Thanksgiving Pet Safety

The holiday season is upon us, and as Thanksgiving approaches family and friends will be coming together. This time of year also means risks for pets as well. Whether traveling with your pet or having guests, ensure the proper precautions are taken to ensure holiday foods and sweet treats are kept away from your furry friends to help ensure they stay safe and healthy during the holiday season. Here are some steps to help keep them safe.

While holiday food is fun to feast out on, it’s not good for your pets to join you in feasting. Poultry bones can be damaging to their digestive tract, fatty foods are hard to digest and those amazing sweets have ingredients that can be poisonous to pets.

• Holiday meal stays on the dining table – Eating turkey skin can be dangerous and could lead to pancreatitis. Fatty foods are also difficult for pets to digest. Some items you may consider healthy actually aren’t, such as raisins, onions, and grapes. 
• Desserts – This definitely a no for your pets. Chocolate is harmful and ingredients like xylitol found in sugar-free foods can be deadly. The dough used in baking can also be dangerous due to the yeast, which can cause gas and dangerous bloating. 
• Trash – Ensure the holiday meal trash is not easily accessible by your furry friends. Items like the turkey carcass or items used in preparation and cooking of the meal can be enticing, so ensure your furry friend is not able to access it once you dispose of it. 
• Decorations – Remember that some holiday plants and flowers can be toxic for pets. Included in this are some of the common holiday plants such as hydrangeas, certain ferns, and baby’s breath. 
• Take Action -  If you think your pet has eaten something it shouldn’t have or been poisoned, call your veterinarian or local veterinary emergency clinic immediately!  Signs of pet distress include sudden changes in behavior, depression, pain, vomiting, or diarrhea. Contact your veterinarian immediately. 

We hope these tips are helpful for you and your furry friend during the holiday season, and if you are traveling we hope you have safe and fun travels to your destination!

Traveling and Your Pet

With the holidays quickly approaching, travel plans abound with you planning travel, or those planning to travel and visit you. Take in mind these precautions during the upcoming holidays or during any other time of the year. 

Travel by air

If your travel plans include flying to your destination, talk with your veterinarian. Flying can put your pet at risk, particularly if you have a short nosed dog breed. Your veterinarian is your best source for on guiding you on how to safely travel with your pet. 

Travel by car/vehicle

When traveling by vehicle, NEVER leave your pet alone in the vehicle regardless of time or weather conditions. Ensure they are safely restrained in the car using either a carrier or harness system. Be sure they are placed clear of airbag deployment zones in case you are in an accident. Keep them away from food and other items you may be bringing along to ensure no distractions while driving. If you plan to travel outside of the country, be sure you have the necessary certificates from your veterinarian to travel there. 

Packing 

If you plan to travel together, take time time to pack for them like you would for yourself. Ensure you have enough medications, food, records and other necessary information you may need for them. 

Boarding

If you plan to drop them off at a boarding facility before you leave, take the time to visit your veterinarian to discuss their vaccinations and other ways to help protect them while they are there.

We hope these tips are helpful during the busy holiday travel season and beyond, and if you are traveling we wish you a safe and fun journey!

Halloween Safety

Trick or Treat! Halloween is a fun time for families, especially when you involve the family pet in the costume designs! However, just as fun as it can be for everyone, it can also prove to be a very dangerous time for your pet when it comes to candy. 

Help ensure a safe Halloween for you and your pet by following these guidelines. 

1. Don't feed pets Halloween candy, especially if it contains chocolate or xylitol (a common sugar substitute found in sugar-free candies and gum).
2. Make sure your pet is properly identified (collar, ID tag, and microchip) just in case they make a dash out the door as you're distracted by trick-or-treaters.
3. If your pet is wary of strangers or tends to nip/bite, put them in separate room during trick-or-treating hours or provide him/her with a safe hiding place.
4. Ensure Jack-o-lanterns and lit candles stay out of reach of your pets. 
5. If you decide you want to put a costume on your pet, make sure of a few things including 
• Proper fit and comfort.
• It doesn’t have pieces that can easily be chewed off.
• doesn't interfere with your pet's breathing, hearing, sight, opening its mouth, or movement. 
• Get your pet accustomed to the costume before Halloween.
• NEVER leave your pet unsupervised while wearing a costume.
6. Glow sticks/ jewelry should be kept away from pets. The liquid in these products may be non-toxic, however the taste is very bad and can make pets salivate excessively and act strangely.

Have a Spooktacular and safe Halloween this year! 

Pet Obesity

Just like us, a well-balanced nutritional intake and regular exercise is important for your furry friends. October 8 is National Pet Obesity Awareness Day, and with that we thought it important to highlight approximately 54% of cats and dogs in the United States are overweight. Today we want to help raise awareness to the dangers obesity may have on your pet. 

If you are unsure your pet is overweight there are several tools for which you can utilize to help better assess. First and foremost is your veterinarian, followed by online resources that show specifics on breeds and their ideal appearance and weight. A general rule of thumb to go by is being able to feel their ribs, but not seeing them. 

Here are some additional tips to help aid in keeping your pets weight in check. 

1. Talk with your veterinarian as they are the best resource for helping you. They can work with you to create a plan to help control, monitor and improve your pet’s weight. They are also able to recommend ways to help your pet lose weight in a healthy and safe way.
2. Calorie control. A wide variety of pet foods exist, always be certain to check nutrition labels for the best quality ingredients. Avoid foods that contain fillers. Avoid table scraps and try to limit the number of treats. Try to ensure treats are of the healthy variety. 
3. Consistency. Ensure feeding portions are consistent, place a cup in the bag to keep amounts the same. Feed them on a consistent schedule, and avoid overfeeding. Consider using an automatic feeder as this helps to keep a consistent schedule and amount. 
4. Go outside! Not only is it great for your pet, but you too! Take a nice walk around the neighborhood or park. A session of catch is always a great way to keep your dog moving and staying healthy. 

Similar to humans, pet obesity can have the same severe unfavorable effects as well. Disorders that are common with pet obesity include high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes and so forth. If you are unsure about your pets weight, schedule an appointment with us today and start the conversation of getting them on a healthier track! 

New Puppy Care

Bringing home a new puppy is an incredible one of a kind experience. From those sweet puppy licks to the adorable tiny paws, cute puppy eyes, and fun snuggles a remarkable bond is being built. Along with those adorable features comes the other aspect, the proper care and training that will now be devoted to that cute little bundle as they grow.

Your pet health care team at Bregman Veterinary Group is committed to providing you with the tools you need every step of the way!

The Basics
Whether you are a newbie or seasoned pet owner, being prepared can help ease the stress that comes with adding a puppy to your household. Less stress means more fun bonding time with your newest addition. To help you out here are a few things to keep in mind.

1. Veterinary Support – One of the most important things you can do is have an exam scheduled with your veterinarian for your new addition. This should take place as soon as possible upon getting them home. During this time your veterinarian will also discuss the proper diet,  immunizations, spay/neuter, and microchipping with you.

2. Supplies – Ensure you have the necessary basic items prior to bringing your new puppy home. Items such as collar, leash, bed, crate (if using), chew toys, food/water bowls. A baby gate is also a good idea as it will help to help keep them out of certain areas of your home you don’t want them in.

3. Puppy Proofing – Puppies love to chew, so it is best to take time prior to bringing them home to ensure your home is proofed and ready for them. Just like a child, they love to get their mouth on anything and everything, so chocking and poisoning are great concerns, so ensure you put away any items you don’t want them to get ahold of.

4. House training – Get your puppy outside throughout the day so they are able to expel. Getting them out first thing in the morning, before bed, after naps and after meals will help lead to successful training. Try to keep on schedule, and if you are unable to, find help such as dog walking company, family or a friend.

Diet
It is important to ensure your puppy receives proper nutrition and caloric intake while they are still growing. Choosing a high quality dog food that is formulated for them is very important and will help ensure healthy growth. As your puppy grows the number of feeding times will change. Recommended feeding frequencies are as follows

Puppies age 6-12 weeks should be fed 4x per day
Puppies age 3-6 months should be fed 3x per day
>6 months can be reduced to 2x daily


Socialization
For your puppy to grow into a happy and safe part of society, socialization is necessary. This should start to occur in the first few months and after being fully vaccinated.

With good socialization to other people, dogs, animals, locations and things your puppy will learn to become well-adjusted.

Your friends at Bregman Veterinary Group look forward to getting to know you and your new puppy! Give us a call with your questions, or to schedule an appointment.

Pet Dental Disease’s Four Stages

As we have discussed in previous blogs, your pets dental health is very important! Periodontal disease is often seen by our veterinarians, and can be found in most dogs and cats. This disease can lead to pain, infection, tooth loss and damage to other organs.

Dental health for our pet patients is very important to us at Bregman Veterinary Group, so we would like to place the focus of this blog on periodontal disease and further educate you on the stages of periodontal disease that can occur in pets.

Periodontal disease can be broken down into four stages, they are as follows:

Stage 1
The early stage is characterized by gingivitis. This is an inflammation of the pet’s gums as it responds to the existence of bacteria and tartar. You might notice some minor swelling of the gum area. You may also notice a visible thin red line on the gums next to the teeth at this stage as well.

Stage 2
A.K.A. periodontitis. At this stage there is a small amount of bone loss,  < 25% , visible on oral x-rays. Inflammation of your pet’s gums may occur along with visible plaque and tartar and bad breath. At this stage, your pet should get a professional cleaning to thoroughly remove the plaque and tartar, and to help reverse the progress of the disease.

Stage 3
At this stage serious damage starts. This stage is also known as moderate periodontitis. During x-rays 25-50% of bone loss can be found. Gums are swollen and aggravated and may even bleed. Significant pain may be present along with bad breath. It is recommended the infected/damaged teeth now be removed.

Stage 4
In the 4th and final stage, extreme periodontal disease is obvious. Bone loss is now >50%, visible in x-rays. Your pet could lose numerous teeth along with being in extreme pain. Infection could spread to internal organs as well now.

Preventing and Treating Pet Dental Disease

Periodontal disease can be treated, which is why you should always have an annual exam for your pet. This allows your veterinarian the ability to take the necessary steps for your pets oral care. These regular checkups, dental cleanings and daily brushing done by you go a long way towards a healthy mouth and life!
As always, your Bregman Veterinary Group is here for you and your pet! Don’t hesitate to contact us to schedule your pet’s next visit. Happy Brushing!

Pets benefit Mental Health

There is an increasing amount of research being done that shows how people with mental health issues can benefit from having a pet. The studies being conducted are now being meta-analyzed and providing evidence to support this fact. Studies have been done interviewing  individuals with varying backgrounds of conditions including PTSD, anxiety, depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Benefits
As the studies being conducted have shown, having a pet provided an unconditional support and love for owners. This helps to ease feelings such as loneliness, distress and worry.

"Pets provided acceptance without judgment, giving unconditional support, which [participants] were often not receiving from other family or social relationships,"
- Dr. Helen Louise Brooks

It has been found that owners stated their pets required them to stay connected with the outside world. Through different factors pets require physical activity, such as dogs that require walks and being outside. This would encourage owners to have social interaction and created strengthened ties to the community.

Study has also shown that those who own pets helped them with keeping a solid sense of self-worth, identity and meaning. One participant in a study noted  "When I was so depressed, I was kind of suicidal. [...] The thing that made me stop was wondering what the rabbits would do. That was the first thing I thought of and I thought, oh yeah, I can't leave because the rabbits need me." Another response included "When he comes and sits up beside you on a night," said another pet owner, "it's different, you know, it's just, like, he needs me as much as I need him, sort of thing."

With studies related to this subject continuing, the increase of knowledge in this area is quickly growing. Animals of many types can help calm a person when it comes to fear, stress and anxiety. As veterinarians we can see the benefits for owner’s of having a pet as part of their lives and we wanted to share those thoughts with you!