Pet Treat Recipe: Pumpkin Ice Bites

Want your dog to have a delicious and safe holiday treat? Here's a simple recipe you can make at home:

Blend 1 cup of canned pumpkin with 1 cup of plain non-fat yogurt and freeze in an ice tray. Dogs can be given these one cube at a time (outside, because they can be a little messy for carpet!). 

This mixture can also be stuffed into a Kong or rubber stuffable toy and frozen. That will allow hours of dog entertainment!

It's National Cat Week

It's National Cat Week! As the days start getting shorter and cooler, your outside cat, as well as other cats in the neighborhood, may be looking for warm places to spend the night. A common place for cats to go for warmth is under the hood of cars, because engines retain their warmth long after the car has been driven. If a car is started under these circumstances, great injury, or even death, can occur for the cat. Protect your outside cat, and your neighbors’ cats, by knocking on the hood every morning before you start your car.

Halloween Pet Safety Tips

Attention, animal lovers, it's almost the spookiest night of the year! The ASPCA recommends taking some common sense precautions this Halloween to keep you and your pet saying "trick or treat!" all the way to November 1.
1. No tricks, no treats: That bowl of candy is for trick-or-treaters, not for Scruffy and Fluffy. Chocolate in all forms—especially dark or baking chocolate—can be very dangerous for dogs and cats. Candies containing the artificial sweetener xylitol can also cause problems. If you do suspect your pet has ingested something toxic, please call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
2. Popular Halloween plants such as pumpkins and decorative corn are considered to be relatively nontoxic, but they can produce stomach upset in pets who nibble on them.
3. Wires and cords from electric lights and other decorations should be kept out of reach of your pets. If chewed, your pet might suffer cuts or burns, or receive a possibly life-threatening electrical shock. 4. A carved pumpkin certainly is festive, but do exercise caution if you choose to add a candle. Pets can easily knock a lit pumpkin over and cause a fire. Curious kittens especially run the risk of getting burned or singed by candle flames.
5. Dress-up can be a big mess-up for some pets. Please don't put your dog or cat in a costume UNLESS you know he or she loves it (yup, a few pets are real hams!). For pets who prefer their “birthday suits,” however, wearing a costume may cause undue stress.
6. If you do dress up your pet, make sure the costume isn't annoying or unsafe. It should not constrict the animal's movement or hearing, or impede his ability to breathe, bark or meow. Also, be sure to try on costumes before the big night. If your pet seems distressed, allergic or shows abnormal behavior, consider letting him go au naturale or donning a festive bandana.
7. Take a closer look at your pet’s costume and make sure it does not have small, dangling or easily chewed-off pieces that he could choke on. Also, ill-fitting outfits can get twisted on external objects or your pet, leading to injury.
8. All but the most social dogs and cats should be kept in a separate room away from the front door during peak trick-or-treating hours. Too many strangers can be scary and stressful for pets.
9. When opening the door for trick-or-treaters, take care that your cat or dog doesn't dart outside.
10. IDs, please! Always make sure your dog or cat has proper identification. If for any reason your pet escapes and becomes lost, a collar and tags and/or a microchip can be a lifesaver, increasing the chances that he or she will be returned to you. http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/pet-care-tips/halloween-safety-tips

Halloween Safety

Halloween marks that most fang-tastic time of the year when leaves begin to fall, jack o'lanterns light up front porches, and kids of all ages take over their neighborhoods in costumes ranging from scary to silly. Many pet lovers enjoy including their best furry friends in the festivities, but this is one holiday that can cause animals more harm than good if you're unprepared. In this article, learn about four of the most common Halloween pet hazards and how to plan a spook-tacularly pet-safe All Hallows' Eve. Trick or Treat Most pet owners know that chocolate is a big no-no, but for the most part all candies -- because they're choking hazards -- are harmful to any pet.

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), even diet candy is dangerous thanks to Xylitol, an ingredient commonly used in sugar-free treats. This substance can lead to lowered blood sugar, which in turn causes a variety of serious complications, including liver failure in extreme cases. Candy wrappers are dangerous, too. If your pet ingests one, he could choke or have an intestinal blockage that will result in a trip to the animal hospital. To avoid a candy catastrophe, keep all treats in a container with a lid that seals tight, and don't leave it unattended. If you don't want to leave your pet (or your neighbors' pets) out of the fun, purchase some special dog or cat biscuits as a tasty and safe alternative. Devilish Decorations Although it might be fun to turn your house into a haunted one, several Halloween decorations are extremely unsafe for pets. Fake spider webs present a danger to pet birds, which can become entangled in them, as well as other animals, which can choke on them.

Candles pose a major fire hazard: An overly excited pet could knock one over or just get too close, allowing the flame to singe its fur. Consider using flameless candles, which you can purchase at most craft stores, instead. If you hang streamers, make sure your pets can't reach them, and avoid any noisemakers that might spook your furry companion. Finally, try to take down all decorations as soon as fright night is over. Stranger Danger Unless your pet is extremely social and has participated in Halloween activities before, it's probably best to corral him in a room where he'll be away from the chaos. To keep trick-or-treaters from ringing your doorbell all night, sit outside with the candy. If your pet enjoys tagging along on your own candy-seeking expedition, use reflective tape on his costume or collar so that he's easily visible to cars. Additionally, make sure you have a good, strong leash in case a pint-sized goblin should spook him.

As fun as the holiday can be, there's always the potential for trouble with ne'er-do-wells who could harm your pet if he's left outdoors. Make sure your pet is always leashed, accounted for and sleeping soundly inside your home after the festivities are over. Dressed to Thrill It's hard to resist getting your pet all dolled up for Halloween, but some animals just don't like it. If yours seems unhappy or uncomfortable, ditch the duds for a festive collar and leash, or a bandana, instead. If your pet relishes the chance to put on a show, take a few precautions to make his costume a safe one. Don't cover his eyes or extremities, and make sure he can always breathe, move and bark freely. Ensure the costume doesn't have any loose strings or embellishments that could be choking hazards, and always keep your pet's I.D. tags on his collar. With these safety tips, your pet can have a howlin' good time. Happy Howl-o-ween!

October is Dental Month at East Coweta Veterinary Hospital

 Dental disease is the most common disease in dogs and cats. Over 68% of all pets over the age of three have some form of periodontal or dental disease. Most pets will show few signs of dental disease. It is up to the pet’s family and veterinarian to uncover this hidden and often painful condition.

 With every Dental cleaning this month, we are going to be sending home a toothbrush, tooth paste, and mouthwash free of charge.

We are also going to be providing the following services at No cost during the month of October for patients receiving a dental:

v                       Nail trims   

v                       Anal gland expressions

v                       Ear cleaning and plucking

These items and services are valued at $100.00

Saturday is Responsible Dog Ownership Day

Saturday is the American Kennel Club’s “Responsible Dog Ownership Day,” reminding dog owners about the importance of proper pet care. We encourage every dog owner to do at least one extra special thing for your pet this weekend, whether that means getting them microchipped, scheduling a physical examination, or adopting a brand new family member from a rescue group! However you celebrate, we ask that you always practice responsible dog ownership!

Autumn Safety Tips

Ah, fall—there's nothing like crisp, cool air, the first months of school and luscious foliage to get you excited for the changing seasons. Your pet, too, is probably welcoming the break from hot, sticky weather. But pet parents, beware—fall is also a time of lurking dangers for our furry friends. From household poisons to cold weather hazards, the season is a minefield! Here are some tips to keep your pet snug and healthy during the autumn months.

• The use of rodenticides increases in the fall as rodents seek shelter from the cooler temperatures by attempting to move indoors. Rodenticides are highly toxic to pets—if ingested, the results could be fatal. If you must use these products, do so with extreme caution and put them in places inaccessible to your pets. 
• It's back-to-school time, and those of you with young children know that means stocking up on fun items like glue sticks, pencils and magic markers. These items are considered “low toxicity” to pets, which means they're unlikely to cause serious problems unless large amounts are ingested. However, since gastrointestinal upset and blockages certainly are possible, be sure your children keep their school supplies out of paw's reach. 
• Training tip: If you and your pooch haven't been active outdoors in a while because of the summer heat, do some remedial recall training. Dogs, like people, get rusty on their skills if they aren't using them. 
• Fall and spring and are mushroom seasons. While 99% of mushrooms have little or no toxicity, the 1% that are highly toxic (PDF) can cause life-threatening problems in pets. Unfortunately, most of the highly toxic mushrooms are difficult to distinguish from the nontoxic ones, so the best way to keep pets from ingesting poisonous mushrooms is to keep them away from areas where any mushrooms are growing. Contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center immediately if you witness your pet eating a wild mushroom. 
• In order to generate body heat, pets who exercise heavily outdoors, or who live outdoors, should be given more food during colder seasons. Make sure horses and other outdoor animals have access to clean, fresh water that is not frozen. 
• Autumn is the season when snakes who are preparing for hibernation may be particularly “grumpy,” increasing the possibility of severe bites to those unlucky pups who find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time. Pet owners should know what kinds of venomous snakes may be in their environment—and where these snakes are most likely to be found—so they can keep pets out of those areas. 
• Many people choose fall as the time to change their car's engine coolant. Ethylene glycol-based coolants are highly toxic, so spills should be cleaned up immediately. Consider switching to propylene glycol-based coolants—though they aren't completely nontoxic, they are much less toxic than other engine coolants.

Today is Take Your Cat to the Vet Day

Did you know that your cat should be in to see us at East Coweta Veterinary Hospital once a year all their life, and sometimes twice a year when they’re over seven years of age? Today is National “Take Your Cat to the Vet” Day—if your cat is due for a visit, call and schedule one today. Regular visits can help your cat live longer, because we can identify and treat problems sooner.

National Dog Day is August 26th!

August 26th is National Dog Day, celebrating shelter dogs that have been rescued and given a brand new life. Is your dog a rescue? Share his or her story with us on this special day!

Pets & Camping Safety

Are you taking your dog with you on a family camping trip this summer? Don’t forget to be prepared for pet care! It’s important that your pet is up-to-date on parasite prevention and has plenty of food and fresh, filtered or sanitized water to drink at the campground. Also, be prepared for safety by ensuring that your campground of choice allows dogs to visit, and that your dog has a place to sleep, preferably inside the tent where they won’t be bitten by insects or pestered by wild animals! Be safe, and the trip will be that much more fun!

Over-the-Counter Medications & Pets

It’s important to keep your medicines out of your pet’s reach at all times, because human medication can be toxic to your pets! When your pet feels sick or is acting under the weather, never give them a human medicine, but bring them in for veterinary care instead. Even if you mean well, a dose of human medicine could be fatal to your pet.

Pets & Cookouts

The weather is getting hot and it’s time to fire up the barbeque grills. Food at a cookout may taste great to you, but it’s extremely unhealthy for your pet, so please don’t feed them any table scraps. Bring plenty of food and treats for your pets so that they can join in on the fun and food.

Pets & Heatstroke

Many pets see a summer car ride as an adventure, but a hot car is no place for a pet. Even if you plan on bringing your pet as you run a quick errand, keep in mind that the interior temperature of a car can quickly surpass 100 degrees, even if the windows are cracked open and the outside temperature is only in the low 70s. Because pets don’t have the means of cooling themselves down the way we do, such high temperatures can cause heatstroke, brain damage, or even death. So keep your pet safe this summer, and never them alone in a car.

Pets & Heatstroke

Many pets see a summer car ride as an adventure, but a hot car is no place for a pet. Even if you plan on bringing your pet as you run a quick errand, keep in mind that the interior temperature of a car can quickly surpass 100 degrees, even if the windows are cracked open and the outside temperature is only in the low 70s. Because pets don’t have the means of cooling themselves down the way we do, such high temperatures can cause heatstroke, brain damage, or even death. So keep your pet safe this summer, and never them alone in a car.