Did you know that in the United States close to 50% of the dogs and cats are either overweight or obese. (The statistics are pretty similar to our owners, but for now we’ll limit our discussion to those of the canine or feline persuasion).

Obesity can significantly shorten our pets’ lives by increasing the risk of diabetes, heart disease, respiratory disease and cancer. It can also result in poorer quality of life  due to arthritis, disk disease, lethargy, and exercise intolerance.

We know that you love your dogs and cats and we know that you demonstrate that love through the food and treats that you give them. But, on behalf of all of your pets, we implore you: Love them, but Continue reading →

You know it’s good for you. You know that exercise can give you energy, help you maintain a healthy weight, keep your muscles and joints flexible, help you live longer, and above all, make you feel better. For all the same reasons, your pets need to get up and get moving. Not only can exercise extend your furry friends’ lives; it may also expend some of their nervous energy and make them a little less likely to chew on the living room drapes.

The thing is, nobody’s filled pets in on all of these benefits of exercise. Without someone to lead the way, they’re not going to run laps or do leg lifts in their spare time. So as a wonderful pet parent, part of your job is ensuring your animal family members get safe, enjoyable exercise on a regular basis–whether they’re cats, dogs, turtles, or ferrets! All pets need some physical activity to live a Continue reading →

Compared to the same time period in 2010, we saw a 34% increase in the number of Lyme positive dogs this year. Unfortunately, we anticipate this percentage to increase as we had a
number of clients report finding ticks on their pets this fall, when ticks are quite active. Testing for Lyme disease needs to be done about 6 weeks post exposure so many of these dogs are still in the waiting stage.

If you have found ticks on your dog, please call and schedule an appointment to check for Lyme Continue reading →

Rabies vaccination is required by New York State law for all cats. Beginning in 2012, we will begin using a safer Rabies vaccine for all cats in both our Cazenovia and Hamilton hospitals. PUREVAX™ Rabies is a yearly vaccination which causes less inflammation at the site of vaccine administration. In very rare cases, certain types of vaccines have been implicated as a cause for tumor formation at vaccine sites. Although, the risk for tumor development is low, this risk is real. Our goal is to provide high quality care to your pet as if it were our own, and we believe the use of a yearly PUREVAX™ Rabies  vaccine for cats is currently the safest vaccination available.

The holiday season has arrived.  This festive time of year may be enjoyable for us, but for our pets it can be quite dangerous.  As we are busy decorating, wrapping presents or preparing the holiday meal, our pets like to explore many of these items which unfortunately may be harmful.  Every year, we see a number of animals that ingest something that makes them sick, and in some cases the ingestion may prove to be fatal.  Below is a list of common holiday items that may put our pets at risk.  By planning ahead and being aware of these dangers, you can create a safe household for your pet this holiday season.

 

• Chocolate…An ingredient in chocolate called theobromine, a chemical similar to caffeine, can be highly toxic to dogs and cats.  The darker the chocolate, the more theobromine it contains.  Products such as baker’s chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate or dark chocolate can cause serious problems for our pets, even in very small amounts.

 

• Tinsel or Ribbons…Sparkling string can be an irresistible play toy for a cat, but it can become deadly if swallowed.  These string-like materials are not toxic, but can cause a linear foreign body obstruction in the gastrointestinal tract.  As the intestines contract to move the material through, the string can slowly saw through the intestine resulting in severe damage.  When this occurs, expensive emergency surgery is required.  If you can see a piece of string lodged beneath your cats tongue or coming from the anus, DO NOT PULL IT!  Doing so can result in more tissue damage.  Call our office immediately for further instruction.

 

•  Holiday Plants…Curious pets often snack on plants, and while most are harmless, some may be toxic.  During the holiday season the plants that tend to cause the most concern are poinsettia, holly, mistletoe and lilies.  Of these, the lily is the most concerning if nibbled on.  Cats that ingest even a small amount of the lily plant need immediate medical attention as fatal kidney failure can quickly develop.  The milky sap within the poinsettia can be quite irritating, but is not a fatally toxic plant.  Exposure can cause irritation to the skin and mouth, and if swallowed, vomiting and diarrhea.   It is best to keep these plants out of reach from your pet, and if you have cats in the house it is best to avoid lilies all together.

 

• Twinkle lights…The lights on the tree can be a hazard to our pets if they decide to chew on the cords, leading to a serious burn or electrocution.  Other decorations on the tree can be a concern as well if sharp ornaments or their hooks fall onto the floor.  Also, remember to prevent access to the water under your tree so your pet does not drink it.

 

• Liquid Potpourri…While the scents of potpourri can be delightful, ingestion can prove deadly, especially for cats. Any pet might be burned by heated oils, but cats are particularly sensitive to the components called cationic detergents that are found in such products.  If eaten, severe burns to the mouth, esophagus, and stomach may occur. Liquid potpourri may also cause severe irritation to the skin.  Plug in air fresheners or scented candles can be safer options. 
  If you have a bird in your home, avoid the use of aerosolized fragrance products all together.  The bird respiratory tract is very sensitive to any airborne product.

 

• Table food…It is very tempting to give your pet scraps from the holiday meal, but you and your pet will regret it in the longrun.  Most table foods, especially the holiday ham, are high in fat.  Ingestion of these foods commonly cause vomiting and diarrhea, and in some cases a more severe condition called pancreatitis, which can require hospitalization.  Avoid giving your dog any bones as well as they could break a tooth, become lodged in the mouth, pierce the intestine or cause intestinal obstruction.

 

If you can’t resist and want to give your pet a special treat for the holidays, healthier alternatives could be apple slices, carrots, green beans, popcorn or a peanut butter filled kong toy…or try our homemade doggy biscuits recipe here.

Homemade Doggy Biscuits

1 1/8 cup whole wheat flour
1 1/8 cup  unbleached white flour
1/2 cup peanut butter or other nut butter
1 cup water
2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Blend wheat flour and white flour in a bowl. Set aside.  Combine  vegetable oil, peanut butter, and  water.  Add flour, one cup at a time, forming a dough. You will need to blend the final flour by hand, kneading until a nice firm ball of dough is formed. (Takes a bit of kneading.) Let ball of dough stand for about 10 minutes to allow the gluten to relax. Makes for easier rolling.

Roll dough to about 1/4 inch thickness on a sheet of waxed paper. Cut with desired cutter. Re-roll scraps to make more biscuits. How many biscuits you get depends on the size of the cutter you use.  Score the tops of the cookies with a fork so the steam that builds up inside the cookies will release.

Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet for about 25 minutes, turning the pan a couple of times during baking. Cookies should be hard to the touch before removing from the oven. You may need to increase baking time. Do this in five minute increments.I usually have to bake about 30-35 minutes.

Cool, then store in a zip-lock baggie on the shelf. No refrigeration necessary.