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Welcome to Lake Mills Veterinary Clinic This page is updated regularly with news and important information to keep your pets healthy and happy. See the menu to the left for specific information about emergencies, scheduling appointments, behavior help, our Pet Health Library and more. What's eating your pet?
Like that friend who cleans out the fridge every time he stops by, parasites in dogs and cats consume your pet’s nutrients. They also munch on your pet. Talk about wearing out your welcome!
Creepy-crawlies on the outside
If you already use medications to prevent fleas and ticks on your pet, you’re on the right track. Annoying as they are, fleas and ticks themselves only scratch the surface of the range of parasites waiting to feast on your pet. Fleas can transmit tapeworms and other diseases. Ticks can transmit bacterial blood infections such as Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis, and Ehrlichiosis.
Buzz off!
Mosquitoes carry several diseases as well, most notably heartworm larvae. Heartworm disease kills cats and dogs every year.
Slippery-slimy on the inside
Intestinal parasites like roundworms, hookworms and whipworms live in the soil and can be easily ingested even by clean-living indoor dogs and cats. As with any parasite, intestinal parasites steal your pet’s nutrition as they grow and multiply inside the body. Over time, an infestation can weaken and kill your pet.
There’s another very good reason to keep control of parasites on your pet: some (but not all) parasites are transmissible from pets to people. Young children are particularly susceptible.
Take your pet off the menu
If you’re feeling a little paranoid about what’s crawling around on (or in) your pet, don’t despair. Good prevention and regular testing for common parasites can keep your pet healthy.
1. Every day pay attention to your pet’s eating, drinking, urination and defecation habits. Eating or drinking more or less than usual, urinating more than usual or changes in consistency of feces can be early signs of a problem. If things don’t return to normal within 24 hours, consider a phone call or visit to the veterinarian.
2. Every day check your pet’s ears, skin and coat for parasites like fleas and ticks.
3. Once a month use medications for heartworm prevention (cats too!), deworming, and flea and tick prevention. We recommend year-round use of these preventives, even in the cold
4. Every 6 months bring in a stool sample from your dog or cat for an intestinal parasite test. Monthly dewormers kill most, but not all, potential intestinal parasites. Regular stool checks allow us to catch parasites early and get rid of them before they harm your pet.
5. Every 6-12 months bring your pet in for a wellness physical exam. Veterinarians may notice early signs of parasites (and many diseases) that you might not be trained to detect.
6. Once a year have your pet tested for common parasites and related diseases at your veterinarian. A simple blood test can tell you in eight minutes if your dog has heartworms, Lyme disease, Ehrlichiosis or Anaplasmosis. The test (known as the “4Dx test”, previously referred to as a “heartworm test”) will pick up these diseases even if your pet seems perfectly healthy on the outside. Cats who spend a lot of time outdoors should be tested once a year for feline leukemia, feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline heartworm disease.
The earlier we diagnose these diseases, the better your pet will respond to treatment, and recover quickly. Some high-risk pets should be tested more than once a year – if you hunt or do field trials with your dog, for example. Ask us how often you should test your pet.
To learn more, click on the links in the article above, email us or call us at 920-648-2421.
December 22, 2009 Ten ways to make a Happy Holiday for animals:
1. Keep your pets safe and warm. If it’s too cold outside for you, it’s probably too cold to leave your pet outside. Also, holiday activity makes it easier for clever pets to sneak outside unnoticed. Make sure your pet has an ID tag with your phone number to bring her home if she gets lost.
2. Keep toxic seasonal plants like mistletoe, holly, Christmas cactus, poinsettia and pine trees, out of reach of dogs and cats. Contact your veterinarian immediately if your pet munches on your holiday greenery.
3. Make a special treat jar with your pet’s regular food, and a few treats, inside. This helps avoid guests or family members over-feeding your pet, or feeding dangerous foods like chocolate or cooked bones.
4. Help out your local animal shelter. Lost pets, cold weather and holiday activity mean more work for people, and more animals in need of supplies. Call to see how you can help.
5. Provide indoor fun for dogs as cold weather limits exercise. Try stuffing a Kong™ toy with wet dog food, yogurt, cottage cheese or peanut butter. Play hide-and-seek around the house. Use your imagination, and get the kids involved.
6. Keep tinsel and other string-like items away from your cat. Offer catnip-filled toys instead.
7. Remember to save some attention for your pets amidst all the holiday preparations of shopping, decorating, cooking and visiting.
8. Consider helping an elderly neighbor with pet care like scooping litterboxes or walking dogs.
9. Reduce your pets’ stress and anxiety - remember to give your pets a break from the chaos and activity of a house filled with visitors.
10. Make holiday cookies for your dog! (see recipe below)
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Healthy Holiday Dog Biscuits
· 2 ½ cups whole wheat self-rising flour
· ½ cup skim dry milk powder
· ½ teaspoon salt
· 6 tablespoons margarine or butter
· 1 egg
· 1 tablespoon wheat germ
· 1 cup cold water
1. Mix butter and egg together.
2. Add remaining dry ingredients and mix well.
3. Add enough water to be able to knead the mixture for 2–3 minutes.
4. Roll out the dough on a floured surface to ¼ to ½ inch thickness.
5. Cut into shapes.
6. Bake at 350°C for 25–30 minutes.
Makes about 40 medium-sized biscuits.
For variety, try adding peanut butter, liver or other dog-safe flavors.
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