Pet Health | Grand Valley Animal Hospital

03/18/2022

Important Advice to Protect Your Pet Against Tick Diseases and More

As excited as we are for the arrival of spring, we can’t forget about the hazards outside that can potentially harm our pets. Let’s learn about what we should be aware of when our four-legged friends are playing outside and how to keep them safe.

PARASITES & DISEASES

Ticks

Ticks and tick-borne illnesses, like Lyme disease, can be spread through humans and animals. Lyme disease left untreated can spread to the joints, heart, and nervous system and create painful arthritis. In addition to vaccinating your pet annually for Lyme disease, deter ticks and fleas with an oral medication such as Simparica TRIO™ or BRAVECTO® for dogs and BRAVECTO® PLUS for cats.

Fleas

Though fleas are small, they can cause big issues. Fleas can cause itching, hair loss, skin allergies, or infections and even pass on other parasites like tapeworm to your pet. Fleas tend to live in the same shady, protected areas where your animals love to lie down outside.

Once a flea infestation has taken hold of your pet’s fur, your home is likely to become a flea circus as well. Sanitizing your home and yard when infestations occur will help to break the cycle. However, treating your pet with an approved flea prevention is the best way to stop fleas in their tracks and will save you time and money in the long run.

Heartworms

Heartworms are parasitic worms that can affect the lungs, heart, and blood vessels of our pets. They can be painful and potentially fatal if not treated. Dogs, and occasionally cats, are susceptible to heartworm disease, which is passed through mosquitoes.

More time outside means more potential for mosquitoes to prey on your pets, but you can’t simply use insect repellents on animals since they can be toxic to dogs and cats. Instead, protect your furry friends against mosquito bites – and the risk of heartworms – by keeping them indoors during high-risk time periods, removing stagnant water in your yard, and keeping them away from marshy areas.

PREVENTION

What can you use to protect your pets from these pests and your pocketbook from costly treatment for these diseases? At Grand Valley, we work to find the best option for you and your animals. We offer the most powerful, convenient preventative medications available that will help keep your dog or cat safe and healthy from pesky parasites.

4DX Testing

GVAH recommends bringing in your pet yearly for 4DX testing. The 4DX test is a quick and simple blood test that screens for four diseases that affect our dogs: heartworm, Lyme, anaplasmosis, and ehrlichia.

Preventative Medications

We also recommend a year-round prescription preventative medication regimen to help protect your pet. For dogs, we offer heartworm and internal parasite preventatives like Interceptor® Plus to help stop heartworms, tapeworms, and other worms before they become an issue. For cats, we offer BRAVECTO® PLUS for protection from fleas and ticks, heartworm disease, and some intestinal worms.

Simparica TRIO™ provides your dog with the most advanced parasite preventative benefits in a single easy-to-give, liver-flavored monthly chewable that can be given with or without food. This simple solution prevents heartworm disease, kills fleas and ticks, and treats roundworms and hookworms in your pet. This medication is safe for puppies as young as eight weeks old that weigh at least 2.8 pounds.

BRAVECTO® PLUS protects your cat from fleas and ticks, prevents heartworm disease, and treats intestinal worms, including roundworms and hookworms. This premium product helps to ease the stress of treatment by offering convenient long-lasting, single topical doses that last two months.

To learn more about pet preventative medications we offer or to order prescription refills, contact our staff at GVAH. If you require a specific product, take a look at our online store. We offer a wide variety of options and are more than happy to assist you in finding the right items for your pet.

10/26/2021

What Is the Difference Between Animal Welfare and Animal Rights?

When it comes to the health, well-being and care of animals, there are two main recognized concepts – animal welfare and animal rights. Regardless of which of these ideologies anyone’s personal values or beliefs align with most, it is important to know the purpose and differences of each for a deeper understanding of how animals are cared for in our society.

What is animal welfare?

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), “animal welfare means how an animal is coping with the conditions in which it lives.” Within the framework of animal welfare, the focus is on the overall quality of life of an animal, ensuring that its mental and physical needs are met.

A good state of animal welfare is indicated by scientific evidence on a myriad of aspects ranging from, but not limited to:

Nutrition

Environment

Health

Behavior

Management

Responsible care

Humane euthanasia, when necessary

Under this concept, the historical and existing relationship between humans and animals or animal products is considered – such as use of animals for food, goods, services, etc. – and principles for the animal welfare care standards are applied. The AVMA and its members offer the following eight principles for determining and implementing animal welfare approaches:

“The responsible use of animals for human purposes, such as companionship, food, fiber, recreation, work, education, exhibition, and research conducted for the benefit of both humans and animals, is consistent with the Veterinarian’s Oath:

‘Being admitted to the profession of veterinary medicine, I solemnly swear to use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through the protection of animal health and welfare, the prevention and relief of animal suffering, the conservation of animal resources, the promotion of public health, and the advancement of medical knowledge. I will practice my profession conscientiously, with dignity, and in keeping with the principles of veterinary medical ethics. I accept as a lifelong obligation the continual improvement of my professional knowledge and competence.’

Decisions regarding animal care, use, and welfare shall be made by balancing scientific knowledge and professional judgment with consideration of ethical and societal values.
Animals must be provided water, food, proper handling, health care, and an environment appropriate to their care and use, with thoughtful consideration for their species-typical biology and behavior.

Animals should be cared for in ways that minimize fear, pain, stress, and suffering.
Procedures related to animal housing, management, care, and use should be continuously evaluated, and when indicated, refined or replaced.
Conservation and management of animal populations should be humane, socially responsible, and scientifically prudent.
Animals shall be treated with respect and dignity throughout their lives and, when necessary, provided a humane death.
The veterinary profession shall continually strive to improve animal health and welfare through scientific research, education, collaboration, advocacy, and the development of legislation and regulations.”

What are animal rights?

While welfare focuses on the quality of life of animals with consideration to the relationship between humans and animals, the principles of animal rights philosophies differ in that they do not support the use of animals by humans for any reason – food, clothing, entertainment, experimentation, and in some cases, even as pets.

Animal rights beliefs strive to separate animals from inanimate objects and maintain that any non-human animal should be given rights that are protected just as humans have protected rights. The ability for an animal to live a full life of their own choosing is a keystone component of this philosophy, along with an understanding and acknowledgment that animals are more emotional, intelligent, and sensitive than humans historically have believed.

Beyond the life of the animal itself, animal rights concepts can also extend to the human destruction of animal habitats. If the environments in which animals live are destructed by humans, this impedes the animal’s ability to freely choose the life they would naturally choose to lead.

While there are no current laws giving animals the freedom of choice that would align with the ideologies of animal rights, activists have campaigned since the 17^th century to bring awareness of the concept and to advocate for change in animal practices, particularly in the exploitation of animals.

While the two concepts of animal welfare and animal rights differ in their approach to human-animal interaction, both represent the values and belief systems of large portions of the world population and are important concepts to be knowledgeable and aware of in the animal care industry. As a veterinary clinic that is committed to compassion and grounded in science, we take our oath as doctors to protect animal health and welfare extremely seriously, and we’re dedicated to the education of our clients and public on these matters as well.

09/24/2021

Core Canine Vaccines that Protect Your Dog from 5 Diseases

Dog ownership carries many responsibilities to ensure your four-legged friend stays happy and healthy. Among feeding, grooming, walking, and training, your dog also needs regular veterinary care to maintain good physical health, and this includes vaccinations against dangerous diseases.

Vaccines for dogs work similarly as those for humans, as they prepare your dog’s immune system to fight harmful viruses that would otherwise cause serious illness or death.

Canine vaccines fall into one of two categories: core and non-core vaccinations. In this blog, we highlight five core canine vaccines – or inoculations that are considered vital for all dogs – and explain why these safe and effective doses are integral for your pet’s well-being.

Rabies Vaccine

As one of the most well-known viruses, rabies presents a serious threat to humans and dogs alike, among many other animals. Rabies is transmitted through high levels of saliva, typically from a bite of an infected animal.

Because there is no treatment for rabies, the disease means almost certain death once the infection has manifested in your dog’s body. However, this can be avoided by immunizing your dog with the rabies vaccine when it is a puppy between 12 and 16 weeks, with booster shots following every one to three years during adulthood.

Vaccine booster schedules vary with city ordinances, so chat with your local veterinarian for a recommended timeline. Our team at Grand Valley Animal Hospital recommends a three-year vaccine through our practice, but it’s extremely important for dog owners to not go even a day over three years without a booster to stay current.

Combination Vaccine

The remaining four diseases discussed in this blog – distemper, hepatitis/adenovirus, parvovirus, and parainfluenza – are included in a combination vaccine offered at our clinic. This vaccination includes a series of three shots when your dog is a puppy, another shot when it’s one-year-old, and then a booster every three years to protect your dog from all four of these viruses.

Let’s dive into each of these diseases so you understand the importance of vaccinating your dog against them.

Distemper

Canine distemper is a dangerous virus that attacks your dog’s respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous system when infected. Because it primarily spreads through airborne exposure (like sneezing or coughing), it can spread rapidly through unvaccinated dogs of all ages in close quarters. Even if a dog survives distemper, they may have permanent damage to their vision, nervous system, and teeth.

Hepatitis/Adenovirus

Another highly contagious disease, canine hepatitis, is passed through items contaminated by urine. If infected with this pathogen, your dog can experience sore throat, coughing, and eventually kidney and liver failure. The onset of symptoms is extremely rapid, and in some cases, death can result only two hours after initial symptoms begin.

Parvovirus

Parvovirus is a serious virus that affects all dogs, but unvaccinated puppies under six months are most at risk. Symptoms include severe vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, dark or bloody feces, and fever. This disease is difficult to treat without veterinary intervention, and if not treated or if the dog is severely infected, the mortality rate is high. It also has lasting effects, as the disease can live on items and places that it touches for up to two years and can only be removed with bleach.

Parainfluenza

As another threatening virus, parainfluenza causes dry cough, fever, wheezing, difficulty breathing, runny nose, sneezing, pneumonia, reduced appetite, and lethargy, as well as runny and inflamed eyes. Most dogs will recover on their own if infected, but veterinary care is still needed since the disease is extremely contagious. The vaccine does not prevent the spread of the disease, but it will limit the severity of the infection.

At Grand Valley Animal Hospital, we strongly recommend vaccinating your dog with core canine vaccines – and staying on top of booster shots – to protect your furry friend and prevent the spread of these dangerous diseases.

To sum up the vaccination information in this article based on our clinic’s practices, here’s this helpful chart:

Vaccine	Age for First Dose	Booster Timeline
Rabies	Between 12 – 16 weeks	Every 1 – 3 years
Combination (protects against canine distemper, hepatitis/adenovirus, parvovirus, and parainfluenza)	Series of shots as puppies and again at 1 year-old	Every 3 years

Our qualified veterinary staff is ready to provide information on our vaccination protocol and other preventative medicine to keep your canine healthy for years to come. To learn more about us or to schedule an appointment, contact us today at 701-757-3500!

08/26/2021

Pre- and Post- Surgery Care for Your Pet

Whether it’s routine spaying and neutering, orthopedic services, exploratory, soft tissue procedures or other, when your pet needs surgery it can be an overwhelming process for pet owners. However, with the proper pre- and post-surgery care and a veterinarian that you trust, there are steps you can take to help ensure your pet has a safe and smooth surgery, and that their recovery is as comfortable as possible.

Follow these care protocols before and after your pet’s surgery to help make sure they remain happy and healthy.

BEFORE SURGERY

Ask your vet any questions you have prior to surgery day.

At Grand Valley, our team strives to provide clients with everything they need to know about their pet’s surgery, including steps to take before and after the procedure, but always encourage pet owners to ask any questions they may have. These conversations help to offer you a deeper understanding of how the surgery may benefit your pet, what you will need to do prior to surgery to help ensure a successful procedure, and what you can expect afterwards to help your pet heal.

Do not feed your pet after 9:00 pm the night before surgery.

As with humans, pets need to go into surgery on a completely empty stomach for their safety. Under anesthesia, pets lose the ability to swallow, so if the stomach contracts during surgery and forces vomit up into the mouth, they won’t be able to swallow it back down. This can cause inhalation of the stomach’s contents into the lungs resulting in pneumonia or even lead to suffocation, so an empty stomach is vital to a safe surgical procedure.

Water is okay the night before surgery, but remember – no breakfast, snacks, or treats the morning of the operation. If your pet has a special condition in which withholding food is tricky, such as diabetes, be sure to speak with your vet well in advance before the scheduled surgery to receive clear instructions on exactly how to prepare your pet for the procedure.

Confirm with your vet if your pet’s regular medications can be administered.

If your pet takes any type of medication, check with your vet at least 2 weeks prior to your pet’s surgery to determine if these meds should still be administered during the weeks or days leading up to the surgery. Certain medications can interfere, while others may be no problem, so it’s important to consult with your vet.

Ensure your pet eliminates prior to bringing them into the clinic.

On the morning of the surgery, make sure your pet has plenty of time to relieve themselves with a brief walk before you bring them into your veterinary clinic for their surgery appointment.

Leave a reliable phone number.

Make sure that your vet has a reliable phone number to reach you. This is very important to ensure the clinic can reach you anytime throughout the day to notify you of progress.

AFTER SURGERY

Protect your pet by providing safe, comfortable places for them in the car and at home.

As the anesthesia wears after surgery, your pet may become disoriented and not act 100% like themselves. To keep them safe, it is vital to ensure they have a secure, comfortable place to rest on the car ride home from the vet’s office. When you arrive home, provide your pet with a soft, clean bed in a warm and quiet area so they can get some uninterrupted rest. This will help their healing process and get them back to normal as quickly as possible.

Give your pet access to fresh water but hold off on food until the next morning.

For dogs, don’t feed them after surgery; resume a normal diet the next morning. For cats, wait a few hours after you arrive home before offering them about half of their normal meal serving.

Anesthetics can cause loss of appetite, so it’s common for pets not to be too hungry post-surgery anyway, but this is an important part of making sure they are slowly easing themselves back into their routine and not upsetting their stomach.

Restrict exercise, such as running or jumping, for 7 days.

Exercise can cause stress on the incision site, risking the possibility of opening sutures and affecting the healing process. Ask what type of exercise will be okay for your pet; low activity like exercise like short walks may be fine after a few days – consult with your veterinarian before bringing your pet home.

Avoid baths; keep sutures dry for 7-10 days.

Moisture on the sutures can risk infection. Along with not bathing them, ensure they’re not licking their incision, and do not apply any ointments or creams unless directed by your vet.

Administer medications according to the label directions.

Only give your pet medications that have been administered and directed by your vet in the correct dosage. Again, if your pet was taking medication prior to surgery, ensure it’s okay after the procedure as well. Contact your vet if you’re worried that the medications are affecting your pet too little or too much.

Unless directed otherwise, you will not need to remove your pet’s sutures.

In most cases, when the incision naturally heals, the sutures will dissolve on their own. If you have any questions or concerns about this, contact your vet.

Carefully watch your pet’s incision and keep their cone on as directed.

Keeping a close eye on your pet’s incision and ensuring it is not irritated is essential to helping your pet heal as quickly as possible. If your vet directs you to keep your pet’s protective cone on for any length of time, make sure you follow these instructions closely – no matter how much it may or may not appear to bother your pet – for their own wellbeing.

If there are any problems with your pet or their incision, contact your vet.

If your pet’s incision appears red or swollen, has excessive discharge, or if a cough persists for more than 3 days, contact your vet immediately. As with any open incision, there is always a small risk of infection. While following the above protocols will help enable proper healing, any incision can run the risk of infection so it’s vital to closely watch your pet’s surgical site and reach out for proper follow-up treatment if needed.

Follow these protocols to help your pet find the best path to a comfortable healing process, and full recovery so that your pet can go back to their normal routine as quickly as possible. At Grand Valley Animal Hospital, our team is here to answer any of your questions and help you feel well-prepared for your pet’s pre- and post-surgery care. For more information on these protocols or general questions on your pet’s surgery, give us a call at 701.757.3500.

05/25/2021

Pet Pain – Why Animals Hide It and What You Can Do to Help

Would you know if your pet was in pain? Most of us would like to think so, but sometimes pets are exceptionally good at hiding their discomfort. Apparent signs of illness such as bloody stool, seizures or extreme weight loss are more obvious, but some are so subtle they can be unnoticed by their human counterpart.

While annual wellness visits help vets detect physical abnormalities or potential health risks, we must rely heavily on our patient’s owners when it comes to behavioral changes that could indicate your pet is experiencing pain.

Additionally, if you notice something is off with your pet, time is of the essence. This is especially true for small pocket pets such as guinea pigs, mice and rabbits whose illnesses can progress extremely fast.

Why do pets hide pain?

Even though they sense and process pain similarly to humans, hiding pain is a behavior animals developed long ago in the evolutionary process. This was necessary to protect themselves from predators during times of injury or sickness. Even though they’ve been domesticated for thousands of years, this adaptive advantage has remained ingrained in our pets to this day.

Plus, pets love to please their humans. Dogs have been known to fracture their pelvis and still get up eagerly to greet their owner with loving affection, making it hard for us to tell whether or not they are actually in pain.

Why it’s important to treat:

Despite the obvious reason of not wanting your pet to be in pain, it’s extremely important that their pain is managed and treated in order to improve their recovery process, whether it’s from illness, surgery or injury. Treating your pet’s pain will relieve them of stress, increasing their well-being, and help them live a longer, healthier life.

How can I tell if my pet is in pain?

When our pets are in pain, the signs they show tend to be very subtle and more behavior-related. This requires owners to be very observant of their pet’s daily activities and to monitor any changes to discuss with their vet.

Here are some common signs to look for:

Decreased Activity – Much like humans, when pets experience pain, they tend to decrease their level of activity and overall zest for life or play. This goes for all pets of all sizes, from cats and dogs to birds and gerbils.
Decreased Appetite – also true for pets of all shapes and sizes, if eating is significantly decreased or stopped altogether, you should visit your vet. Chronic mouth pain or dental disease in pets can be a cause of this.
Difficulty Standing After Lying Down – If your pet is slower to get up from a nap or cuddle session, this could be an early sign of osteoarthritis, which can be painful for dogs and cats.
Not Going Up or Down Stairs – Used to seeing your pet hop up the stairs with no problem? If you notice a change in the way they climb stairs, or lack thereof, this could be a sign they are experiencing joint pain or have an existing injury keeping them from their usual spryness.

Grooming and Appearance – Notice your pet excessively grooming a particular area? This could be a sign of referred pain, which is pain they feel in a part of their body that is actually different from its true source. Coats, feathers and skin can also show subtle signs indicating illness. Birds’ feathers get ruffled, pets like hamsters and rats experience a coarser coat and reptiles’ skin can become dull.
Posture and Stance – Smaller pets like birds and rabbits will frequently tilt or hang their head when they are sick. Additionally, birds tend to hang out at the bottom of their cage or on lower perches or stand in a huddled position when they are not feeling well.
Reluctant to Jump Up onto Surfaces – Especially true for cats who tend to like being higher up, the reluctance to jump up on their usual surfaces could be a sign that they are experiencing pain.

Every Pet is Different

An important piece to remember is that every animal is different. From cats and dogs to different breeds and circumstances, each pet’s body and potential pain experiences are unique. The best way to decipher if your pet may be in pain is the keen observation of signs or symptoms, and detailed tracking of any behavioral changes.

If your pet is acting differently or you suspect they are in pain, set up an appointment with your vet right away to discuss your concerns. For more information on pet pain and what you can do to care for your animal, give us a call today at 701.757.3500.

04/30/2021

Protect your Pet Against Heartworms, Fleas, and Ticks

As excited as we are for the arrival of spring, we can’t forget about the hazards outside that can potentially harm our pets. Let’s learn about what we should be aware of when our four-legged friends are playing on those green fields.

HEARTWORMS

Heartworms are parasitic worms that can affect the lungs, heart and blood vessels of our pets. They can be painful and potentially fatal if not treated. Dogs, and occasionally cats, are susceptible to heartworm disease, which is passed through mosquitoes.

Limit Exposure

More time outside means more potential for mosquitoes to prey on your pets, but you can’t simply use insect repellents on animals as they can be toxic to dogs and cats. Instead, protect your furry friends against mosquito bites by keeping them indoors during high-risk time periods, removing stagnant water in your yard, and keeping them away from marshy areas.

Testing & Preventative Medications

GVAH recommends bringing in your pet yearly for heartworm testing – early detection of this disease is the key to minimizing lasting damage that can be done to your dog’s quality of life. We also recommend a year-round prescription preventative medication regimen to help protect your pet.

For dogs, we offer heartworm preventatives like Interceptor^® Plus to help stop heartworms, tapeworms, and other worms before they become an issue. For cats, we offer Bravecto^® Plus for protection from fleas and ticks, plus prevents heartworm disease and treats intestinal worms. Contact us for more information about heartworms and necessary prevention.

FLEAS

Fleas may not seem like a big deal, but along with itching, scratching, and potential hair loss, your pet could receive skin allergies and other parasites like tapeworms from these pesky parasites. Fleas tend to live in the same shady, protected areas that your animals love to lie down in outside.

Once a flea infestation has taken hold of your pet’s fur, your home is likely to become a flea circus as well. Treating your home and yard when infestations occur will help to break the cycle but treating your pet regularly is the best way to stop fleas in their tracks before they make a new home on your pet’s fur. Oral or topical preventatives will save you money, time, and flea frustration in the long run.

TICKS

Ticks and tick-borne illnesses, like Lyme disease, can be spread through humans and animals. Lyme disease left untreated can spread to the joints, heart and nervous system and create painful arthritis. In addition to vaccinating your pet annually for Lyme disease, deter ticks and fleas with a topical or an oral medication such as Credelio^® for dogs and Bravecto^® Plus for cats.

PREVENTION

What can you use to protect your pets from these pests and your pocketbook from costly treatment for these diseases? At Grand Valley, we work to find the best option for you and your animals. We offer the most powerful, convenient preventatives available that will help to keep your dog or cat safe and healthy in the fight against pesky parasites.

Simparica Trio^TM provides your dog with the most advanced parasite preventative benefits in a single easy-to-give, liver-flavored monthly chewable that can be given with or without food. This simple solution prevents heartworm disease, kills fleas and ticks, while also treating and controlling roundworms and hookworms in your pet, and is safe for puppies as young as 8 weeks old that weigh at least 2.8 lbs.

BRAVECTO^®PLUS offers your cat protection from fleas and ticks, plus prevents heartworm disease and treats intestinal worms, including roundworms and hookworms. This premium product helps to ease the stress of treatment by offering convenient long-lasting, single topical doses that last 2 months.

To learn more about these or any other pet preventative medications we offer, or order prescription refills, don’t hesitate to contact our staff at GVAH. If you require a specific product, take a look at our online store. We offer a wide variety of options and are more than happy to assist you in finding the right items for your pet.