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As the holiday season approaches it is always a great time of the year for everyone to get together with family and celebrate.  This is usually done around large meals that we all look forward to.  As we are eating these great meals, how many times does our best friend look up at us with those sad eyes and say “How about me?  Where is mine?”  With a kind heart and good intentions we give our dog some of the food not thinking of whether or not it is good for them.

The problem is that many times it is not good for your dog.  Most people think dogs can eat anything and some dogs almost can, but many dogs are very sensitive, and given the wrong food, can develop a condition called pancreatitis.  Pancreatitis in dogs is an inflammation of an organ called the pancreas.  Dog pancreatitis can be a life threatening disease for dogs if not treated early and aggressively.

The Pancreas

The pancreas is a V-shaped organ located behind the stomach and first section of the small intestine, the duodenum.  The pancreas has two main functions: it aids in the metabolism of sugar in the body through production of insulin and is necessary for the digestion of nutrients by producing enzymes that promote the digestion and absorption of nutrients from food.

There are many causes for dog pancreatitis, but we are going to focus on a few that we can easily prevent.  Obese dogs are more prone to pancreatitis as are Schnauzers and Yorkshire Terriers.  High fat foods can cause acute pancreatitis especially when it is something the dog is not used to eating.  So when we give that food from the table that is high in fat we are potentially causing great harm to our dog.  I am a firm believer that dogs accept what their environment offers them.  If they are fed one kind of food every day, they will be very content with that for a lifetime.  They do have a great sense of smell and of course will smell the food we eat but if we don’t feed from the table, they won’t beg for it.

Clinical Signs

Clinical signs of pancreatitis in dogs can include:

• Pain in the abdomen;
• Vomiting and/or lack of appetite;
• Abdominal distention;
• Severe lethargy; or
• Dehydration.

A clinical exam and history, blood work, urinalysis and possibly x-rays and/or ultrasound can diagnose pancreatitis.  The treatment consists of correcting dehydration, which can involve intravenous fluids and hospitalization, providing pain relief, controlling the vomiting, and providing nutritional support without feeding the dog.  The prognosis depends on the severity of the condition.  Mild cases respond quickly, but more serious cases can be very time consuming and expensive for the owner

The next time you look at those sad eyes looking at you and you start to feel guilty for not giving your dog something to eat, remember the biggest favor you can do for your dog is not give him any table food at all.  Going from a kind act to a potentially deadly disease and the pain your dog would have to go through and not to mention the cost to the owner, why give them table food?  Remember dogs aren’t people and although the food we eat may not be that healthy for us, feeding it to your dog can have serious health consequences.  Always pick a good dog food that is low in fat and keep your dog on a consistent diet at all times.

Halloween is a very fun and creative holiday for not only children and their parents, but also for your pets.  Dressing up your pet in their Halloween gear and allowing them to greet all of the children at the door can make for a very fun and entertaining evening.  However, it is important that we take a few precautions with our pets to make sure that they are safe and comfortable throughout the night.

The first important precaution to take is to make sure that the bowls of candies and goodies are for the children only.  Pets should not consume any candy or sweets, as it can be very upsetting to their stomach.  Keep them on a high counter or in a container that is not accessible to even the sneakiest of pets.  Chocolate is especially dangerous to your pets, especially dogs.  Dogs have a sweet tooth like we do and if there is chocolate around and they can get to it they will.  If your give them a taste they may crave it so it is always best to never give them any chocolate at all.  Chocolate has theobromine and caffeine in it and dogs do not metabolize these products very well.  When dogs ingest too much of these substances found in chocolate it can cause serious health problems.  If your dog or cat does ingest chocolate you should contact your veterinarian immediately.

Next, it is important that your pet is comfortable in their costume.  It is easy for us as the “proud mom or dad” to want to force them to wear a costume for pictures and to show them off to everyone.  However, if they are miserable wearing it, it is best to let them be.  If you REALLY want them to be festive for the holiday, but they hate wearing a costume, maybe get a Halloween bandana or bow to dress them up, without making them miserable.  There are many ways to allow your pet to be festive, while also keeping them happy and comfortable.

Many of us pet owners want to show off our pets and their cute costumes and allow them to greet the trick or treaters.  However, be careful because some kids are very scared of animals.  When pets sense fear, they get fearful as well.  Make sure that whoever is at your door is okay with your pet potentially greeting them.

Most importantly, do not stress and let your pet have fun!  Whether this is dressing them up in an elaborate costume or using a simple bandana, do whatever suits YOUR pet’s personality the best.  Some pets may want to be locked in a room and go to sleep at 8 o’clock.  If this is the case, let them be.  Some pets may love to dress up elaborately and greet every single child at the door.  As long as the children are okay with this, let them be.  Let your pets have fun and you have fun as well.  Happy Halloween!

Want to make sure your pets are safe this hurricane season? While many adequately prepare their home and gather supplies for the hurricane season, pets are often forgotten in the planning process. Most pet owners consider their pets as a part of the family and they need the same preparation for a hurricane as everyone else.

Here are a few helpful reminders and important tips to prepare your pet’s this hurricane season.

• Have a backup supply of all your pet’s medications
• Treat your pet’s with all heartworm and flea prevention medications all year and have a supply handy if evacuation is necessary
• Put pet food and water in containers that can be easily transported
• Know of a boarding location if your pets cannot evacuate with the family
• Have your pet’s veterinarian contact information handy and a copy of all his/her medical records in a safe place in case your pet needs medical attention while away from home
• Know of pet-friendly evacuation sites or shelters in other cities and/or find a hotel in the area that allows pets

If you need a little help preparing your pet for hurricane season, stop into either of our locations in Jacksonville and Jacksonville Beach and we will be glad to help your prepare your pet for the upcoming hurricane season.

If there is one member of your family that may be overlooked from time to time and is not getting enough attention, it could quite possibly be your cat. Most people realize just how low maintenance cats are, which often makes them a bit overlooked. Once you give them food, water and a litter box, you can usually walk away and allow them to play. Right? Not so fast!

It is important for cats to get exercise and stimulation each day. Those who have dogs may make time each day to take the dog for a walk. But what about cats? Not many people set aside time each day to stimulate and exercise their cat. Yet you really should! It will help keep them physically healthy and keep them mentally stimulated.

The best thing to do is schedule a little time each day to play with your cat. Here are a few things you can do during that time:

• Use a kitty fishing pole to keep them running.
• Take a butter knife or spoon and catch the sun’s reflection, aiming the light on the wall. Move it around slightly. Cats love to chase that reflection.
• Take a flashlight and move it around on the wall slowly so they can chase it.
• Find toys that allow them to use their natural instincts, such as hunting, pouncing and stalking. You can either buy these readily made or make them yourself.
• Pick up a catnip video. Most cats love to watch the nature scenes and will play with the television throughout the show.

To stimulate cats that are home alone, put a bird feeder outside a window (for indoor cats) and keep it full of food. You can also get a food puzzle that will keep them busy as they hunt for treats. There are a variety of ways to keep cats active, so make it a daily priority.

If you have questions about your cat getting enough exercise, or any other pet issues, contact us at Pet Doctors of America. We provide comprehensive veterinarian services to the entire Jacksonville and Jacksonville Beach area. Contact us today so we can help keep your pets healthy!

If you want a safe place to put your puppy during certain times of the day or night, you will want to learn how to crate train. When you crate train your puppy, you will be giving them a safe place that they can go during the night, if you have to leave the house, or if you have company over to visit. Crate training can also be helpful when you are trying to housebreak your puppy because they will not usually relieve themselves where they sleep.

Whatever the reason you need a safe contained area for your puppy from time to time, proper crate training can give you exactly that! Crate training is a process that needs to be presented in a gentle manner, where you start small and work your way up to successfully being able to leave the puppy in the crate when needed.

Here are some tips for successfully crate training your puppy:

•    Don’t leave your puppy alone the first time you put them in a crate. You need to be there, so they don’t get scared. Just stay near them, so they know they are not alone.
•    Start out by putting some puppy food inside the crate and see if your puppy will go inside. If they will not go in on their own, gently place them inside.
•    Remain gentle and offer praise through the whole process. This is important. Even small steps in crate training should be rewarded to encourage the puppy.
•    Keep the puppy in the crate for only a couple of minutes at first, then let them out and give praise. You will need to practice this until your puppy is comfortable inside the crate. Then you can increase the amount of time the puppy is in the crate.

Crate training to some people seems like a form of cruelty. But it is really a way to keep your puppy safe when you can’t be at their side. The key is to make sure you follow the above guidelines to allow for successful crate training, which can be beneficial for you and your puppy!

Pet Doctors of America can help you with all your new puppy needs. We offer full service veterinary care in the Jacksonville and Jacksonville Beach area. Our services are comprehensive, and we can provide a wide range of veterinary care services. Contact us with all your new puppy questions, as well as other pet questions, so we can help you!

If you have had a cat for long enough, especially a long haired one, you will find that they vomit hairballs from time to time. These hairballs, which are technically called trichobezoars, may be unsightly, but they are just the results of a clean cat. Hairballs are just clumps of hair that has been swallowed during grooming, mixed with digestive fluids.

It is quite common for long haired cats to bring up a hairball every week or two. Most of the time, they are harmless and just a normal result of their cleaning habits. Yet there are times when they can be of concern and be a real health hazard. There are also some things you can do to help your cat with hairball issues, including:

• Brush or comb them on a daily basis. This will get the dead hairs out, so they will not be swallowed when they groom.
• Try using a cat hair mitt if your cat does not care for being brushed. These mitts are similar to a glove and have been designed to gather dead hairs as you pet the cat.
• Use a hairball remedy, which is a petroleum-based laxative, on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.
• Try feeding your cat hairball control food or treats.

If you notice that your cat is not eating or is lethargic, this may be the symptoms of hairballs that have caused blockages in their intestines. You should always get your cat into the veterinarian in order to determine what is causing the symptoms and what can be done to alleviate them.

If you have questions about cat hairball control contact the veterinarians at Pet Doctors of America. We can provide you with all the advice you need on helping to address cat hairballs, as well as help to determine what is normal and if there are any problems present. Contact us so we can help address all your veterinarian needs. We service the entire Jacksonville and Jacksonville Beach area.

Many people believe that cats do not need any type of preventative measures taken to help avoid heartworms. This topic is seen by many as controversial. But what isn’t so controversial is that fact that even if they get it less than dogs, cats can indeed get heartworms. What’s worse is that when they do, it is usually more severe and harder to treat than with dogs!

Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoes. Living in Florida, you know all too well the way the state is infiltrated with mosquitoes this time of year. We live in an area where mosquitoes can be a real problem for your pets, including cats. But through heartworm prevention steps, you can fight back.

Heartworms can cause a range of respiratory system conditions, vomiting, weight loss, and death. Many cats that get heartworms exhibit no symptoms, but just suddenly and unexpectently die. Heartworms typically live in cats for 2-3 years. While many people would argue that heartworms in cats are not all that common, therefore, you should not worry about it, we disagree. Because it is a health condition that can be prevented, it is better to take that step to ensure your cat stays healthy!

It is important to take heartworm prevention steps in order to keep your cat healthy. Prevention of heartworms in your cat is as easy as speaking with the veterinarian and putting the steps into action. First, we conduct a blood test to make sure they don’t have heartworms. Once we confirm that they don’t, we will begin preventative measures.

To learn more about heartworms and your cat, or to start taking preventative measures, contact Pet Doctors of America. We provide a full line of veterinarian care, serving the Jacksonville and Jacksonville Beach area. Contact us today so we can help protect your cat from heartworms!

The Fourth of July is a very fun and exciting time to spend time with family, grill out, and enjoy the brilliance of the fireworks.  But while we are all having fun, it is not fun to see our pets trembling in utter dismay from the loud noises and bright lights of the fireworks.  So what can we do for our pets during this holiday to help calm them down as well as help us, as owners, relax and enjoy the holiday?

Some people have had success with simply distracting their pets from the loud noise of the fireworks.  Instead of allowing them to hear them, they may turn on very loud music or turn the television up very loud in order to drown out the noise of the loud fireworks.  This may be helpful if the noise is off in the distance, but it is probably not going to solve the problem if the fireworks are in close proximity to your home.

Alternatively, there is a product on the market called “Rescue Remedy.”  It is an all-natural remedy that can alleviate symptoms when your dog is showing signs of anxiety or stress.  It comes in a liquid or a cream form and can be administered in your dog’s food, water, treats, or just given directly.  This product is alcohol free and can therefore be used on pets of all shapes and sizes.  Obviously every pet is different but this is a very safe option for pet owners to try in order to alleviate some of that anxiety from the fireworks!

Some pets get extremely stressed/anxious during fireworks, to the point where they even destroy your house or even cause harm to themselves.  In these more critical situations, you should contact your veterinarian and see if they can administer some sort of light sedative/relaxant to help calm your pet down throughout the evening.  After all, the last thing you want is for your pet to cause more harm to herself from being so scared!

Hopefully, you and your pet will benefit from one of these methods so you both can relax and celebrate our nations independence! If you have any other questions on how to keep your pets safe during this holiday season contact us today!

Congratulations on getting a new puppy! They are a lot of fun and can bring an amazing amount of joy to a family. But with every new puppy comes the responsibility of getting their vaccinations. During the first year of life, puppies just like children, need a series of vaccinations, which help to keep them safe and protect them from diseases and illnesses.

While getting a puppy is exciting, you want to make sure that they are healthy, parasite free, and on the right road toward health. The best time to call a veterinarian is when you first get a puppy. They will need to have an examination to ensure the puppy is healthy and to get them on the proper vaccination schedule.

Here is the typical vaccination schedule for puppies:

•    6-8 weeks – Physical Exam; DA2PL-CPV and Bordetella Boosters; Start on Heartworm and Flea Prevention; and Fecal Analysis to check for intestinal parasites.
•    10-12 weeks – Physical Exam; 2nd DA2PL-CPV and Bordetella Boosters; and Fecal Analysis.
•    12-16 weeks – Physical Exam; 3rd DA2PL-Cpv Booster; Rabies Vaccine; and Fecal Analysis.

Once our puppy has reached a year old they will still need vaccines, only not quite so often. Typically they will need all of their core vaccines every one to three years.  Additionally, Florida law requires that they receive a rabies vaccine every one to three years.

If you have any questions about vaccinations for your puppy, contact the veterinarians at Pet Doctors of America. They are experts in the field and provide pet care to the entire Jacksonville and Jacksonville Beach area. They can answer your questions, provide you with tips, and make sure your puppy stays on a healthy track. Contact us today; we would love to meet your new puppy!