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SEPTEMBER HOLIDAYS:
September 24-30
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Meet Athena Mackintosh
Our September 2017
Pet of the Month
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My name is Athena and I am a 2 year old German Shepherd and my owners love me so much that they were hoping I'd win this contest! My family says I arrived in their lives at just the right time as they were healing from the loss of their beloved Golden. I am so spoiled that when I jump up on mom and dad's bed when no one is looking, they let me stay there. Don't tell Dr. Daniels but they also spoil me with steak bones. Mmmmm, I love meat! I also love playing with my human boys and something funny that happened to me was the time I visited a school for a special show-n-tell.
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Storm safety is on everyone's mind right now so what's your hurricane disaster plan?
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Do you have a plan that includes your pet? Click on the image below for your checklist.
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| BUY A 6 MONTH SUPPLY WITH A HEARTWORM TEST & RECEIVE A $35 REBATE
BUY A 6 MONTH SUPPLY WITHOUT A HEARTWORM TEST & RECEIVE A $20 REBATE
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Did you know we offer boarding at Largo Veterinary Hospital?
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Click here to fill out our boarding release form and plan now for the holidays.
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Are you signed up for
FREE REWARDS
at Largo Veterinary Hospital?
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1000 points = $25 credit to your account
OR a free nail trim
Activating your account automatically gives you 200 points. Every dollar you spend on services or products = 1 point
There are more ways to earn points too, once you sign up we'll email you all the details! How do you sign up? Activate your VetScene Portal here:
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September is
Animal Pain Awareness Month:
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As we know our pets can't always convey whats bothering them so they will often suffer silently. Even the most attentive pet owner gets busy and can miss signs of pain in their pets. In honor of Animal Pain Awareness here a reminder of some behaviors cats and dogs exhibit when in pain.
Cats are instinctively driven to hide suffering, so be on the lookout for these subtle signs:
- A change in behavior: If a super-active cat starts spending most of her day sleeping, this could be a sign that she’s hurting. Likewise, if a cat becomes grumpy, it’s not because she’s "just getting old."
- Resistance to touch and wanting to be left alone: If your cat begins growling, swatting or snapping when stroked, touched or moved, that’s a sign something is bothering him.
- Sleeping in only one position: This may mean something aches when she lays on a certain side so she chooses to favor laying on the other side due to comfort.
- Hiding: Cats feel that pain makes them vulnerable, a hurting cat will hide so that he can avoid being preyed upon by stronger animals.
- Excessive licking of an area: Cats who are hurting will try to bring relief by licking the area that’s bothering them.
- Changes in litter box habits: Cats with painful backs and hips may have trouble using the litter box as well as they used to. Holding the appropriate positions for peeing and pooping can be very difficult for a cat with sore hips or knees.
Dogs display their pain in certain actions and behaviors that may seem subtle to us as well. Signs your dog is in pain include:
- Excessive Grooming: If you notice your pet tending to a localized area he’s never noticed before, or has just recently started spending a lot more time there, it could be a sign that he’s hurting. Pets will often groom places that are sources of pain in hopes to clean and care for the wound, even if there is no open wound present.
- Heavy Panting: Panting is normal behavior, even when the panting is heavily after being outside or playing. But if you notice heavy panting out of nowhere, it could be stress-induced. This stress could be caused by pain your pet is experiencing.
- Loss of Appetite: Pain often equal a lack of appetite in both humans and animals, it’s important visit Dr. Daniels right away, as this could be a symptom of many dangerous ailments.
- Shyness & Aggression: You may notice that your dog is starting to become more and more antisocial. If this happens suddenly, it’s reasonable to suspect pain as a probable cause. In some cases, you’ll find your normally overly friendly companion has become aggressive.
Being able to identify early signs of pain can lead to a much more comfortable outcome. Visiting Dr. Daniels at the first sign of these symptoms will allow you start treatment before the condition worsens.
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4 Reasons Dogs Tilt Their Heads?
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Wondering? Listening? Needing Attention? Trying to tell us something? No matter the reason, when your pup tilts his head it’s undeniably adorable.While we’ll never know for sure, researchers say it could be one of a few reasons:
- To hear better: Although they are known for their amazing hearing, they can sometimes find it hard to locate exactly where the sound is coming from. And tilting their heads adjusts their ears and allows them to pinpoint the exact source and tone of a voice more clearly.
- To show empathy: It's not surprising, as we all know how in tune with our emotions pets can be. There’s such a thing as a sixth sense, and dogs have it. They can tell when something’s just not right, whether you’re upset after a breakup or angry because you stubbed your toe. They may be confused, so they’re assessing the situation, checking out how you’re doing. It’s called empathy, and it’s an admirable trait in humans and dogs alike.
- Want attention or a reward: Most of us are guilty of "puppy voice". After time, your dog may start to correlate being adorable with receiving a treat, a walk, or game of fetch. Let’s say you give your dog a small bone every time he cocks his head, soon enough, he’ll string those actions together and start cocking his head for food or extra petting. The bottom line is that something got his attention, and now he’s expecting something to follow it.
- A vestibular issue: Occasionally a head tilt could signal an underlying health issue. If your dog is tilting his head frequently, he may be trying to regain his balance or prevent himself from falling. The culprit? Vertigo, essentially. When something’s not right in the vestibular system, we have a hard time gauging where we are in relation to our surroundings. If you notice constant head tilts, falls or even nausea in your dog, make sure to visit Dr. Daniels.
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Purring is the most common sound cats make. What a sweet sound it is to hear. Mama cats even use their purring as a lullaby to soothe their kittens!
Cats purr when they're content. When yours is curled up in the sun, you may hear a gentle rumble as he breathes in and out. Perhaps she's on her back, eyes half-closed, tail mostly still. If she's purring, it's safe to assume she's in her happy place.
Cats purr to communicate other emotions and needs, too. Some cats purr when it's mealtime. Researchers studied the sounds that house cats make when they're hungry and when food isn't on their minds. The purrs don't sound the same. When cats purr for food, they combine their normal purr with an unpleasant cry or mew, a bit like a human baby's cry. Experts believe that we're more likely to respond to this sound. They've found that people can tell the difference between the purrs, even if they aren't cat owners.
Cats purr for relief and healing. Even though purring takes energy, many cats purr when they get hurt or are in pain. So what makes the effort worth it? It might simply be a way for a cat to soothe itself, like a child sucks their thumb to feel better. But some research suggests that purring actually helps cats get better faster. The low frequency of purrs causes a series of related vibrations within their body that can:
- Heal bones and wounds
- Build muscle and repair tendons
- Ease breathing
- Lessen pain and swelling
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