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“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened.”― Anatole France
The Four C’s of Poop
Color: A happy, healthy body produces chocolate brown stool. This color comes from bile, a fluid released from the gallbladder to help digest food, and bilirubin, a pigment in the bile. Though some variation in color is normal. Any significant deviation from the chocolate brown color that persists for more than one or two stools is cause for concern. An exception would be color changes that reflect the pet’s diet, such as kibble containing food coloring that results in flecks of color.
Consistency: You may be surprised to know that some veterinarians use a numerical system to score the consistency of a pet’s stool. The fecal scoring system assigns a value to the stool from 1 to 7, where 1 represents very hard pellets and 7 is a puddle. The ideal stool is a 2: a firm segmented piece, caterpillar shaped, that feels like Play-Doh when pressed. Some pets naturally have squishier poops than others do, but all stool should hold its form. 
Coating: Stool shouldn’t have any coating; you should be able to pick up the perfect poop without leaving any residue on the ground. A coating of mucous often accompanies disorders of the colon. Bright red blood may also be present in a pet's stool, which is always alarming for owners. Though a single streak of red on a stool can happen for a variety of reasons and is often not a cause for concern, bleeding that persists for more than one stool raises a red flag.
Contents: No one expects you to dissect your pet's poop but some people do it anyway. Rice-shaped flecks of white or long, wriggly spaghetti-like strands mean your pet may have worms. Excessive grass can accompany GI upset; clumps of hair can indicate overgrooming due to allergies or stress. Sometimes the stool will provide obvious clues to what your pet has been up to while you’re away, like chewing up your sock or eating toys. 
 
 
 
October 25 is National Pit Bull Awareness Day
National Pit Bull Awareness Day is a day of appreciation and education designed to change perceptions and stereotypes about pit bulls and their responsible owners.
The ultimate goal of NPBAD is to promote the truth about the American Pit Bull Terrier. Knowledge is power, and with education and advocacy, the truth will save lives in terms of negating the fear and bias.
Meet "Tank” Belanger Our October 2014 Pet of the Month
 Hi, my name is “Tank”, and I am Largo Veterinary Hospital’s October 2014 pet of the month. I am a 4 ½ year old male Newfoundland. My mom thinks I am special as I am a “gentle giant” and also a mama’s boy. My favorite treat is ice cubes. Something funny that happened to me was the time I lifted my leg to tinkle on a bush and I fell over. It happens every time I try. My mom loves me so much that my house is cold like a meat locker. A fun fact about me is that a Newfoundland is a water rescue breed, and I am afraid of the water. I am so spoiled that I get to sleep on 2 huge feather down puff beds.
October 8th, 2014 is
National Pet Obesity Awareness Day
If you pet is carrying extra weight, it can:
  • Increase the risk of heart disease by forcing the heart to work harder.
  • Increase the risk of arthritis as extra weight can stress the joints, cause joint pain, and make it harder for your pet to move around comfortably.
  • Obesity can cause breathing problems, skin and hair coat problems.
  • Especially in cats, obesity frequently leads to diabetes.
 
Read More...

Dog is Man's Best Bud in Beer Commercial that Makes us Whimper.

Two Common Diseases of Geriatric Cats.

What Pet's Do When You're Not Home.
 
DIY Pet Costumes.
Largo Veterinary Hospital  •  1120 Starkey Road  •  Largo  •  FL  •  33771
http://www.largovet.com
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