Useful Information

Animal Health Tips

Over the counter flea/ tick products:

We do not recommend over the counter flea/tick products available at the grocery store, etc. We regularly see toxic reactions to these older, harsher chemicals particularly in cats and smaller dogs. They don't work as well either. If you have used one and your pet exhibits neurological symptoms (seizures, etc), wash it off with soap and water as quickly as possible. Then call your veterinarian. Be particularly careful not to use dog flea products on cats.

Heartworm preventative:

We strongly recommend using heartworm preventative year-round in this area. Heartworm is transmitted by mosquitoes and is not uncommon here. It is expensive to treat a dog with heartworm and it can be dangerous. It's a lot easier and cheaper to prevent it than to treat it.

Toxic to Dogs:

Most of us know that chocolate can be toxic to dogs. Other foods include onions, grapes and raisins, fruit pits and seeds, macadamia nuts, walnuts, potato peels, green parts of potatoes or tomatoes, broccoli (large quantities), yeast dough, alcoholic beverages, persimmons, human vitamins, raw eggs/fish (salmonella), salt, baking soda, baking powder, mushrooms, sugar free foods containing Xylitol, nutmeg, avocado, mustard seeds, and caffeinated tea. Bones can splinter and become lodged in the dog's throat, or cause damage to the intestinal tract. Chicken bones are the worst offenders. Dogs should stick to dog food.

Additional tips

  • A male cat that cannot urinate is an emergency!
  • Do not give ibuprofen, acetaminophen or other human pain relievers to dogs or cats.
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