SPOIL YOUR DOG DAY
August 10th is Spoil Your Dog Day. Remember to keep the treats healthy. You can also spoil them with lots of affection and a good long walk!
It’s Spoil Your Dog Day!
National Mutt Day
It’s National Mutt Day
Time to celebrate all of our adorable mutts. Thanks to everyone who has adopted a pet. You don’t always know what you are going to get, but it is sure to include licks and love!
There is No Fooling Around with Heartworm
Buy Heartworm Medication!
It’s sometimes hard to imagine that “an ounce of prevention”…really is worth it. In this case it is. Heart worms are highly invasive and the treatment, once afflicted, adds up quickly.
For the cost of what adds up to be 7 years worth of medication, the treatment is more than your dog and your wallet want to go through. The reality is that you love your pet and you don’t want to see them go through a case of Heartworm. Call to schedule a Heartworm test.
Brought to you by the Mosquito (Culicidae)
Worms grow over 7 months and usually
come in multitudes. The worms begin
with an incubation period inside the
mosquito. They carry the larvae and
deliver it to the host, your cat or dog! They can
grow up to 12 inches and dogs can be infected
with as many as 250 of them. It’s nasty business
for your dog or cat! This is why we recommend regular testing and most importantly, preventive medication.
New Pet Portal and Appointment Scheduler
Is it time for your next appointment? We have changed our customer portal.
If you have an existing account with us, your information should already be ported over. You will need to do a pet look-up and then reset your password. Just click on the button above to get started. If you are new to TLC, you can use this link to set up your account – REGISTER HERE
Fear FREE Certified Professionals
Several of our team members have gone through the Fear Free Certified Professional program for Albuquerque Veterinarians. We have adopted a culture of Fear FREE medicine in the clinic and try to add a little TLC into every interaction we have with your pet.
What is Fear Free?
Utilization of Fear Free methods and protocols leads to better healthcare outcomes, satisfied clients and relaxed patients. It also reduces or removes anxiety triggers, which creates an experience that is rewarding and safer for all involved, including your pet(s), you and your veterinary healthcare team.
Stress can start at home. We encourage you to check out our check-lists to insure that you are doing everything possible to start on the right foot.
Tips for Dogs
Tips for Cats
Your Dog Has Diabetes
Diabetes Awareness Month “Your Dog Has Diabetes” –
These were not the words I ever thought would come…with a great amount of relief. But, I thought my dog was dying and we had spent the weekend preparing the kids for the worst. Our mid-sized dog suddenly dropped her weight nearly in half. She had been losing weight, but we thought this was a positive result from a change to a healthier diet.
However, she took a turn for the worse and we ended up at TLC, with a dog who had lost 38 pounds.
Two signs stood out in retrospect:
- She was drinking a ton of water. (We originally thought that was the food too.)
- She became incontinent. She has always been a good dog. She was unable to process all that water and was having accidents every other day.
If your dog is seven or eight and you are not sure you have been feeding them the best food, you should be aware of the signs of diabetes. If you have a breed that is more susceptible, you should be on the watch for signs.
You may want to look into a improving the diet of your aging pets. We have always been healthy eaters ourselves but we didn’t pay a lot of attention to the dog’s diet. And we were guilty of giving them way too many fatty table treats and have found out that many of the store treats were full of sugars.
Just like humans, diet matters to your pet’s health. If you want to improve the overall health of your pet, diet and exercise have to be addressed. Otherwise, you may be looking at our new situation. A by the clock eating schedule of low carb food, followed by an injection of insulin. Twice a day. She is doing great, and actually has looked better for a couple years. We only wish we’d seen the signs sooner.
She had grown so weak that she couldn’t stand and was so thirsty that she just lay by her water bowl.
World Rabies Day
It’s World Rabies Day –
While rabies is a 100% preventable disease, more than 59,000 people die from the disease around the world each year. World Rabies Day is an opportunity to reflect on our efforts to control this deadly disease and remind ourselves that the fight is not yet over. CDC on Rabies
At TLC Pet Hospital we want to remind you to keep up with your Rabies vaccinations for your pets. This is a requirement of the City of Albuquerque in order to license your pet in the city limits, but it is also important for the health of your pet. No one wants to risk rabies in their pet. Wild animals including squirrels, bats and raccoons can be carriers that can spread the disease to your animals. Rabies infections can lead to death for both pets and humans, so do your part and keep up with your pet’s vaccinations.
Fireworks Friendly
Don’t forget to find a safe and quiet place for your pets, especially if they get nervous around fireworks. Be aware of the presence of pets at all times if you are shooting off fireworks.
Hot Pavement, No Dogs Allowed
Hot Pavement Doesn’t Require Hot Temperatures
Don’t go out for walks once it gets past 80 degrees. Especially on dark pavement, but gravel trails get just as hot under the New Mexico sun.
Make sure that you have plenty of water for you and your pet. Continue reading
Lyme Disease Prevention Month
It is Lyme Disease Awareness and Prevention
Lyme Disease can have serious negative effects in animals and humans. Long term effects include neurological damage. Here is the link to a fact sheet and crossword puzzle for the kids:
“Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States. Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and rarely, Borrelia mayonii. It is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks. Typical symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash called erythema migrans. If left untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system. Lyme disease is diagnosed based on symptoms, physical findings (e.g., rash), and the possibility of exposure to infected ticks.”