 4.6 million animals worldwide!

Rabies in humans is 100% preventable through prompt appropriate medical care. Yet, more than 55,000 people, mostly in Africa and Asia, die from rabies every year - a rate of one person every ten minutes. The most important global source of rabies in humans is from uncontrolled rabies in dogs. Children are often at greatest risk from rabies. They are more likely to be bitten by dogs, and are also more likely to be severely exposed through multiple bites in high-risk sites on the body. Severe exposures make it more difficult to prevent rabies unless access to good medical care is immediately available. This major source of rabies in humans can be eliminated through ensuring adequate animal vaccination and control, educating those at risk, and enhancing access of those bitten to appropriate medical care. 

We here at Hope Animal Medical Center want to keep you and your pet protected. Please call us if you are in need of updating your pet’s rabies vaccination status. We offer 1 year rabies vaccinations as well as 3 year rabies vaccinations (if previous vaccination has been sufficient).