Time to Spring Forward!
Don’t Forget!
Category: FYI
Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog Month
October is National Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog month! Wherever your furry friend comes from, they are a constant source of love and affection. There are millions of dogs in shelters and foster homes in the U.S. just waiting to find their fur-ever home! Here are some amazing ways to help out shelter pets this month!
Donate to our local shelter!
Mannford Animal Shelter Friends Foundation is our local shelter right here in Mannford! They not only support the animals in the Mannford City Shelter, but they also find foster homes, rescues, fur-ever homes, and even reunites lost pets with their owners!
Adopt a shelter dog!!
Our local shelter and shelters in our area have TONS of loving, wonderful dogs looking for their fur-ever homes!
Meet Hilary
Meet Hilary. She is a very sweet 2-3 year old spayed female and is up to date on her vaccinations. She is a petite 35 lbs and is good with other dogs, kids, cats and people. She is a bit unsure of a leash but each day she is better with it knowing it is not there to hurt her, but to take her on walks. Call City Hall to Adopt 918-865-4314 or message this page.
Meet Patton
Patton is available for adoption. 3 year old, neutered and up to date on vaccinations. Patton had an overnight stay where a cat lived, and he did not bother the kitty. He was also housed with another dog at the shelter (we are full) and they did well together, but they were separated after his vet visit to let him heal quietly. He is house broken and very chill. He will do best in a quiet home as he is recovering from wounds to the back half of his body. He really likes car rides and his toys. Call City Hall to adopt 918-865-4314 or you can contact Mannford Shelter Friends for more information.
Spread the word!
You don’t have to be a professional advocate to spread the word about our local shelters. Just hitting that “like” or “share” button makes a huge difference! Check out the Facebook pages of some of our local shelters:
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National Pet Obesity Awareness Day
October 13th is National Pet Obesity Awareness Day! Just like in humans, pet obesity is a serious health issue that can lead to other concerning medical conditions. Here are some quick facts and tips for keeping your furry kiddos in tip-top shape!
How common is obesity in cats and dogs?
Obesity is the most common chronic health condition in cats and dogs in the U.S. Vets and pet parents alike know that the majority of the pets we see today are unfortunately obese.
This is a huge issue in cats especially. We know fluffy kitties are cute! But we want them to stay healthy to!
How do I know if my pet is obese?
We have some handy, dandy charts for that! The key thing to look for in our furry friends is they want to have a waist like most people want to have a waist. So standing above them and looking down, you should see that waist. It should also be visible from the side!
You should be able to feel your pet’s ribs but NOT see them all except in very thin breeds like Greyhounds (dog) and Sphynxes (cat.
Consequences of Pet Obesity
Obesity in pets, just like in people, leads to several concerning health conditions. Below I have listed some of the more common conditions and how they affect your pet’s overall health.
Arthritis
Arthritis and joint pain are usually the first conditions we see secondary to obesity. Extra weight puts a lot of extra stress on the joints, thus leading to inflammation and pain. We can manage with medications as needed but getting those pounds off are most effective!
Diabetes
Diabetes is the next most common, long-term effect of obesity in our pets. Having so much fat in the body leads to blood sugar regulation issues. That means we will have to monitor their blood sugar levels and they will need insulin injections and/or special food.
Heart Disease
Heart disease is very common in our overweight pets. Once the heart is damaged, it is permanently damaged. That means while we can medically manage it, we cannot undo it.
Heart disease is usually treated with lifelong medications, x-rays, and exams.
How do I put my pet on a diet?
We have all been on diets and they are NOT fun. On the bright side, we are in total control of what and how much our pets eat thus, dieting is pretty simple. We recommend the following steps:
- Decrease your pet’s daily amount of food and decrease it by a quarter (ex: If your pet eats 1 cup of food a day, start feeding them 3/4 cup)
- Yes it is highly recommended to measure their food every time!
- Replace that quart of their food with low-calorie, yummy filler food:
- Boiled sweet potatoes
- Defrosted carrot slices
- Defrosted green beans
- Boiled white meat chicken
- No treats!! We have all had our diets ruined by sneaking a brownie or a donut. Let’s be more successful with our pets!
- EXERCISE!! Whether we like it or not, exercise is huge for weight loss. Even if it is only throwing the ball, playing with a laser, or short walks, some exercise is better than no exercise!
We have a new app: Meet Televet!
We have had our former app, Pet Pro Connect for awhile now but it is getting a MAJOR upgrade! Pet Pro Connect is becoming Televet!! Here is what you need to know.
What is it?
Televet is our new client communications app! It can be downloaded as an actual app or accessed via our website! It has several classic and new functions for both our clinic and our clients:
- Request appointments
- Request refills
- Message our team directly via text message
- Sign pre-anesthetic (and more) paperwork ahead of time
- Automatic reminders straight to your phone or email
- View & request medical records
- Much more!
How do we switch to the new app?
This is the best part, you don’t really have to! The new features can already be found on our website (see below) and can be accessed by anyone with an internet connection.
As far as the mobile app goes, please feel free to continue using your Pet Pro Connect app! It will slowly transition to include more and more of the new features until the new app comes out. At that point, when you open the app, it will redirect you to download the new app. Easy peasy!
A quick how-to guide for finding the app:
We are so excited to bring this technology to you & bring Mannford Animal Clinic into the technological age!
Questions? Please feel free to message us or give us a call at (918)865-4733!
Local Surge in Canine Kennel Cough
The Mannford-area is experiencing a drastic increase in canine Kennel Cough cases the last few weeks. We thought it appropriate that we take a moment and share what it is, what to look for, and what we can do about it.
What is Canine Kennel Cough?
Kennel cough is similar to the common cold in that it is very contagious, usually mild, and is caused by a variety of “bugs”. It is very, very contagious and is transmitted by any droplet transfer: coughing, sneezing, nose-touching, etc.
Kennel Cough Symptoms
Kennel cough is usually mild in healthy animals however, symptoms can be quite irritating to the pet and your family. Common symptoms include the following:
- cough
- gagging
- nose and/or eye discharge
- fever
- loss of appetite
- lethargy
These symptoms usually start out quite mildly, but a consistent, hacking cough that may end in gagging is the most common symptom we see. Unfortunately, this is also how the disease is spread.
How do we treat it?
Treatment of Kennel Cough is focused on clearing out bacteria causing the symptoms, bacteria that could worsen the disease (lead to pneumonia), and ease the symptoms. Treatment usually consists of oral antibiotics, mild oral steroids for the cough, with or without cough syrup if it is severe enough. There are many methods of management at home as well (see below) that can ease your dog’s symptoms.
Good news, we can prevent Kennel Cough!
There is a vaccine for Kennel Cough! As a bonus, it is an oral vaccine, so not pokes for Fido. It is recommended to be given yearly, although some facilities that house several animals at once (groomers, boarders, animal hospitals, etc) require it to be administered every 6 months, depending on risk levels.
Do we have Kennel Cough vaccines?
We absolutely do! Calling ahead is required however, we do routinely stock and administer Kennel Cough vaccines!
How old does my dog need to be to receive the Kennel Cough vaccine?
Your puppy must be older than 8 weeks!
Who is most at risk for Kennel Cough?
Dogs that have not been vaccinated, that are around unvaccinated animals are at the highest risk:
- Grooming facilities
- Boarding facilities
- Training classes
- Dogs that run free in the country
- Dogs that share fences with other dogs
