Veterinary Wellness Blog
Forget the apple a day, have a pet to keep the doctor away!
February 4, 2014A recent study done in Australia found that kids that have a pet (specifically a guinea pig) in the classroom have better social skills and fewer problem behaviors. This study was particularly looking at classrooms that had Autistic children present. However, it has been found that animals can help a variety of human conditions and can be beneficial to your health overall. According to WebMD, there are many benefits to having pets. Pets can reduce allergies, asthma, and eczema. They can reduce anxiety in Alzheimer’s patients. They can increase exercise and companionship. They can decrease depression. They can decrease blood pressure and heart disease risks. They can help with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), autism, and ADHD. Dogs can also be trained to help people with diseases in a more specialized way-low blood sugar sensing dogs for diabetics, seizure sensing dogs for epileptics, seeing eye dogs for the blind, and cancer detecting canines. Can do canines, a local facility, helps place dogs with people with a wide range of disabilities. While not everyone needs a specially trained pet, there are many studies proving that pets can help improve your health and well being. So give your furry friend a hug and enjoy the release of endorphins you’ll receive!
Read PostWinter Weight Woes
January 3, 2014As winter continues on, pets’ waistlines can start to fill out. Lack of activity outdoors (lets face it, who wants to walk in negative 20 with 2 feet of snow?), shorter days leading to more sleeping, and a lower metabolism can all lead to weight gain in winter. There are ways to help prevent this however. Cut back on their food. Starting when the weather turns colder and you know activity will start to drop, cut back on food intake about 10%. Decrease treats as well, and avoid the temptation to share holiday foods with your pets. Increase activity indoors. If you have an area where your pet can play indoors, take advantage. Throw a ball down the hall or stairs and allow your pet to retrieve it. Use a laser pointer or cat toys on strings to encourage your pet to move around. Use feeder toys or puzzle toys. Feeder toys increase your pet’s mental activity to help combat long days of boredom from not being able to go outside. The pet has to work and move around to get the food to come out, so they burn calories while eating. This also will take longer than eating from a dish, giving the pet something to do other than lay around. Take […]
Read PostWinter Woes
December 2, 2013As winter officially begins, many of us are busy dealing with the household chores that freezing weather present. Many of these tasks present hazards to our pets however. Ice melts and antifreeze can both be toxic if ingested by our furry friends. Ice melts are often applied to driveways and walkways to prevent people from slipping. If they are spilled or tracked indoors, improperly stored, or if your pet spends too much time walking on or rolling on sidewalks that are treated, they may exhibit signs of toxicity. Most commonly seen is vomiting, but diarrhea, excessive salivation (drooling), depression, decreased appetite, tremors, disorientation, increased thirst, seizures, and even death can result. Depending on the method of exposure, a bath may be indicated to remove salt from hair and feet. Inducing vomiting is sometimes indicated as well, but it depends on how long ago ingestion occurred and which type of ice melt was used. Please contact a veterinarian to see if vomiting should be induced in your situation. Hydration via IV catheter or subcutaneous fluids will help prevent or correct electrolyte issues. If electrolyte disturbances are noted, an EKG may be recommended. If seizures are occurring, an anti-seizure medication may be needed until the electrolytes are normalized again and seizures stop. Lastly, anti-nausea medications […]
Read PostProviding the best possible veterinary care for your pet.
Heritage Animal Hospital is a full-service veterinarian clinic that provides examinations, diagnostic services, dental care, surgical services, medicine, grooming and boarding services in Maple Grove, Minnesota. We are dedicated to providing the highest level of pet care possible and facilitating an environment where client communication and education are at the forefront of our practice.
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