World Spay Day

February is recognized as spay/neuter month, and February 27^th is World Spay Day. The purpose of this recognition is to help raise awareness about pet overpopulation, the importance of spaying/neutering your pets and the added benefits it can help provide your pet.  

What is Spaying/Neutering

When you have a pet spayed or neutered you are removing their ability to produce offspring. Spaying is the removal of the female reproductive tract while neutering refers to the removal of the male's testes.

Why Spay/Neuter?

When your pet is spayed/neutered there are a number of added benefits to take into consideration. By helping to prevent the birth of unwanted litters you can help keep the pet population down. Spaying and neutering can also help lower the chances of health issues in the long term along with behavioral problems that can occur.

Other benefits include:

• Reduced risk of cancer
• Reduced aggression
• Reduced roaming
• Reduced spraying & marking
• Increased lifespan (3-5 years)

Spay/Neuter Procedure

When a pet is spay/neutered they will go through a full surgical procedure. This is one of the most common surgical procedures performed by a veterinarian. Your pet will undergo a regular surgical process that includes sterilization and general anesthesia. After completion, your pet will then be prescribed medications to help minimize the pain that may accompany the procedure. For the next few days after it is best to keep your pet as relaxed and calm as possible as this will help allow the incision from surgery to heal.

When it comes to the health and happiness of your pet spaying/neutering is one of the most significant choices you can make. Contact us to schedule an appointment or for any additional information about spaying/neutering your pet.

Parasites and Your Pet

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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. 

American Red Cross Pet First Aid App

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The American Red Cross has come out with a convenient and helpful app for smartphones and tablets. The pet First Aid App is dedicated entirely to your furry friends!

The app provides safety tips, quizzes and instructional videos for cats and dogs. You can even register your veterinarian and pet on the app!

More features include:

• Pet hotel locator
• Tips for traveling with your pet
• Pet profiles
• Poison control tips
• Preventative care
• Medication help
• Allergy care

(Photos Courtesy of Google Images) 

To learn more about the Red Cross Pet First Aid App, please CLICK HERE.

If you have any other pet health concerns, please contact Bregman Veterinary Group at any one of our locations. For more information, please visit www.bregmanvetgroup.com.

Does Your Pet Need a Trip to the Vet?

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Does your pet need a trip to the vet? Now that 2014 is in full swing, it's important to start this year out healthy! However, realizing if your cat needs a check up isn't always that easy. To facilitate this process, here are some tips.

Excessive Meows: Don't forget to attend to your cats! If you hear more vocalizations than normal, perhaps your cat is looking for some attention. Sometimes, a couple of strokes or surprising them with a toy can fix a problem. However, your cat could be using their vocals as a sign of pain. Make sure you see the vet if there any kind of unusual signals coming from your cat.

Cold Symptoms: Cats generally show signs of colds similar to humans. If you notice crust around the eyes, a runny nose or frequent sneezes, seek medical attention from your vet. Visit your vet for yearly immunizations and make sure your cat's health is up to date.

Frequent Sleeping or Unusual Diet: A quick way to notice if your cat is ill to track how much they're sleeping and eating throughout the day. If you catch them snoozing more than playing, or their eating seems off, it's likely they are getting sick. Generally cats don't go more than a day of not eating. If your cat is possessing any of these signs, make an appointment with your vet.

Refusing the Litter Box: Either few or excessive trips to the litter box could be a reason to take your bet to the vet. If you've noticed this, first try to remove waste immediately after each time your cat uses the litter box. If this doesn't seem to change anything, try washing your little box frequently.

Fur Loss: If you see patches of hair missing or signs of an allergic reaction, your cat may have an infection. Cats, just like dogs, are able to catch fleas. A quick way to catch the problem early on is to nice how much your cat scratches him or herself.

If you have any questions about your pets health, please give us a call at any one of our locations. For more information on the Bregman Veterinary Group, please visit us online at www.bregmanvetgroup.com.

Table Foods to Keep Away from Pets

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With the holidays quickly approaching, there is no better time for a quick reminder on what table foods you should never let your pets get their paws on!

Although the food you're munching on is delicious and you want to share it with your adorable furry friends, these foods can often make our pets ill.

Check out the info graphic below, courtesy of www.mnn.com on tips on what NOT to feed your pets!

Let us know what you think on our Facebook page.

SPOTLIGHT: 5th Avenue Cat Clinic

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This past year, Dr. Allan Bregman and the 5^th Avenue Cat Clinic adopted and helped place over 100 kittens!

We want to recognize this outstanding achievement the 5thAvenue Cat Clinic has accomplished. We’d also like to extend a special thanks to Mrs. Lorenzana for bringing in 80 kittens from the Rockaway area!

We've had the pleasure of caring for those adorable kittens for the past year and are so proud to have been able to place them in loving homes.

Pet Owners Advised to Watch out for Jerky Treats

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Pet owners are being advised to watch out for jerky treats made for dogs. Jerky treats that are made in China are being linked to the death of hundreds of pups and illness of many others.

The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning to pet owners in late 2011, but has yet to recall the treat. According to NBC News, the FDA has done numerous tests attempting to figure out what is causing death and illness in so many pets, but are unable to pin point where the issue is stemming from.

To continue reading about this topic, please CLICK HERE.

Has your pet suffered any illness from jerky treats? Let us know on our Facebook page. 

October is National Adopt-a-Shelter Dog Month

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Fall is upon us!  October brings us falling leaves, crisp air, spooky movies and pumpkin everything.  With all this change to consider, did you know that October is National Adopt-a-Shelter Dog Month?  If you’re looking to welcome a new addition to your family, you’d be wise to consider the source.  The ASPCA recognizes the importance of raising awareness for homeless animals that often end up in shelters.  By educating the public on these warm and affectionate animals, their hope is to urge those seeking a new companion to consider adopting from a shelter to give these animals a new lease on life.    

Shelter dogs are not only lovable but the mixed breeds that are often found in shelters tend to have less health problems than their purebred counterparts.  The ASPCA released the findings of a recently conducted poll by Edge Research.  They found that people who chose to adopt from local shelters are often happier with their experience than those who purchased from a pet store.  Adopting a dog from a shelter will not only improve their quality of life, it will also improve yours.  

If you’re looking to adopt a dog or cat from a shelter in the NYC/Long Island area, the ASPCA has a great pet finder tool.  A few local shelters to consider are North Shore Animal League in Port Washington, Little Shelter Animal Rescue & Adoption Center in Huntington and the Brooklyn Animal Resource Coalition in Brooklyn.  These local shelters are considered “no kill,” which means that the animals will continue to be cared for by shelter volunteers and employees until the dog is successfully adopted by a loving caretaker.

Speaking of caring for your pets, don’t forget to make an appointment with Bregman Veterinary Group for your furry friend’s next check up.  We know how important your pet’s health is to you, and we’re here to ensure the best quality care available. Call us today!

Family Friendly Pets

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Are you looking to get a family pet? Before bringing a new pet into your home, it’s important to do your research and pick the perfect fit for your home and your family.

If you’re having trouble choosing the perfect dog for your house, here is a list of the top 10 family-friendly dogs, courtesy of mom.me.com.

Let us know your thoughts on the perfect family pet on our Facebook page.

• Labradoodle
• Cav. King Charles Spaniel
• Labrador Retriever
• French Bulldog
• Boxer
• Irish Setter
• Beagle
• Havanese
• Golden Retriever
• Greyhound
• Rescue Pups

Are You Communicating with your Pets?

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It may sound silly; however, do you ever have a difficult time communicating with your furry friends? Sometimes the way we interact and speak with our friends and family, won’t always work when it comes to your pup.

Your husband or wife may love a hug, or your niece may enjoy a head rub. But if you try that with your pets, you may get a negative reaction.

Here are a few tips, courtesy of parade.com, on how to effectively speak dog!

• Don’t pat his head: Often times, patting a dog’s head is a threatening gesture.
• Don’t stare a dog in his eyes: Many pet experts don’t recommend staring contests with pets.
• Defuse tension with dog by looking away: Dogs can feel aggression. So, looking away from your dog can help ease a tense situation.
• Approach a dog from the side, not head on: Some dogs that are more social will handle being faced head on than a more submissive dog. Approaching a dog from the side is always the better option.
• Get on dog level: If you’re looking to speak with your dog, especially a timid dog, squat down and let the dog approach you. Yelling or barking orders at the dog from higher up can intimidate a pooch.

Let us know what you think of these tips on our Facebook page! 

Today is National Dog Day!

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Today is National Dog Day! Are you a dog owner? How will you celebrate your furry friends today?

August 26^th marks the official date of National Dog Day, also known as International Dog Day or National Dog Appreciation Day. This is the perfect time to show your pets a little extra love and affection!

If you’re looking for ways you can celebrate National Dog Day, we’ve got you covered. Here is a list of 50 Ways to Celebrate National Dog Day, courtesy of www.NationalDogDay.com.

Let us know how you’ll be celebrating National Dog Day on our Facebook page.

Interested in Teaching Your Pet New Tricks?

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Are you tired of teaching your dog the same old boring tricks like sit and give paw? Dogs can be very intelligent, and with the proper training, they can be taught many of the same things that humans can do.  An article on sheknows.com has outlined a few tips on how to teach your furry friend some new and unusual tricks!

Have you ever seen the videos of dogs hopping on skateboards and going for a ride and wished your pup could do it too?  Well this is not an easy trick to learn, but can definitely be taught by taking small steps.  The first thing you want to do is get your dog used to the skateboard by making it stable.  You can use beanbags, weights or even remove the wheels.  Feed him a treat every time he puts a paw on the board to reinforce that this is positive behavior.  Once he become a bit more comfortable you can begin to manually put his paws on the board and eventually get his entire body on it, still giving him positive praise and treats whenever he interacts with the skateboard.  Once he seems secure on his new toy, start to get him moving with small pushes and tugs.  Eventually your pup will be flying around on his skateboard having a great time. 

For more tips on how to teach your dog other unusual tricks like opening and closing doors, salute, shoot hoops and more, click here!

Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter to receive more tips like this & much more! You can also visit us online at www.BregmanVetGroup.com.

Have You Heard of Pet Flipping?

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Police fear a new heartless crime is growing throughout the United States. The crime is known as pet flipping. Criminals are continuing to find lost dogs, and instead of returning them to their owners, they are selling these pets for a profit.

One incident occurred in Indianapolis this summer. Leisa Waggoner's dog Rosie, a schnauzer, got lost on the streets of Indianapolis. Desperate, Waggoner posted flyers all over the neighborhood. When she went to a lost dog website the next day, she got great news, Rosie had been found. But there was a twist, a con artist, posing as Rosie's owner, had already claimed the dog off the website. The con artist claimed the dog and listed her on Craiglists for $50.

In Indianapolis, there were 10 such cases of “pet flipping”alone this year. Police say these crooks can make anywhere from $50 to $1000 on any lost pet, it all depends on the breed.

Although it’s a growing problem, pet flipping can be avoided. Never leave your pet unattended for in the front and backyard. If your pet does end up missing, check the pet’s section of Craigslist in your area to see if anyone is trying to sell the same breed. The best way to limit this issue is to get your pet micro chipped.  Micro chipping can help identify a pet and return it to its rightful owner.

For more information on pet flipping and tips to keep your pet safe, visit our website at Bregman Vet Group. Also, if you’re interested in micro chipping your pet, please call any one of the Bregman Veterinary Group locations. 

Would You Bring Your Pet to a Pet Psychic?

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Recently, ABC News interviewed Melissa Bacelar, an actress turned pet psychic.

Bacelar owns seven dogs and three rabbits and uses her psychic abilities to not only communicate with her pets, but the pets of others as well. Thanks to her telepathic abilities, she is able to understand what the animal is feeling based on messages they send through.

Bacelar couldn't ignore her strong connection to animals so she started taking classes to concentrate more on using her psychic ability properly.

Although dog whispering is Bacelar’s strong point, she holds sessions with both her clients and their pets to help the pair communicate and understand each other better.

While some may not believe her ability, Bacelar's clients know she is capable of communicating with pets because she verifies something only the pet and owner will know.

To read the full article on Melissa Bacelar’s psychic abilities please CLICK HERE

Bregman Veterinary Group wants to keep your pets happy also. For more information on proper care for your pets, please visit us on the web.