Your pet may take the prize in that pumpkin costume or bandanna but that doesn’t mean that their participation has to stop there. Instead of haunted house adventures, go to a family corn maze or hayride that your pet can go with you. At the neighborhood Halloween party, after everyone is done bobbing for apples, toss in a few ice cubes and let the dogs take a few rounds “bobbing” for the ice cubes. While the trick- or treating is going on, let the pooches take a break. Make sure that the goody bags are put up high so that no curious noses find any chocolate candy that can be harmful to pets. Happy Haunting!
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Most people think that dogs only eat grass when they are sick. You may be surprised to find that some dogs eat grass simply because they like grass. They find it appetizing, like some people may get a craving for a salad for lunch! Along with their diet of canine cuisine, every now and then they may feel the urge to graze on a mouthful of green grass. As a pet owner, we ask that you make sure that your pet does not eat grass that has been recently treated with fertilizers or pesticides as these can be harmful. For indoor pets, you can find kits that allow you to grow a small tray of grass so that every pet is priviledged to have access to fresh green grass all the time.
Besides providing wonderful companionship, owning a pet can have a positive impact on your overall health also. Studies show that petting a dog or cat can lower your blood pressure. Your body tends to relax because the chemicals dopamine and seratonin are released, which serve as “feel good” chemicals. Some studies even show that petting a dog can boost your immune system due to the release of antibodies. People who grow up with pets tend to have reduced allergies and asthma later due to repeated exposure to triggers such as dander and pollen. Taking that afternoon stroll is a walk in the park when you are spending that time with your furry walking partner. That way you both reap the benefits of the exercise that seems less exciting by yourself. Pet owners also tend to have a bigger sense of security knowing that their pet is by their side. Talking to a pet, whether it wears fur or swims in a bowl, keeps many people from feeling alone, as their relationship with their pet builds. Pets also bring about good social development as they are easy topics of conversation. Researchers believe that children raised in a home with pets are more outgoing and tend to handle responsibility easier. Maybe pets, like laughter, are the best medicine!
Millcreek Animal Hospital welcomes Deena Hallman to the staff as our Practice Manager! Deena comes to us from the the other side of beautiful Lake Murray where she served as Director of Newberry County Animal Care and Control for over five years, following her graduation from Clemson University, majoring in Animal and Veterinary Science. Deena is here to assist our clients with any needs, special requests, or problems you may experience. Her goal is to provide the utmost in client and patient care. Should you have any questions of concerns, feel free to contact her at 803.359.1933 or at info@millcreekanimalhospital.com.
Call now to make your reservations to board your pet with us! Due to recent incidents of Canine Influenza, or the “dog flu” in the Midlands area, we are stongly urging our boarding pups to stop in for a flu vaccine. This is a 2 vaccine series, with the initial dose being followed by a booster vaccine in 2 to 4 weeks. Please give us a call if you have any questions and we will be happy to assist you!
Many clients are not sure of what constitutes an emergency in their pet, and often fail to seek appropriate medical treatment in time, or become anxious over a problem that may not need immediate attention. Reasons to seek immediate care for your pet included such things as:
- intractable vomiting or profuse bloody diarrhea,
- restlessness, retching and abdominal swelling in large breed dogs,
- an inability to urinate in any species,
- inappetence of more than one day,
- consumption of poisonous substances such as rat poison or chocolate,
- violent trauma such as being hit by a car or attacked by another animal.
Spaying or neutering your pet is extremely important for many health and behavioral reasons. Uterine, ovarian mammary and testicular cancer as well as uterine and prostatic infections pose a serious and life threatening risk to your pet. These are easily eliminated with these surgeries. Additionally, roaming, marking, mounting, humping and fighting are often eliminated with a spay or neuter surgery. Finally, unwanted and unexpected litters would not be a problem.
Heartworm prevention is one of the single most important things you can do for the health and well being of your pet. Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitos and present a terrible prolem in South Carolina. The adult worms come to live in the heart and lungs where they damage the heart muscle, pulmonary arteries and the lungs. Heartworms can kill if left untreated.
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Feel free to take a look at some of our older newsletters below.
AVID Identification Chip Systems.
We now offer the chip that can be implanted under your pet’s skin and have your pet registered to your name and address so that your pet can be identified and recovered if lost or stolen. It is quick and easy, does not require an appointment or a doctor visit. The cost is $37.
Allergy Testing
The volume of pets suffering from allergic skin disease is enormous. You are not alone if your pet licks and scratches all the time. It is allergies! We now offer a simple blood test to identify the allergens your pet is allergic to, as well as order the vaccines to these allergens specific to the needs of your pets. This method of treating allergies is akin to allergy shots in people, and can be a very effective way of treating allergic skin disease in pets, as well as getting them off of expensive medications. Just ask for more information about this new service.
The Blood Parasite Test
Did you know that tick borne diseases are increasingly prevalent in South Carolina? Our new blood parasite test detects two common tick borne diseases: Ehrlichia canis and Lyme’s disease in addition to heartworm disease. Tick borne diseases are often harbored without clinical symptoms for many months and traditionally had only been detected once a dog is chronically ill. Previous testing required an expensive test run by an outside lab. Now we can quickly and easily screen for tick borne diseases in clinic. This test can be run separately or in conjunction with the normal yearly protocol.
