Return of the Beach Pet Blog

Welcome! Or welcome back if you have been with us previously. This is the return of our Beach Pet blog. We are planning to keep this updated with stories and information about our practice, and what's going on in the veterinary world. We hope you find our blog to be educational as well as entertaining and we appreciate any and all feedback. 

We are going to start off this blog with some updates since it has been approximately two years since our last post. Let's start with the most important figures in our practice, our Doctors! We have added two new Doctors over the past two years. You may have already met them, but some may not have had the opportunity yet. They are both amazing and we are so thankful to have them as  a part of our Beach Pet Family. The first one is Dr Chris Imrich. He is a local of Virginia Beach and previously worked for another hospital in the Hampton Roads area. He did relief work for us before coming to work full time, so some of you may have been familiar with him before he officially started! Our second Doctor is Dr Tara S. Golden. She just recently became a member of our family in March and it did not take her long at all to win everyone's heart, both fellow employee's and clients and patients alike! We are very thankful to have both of them in our hospital as they are a perfect fit for our practice and our patients. 

Beach Pet also launched our own online pharmacy about a year ago at beachpetstore.com. This website was designed to give pet owners the option to have their prescription diets and medications shipped directly to their homes. We have worked diligently to make the online ordering process as streamlined and straightforward as possible, with multiple shipping options including free shipping on orders over $49.00 and automatic shipping so that your pets don't miss their next dose of medication or their prescription diet. We are also able to offer many medications that we aren't able to stock at our practice.

The newest and awesomest thing is our very own Beach Pet App! This app is available for download on the google play store as well at the itunes store, and was designed to keep every thing involving your pet centralized and accessible. Our app is linked to your pet's records and will give you all their vaccine history with the click of a button. It can also be used to schedule appointments, refill your medication and order from our store. You can also share a selfie of your pet that we can share on our social media sites as well. We know how much everyone loves a good selfie, and we look forward to seeing yours!

We are glad to be blogging again and we hope you join us for future installments where we will share news about our practice and the veterinary world and provide interesting and educational information for you and your pets!

See you next time!

The Doctors and Staff of Beach Pet Hospital

National Pet ID Week 2014

Microchips offer a permanent form of identification for your loved ones. To celebrate National Pet Identification Week this year, we are offering microchips at half price during the week of

April 21-26, 2014.

 

Microchips are an inexpensive and safe way to provide your pet with permanent identification. Once you have registered your information on the microchip's website, it can be scanned and used to link your pet back to you.

 

There are several reasons to microchip your pet.  Here are just a few:

• If your pet gets out of the house or yard without its collar, Animal Control will often scan any stray animal to check for a microchip and expedite their return.
• If you will be traveling with your pet, our microchips are universal and can be scanned by any microchip scanner. When traveling outside the country, many destinations require a microchip.
• In the event your pet is stolen, microchips will serve as proof of ownership.
• If you are separated from your pet in the event of a natural disaster, most pet shelters and rescue groups will use microchips to reunite owners with their lost pets.
• If your pet has any health conditions, you can list them when registering the microchip.

 

 HURRY!!! Make an appointment to get your pet's microchip implanted today!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Halloween Safety Tips

Halloween can be so much fun for kids and some grown-ups. It can also be fun for your pets. However, there can be some potential dangers and stressful events for your pets. Just remember to keep your pets safe from these Halloween hazards.

·          Halloween Candy & Treats

Halloween means candy and treats that are plentiful and easily accessible to young children and pets. Remember that some candy and treats are not good for dogs! Chocolate and artificially sweetened candy such as gum contains xylitol and can be toxic to dogs.  Wrappers and small pieces can be possible choking hazards and may cause obstruction or irritation to the pet’s digestive system. Party snacks may be too salty or contain ingredients that can also poison your pets. Try to keep the human goodies for the humans and out of your pet’s reach. Keep all treats in a sealed container and discard them properly. You can share some human treats with your pets such as carrots and sliced apples. However, remember not to give too many because overfeeding them can also cause problems.

·          Trick-or-Treaters & Party Guests

Most of our dogs love when people are visiting. However, they may not like it when familiar people are dressed in their costumes. Some dogs may become very fearful and can behave in an unpredictable manner. Pets may also not respond well to the door bell ringing from the trick-or-treaters. The best solution is to place your pets in their crate or put them in a separate room. This may help to relieve some of the stress from these situations.

·          Halloween Decorations

Halloween decorations can be spooky and fun for us but for our pets they are new objects that they want to explore. Keep decorations out of your animal’s reach. Watch the placement of power cords from the inflatable decorations because they may trip your pet and can cause electric shock if they are chewed. Be careful with the placement of your jack-o-lantern so that your pet does not ingest them or bump into them, especially if they have a candle in them. This will prevent the chance of your pet starting a fire or getting burned.

·         Costumes for Dogs

We all know that some dogs do not mind when you put clothes on them whereas others really do not like it at all. They may feel very uncomfortable and a little scared of the costume. If you plan to dress your pet for Halloween, make sure the outfit fits comfortably. The costume should be roomy but not too loose fitting so that the pet doesn’t trip over the costume. It should also be reflective and fire retardant.  A costume that is tied too tightly could cut off circulation or choke your pet. Never leave your pet alone with the costume on because your pet may decide to chew it. This can lead to choking, sickness, or development of a gastrointestinal blockage.

·          Dangers Beyond the House

Try to keep your pet indoors on Halloween night. Loud and excessive noise can be frightening to your dog or cat.  Providing a safe, stress free environment reduces the possibility of your pet injuring themselves or others. Black cats especially seem to be targeted during the Halloween season.  If you do take your pet out, make sure your pet has a collar with ID tags on. Even if your pet is staying inside, they should have ID tags on so they can be returned if they escape. Having a microchip can also be very beneficial if your pet gets lost. Don’t forget to keep your dog on a leash at all times.

We hope all of this helps to keep your pets safe this Halloween. Happy Halloween!!!

Trick-or-Treat!!!

Summer Safety Tips

HEATSTROKE

During warm weather, the inside of your car can reach 120* in a matter of minutes, even if you're parked in the shade. Dogs and cats can't perspire and can only dispel heat through the pads of their feet and by panting. Pets that are left in hot cars even for a short time can suffer from heat exhaustion, heatstroke, brain damage and death. Play it safe by leaving your pet cool and refreshed at home while you're on the road.

Help Prevent heatstroke at home by providing your pet with plenty of cool, fresh water and have shade available at all times. Provide adequate ventilation and air circulation when pets are kept in kennels or pens. Also, provide shade covers to outdoor pets. Avoid excessive exercise during hot weather. If you need to exercise on hot days, it is wise to limit exercise to early morning or late evening hours when it is cooler. Remember that asphalt and concrete get very hot and can burn your pet's paws.

PICK-UP TRUCKS

It is very dangerous to drive with a dog in the bed of a truck. Flying debris can cause serious injury to your pet. If you should have to swerve or hit the brakes your dog may be unintentionally thrown into traffic. Protect your pet by putting crating them in the cab of the truck with you, in a seat belt harness or in a crate secured in the bed of your truck.

FERTILIZER AND INSECTICIDES

Plant food, fertilizer and insecticides can be fatal if your pet ingests them. Keep all poisonous garden chemicals out of reach of your pet.
*Read instructions carefully before applying to your lawn or garden.

THUNDERSTORMS AND FIREWORKS

Take your pets inside if there is a possibility of a thunderstorm. Loud thunder may frighten them or lightening could strike them. Loud noises combined with heat can be stressful and dangerous for pets. This is especially true of the Fourth of July. The fireworks are particularly scary to some pets. Avoid unnecessary stress by simply leaving them inside your home.

SUNBURN

Pets are subject to sunburn just as you are so, if you're planning a prolonged time in the sun, your pet may require sunscreen on his or her nose and ear tips. This is especially important if your pet has a light-colored nose or light-colored fur on his or her ears. Always provide shade, shelter and plenty of  fresh water for outdoor pets.

FLEAS AND TICKS

Use only flea and tick treatments recommended by your veterinarian. Some over-the-counter flea and tick products can be toxic, even when used according to the instructions.
Also, check with your veterinarian to see if your pets should be taking heartworm prevention medication. Heartworm disease, which is transmitted by mosquitoes, can be fatal in both dogs and cats.

SWIMMING POOLS

Prevent free access to pools. If your pet enjoys the water, always supervise them. 

Winter Safety Tips

Cold weather can be hard on pets, just like it can hard on people. Sometimes owners forget that their pets are just as accustomed to the warm shelter of the indoors as they are. Some owners will leave their animals outside for extended periods of time, thinking that all animals are adapted to live outdoors. This can put their pets in danger of serious illness.

 

If pets are kept outdoors, they must be provided with a heated or insulated shelter that is elevated off the ground and have a door of some kind to keep out winter winds, sleet and snow. Water sources may be heated to permit constant access to unfrozen water. Outdoor pets also require extra calories to keep warm. In severely cold or inclement weather, no pet should be kept outside.

 

If you light a fire or plug in a space heater to keep warm, keep an eye out to make sure that no tails or paws come in contact with flames, heating coils, or hot surfaces. Pets can either burn themselves or knock a heat source over and put the entire household in danger.

 

Many people will be “winterizing” their cars this winter, including a change of antifreeze. Keep both new and old antifreeze in sealed container, out of reach of pets. Even very small amounts are extremely toxic causing kidney failure and often can be fatal in just a few days.

 

While you are busy making your festive plans for the holidays, remember there are some things you should not share with your pet. Once you know the precaution and prevention, it will make holidays a happy time for everyone. Some of the more common holiday hazards include:

Bones: Do not feed any types of bones to your pet. Small bones or bone chips can lodge in the throat, stomach and intestinal tract.

 

Chocolate: Many people do not realize that chocolate can be a poison. Unsweetened baking chocolate carries a much higher dose of a toxin “theobromine” than milk chocolate.

TOXIC PLANTS AND PRODUCTS

Low Toxicity - Poinsettia leaves/ stems; balsam/ pine/ cedar/ fir, angel hair; Christmas tree preservatives; snow sprays/ snow flock; tree ornaments; super glue; Styrofoam; icicles/ tinsel/ ribbons; and crayons/ paint.
Moderate Toxicity- Fireplace salts; plastic model cement; bubbling lights and aftershaves/ perfumes/ alcoholic beverages.
High Toxicity- Holly berries/ leaves; mistletoe/ berries; electric light cords; and ivy.

BONES ARE DANGEROUS

Please, please don’t feed your pets bones, especially poultry bones. Poultry bones splinter easily.

Ribbons & Tinsel are of special interest to playful cats and kittens who see these materials as toys to be chased, pounced upon, chewed or swallowed. They are thin and sharp and can wrap around intestines or ball up in the stomach.

Keep harmful objects out of your pet’s reach. A little prevention may be just enough to avoid pet tragedy from happening in your home.

We all like to include our pets in Holiday meals, but try to keep in mind that sudden rich diet changes are likely to upset a pets stomach. Vomiting and diarrhea are not uncommon. If leftovers are of an especially fatty nature, the pancreas may become inflamed and overloaded. This condition is serious and may require hospitalization.

 

National Animal Poison Control

1-888-426-4435

10 Thanksgiving Safety Tips

Turkey Day is right around the corner, so here are some safety tips from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer to help avoid a trip to the emergency veterinary clinic or spending the evening searching for a missing pet.

1. Most pets do not tolerate spicy seasonings very well or large quantities of food. Avoid giving pets a sampling of everything on the human menu.
2. On the morning of the holiday, exercise the dog to try to wear it out before guests arrive.
3. Make sure to dispose of the turkey bones where the pet cannot get to it. These bones will splinter when chewed. Bones can get caught in a pet's esophagus or intestinal track and could be life threatening.
4. Rancid food is full of bacteria and can make a pet very sick, so make sure garbage is not accessible to the pet.
5. Turkey stuffing may contain onions, garlic, or raisins - all toxic to dogs, so resist the urge to feed your dog human food.
6. Remind guests not to offer table scraps or appetizers to the dog.
7. If the family pet is skittish around people, noises, and sudden movements then containing the dog away from the stimulation is recommended.
8. Offer special chew toys during the same time people are buzzing around.
9. An open door or open garage may be an invitation for your pet to bolt. Keep your pet contained while guests are coming or going.
10. Make sure your pet has ID and license on a collar just in case it bolts out an open door.

As always, we wish you and your pet a safe and Happy Holiday!!

How to Kitten Proof Your House

Kittens are naturally inquisitive, which can often lead to serious injury. Here are some tips on how you can make your house safer for the new arrival:

  *  That's shocking! Kittens love to chew when teething. Keep electrical wires out of reach, or use a pet-repellant spray to coat the wires.
  *  They'd die for some chocolate! Chocolate can be dangerous. It contains Theobromine, a powerful stimulant that is toxic to pets. Sweets, cakes and cookies can also upset the G.I. tract and lead to diarrhea and vomiting.
  *  Treats can be threats! Never give turkey, chicken, or rib bones as a treat. They can splinter and cause serious injury.
  *  Common household killers - Cleaning agents, bleach, ammonia, disinfectants, drain cleaner, oven cleaner, gasoline, rat poison. Keep the all locked up!
  *  Check the anti-freeze! Pets are attracted to the odor and sweet taste of anti-freeze. Store it high and tightly sealed, wiping any spills on the garage floor. Window-washing solution also contains anti-freeze. And remember, engine warmth promotes cat naps, so honk your horn to wake pets under the hood.
  *  Killer house plants - Poisonous plants include many from the lily family! See toxic plant list below.
  *  Keep of the grass! If you treat your lawn with chemicals, keep pets away.
  *  It fit yesterday! Collars and harnesses can be rapidly outgrown, leading to serious wounds. Check your cat's collars regularly, especially on that growing kitten! Two fingers should easily fit underneath the collar.
  *  Personal care items and medications - Cosmetics, shampoos, skin creams, hair solutions, depilatories, suntan lotions, sleeping pills, antihistamines, aspirin and acetaminophen can all be lethal.
  *  It's not a toy! Do not leave plastic bags out! Inquisitive young animals, especially kittens, can suffocate or get their neck caught in the handles!
  *  The heat is on! Watch out for hot irons, coffee pots, space heaters, stove tops...Kittens will soon be able to jump to new heights.
  *  A dip tip-Keep covers on hot tubs and swimming pools. Kittens can easily fall in and not be able to get out!
  *  Kittens are attracted to warmth. Be very cautious when doing laundry because they can sneak into the dryer very easily without your knowing it.
  *  Br-r-r-r-r-r it's cold in there! Curious kittens have been known to get into everything including the refrigerator! Be careful! A great idea is to have a little bell on your cats collar so you know of his/her whereabouts all the time.
  *  'Tis the season! Keep holly, mistletoe and especially Christmas tree tinsel out of reach.
  *  Cozy up! Always use a fireplace screen.
  *  Do you eat with that mouth? If any or all of something will fit in a mouth, it's dangerous. Watch out for cigarette butts, rubber bands, balloons, sewing needles, thread, string, ribbons, pantyhose...because what goes in must come out, often via surgery.