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6 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day With Your Pet
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1. Make a Homemade Pet Bed: Many dog products, are made from fabrics that have been treated with chemicals, either to make them flame retardant or water and stain resistant. The batting, or stuffing, in many dog beds, is polyfil. While the jury is out on whether polyfil is toxic to humans and pets, it can’t be argued that it’s a petroleum based product, made from nonrenewable sources. Not very green! A little craftiness will save you money and reusing materials makes things easier on the planet. Take a look at these for DIY instructions.
2. Easy, Green, Cat-Safe Cleaning: Cats are curious creatures, and as the saying goes, that’s not always a good thing. Keep dangerous cleaning chemicals out of your cat’s reach, or better yet, use these tips on how to keep your house clean and green, like by using biodegradable litter pans!
3. Good Old Spring Cleaning: Empty out the dark corners of your closets, cabinets and attic. But before throwing out your dusty treasures drop off old towels, bedding, leashes, litter boxes and bowls to a local shelter.
4. Plant a Garden of Pet Snacks: If you have space, consider growing your own garden of pet safe snacks such as carrots, broccoli, green beans, catnip, or melons. Before using insecticides, research mulching and other gardening practices that can help reduce the amount of insecticides and herbicides you might need. Your faithful furry friends will enjoy the outdoor time with you too!
5. The Power of Poop: Scoop dog poop with biodegradable bags instead of plastic bags from the grocery store.
6. Neighborhood Cleanup: Chances are your dog's nose already makes trash hard to ignore on a walk. Make it a habit to bring a bag with you and collect trash.
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Meet “Blair” Deluca
Our April 2014 Pet Of the Month
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| | Hi, my name is “Blair”, and I am an almost 4-year-old female Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. My owners think I am special as they say I am a very unique and sweet dog. Shhh…don’t tell Dr. Lutz or Dr. Daniels, but my favorite treat is cheese. Something funny that happened to me was the time I ate poop in the back yard. My owners love me so much that they give me all my pills and take awesome care of me. Another fact about me is that Dr. Daniels fixed me so I can even jump on the couch like my big sister, Jill. I am so spoiled that I even get to sleep in my owners’ bed.
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| to your account when you refer a friend and they come in for their first appointment at Largo Veterinary Hospital
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Heartworm disease is preventable. Heartworm prevention is safe, easy and inexpensive. While treatment for heartworm disease in dogs is possible, it is a complicated and expensive process. There is no effective treatment for heartworm disease in cats, so it is imperative that disease prevention measures be taken for cats.
There are a variety of options for preventing heartworm infection in both dogs and cats, including daily and monthly tablets, chewables, and monthly topicals . All of these methods are extremely effective, and when administered properly on a timely schedule, heartworm infection can be completely prevented.
It is your responsibility to faithfully maintain the prevention program you have selected in consultation with your veterinarian.
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| Fatty lumps, called lipomas, bring out the fear in even the calmest pet owners....however surgery is often not the best choice.
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| Most people want any oddity removed whether it is from their own body or their pet's.  Usually these odd lumps and bumps on our pets are actually fatty lumps called lipomas. Lipomas are composed of lipocytes which are fatty cells that decide to grow more than they should.
If you see a lump, do not panic! A small percentage of lumps end up in the “malignant” category. But, bring your pet into see Dr. Lutz or Dr. Daniels for a physical exam. If concerned the doctor will take a fine needle aspirate (collecting a few cells by inserting a needle in the center of the lump). The procedure is simple and the samples of a few cells obtained can be sent to the lab. It is better to know the diagnosis than to be worrying sick over a lump that is benign. If the results of fine needle aspirate come back with confirmation of cancer, this is a much more complicated topic and further consultation would be needed.
There is not a cure for lipomas. Once they happen, they usually do not disappear. Lipomas should not be removed unless they obstruct your dogs movement. Some lipomas occur in areas where the skin and fat under the skin or the underlying muscle gets injured or overstretched. Some people believe that the excessive stretch of tissues results in trauma to the fatty cells – lipocytes. These lipocytes try to repair, start multiplying and a lump is formed. If your dog is a fast and wild runner, lumps may be more likely to happen. Often lumps appear to be associated with the spinal segments that have the tightest muscles or evidence of inflammation and injury.
Call today (727-584-8370) if your pet has any lump or bump you'd like the doctors to examine.
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