Pet Food Shopping: How Do You Decide Which Is Best?

THE BREGMAN VETERINARY GROUP

www.BregmanVetGroup.com

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It is easy to become overwhelmed when shopping for pet food.  There are so many different brands and food options available.  How do you know which one will be best for your pet?  

Here are some tips on what you should look for when deciding on a healthy diet for your pet:

• AAFCO Certification - The Association of American Feed Control Officials certifies foods that meet their strict standards.

• Review Ingredients - Ingredients are listed in order of abundance.  Keep your pet's nutritional needs in mind. For example, cat owners should avoid foods high in carbohydrates.

• Ignore Vague Food Labels - Many products offer vague claims like gourmet, premium, super or ultra premium, or natural.  However, there is no nutritional standard that products have to meet to make this claim.  Foods marked with these labels are not necessarily better than those without them.

• Animal By-Products - Although animal by-products are not bad or unhealthy for your pet, many owners choose to avoid products with this ingredient.  By-product meal is created from various sources.  Avoiding this ingredient can be done at your discretion.

You can learn more about how to choose the best food for your pet on the ASPCA website.  If you still aren't sure what diet is best for your cat or dog, contact our office!  We are happy to help pet owners find the right foods for their pet.

How To Keep Your Pet Happy And Healthy On A Budget

THE BREGMAN VETERINARY GROUP

www.BregmanVetGroup.com

Caring for your pet can be expensive. Fortunately, there are several ways to keep your pet happy and healthy on a budget. Here are a few tips on how you can save money, while providing your pet with the care they need:

• Regular Check Ups - Don't forget to visit our office for an annual checkup! Although you think you are saving on the initial exam cost, missing a vet care visit can mean you are missing out on addressing and preventing diseases when they are small and treatable.  This minor investment can help save you a lot of money in the long run by avoiding bigger and more expensive health problems.

• Improved Diet - Feed your pet healthy, fresh and nutritious foods. These foods have a higher initial cost, but they can keep your pet healthy longer. Try foods with no preservatives or even home cooked meals.

• DIY Treats and Toys - If you want to give your pet a treat, try a healthy snack like homemade chicken jerky. Toys can be made at home too! 

To learn more about how you can save money on pet care, visit us online at www.bregmanvetgroup.com or call any one of our office locations. We are happy to answer any questions you may have about how you can make pet care more affordable! 

Does Your Cat Look Forward To Teeth Brushing Time?

THE BREGMAN VETERINARY GROUP

www.BregmanVetGroup.com

Brushing your cat's teeth shouldn't be a chore for you or your furry friend. Instead, it should be an enjoyable time for the both of you. As you know, do not overly restrain your cat. If you take things slow and give lots of praise, you and your cat will start looking forward to your brushing time.

Brush your cat’s pearly whites at home by following these simple steps:

• Before starting, get your cat use to the idea of having their teeth brushed.
• Gently message their gums with your finger or with a cotton swab.  
• Then, put a little cat-formulated toothpaste on their lips to get use of the taste. 
• After, introduce the toothbrush, try to get a small and soft bristle brush. They make toothbrushes that go over your fingers to help message your cat’s teeth. 
• Lastly, apply the toothpaste and gently brush your furry friends teeth.

A veterinary exam before may help to find out if your cat’s gums are inflamed or have gingivitis. If this is the case, brushing too hard could damage their gums.

If you have any concerns in regard to your pets health, please contact the Bregman Veterinary Group at any one of our locations. For more information, please visit www.bregmanvetgroup.com.

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Parasites and Your Pet

THE BREGMAN VETERINARY GROUP

www.BregmanVetGroup.com

When it comes to your pets health, parasites are often overlooked. There are the common cases of ticks and fleas, however, there are several other parasites floating around that spread easily within families and pets. Those parasites include hookworm, tapeworm, coccidia, roundworm and giardia. 

 

It's important to be wary of these parasites because they can be found anywhere, and they tend to spread quickly. 

 

If you think there could be a chance your pet is infected by a parasite, see below for some of the first signs of detection.

• Vomiting 
• Weight loss
• Hair loss
• Diarrhea 
• Decrease in appetite

The best way to determine if your pet is infected with parasites is to have a fecal examination performed. Below is the recommended schedule for fecal checks based on your pets age.   

• Puppies and Kittens: 2-4 times a year
• Adult Dogs and Cats: 2-4 times a year (not taking preventative medication)
• Adult Dogs and Cats: 1-2 times a year (taking preventative medication)

As a pet owner, there a few measures you can take to protect your pets from parasites and reduce their risk of getting infected. The number one way to protect your pets is to remove their feces from your yard immediately after letting them outside. It's also important to protect yourself and your family from parasites. Try to avoid letting your pet lick any family members around their mouth and be sure to wash your hands well with soap and water after playing with your furry friends outdoors. 

 

If you have any questions about parasites and how to protect your pets, please give us a call at any one of the Bregman Veterinary Grouplocations. We would be more than happy to answer any questions you have. 

Valentines Day Safety For Pets

THE BREGMAN VETERINARY GROUP

www.BregmanVetGroup.com

Valentine's Day is just days away! You know what that means, love is in the air! Each year, poison control and veterinarians around the country see an increase in cases linked to pets getting sick by unsafe foods, candy and flowers around Valentine's Day.

Here is a guide, courtesy of the ASPCA, to help keep your furry friends safe during this lovey-dovey holiday!

Pet-friendly Flowers- Flowers are one of the most popular gifts given on Valentines Day. Most pet owners don't realize that if one of these floral arrangements end up on the floor and pets consume it, your pet can be in big trouble. Flowers can cause pets to have various stomach issues, especially vomiting. So, keep your flowers out of your furry friends reach!

Alcohol Accidents- We're sure you and your valentine will have a cocktail to celebrate this special day. However, an accidental spill that isn't immediately mopped up can be harmful to your pets. A little bit of alcohol can go a long way in pets, causing diarrhea, tremors and lack in coordination. Be careful with cupids concoctions around your pets!

Sweet Tooth- Candy is another big concern around this holiday. Chocolate can be extremely harmful to your pets health. The caffeine in chocolate can trigger stomach issues for your pet along with an abnormal heart rate. Our suggestion, hide the sweets!

Who doesn't love presents?- After exchanging gifts with your sweetheart, be sure to gather up any lingering ribbons, bows, tape, etc. and discard it immediately. Although your pets may look at these items as a great toy, these items can be dangerous if they swallow them.

Thank you to aspca.com for these wonderful tips. We hope they will help keep your furry friends happy and healthy this Valentine's Day!

If you should run into an issue on Valentine's Day with your pets health, please contact the Bregman Veterinary Group immediately. For more information, visit us online at www.bregmanvetgroup.com.

Looking To Start Your Weekend With A Good Laugh?

THE BREGMAN VETERINARY GROUP

www.BregmanVetGroup.com

TGIF! Thanks to Mashable.com, we can now provide you with the perfect way to start off your weekend. Check out the Top 10 Funny Dog Videos on YouTube!

Let us know which video is your favorite on our Facebook page. Have a great weekend!

To watch all of the videos, please CLICK HERE.

Cold Weather Tips for Pets

THE BREGMAN VETERINARY GROUP

www.BregmanVetGroup.com

With a winter storm hitting Long Island today, and another one scheduled to sweep the area this weekend, there is no better time to brush up on your pet safety tips. We want to ensure your furry friends are safe from the cold winter weather. It’s important to remember that with the extremes of winter weather come unique dangers and concerns for our pets.

So, how exactly can a pet owner best prepare for the snowstorm? Here are a few tips, courtesy of the Nassau County SPCA.

Bring your pets indoors – At a first sign of a storm you should always bring any outdoor pets indoors to keep them warm.

Keep your dog on leash – More dogs get lost in winter than any other season because it’s so easy for them to lose their sense and perspective during a snowstorm. Keep them on a leash or go to a fenced-in dog area.

Ice, salt and snow – If you pet has to go out in this snowstorm, have them wear a coat or boots to cover their paws. Outside your pet can step in all sorts of things including snow, salt, sleet or mud. Booties will keep their paws dry and will cut down any infections they might catch outside.

Food and medicine – Have a supply of pet food and medicine before it gets too dangerous to travel. Keep emergency pet kits ready incase something worst happens.

The Nassau County SPCA’s main rule is “if the conditions outside are unsafe for humans, they too are also unsafe for pets!” We agree! Let us know how you keep your pets safe during the winter on our Facebook page.