Remember your dogs and cats on Halloween, as many don’t realize some of the potential threat to the health of their pets.

To start with, the candy and their wrappers can be harmful. The candy itself can be toxic to your pet. Not only chocolate, but also other types of candies can cause problems. Some of the wrappers can be a problem as they are a foil based wrapper that can lacerate both the inside of the mouth and possibly the intestinal tract.

It would can be fun to include them in the festivities, but do so with treats that are made for them. Either homemade or store bought.

Picking the right costume can also be a trick. Be sure that the costume is not too tight or too loose as it can be a hazard either way. Also use caution so that you don’t purchase a costume with too many dangling things, buttons, sequence, and other objects that may be chewed upon and swallowed. It’s sometimes best to think of your pet as a small child when it comes to these things.

If you wouldn’t leave your two year old unattended with their Halloween costume on and with objects easily swallowed then you probably shouldn’t leave your pets this way.

Leaving decorations around the house can attract unwanted mouths also. Not only will most cats and dogs want to try out the pumpkin after it has been gutted. But they may also be attracted to all the new pretty decor. All dogs would love to chew on the new black kitty cat decorations, so put them up a little higher.

Plan where to keep your dogs and cats during the evening while trick or treaters are knocking on the door. Some dogs may be very friendly and know you very well, until you come in the house with a mask on! Same way with the kids visiting your neighborhood. Your animals may like kids, until they look more like goblins and such.

Also we don’t want them running out the door when it is opened every few minutes, so please use caution. So make sure your pets are properly tagged, so that If they do get out they can be returned safely home.

So please keep your pets safe this Halloween, and contact us with any questions on Facebook!!

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Check it out RIGHT NOW!!!

Let’s make this short and simple folks………..money is tight and coupons are great. You can order foods online through

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First things first…….it DOES NOT have to be 110F to cause heatstroke!! In fact a very large majority, probably in the upper 90%, of the cases we see are while temperatures are more around the 80F to 9oF. Just keep this in mind as you read the following.

Dog heat stroke can strike in minutes on hot, humid days, and may prove fatal if it’s not treated promptly.

The good news is that it’s preventable and I’ve listed below the symptoms of heat stroke, how to treat and prevent it, and the dogs most likely to suffer from heatstroke.

What is Heat Stroke?

Heat stroke occurs when your dog is no longer able to maintain his normal body temperature of approximately 101F and it rises to 105F and above.

At temperatures above 106F your dog’s internal organs will start to breakdown, and if he’s not cooled quickly enough, he will die. Even if you can bring his temperature down, he may well have suffered irreversible internal damage.

Dog’s regulate their temperature primarily through panting – on hot, humid days they are unable to cool their bodies effectively, and as a result their body temperature rises rapidly.

If your dog’s temperature exceeds 106F, you only have minutes to save his life.

Symptoms of Heat Stroke

If your dog has heat stroke he will progressively show these signs:

* Excessive panting;

* Pale gums, bright red tongue;

* Disorientation and your dog doesn’t respond to his name;

* Increased heart rate;

* Thick saliva;

* Vomiting;

* Breathing difficulties;

* Collapse;

* Coma;

* Death

Treatment

Heat stroke often occurs because a dog is confined, either in a car, kennel or crate; the first thing to do is remove your dog from where he was confined.

Make sure your dog is out of the sun and has access to water but don’t let him drink too much.

Cool him with cool/tepid water – either immerse him in a bath, gently hose him or apply cool towels to his body. Importantly do not leave wet towels on your dog and do not use very cold water – both prevent your dog form being able to cool himself.

Move your dog to an area where there is cool air circulating, such as an air conditioned room or stand him in front of a fan. The cool circulating air will help your dog to reduce his temperature.

Keep monitoring your dog’s temperature with a rectal thermometer; once it returns to normal stop the cooling process.

Whilst you are cooling your dog down phone your local emergency dog clinic, explain the situation and perform any additional treatment they suggest before taking him to the clinic.

Even if you manage to reduce your dog’s temperature at home, take him to your vet for a thorough checkup – internal damage to your dog’s organs might have taken place even though he recovered from heat stroke.

Dogs Prone to Heatstroke

* Young puppies and older dogs;

* Overweight dogs;

* Dogs with an existing illness or recovering from illness or surgery;

* Dog breeds with short faces – Bulldogs, Shar pei, Boston Terriers, Pugs – have narrow respiratory systems that easily get overwhelmed in hot and humid conditions;

* Double coated breeds such as Chow Chows; and

* Dogs bred for cold climates such as Malamutes, Huskies and Newfoundlands.

Preventing Heat Stroke

* Be aware that the outside temperature can be a lot warmer than that shown on your thermometer -on humid days the relative temperature is much higher;

* Dogs really don’t know when to stop – try and keep your dog’s activity to a minimum particularly on hot and humid days;

* Exercise your dog early in the morning and/or later in the evening when the temperature is cooler;

* If possible keep your dog indoors during the heat of the day in a well ventilated or air conditioned room; and

* If your dog is outside during the day, make sure there is plenty of shady areas for him to lie in and he has access to cold water. If he likes water, put a paddling pool of water for him in a shady part of the garden so he can lie in that to keep cool, otherwise periodically spray him with cool water.

 

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The St. Joseph Kennel Club and Twin Pines Animal Clinic proudly present the St. Joseph Police Department’s K-9 Unit!!

These highly trained canine officers and their human companions will be demonstrating the skills necessary to assist the police department in catching criminals. With years of training and honed in skills these K-9 officers are very respected by their special teams unit, and work very hard to serve our community.

So come check them out and watch these amazing dogs do what they do best!! The showing is free to the public and will be in the Twin Pines parking lot:

Tuesday, May 24th@ 6:00pm

For more information on the St. Joseph Police Department and the K-9 Unit click on the highlighted links.

 

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What can only be assumed to be Canine Distemper is being seen throughout the area, mostly in caught wild life such as raccoons. With a high fatality rate, this is not something to take lightly. It can be easily transmitted through direct and indirect contact with an infected animal.

Canine distemper is a viral disease that affects animals in the families Canidae, Mustelidae, Mephitidae, Hyaenidae, Ailuridae, Procyonidae, Pinnipedia, some Viverridae and Felidae (though not domestic cats; feline distemper or panleukopenia is a different virus exclusive to cats). It is most commonly associated with domestic animals such as dogs and ferrets, although it can infect wild animals as well. It is a single-stranded RNA virus of the family paramyxovirus, and thus a close relative of measles and rinderpest.Despite extensive vaccination in many regions, it remains a major disease of dogs.

The only way to prevent your family pet from becoming infected is to vaccinate. Call us today and set up an appointment for vaccinations.

Click here to see the local news story with more information.

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A pet microchip creates a forever bond between you and the pet you love. And together with the HomeAgain pet recovery system, you’ll give your pet the best chance of coming back home to you.

The Lost Pet Reality
1 in 3 pets goes missing during its lifetime, and without proper ID, 90% never return home. A microchip for dogs & cats gives the best protection with permanent ID that can never be removed or become impossible to read.

Every month, HomeAgain reunites 10,000 pets with the people that love them.

A pet microchip is the first step.

A microchip implant takes just seconds at your veterinarian’s clinic, and then your pet has permanent ID that will last its entire lifetime. The final step is to register your pet’s microchip with HomeAgain.

See a video on how the chipping takes place right here. And click on “our prevention solution”.

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PetSafe has just announced the first annual Bark for Your Park contest which will award one lucky community $100,000.00 towards a new dog park. And where would be a better place than at YOUR veterinary clinic? NOWHERE!!

Put on your thinking cap and write a 300 word essay on how your community would benefit from an off-leash area. You have until June 1st to submit your entry and no purchase is required. If you do win, remember that the best dog parks include Dog-ON-It-Parks equipment! Good luck!

That’s right guys…….Twin Pines would like your help in raising sponsorship money to build a one of a kind dog park! It will be located right next to our building, and the great part is, IT WILL BE OFF LEASH!!

So help us out and write an essay! If you would like any more information please e-mail us @: hello@gotwinpines.com

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The distribution, range and abundance of the lone star tick has increased over the last 30 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Today, the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) can be found in states as far north as Maine and as far west as central Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. Because the lone star tick is an aggressive feeder and known vector of Ehrlichia ewingii and Ehrlichia chaffeensis, increased prevalence of this tick means it could now be a threat to dogs in our area.

In the “tick map” to the right you can see how large the Lone Star Ticks’ territory has become over the years.

Check out this website for more information: www.get-ticked.com

Then have some fun with you and your friends…….”get ticked”: http://www.get-ticked.com/getticked.html

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Keep your dogs ears happy this summer!! Be sure to have them looked at regularly by your veterinarian.

Know as “floppy ear syndrome”, some breeds of dogs are just prone to have ear infections because of the way that they are shaped. Large floppy ears create a perfect environment for bacteria to grow. Dark, warm, and damp areas that are just begging to assist in the rapid growth of disgusting infectious bacterium.

These particular breeds should have their ears cleaned about once a week to stay ahead of the game. Learn more by visiting the our KQ2 experts page and watch a great Live @ Five video. Click here

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• The cost of providing veterinary care is rising, as veterinary science continues to develop more and better therapeutic options for patients. While many pet owners continue to purchase veterinary care with discretionary income, savings or credit cards, an increasing number are considering pet health insurance to cover unexpected veterinary care expenses. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) recognizes the increasing importance of pet health insurance and offers a pet insurance fact sheet here.The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) offers a guideline pet health insurance here and also offers a PDF brochure, Ensuring Your Pet’s Health: A Guide for Pet Owners from the American Animal Hospital Association. Pet health insurance is very similar to dental insurance. It is not true medical insurance. It is fee for service indemnity insurance, or property-casualty insurance, and is regulated by the state. There are several companies currently providing pet health insurance. Twin Pines Animal Clinic has identified a company that fits the model recommended by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA).

  Trupanionprovides the catastrophic coverage model recommended by AAHA.

  There are many choices for pet health insurance. Twin Pines Animal Clinic is not affiliated with any pet insurance company and cannot provide specific information regarding policies and costs.  Pet health insurance is an agreement between the pet health insurance provider and pet owner. Twin Pines Animal Clinic encourages pet owners to research pet health insurance and consider available options in advance of purchase.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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