House Vets

Have we seen your cat lately?

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 10:43:11 EST

Believe or not, cats are the most popular pet! There are 82 million pet cats in the U.S. compared to 72 million dogs. Yet studies show the number of feline veterinary visits has steadily declined each year. Studies indicate that almost three times as many cats hadn't received veterinary care in the 2011.

Common myths about cats, which may contribute to such a decline are:

1. Cats will display visible signs of illness like dogs do

2. Cats are naturally healthier and more problem-free than dogs

3. Most health problems come from outside and my cat is an indoor cat

Just like dogs, cats do need regular veterinary visits. Feline annual exams are equivalent to a person seeing their doctor every 5-7 years! A cat needs annual exams, vaccinations, parasite checks, oral assessments, and heart disease screening. Cats are naturally adept to hiding signs of illness and regular exams can help catch life threating issues earlier that are lurking secretly inside your furry feline.

House Vets offers a full service facility and we offer a wonderful atmosphere. Since some cats can be more nervous, we ensure that you and your cat are taken to a quiet room when you arrive. This reduces stress if your cat is nervous around dogs or noise. Just request this service when you schedule an appointment.

I know that people say "It is so difficult getting my cat in a carrier". Try this helpful tip: Leave your carrier out and open all the time. Leave your carrier out and open with treats inside so that your cat can go in and out at will, this can help desensitize them to it.

House Vets for House Pets also offers home veterinary visits. Our mobile unit can come to your home, where your cat is comfortable and we can perform exams, vaccines, and test in the privacy of your house. After the exam is over, your cat can calmly return to its environment. This reduces stress tremendously.

Remember, cats naturally hide signs of being sick. They will sleep more and do not seek attention or whine like our canine companions. It is more expensive to treat an illness than it is to be proactive an prevent it. You actually save money by having your cat seen yearly, instead of waiting to finally discover it is sick. Our cats deserve the same love and attention as our dogs, so I hope you will join our mission to increasing awareness in more regular veterinary visits and care for our wonderful feline friends!

Winter can still bring fleas and heartworm disease......

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:01:19 EST

Winter is here and most of us stop our flea prevention and heartworn prevention. Why? Our animals can still get fleas and still can get heartworm disease even in these very cold conditions.

Fleas can live safely inside a home, tucked away just waiting for the right conditions to come out and attack! This can happen not only at your house, but also other houses you visit. I am sure your friends have pets too. So, don't under estimate fleas and their ability to live through some of the coldest conditions.

Heartworm disease is transmitted by mosquitoes. These hardy insects can bite your pet, feeding on its blood, and transmit through the blood stream heartworm larvae. The larvae swim through the blood to the heart and begin to grow into worms, which over time will choke the heart and potentially kill your pet! That is a scary reality, but it is preventable!

I have seen mosquitoes in the winter! I had one in my vehicle a week ago! How in blazes did it get in there? All I know is I have seen them in my house, my car, and other places in the winter, so they are still a threat.

Look, the bottom line is ALL IN ONE products like Trifexis or Advantage Multi cost on average $13.00 a month. They are single once monthly dose that protect your precious pet against FLEAS, HEARTWORMS, and INTESTINAL PARASITES. It is a small price to pay to protect your pet and keep them safe. The cost to treat fleas, heartworms, or even intestinal parasites is ALOT more. So save yourself money in the long run and hey....SAVE YOUR PET! It's the least you can do for our super special furry friends!

tags: Heartworm

Tis the Season to eat holly...be jolly...something like that.

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:33:25 EST

Happy holidays to all of the four legged and two legged friends of House vets. It is or hope that you have a safe and blessed Christmas. We are enjoying the many gifts that you brought to the clinic this year and are so very grateful. One of our gifts was a beautiful poinsettia. Many of you are thinking..."Aren't those toxic?" Actually, they are not! Like the Christmas cactus, mistletoe, and holly, they will not cause serious harm to your pet. Should you encourage then to munch away? No. These plants will cause a tummy ache if a large quantity is ingested, but a trip to the emergency is not typically indicated. So for all you plant lovers...love on. Enjoy your poinsettia. We sure do!

tags: Holiday Tips

Fall allergies... it can be a problem for dogs too.

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 12:19:40 EST

Fall has just started, and we are already seeing many dogs miserable as a result of seasonal allergies. Dogs and cats can sometimes have watery eyes and sneeze when suffering from allergies, but more often the signs are dermatologic in nature. The typical allergic dog has itchy skin, itchy feet, and excessive discharge in one or both ears. In many cases these issues can be treated with antihistamines and ear medications. Sometimes however stronger measures are required and this can only be accomplished after allergy testing is done.

If you think your pet is beginning to develop seasonal allergies, record the season it occurs, where the pet itches the most, what foods and treats you give, and what treatments if any that yo have tried. Thiis knowledge can be tremendously helpful to the veterinarian when developing a diagnosis and formulating a treatment plan.

tags: Allergies

Spending time with your pet

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 13:06:34 EST

As a working mom, I know that finding any free time can be very difficult. One great way to force yourself to get in some quality time with your pet is by scheduling one of the great doggy events around town into your calendar. There are so many activities for dog lovers. The list is endless.

I was reminded of how fun dog events can be while working a booth at Dog Days at The Beach Water Park on Sunday. The entire House Vets team had a blast. It was great seeing dogs and owners enjoying each other and splashing around in the wading pool. Other cool activities include a hike at a local park, a play date at the dog park, or a jog around the track at Veterans or Julifs park.

In spending time with your dog, you actually may find that you gain just as much or more than your pet did. Give it a try!

tags: Quality Time