pet - Barnyard Veterinary Service & Supply

Dental Cleaning and Gunky Teeth

Posted on March 1, 2017 by Sandra Wahlert DVM Posted in Education .

cat brushing its own teeth with text that says "cavities...I fights them"

Unfortunately, dogs and cats can’t brush their own teeth. They need our help to maintain those pearly whites.

My pet just had a dental cleaning done and I’m seeing gunk on his teeth already.

Congratulations for completing the first step in dental care for your pet!

Unfortunately, the care doesn’t end there. Home care is just as important as the cleanings.

Plaque begins to develop within 24 hours, tartar within 72 hours (3 days), and gingivitis can set in again as early as 2 weeks after a cleaning.

Brushing your pet’s teeth is the best way to disrupt the bacterial biofilm that is responsible for the plaque development.

Even getting your pet accustomed to simply having your finger run across the teeth with some pet safe tooth paste is helpful. Consult your veterinarian for proper brushing technique.

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Pet Dental Month

Posted on February 8, 2017 by Sandra Wahlert DVM Posted in Education .

“Trust me, I’m a dentist”

February is dental month for pets!

Don’t be fooled.

Pets that are overweight and pets that still appear to be eating well can have terrible dental disease. Gently flip up your pets lip to check the teeth on a regular basis.

Keep in mind that some pets that resist this procedure may have inflammation of their gums and touching their mouth may be painful.

Signs of dental disease in cats and dogs include:

Yellow or brown crust (tartar) on teeth
Bleeding gums (or inflammation of the gums)
Drooling
Bad breath
Tooth loss
Refusal to eat or difficulty chewing

Your local veterinarian has a wealth of information on dental disease so don’t hesitate to make an appointment and have your pet checked out.

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Seasonal Pet Safety

Posted on December 14, 2016 by Sandra Wahlert DVM Posted in Education .

Season’s Greetings!!

Can it be that the Holidays are once again upon us?

While this can be a time of excitement, fellowship, and indulgence for humans, pets can sometimes get stressed with all of the extra commotion. The following is a list of things you can do to keep your pet(s) safe.

Provide your pet(s) with a safe place out from underfoot. Kennels and kid/pet gates can be useful in designating boundaries.
Invest in covered trash cans and keep food out of reach of clever counter surfing pets. Chocolate, coffee, alcohol, xylitol, grapes, raisin, currents, macadamia nuts, bones and excessive fats like butter and shortening can all be toxic or harmful to pets.
Keep decorations safe and appropriate for the type of pet you have. Tinsel, candles, electrical cords, glass ornaments, and many of the seasonal holiday plants can be hazardous to pets.
Additionally, be conscientious about the outdoor weather conditions if your pets need to stay outside. Adequate shelter and access to unfrozen water are essential.

Happy Holidays!

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Thankful for Pets

Posted on November 9, 2016 by Sandra Wahlert DVM Posted in Education .

As Thanksgiving comes around, take time to be thankful for your pets. Sure they can be a lot of work, but the joys they bring us can be unmeasurable. They make us laugh and cry. They comfort us when we are sad and keep us company when we are alone. Sometimes they protect us and sometimes they get us in trouble with the neighbors or animal control.

Show your pet some extra love this year.

Popular requests from the dogs include going out for a walk or run, extra petting, and healthy treats.

Cats might appreciate a new cat tree/scratching post, some cat nip, a sunny window shelf or just a cardboard box.

Horses like apples and carrots or maybe just a saddle that fits.

Little critters are often happiest with a clean cage and a few delicious munchies.

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Why test pet urine?

Posted on November 9, 2016 by Sandra Wahlert DVM Posted in Education .

Why does my veterinarian want to test my dog or cats urine? What’s he/she going to find?

Veterinarians analyze urine for acidity or alkalinity, specific gravity (how concentrated the urine is), red blood cells, white blood cells, cancer cells, and bacteria (urine should be sterile).

They also look for crystals, casts, glucose, ketones, protein, and other substances whose presence can indicate a disease process is active.

A urinalysis is best performed in conjunction with blood tests and a physical exam to gain a more complete picture of how the body is processing and filtering certain substances.

For example, glucose should stay in the blood and not spill over into the urine via the kidney. Diabetes is of course suspected with the presence of glucose in the urine.

Allow your veterinarian to collect samples at the clinic or confirm with them their preferred process of collection. Fresh samples are best and need to be collected and handled in a manner that will reveal the most help information.

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4th of July and Pets

Posted on June 22, 2016 by Sandra Wahlert DVM Posted in Education .

More pets get lost on the 4th of July

Did you know? More pets get lost on the 4th of July than any other day of the year.

Thunder, fireworks and other loud noises can really stress out our furry friends. As a result, this noisy holiday means more “guests” in the “pound” as they seek to escape the loud noises that terrify them.

It also means the possibility of an emergency visit to the Vet for a variety of things, ranging from injuries from escaping to digestive stresses and more.

Here are some quick tips:

Be sure your pet has a safe, den-like place, such as a crate or kennel
Play some music or other “white noise” to help mask the sound of fireworks
Don’t comfort your pet during fireworks or thunder. It rewards the fear behavior.
Be sure they have current ID on them such as a microchip or pet tags. You can also write your telephone number (including area code) on their collar with a permanent marker.
Keep them safe and away from fireworks

To learn more, check out these articles:

Humane Society: Fear of Thunder and Other Loud Noises
http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/dogs/tips/fear_thunder_loud_noises.html

ASPCA: Fourth of July Safety Tips
http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/fourth-july-safety-tips

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Shop with us online

Posted on March 30, 2016 by Sandra Wahlert DVM Posted in Education .

You can now shop locally, online.

We have partnered with VetSource Home Delivery which will allow you to make purchases for your furry friends online and have their supplies delivered to your door. We can even set you up for your pet’s prescription medications!

Click this button to explore our new eCommerce site!

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What dental treats actually work?

Posted on February 17, 2016 by Sandra Wahlert DVM Posted in Education .

Look for the VOHC stamp of approval on dental home care products.

What dental treats actually work for decreasing plaque and tartar in my pet’s mouth?

If you are trying to improve the quality of your pet’s mouth, skip the box of bone shaped treats. Studies have been done to show that both rawhide chews and Greenies can reduce plaque and tartar on your dog’s teeth.

There are some treats specifically designed for cats as well, if they are so inclined to oblige you with a trial.

For a list of pet dental products that have been shown to reduce plaque and tartar visit www.vohc.org and look for their stamp of approval on dental home care products.

Visit your local veterinary office for more tips on oral care in dogs and cats.

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Pet Dental Health Month – Pet foods to help pet’s teeth

Posted on February 10, 2016 by Sandra Wahlert DVM Posted in Education, Uncategorized .

February is National Pet Dental Month

Do they make pet foods designed to help keep my dog’s and cat’s teeth clean?

Yes! Research shows that 70% of cats and 80% of dogs will have some form of dental disease by the age of two years. Sticky plaque build up is the number one cause of periodontal (dental) disease.

Hill’s Science Diet T/D and Purina ProPlan’s DH are both prescription dental foods that are designed to reduce plaque and tartar when fed as the sole diet. The larger unique kibble size is designed to scrape the tooth as it is chewed. Additionally the kibble breaks down more slowly in the pet’s mouth allowing for even more chewing and scraping action.

These foods are formulated to be fed to most adult or senior pets, but consult with your veterinarian to make sure this is a good choice for your particular pet.

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Laser Therapy

Posted on July 1, 2015 by Sandra Wahlert DVM Posted in Education .

What is laser therapy and how does it work?

An exam is given prior to laser treatments.

Laser therapy is the use of light waves to promote healing . Light waves come in varying lengths and can be referred to as cold or hot. Both can stimulate healing, but hot or class IV lasers are more powerful and work with the body to more quickly heal the tissues. They also penetrate more deeply into the tissue so a broader range of ailments can be treated in a timely fashion. Lasers, when used correctly, decrease pain and inflammation and help the body heal itself. They do this by increasing the microcirculation which brings more blood and thus oxygen into the injured area. Additionally, laser therapy increases the energy or ATP production of the damaged cells.

Uses of Laser therapy in animals.

Since laser therapy stimulates tissue healing by increasing microcirculation to a wounded or inflamed area and decreases pain, it has numerous applications. Most procedures involve a short treatment time and almost all animals tolerate the procedure very well . Some treatments involve the use of a massaging ball-like head that focuses the laser beam and allows it to penetrate deeper. More superficial wounds are treated by running the laser beam about 1/4” off of the surface. Any animal with musculoskeletal pain, arthritis, wounds/abscesses, fractures, gingivitis/periodontal disease, ear infections, post –surgical incisions or inflammation/injury can benefit from laser therapy. Treatment protocols and price vary with the injury, but overall laser therapy is a very cost effective and non-invasive treatment modality.

Learn more at http://www.litecure.com/companion/for-pet-owners/

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