veterinary - Barnyard Veterinary Service & Supply

Pets and Travel

Posted on June 7, 2017 by Sandra Wahlert DVM Posted in Education .

Traveling with your pet this summer? Here are some helpful tips

Know the area you are traveling to and the health risks that might be present. For example, Lyme disease is endemic in some states.

Make sure you pet is current on any necessary vaccines. Allow enough time between vaccinations.

If you don’t already have your dog on heartworm prevention, get them tested and start prophylactic medication. Heartworms, which are spread by mosquitoes, are most prevalent in southern, mid- western and coastal states.

Make sure your pet is protected against fleas and ticks via an oral or topical preventative. The last thing anyone wants to bring back from vacation is a flea infestation.

Keep a copy of your pet’s vaccination and medical records with you when traveling.

Allow enough time to get a health certificate if necessary and check airline and destination regulations.

Make sure you have an adequate supply of your pet’s food and any medications it might need.

Talk with your veterinarian about having medication on hand, if your pet suffers from travel anxiety, or transient stress diarrhea or vomiting.

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Vehicles as pet ovens! Beware!

Posted on June 7, 2017 by Sandra Wahlert DVM Posted in Uncategorized .

Vehicles as pet ovens! Beware!

With ambient temperatures getting warmer once again, it’s time to keep your pets out of the hot car. The greenhouse effect of car windows and lack of airflow can turn a car into an oven in short order even on a cool (50-60 degree)sunny day. Having water available and shade can be helpful, but don’t get a false sense of security that your pet will be okay inside of a vehicle.

Very young dogs, old dogs, sick dogs, and brachycephalic (short- nose) breeds are especially susceptible to high temperatures. Depending on how warm the dog was and for how long, heat stroke is not always reversible even with emergency treatment.

Don’t take a chance, keep your pet safe!

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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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Halloween is coming…

Posted on October 5, 2016 by Sandra Wahlert DVM Posted in Education, Uncategorized .

Wearing costumes can also stress our furry friends

… Fright night for pets?

While Halloween can be a fun spooky night for people, our pets may not share our enthusiasm. Here’s a few things to be aware of:

Yard ornaments like the inflatable ghosts, motion activated skeletons, and people in costumes can scare pets and increase their anxiety levels.

Halloween candy can be hazardous to pets as well, especially chocolate and anything containing the sugar substitute xylitol.

Multiple visits by trick or treaters can drive your pet crazy, especially if the doorbell rings every time and your pet is protective of your property. These dogs may benefit from being confined to a quiet room or crate until the commotion is over.

Additionally Halloween decorations, power cords, make-up, and costumes can pose a threat to pets if they are chewed on or eaten.

Lastly black cats are often targeted by people with less than honorable intentions so keep them inside too.

Here are more tips from The Humane Society of the United States:
www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/halloween-safety.html

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Beat the Heat

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

Sometimes, even a fan isn’t enough

Baby, it’s hot out there! Here are 8 quick tips from the AVMA to help you and your furry friends beat the heat. (These tips can also help cats)

Never, ever leave your dog in the car
Make sure your dog has unlimited access to fresh water
Make sure your dog has access to shade when outside
Take walks during the cooler hours of the day
When walking, try to stay off of hot surfaces (like asphalt) because it can burn your dog’s paws
If you think it’s hot outside, it’s even hotter for your pet – make sure your pet has a means of cooling off
Keep your dog free of external parasites (fleas, ticks) and heartworms – consult your veterinarian about the best product for your pet
Consider clipping or shaving dogs with long coats (talk to your veterinarian first to see if it’s appropriate for your pet), and apply sunscreen to your dog’s skin if she or he has a thin coat

Bonus tip: Your dog may like some pup-sicles. Check out this DIY recipe from the Humane Society (Don’t worry feline fans, they also have a variation for cats!)
http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/eating/recipes/animal_treats/dog_popsicles.html

Discover other tips and tricks at:

Humane Society: Keep Pets Safe in Heat
http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/pets_safe_heat_wave.html

PetFinder: Keep your dog safe in a heat wave
https://www.petfinder.com/dogs/dog-care/heat-wave-safety-dog/

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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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Kids, Pinworms and Pets

Posted on May 4, 2016 by Sandra Wahlert DVM Posted in Education .

Can my kids get pinworms from our dog or cat?

Pinworms are not transmitted from animals to humans. While it is true that other species of animals can have pinworms, they are not transmitted to people.

However, there are other species of worms that have zoonotic potential and can cause disease in humans. Various forms of larva migrans are caused by Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati, the roundworms of dogs and cats. Infected animals can contaminate the soil and then humans coming in contact with the soil can ingest the eggs accidentally.

Some statistics show that almost a third of US parks are contaminated with roundworm eggs. Making sure kids and adults alike follow good hygiene protocols and washing garden vegetables before consumption are good practices for prevention . Additionally keeping pets on a good parasite control program can reduce local contamination.

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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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Digital Thermal Imaging

Posted on February 3, 2016 by Sandra Wahlert DVM Posted in Education .

Digital Thermal Imagining allows us to better evaluate and treat your four-legged friends.

We are proud to announce that we now offer Digital Thermal Imaging.

Veterinary patients do not seek medical attention themselves. An animal is most often presented to the veterinarian as a result of symptoms observed by an owner or caretaker. The veterinarian responsibility is to then evaluate and treat the animal as accurately as possible. Diagnostic evaluation is often aided by immediate visual cues.

Digital Thermal Images do not depict temperature but measure the radiant energy from the target tissue. These cameras read and illuminate this energy and are both non invasive and non destructive as an aid to patient diagnosis and improved treatment plan.

This new digital thermal imaging is best for musculoskeletal and inflammatory issues.

Ask us about Digital Thermal Imaging at your next appointment.

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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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