Oak Village Animal Hospital

Now that the holidays are over, we can get back to our normal routines. Have you had your pet spayed or neutered?? If not, Oak Village Animal Hospital is offering reduced rates on spays and neuters. Having your pet spayed or neutered is the most responsible thing we can do for them. Here is some information on these procedures:

“Spay” is a term used for female dogs. It involves removing the reproductive organs and requires a overnight stay.

“Neuter” is a term used for male dogs. It involves removing the testicles. The male dogs stay just for the day not overnight.

Both of these procedures are performed under a general anesthesia and can be done as early as 6 months of age. Lab work ensures the safety of these procedures and can be done the same day as the surgery. If you are unsure about whether or not to spay or neuter your pet here is some information that may change your mind:

Female dogs and cats may develop breast tumors that can spread to the lungs and other mammory glands. Also, unspayed females are prone to uterine infections called pyometra and usually require surgery. Male dogs and cats that are unneutered may develop perianal tumors and prostate problems which may require surgery. Also, males that are unneutered will mark their territory with urine indiscriminately.

If you have any questions or to make an appointment, please call our office at 708-499-3595 and we will be happy to help you.

Seasons greetings everyone! Now that the cold weather is upon us, here are some tips for having a safe and healthy winter season.

* Holiday treats can be toxic to dogs and cats. Do not give any chocolate or alcoholic beverages to your pets. Provide them with their own safe chews or treats to prevent temptation.
* Monitor your pets around holiday decorations. Puppies or cats are attracted to ornaments, tinsel, lights, plants (poinsettia) or decorated Christmas trees. If this items are ingested, they can cause serious compications.
* Keep your pets inside whenever possible. If your pet must be left outside, provide a proper heated shelter with bedding, food and water in a container that will not freeze. Remeber, very young and older pets do not have the ability to regulate body heat. They should not be left outdoors.
* Cats are attracted to the warmth of car engines. Before starting your car, check underneath, tap on the hood or honk the horn. Doing this will prevent any possible injuries to a hiding cat.
* Rock salt and ice can irritate paw pads. Wipe off pads after any outdoor activity.
* It is fun to dress up our pets in coats and sweaters, but pets lose most of their body heat through the pads on their feet, tips of their ears and their respiratory track.
* Do not allow your pet to drink from puddles or gutters, this water may be polluted.
* Pets can suffer from frostbite and hypothermia just like humans. When in doubt, it is best to leave your pets indoors.

Wintertime can be filled with lots of fun indoor and outdoor activities. We hope you are able to enjoy them safely with your pets. Have fun!!

Dr Bowen and the entire staff at Oak Village Animal Hospital would like to wish everyone a healthy and happy holiday season!

As summer starts to wind down, flea season starts to pick up. Each summer fleas like all other insects , hatch from eggs which were distributed in the grass and soil from previous years. When the conditions are right, the transformation from egg to adult flea can be as short as three weeks. Roaming pets or local wildlife can bring fleas into your yard. Pets, adults and children can bring fleas into your home. Most often, a pet will bring in a few fleas and then they reproduce to large numbers in your house. The flea only spends 10% of its time on your pet and the other 90% of the time in your house. Here are a few tips on how to avoid this from happening to you:

1. Apply a preventative product such as Frontline. We recommend starting early in the season (April or May) and applying it at least until frost.

2. Treat the yard area with an insectacide from a local garden supply store.

3. Regular grooming such as brushing, bathing will alert you to any potential infestation.

If you do find fleas on your pet or in your house, do not panic! Getting rid of fleas can be easy if you follow these steps:

1. Treat your pet with a flea bath. A grooming service can help with this if you would like.

2. Vacuum your house thoroughly and dispose of the vacuum bag or garbage bag immediately.

3. Depending on the size of your house, a fogger or premise spray can be used. These products are sold a our clinic or local home goods stores.

4. Treat the outdoor area with insectacide.

5. Apply Frontline 2 to 3 days after your pets bath.

Usually, just one treatment will break the flea cycle. In stubborn cases, another treatment is necessary. Flea prevention is easy once you get into a routine. If you have any questions regarding fleas, feel free to call our office and we will be happy to assist you.

Enjoy the rest of the summer!!

During the hot summer months, we need to take some precautions to keep our pets cool and safe. Here is a list of important tips:
1. If your pet is fair skinned or has short hair or white hair, use sunscreen and limit their time in the sun.
2. Limit your pets time outdoors. Dog’s aren’t as efficient at cooling down as we are. Be especially careful with breeds that have pushed in faces. Early morning and evening hours are the best times for walks or outdoor playtime.
3.Always provide fresh cool water or ice cubes to your pet. Bandanas soaked in cold water work well to cool off also.
4. If using fertilizer or other lawn chemicals, make sure your pet does not have access to the areas until the chemicals are dry or dissolved.
5. Do not leave your pet unsupervised around water. Provide a life jacket or a pool alarm for extra safety.
6. Be sure to use parasite protection such as Frontline or Revolution. Fleas and ticks can cause serious medical issues. Also, they can be carried into your home and cause an infestation.
7. If you are travelling with your pet, make sure you have a harness that attaches to the seat belt. Or, crate your pet to keep them safe.
8. Our pets do not react well to thunderstorms. Make sure they have a secure place to go to during a storm. Mild sedatives can be prescribed through your veterinarian or you can use a herbal remedy such as Rescue Remedy.
9. Be aware of the signs of heatstroke. These include excessive panting, bright red tongue and gums, vomitting, loose stools, lethargy and a high fever. If your pet suffers from any of these symptoms, contact your veteranarian immediately.

By following these simple steps, you and your pet will enjoy a safe and happy summer.

The July 4th holiday is a day for relaxation, fun and family. But, for our pets it can be a day filled with stress due to the fireworks. Here are a few tips to keep your pet safe and calm.

1. If outdoors with your pet, do not let it off leash even if it normally is obedient. The noise
can cause your pet to run off.
2. When indoors, close windows,turn on a/c or a fan and some music to drown out the noise.
3. If your pet becomes extremely nervous, mild sedatives can be prescribed to provide comfort.

Remember our pets hearing is much more sensitive than ours! With a little extra effort, we can make our pets comfortable during this holiday.

Have a safe and happy July 4th!!!

Debbie, the head nurse and Doc’s wife, has a birthday today!

Happy Birthday, Debbie!!

Laura’s, the office managers, dog turned 13 today. Happy Birthday Mariah!!!

Dr. Ron’s birthday is today! Happy Birthday, DOC!!!

Daniel Beatty, DVM affectionately known as Dr. Dan is a veterinarian trained and certified in Animal Chiropractics by the American Veterinary Chiropractors Association has appointments at Oak Village Animal Hospital on the fourth Thursday of the month.

Please call to schedule an appointment if you would like your dog to have a chiropractic treatment by Dr. Dan.

More about animal chiropractics in the future in the mean time you can check out Dr. Dan’s website at www.evetclinic.com