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Give Your Dog a Job!

7/9/2014

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Our canine companions make great friends, but they can also make great athletes! Did you know there are numerous competitions and sports for dogs? Participating in these events is a great way to bond with your dog, develop a working relationship, and keep a dog engaged to prevent boredom and destructive behaviors. Whether you're an amateur team using this as a weekend hobby or competing at a national level, check out some fun events for you and your dog:
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K9 Obedience Trials

The American Kennel Club offers obedience titles to any dog meeting the requirements - even your mutt can be awarded the coveted Canine Good Citizen title!







Agility

Probably the most popular K9 event, agility trials match your dog's speed and skill against a course. Handler skills are important and agility training is a great way to develop a strong working bond with your dog.






Performance Events

These engaging events give your dog a chance to excel in the area he or she was bred for! Whether it's herding, hunting, lure coursing, or field trials, these breed specific challenges will bring out the best in your dog.







DockDogs

For fun summer fun consider formal or informal DockDogs competition where points are awarded for long jumps and crowd appreciation rewards smooth style!







Winter Fun

Snow sports like mushing and skijoring keep the fun going year round for thick coated dogs and owners with high cold tolerance!





Others

There are competitions for more usual things like - yes, really - K9 dancing, treibball (essentially 1 dog soccer), and Frisbee catching (points for height and style!). If your dog can do it, there's probably a club dedicated to it and if not, don't let that stop you from having fun with your dog playing by your own rules!


More information about these events can be found online, through local clubs and chapters, or breed associations. Whatever your sport, get active with your pooch for some dog-gone good fun!
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Summer Lovin' Happens So Fast - Spay or Neuter!

6/18/2014

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"Have your pet spayed or neutered" - we have all heard it, but what does this actually mean? Sure, it prevents unwanted litters of puppies or kittens through some magical process, but if you are interested in learning a little more about what actually happens in surgery keep reading!

A neuter (or orchidectomy in doctor speak) is the the surgical removal of one or both testicles from a male. In veterinary medicine we almost always remove both testicles as our goal is surgical sterilization, or the prevention of reproduction. The surgery does not require opening the abdomen unless a testicle has failed to descend into the scrotum during maturation, a situation called a cryptorchid or "crypt". Dogs or cats undergoing a neuter are given pain medication, placed under anesthesia, and the testicles are removed. The procedure generally does not result in severe pain or swelling and patients are able to go home that same afternoon. Benefits to neutering include reducing aggression and roaming if done prior to sexual maturity and preventing prostatic enlargement in older dogs.

A spay (or ovariohysterectomy, yep - it's a mouthful!) is the surgical removal of both ovaries and the uterus from a female. The ovaries are located near the kidneys so the abdomen does have to be opened making recovery a more lengthy process - a female dog or cat should be kept quiet for 2 weeks following a spay to allow her incision to heal. We also keep spay patients overnight to provide additional pain medication if needed, recovery time from anesthesia, and a quiet environment following surgery. Early spaying between 4-6 months of age prevents a female dog or cat from starting heat cycles. Not only does this prevent unwanted litters, it also reduces risk for a potentially life threatening uterine infection called a pyometra, and evidence suggests it may decrease risk for development of mammary cancer - plus you won't have to deal with a female bleeding during heat or attempting to seek a mate!
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Your pet's health and comfort are always primary concerns during surgery or any other stay at our clinic. If you ever have any questions about a surgery or medical procedure, please ask! It is important that you know exactly what our recommendations entail and we are happy to explain how and why we do the things we do for your pet!
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Poisonous Plants!

6/10/2014

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With all our rain this spring, yards are green and looking great - but there could be hidden hazards in your yard. Whether you're sprucing up an existing flower bed, thinking of adding some new additions, or starting a veggie garden, please take a few minutes to consider your four-legged family members. Many plants can be poisonous and animals often like to snack on grass and other greens.

The list of toxic plants is long - yew, holly, lilies, foxglove, rhododendron, aloe...in fact, most plants can cause an upset tummy if enough is eaten. If you've ever seen your dog snack down some grass odds are good you've also seen it come back up! Usually signs of toxic plant ingestion are very mild but you should always be aware of these risks and take appropriate action to minimize your pet's exposure. If your cat likes to explore the flower bed you should NEVER plants lilies and if your dog hangs out in the orchard you should know that many fruit pits contain toxic chemicals. Also remember that many of the pesticides and fertilizers we use on gardens and lawns can be dangerous and cocoa mulch contains enough "chocolate" to cause problems - and it smells great making it very tempting for pets to eat!

Carefully monitoring your pet when he or she is in the yard or on walks is a great way to prevent ingestion of potentially dangerous plants, but if your pet spends a lot of time out and about in the yard or you are going to keep houseplants it is best to do a little research and choose pet-friendly plant species. A complete list of toxic plants can be found at the ASPCA website: http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants?&&page=3.

Happy (and safe) gardening!
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Storm Phobias - When Things go Bump in the Night...

6/4/2014

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Many pets are afraid of loud noises - the vacuum, thunderstorms, and fireworks. It's important to remember that animals hear different frequencies than people and often have much more sensitive hearing; a noise that doesn't bother us may be quite uncomfortable to our pets. In addition, animals are usually much more sensitive to other changes such as barometric pressure that accompany storms and may be nervous about changes in environment (company, decorations, parties) that tend to occur with fireworks. Together with the loud noises, this can result in a very stressful environment for your pet!

Storm and noise phobias are real!

Recognizing a problem exists is the first step in correcting the issue. Some animals show very overt signs of anxiety including having accidents in the house, excessive panting or drooling, being very clingy or perhaps isolating themselves in a closet or small room. Other signs may be more subtle such as decreased appetite or being less interaction/playful than usual. Anxiousness may start several hours prior to a storm or other loud event and effects may linger for several days in severe cases.

There are several options for treating phobias. In mild cases, environmental modification is often enough to keep your pet comfortable during events. Options like thundershirts or compression vests make some pets feel more comfortable and can be used for any stressful situation - including trips to the vet! Over-the-counter DAP (dog appeasing pheromone) diffusers or sprays can create a calming environment (Feliway is the kitty version!). Creating a "cave" or secluded area can also create a secure feeling for your pet. Fix your pet's normal bed in a small closet, bathtub, or other interior, enclosed space to reduce noise and visual stimuli such as lightening or firework flashes. Give a special treat such as a peanut butter filled Kong to provide a distraction and play music or turn on the tv to help block sounds. If your pet does not want to be left alone, try engaging them in a fun game of fetch for distraction. Avoid constantly petting your dog or snuggling them as this may inadvertently reinforce the phobia behavior!

If the above steps don't work, medical therapy may be needed. There are several prescription medications that can help with severe phobias. Screening blood work and a behavioral consultation is needed to make sure the drugs will be safe and appropriate for your pet's behavior. With these severe cases our goal is to reduce signs of anxiety, as completely eliminating them is very difficult and may be impossible.
If your pet has a noise phobia or other behavioral problem, we can help! Please call our office to schedule a visit to discuss your concerns, and our veterinarians will work with you to establish a plan to keep your pet feeling safe and secure even when things go bump in the night!
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Lumps and Bumps: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly!

5/7/2014

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A lump or bump shows up on your dog or cat: what should you do about it? Generally skin masses are not emergencies, however, they shouldn't be ignored either. Here are a few guidelines to help decide if it something that can wait until your pet's annual exam or if you should schedule an appointment to have it check out:

- Is there a reason for the lump? If your pet was recently vaccinated the lump could be due to a small vaccine reaction. Similarly, mild trauma might result in slight swelling.

- Does the lump seem to bother your pet? If the area is painful it needs to be addressed. Signs of pain or discomfort include favoring the area, licking at the spot or hair loss around the area, or general signs that your pet is not his or herself including decreased appetite or activity level.

- What does the lump look like? If the area is red, scabbed, or oozing it should be seen by your veterinarian. These
are all signs of potential infection or a more aggressive mass. If the skin appears normal it is more likely a benign fatty tumor or impacted oil gland.

- Is the lump changing? Masses that change in size, color, or general appearance should be investigated.

If a lump is identified on your pet there are several steps that may be taken. Often we can perform a fine needle aspirate during the exam; this collects a small amount of tissue for microscopic examination that can often give us an idea of what type of mass we are dealing with. Often surgical removal and histopathology are required to determine exactly what a mass is and what behavior we can expect from it. The general guideline is "if in doubt, cut it out". Hopefully we get good results saying that the mass was completely removed and not expected to cause additional problems, but even if results indicate that the mass may have spread we will have a better idea on the next steps to take to keep your pet comfortable.

As always, if you have any questions about your pet, we are here to help!

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Parasite Protection for YOUR pet!

4/10/2014

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Advantage. Seresto. Frontline. Heartgard. Nexgard. Sentinel. Parastar. There are a LOT of choices when it comes to parasite prevention! It can be overwhelming trying to determine what is best for your pet. We want to provide good protection against harmful parasites but no one wants to pay for medication their pet doesn't need. We are here to help!

Our goal at Cedar County Veterinary Services is to help you decide what is best for YOUR pet! Whether it is setting a vaccine protocol or choosing parasite protection, we base our recommendations on your pet's lifestyle and needs to choose the best option on a case-by-case basis. Learn a little more about the common parasites we see along with risk factors for your pet, then ask one of our doctors to customize a parasite control strategy for you this spring!
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Mosquitos

Mosquitos carry heartworm disease, a potentially fatal parasite that can infect both dogs and cats. It can result in lung abscesses, blood clots, and kidney or liver damage. All pets should be protected against this parasite!


Fleas


Fleas are common external parasites and can infest both in-town and country pets. Wildlife and feral cats are common sources of infection. Year round protection is recommended to prevent an infestation in your house!



Ticks


In addition to being downright disgusting, ticks can carry life-threatening diseases including Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasmosis.
Generally tick prevention is required from early May through July but the tick season may vary year to year.



Intestinal Parasites


What's worse than a parasite you see? The ones you don't! Intestinal parasites including roundworms, whipworms, hookworms, and tapeworms all have different routes of infection. Some can even be transmitted to people making it important to protect your pet...and yourself from these!


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The Skinny on Pet Obesity

3/26/2014

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It is estimated that 1/3 of dogs and over 1/2 of cats in the      United States are overweight or obese. We love giving our pets treats and sharing our favorite foods with our four-legged friends, however, pet obesity can have serious health affects. The table below shows the most common consequences we see in overweight dogs and cats.

(Source Top 5 Clinical Consequences of Obesity by Deborah Linder, DVM)

Dogs
1. Poor quality and quantity of life
2. Osteoarthritis
3. Intervertebral disk disease
4. Subclinical conditions (high cholesterol, etc.)
5. Cardiorespiratory effects

Cats
1. Diabetes
2. Urinary disease
3. Osteoarthritis
4. Subclinical conditions
5. Poor quality and quantity of life

If you feel your pet is overweight, ask for a Body Condition Score; at Cedar County Vet we use a scale of 1-9 with 4-5 being an ideal lean, healthy score. If your pet scores higher than this, those extra pounds may be contributing to greater disease or injury risk, may make anesthesia more dangerous, and may shorten your pet's life. A recent study in Labrador retrievers showed that dogs with ideal weights lived on average 1.8 years longer than overweight pets.
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Excess weight is easier to prevent than to remove, but we can help your formulate a diet and exercise plan to get the extra pounds off your pet to promote a long and healthy life! Call to schedule an appointment or consultation today.
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Heartworm Disease - What's the Buzz?

3/12/2014

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Is your pet really at risk?

1. Mature heartworm parasites live in the heart and large vessels near the heart and lungs. Signs of infection include a cough, difficulty breathing, or sudden collapse and death. Cats can also get heartworm disease and often a single worm can be fatal. An infected pet's lungs may develop large nodules due to inflammation caused by the parasite.

2. The adult worms produce microscope larvae called microfilariae that travel in the animal's blood vessels. Mosquitos that feed on the pet ingest these microfilariae and transfer them to other animals. This means one infected pet can potentially pose a risk to many other animals.

3. When a mosquito carrying the microfilariae bites a dog or cat, the parasite can be transmitted. The greater the exposure to mosquitos the more at risk a pet is, but there have been numerous documented cases of indoor-only pets acquiring heartworm disease.

4. As the microfilariae mature, they travel to the heart where we see inflammation and the signs of heartworm disease.


Heartworm disease is a serious medical concern for dogs and cats. While we don't see a large number of affected pets in Nebraska and South Dakota, our clinic always gets a few cases each year - tragically as the disease is very easily preventable with a monthly topical product such as Advantage Multi or a chew like Heartgard or Iverheart. These medications also have the added benefit of a monthly deworming to make sure your pet does not pick up internal parasites, some of which can be transmitted to people. For more information, please visit the American Heartworm Society at http://www.heartwormsociety.org/pet-owner-resources/heartworm.html#treatment.

Call our clinic to schedule your annual heartworm test and get started on prevention today!
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Farm/Feral Cats: The Cedar County Vet Program

2/27/2014

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It's almost spring and that means kitten season is coming. If you've got too many cats on the farm or are a caretaker of a feral cat colony, we are here to help. Keep your cat crowd at a reasonable number with our low cost spay/neuter program to prevent disease outbreaks and overpopulation.

Program Details:
- We ask that you bring a mimimum of 5 cats (pool with your neighbors!)
    - Cats should not eat the morning of surgery and be dropped off by 9am
- Spays are $50/cat and Neuters are $25/cat
    - All cats have their left ear tip removed to indicate sterilization
- Cost includes anesthesia and pain medication as well as a rabies vaccine
- Additional treatments are available (distemper vaccine or parasite treatment)


          Call today to schedule your Farm Cat appointment!


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Diagnostics Explained: Blood Work

2/12/2014

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If your pet is sick, on certain medications, or about to undergo anesthesia for surgery, chances are good that your vet will recommend blood work. This important diagnostic test can help identify dehydration, infection, anemia, electrolyte imbalances, and check internal organ function including the kidneys and liver. Blood tests can also be used to check for things like thyroid function, parasitic infections including heartworm disease, and an animal's ability to form normal blood clots.

Sample collection is generally fast and easy. We often get blood samples from the large jugular vein in the neck. Although it sounds a little scary, it is very safe and is the fastest place to get a fairly large sample if we need to check several different things. Alternate sites of blood collection include the front or back legs on dogs or cats, tail veins on reptiles, and the ear vein on rabbits.

Sometimes blood work is also recommended at the yearly exam for animals that seem perfectly healthy. Geriatric patients are generally dogs over 6 years of age for larger breeds and 8 years of age for small breeds and cats. With these older patients we often recommend baseline blood work as up to 40% of geriatric patients may have abnormal blood work despite not showing any outward signs of disease. This allows us to make an earlier diagnosis and start treatment before the condition is as severe. Even if blood work is perfectly normal we have gained valuable information in knowing the pet's "normal values" so that if he or she does become sick we can monitor any changes or trends.

If you have any questions about blood work or other procedures we recommend, please ask as your pet's health is always our top priority!
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