Tag Archives: vet Roanoke VA

Cat Care, Dog Care, General Health

Why is Spaying and Neutering So Important?

Did you know that your pet might be able to spayed or neutered at as young as eight weeks of age? It’s a critical procedure for your pet, but do you know why? Learn more about the many benefits of spaying and neutering as your Roanoke, VA veterinarian elaborates below.

It Eliminates Health Risks

First of all, spaying and neutering is a great thing for your pet’s health. It virtually eliminates the risk of genital cancers, and also makes other cancer types like prostate and breast cancer far less likely to occur. Even other reproductive- and urinary-system problems, such as urinary tract infections, aren’t as likely to happen in pets who have had the procedure performed. All in all, it’s one of the best things you’ll ever do for your pet’s health.

It Improves Behavior

Pets who have had the spay or neuter procedure done tend to behave far better than those who haven’t. Without those pesky hormones coursing through their system, a spayed or neutered pet isn’t as likely to exhibit bad behaviors like urine spraying and house soiling, loud vocalization, aggression toward owners or other pets, chewing, scratching, or digging, and more. The procedure certainly won’t make your animal friend a perfectly behaved pet, but it goes a long way toward keeping your companion mild-mannered and under control.

There’s a Lower Risk of Escape

When intact pets reach the age of sexual maturity, they’ll start to feel an insatiable desire to seek a mate. It’s particularly a problem for dogs, who have been known to escape by whatever means necessary—even chewing through entire doors or digging under fencing in your yard. It’s just not worth the risk of dealing with a lost pet! Having your companion spayed or neutered early on in life means that they won’t feel the desire to escape when mating season arrives.

There’s a Broader Benefit

Spaying or neutering your pet has another much bigger benefit: the greater good. Millions of pets go homeless or must be euthanized every year, simply because of overpopulation. Don’t let your pet to contribute to the problem by breeding in an unrestricted way—you’re not only saving yourself a litter of unexpected puppies or kittens, you’re benefiting the homeless pet population.

Does your pet need spayed or neutered? Contact your Roanoke, VA veterinary clinic right away to set up an office visit. We’re always here to help!

Dog Care, General Care, General Health

Hot Weather Care Tips for Your Dog

The dog days of summer are upon us! Remember: your dog is wearing a fur coat that he can’t take off, so it’s up to you to make sure Fido stays safe and cool as summer rolls on. Here are a few tips for doing just that from a Roanoke, VA veterinarian:

Keep Fido Indoors

The first rule of thumb to follow is a simple one: don’t leave your dog outdoors for long periods of time when it’s hot. Dogs are susceptible to dehydration and heatstroke when they remain in the high temperatures and hot sun for long stretches, and this can cause serious health trouble. Try exercising your pooch outside during the cooler morning or evening hours, and let him come indoors and relax in the air conditioning through the middle part of the day.

Provide Fresh Water

It’s important to provide your dog with fresh water to drink all year round, but it’s especially essential in the deep summer months. Your pooch needs plenty of fresh water to stay hydrated and keep the body temperature regulated. Keep Fido’s bowl filled at all times, and consider adding a few ice cubes on extremely hot days for that extra chill.

Keep Up With Preventatives

Summer is prime-time for pests, so it’s important that you keep up with your dog’s preventative medications this time of year. Worms like heartworm, roundworm, hookworm, whipworm, and even tapeworms present a threat during the summer, and into the autumn months. Plus, fleas and ticks are waiting to latch on to your dog and start causing problems. Ask your veterinarian about a worm preventative and a flea-and-tick control medicine for your dog if he isn’t already set up with these medications.

Watch the Asphalt

When you take your dog for walks outdoors, pay special attention to asphalt surfaces like driveways and parking lots. These surfaces can heat up quickly when the summer sun beats down on them all day, and they retain heat. It’s possible for your dog’s sensitive paw pads to get burned if he lingers on asphalt surfaces for too long!

Car Travel Tips

Never leave your dog in a car parked in the sun on a hot summer’s day. The temperature inside can skyrocket to well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit in a matter of minutes! It’s best to keep Fido at home.

For more summer safety tips, contact your Roanoke, VA vet clinic.

Cat Care, Dog Care, General Health

Getting Your Pet Back to a Healthy Weight

Take a glance at your pet—are they looking a bit pudgy? Nearly half of all domesticated cats and dogs are overweight! If your pet could stand to shed a few pounds, use these tips from a Roanoke, VA veterinarian to return them to a healthy weight:

See the Vet

First, set up an appointment to have your pet examined at the vet’s office. You don’t want to start adjusting your pet’s portion size or changing their diet without consulting the professionals first! Your veterinarian can tell you whether or not your pet is, in fact, obese. Then, you’ll work together to create a tailored weight-loss plan.

Adjust Portion Size

Many times, all it takes for a pet to start losing weight is some control over their portion size. A huge number of pets become obese simply from over-eating! Never free-feed your pet, which means leaving food out at all times for your pet to munch on as they wish; instead, ask your veterinarian about a portion measurement that suits your pet’s needs. Give your pet that amount of food at mealtimes, and remove any uneaten kibble after about 20 minutes.

Feed a Great Diet

Is your pet’s food itself up to par? If your companion is receiving a budget food that contains a lot of empty calories, they’re probably packing on the pounds. It’s time to upgrade your pet’s diet to a premium food that suits their age, size, and breed. This way, they’ll receive all of the essential nutrients for good health without consuming too many calories and becoming overweight.

Exercise Regularly

Of course, no weight-loss plan comes without exercise. You’ll have to get your pet moving on a regular basis in order to help them burn off that excess body fat and return to a healthy weight. Go on brisk walks through your neighborhood, or romp around inside with a favorite toy. However you do it, make sure your pet gets several minutes of physical activity per day, several times a day.

Tips on Treats

Don’t give your pet a lot of fatty table scraps, and don’t overdo it when it comes to pet treats. Use treats as rewards for good behavior, or as training tools—giving your pet treats for no real reason isn’t healthy.

Does your pet need a veterinary exam? We’re here to help. Contact your Roanoke, VA animal hospital to schedule an appointment.

Cat Care, General Care

Adorable Things Your Cat Will Do Over the Holidays

The holiday season is upon us! Many of us enjoy partaking in special seasonal traditions at this time of year. For instance, you may watch a certain movie, play your favorite carols, or go to some annual holiday gatherings. As it turns out, our feline buddies also have a few holiday customs. A Roanoke, VA vet lists some of them below.

Play With The Tree

At this time of year, many of our feline patients turn their attention to those beautifully decorated trees. Kitty-proof your tree by hanging only sturdy, unbreakable ornaments on the lower branches. Put fragile decorations on the higher part of the tree, where Fluffy can’t reach them. You may also want to secure the treetop to the wall or ceiling with fishing line. If you have a super-frisky cat, opt for an artificial tree. (Note: ribbons, tinsels, pine needles, electric lights, and ornament hooks are all hazardous to kitties. Keep these things out of paws’ reach.)

Nap Under The Tree

Once your furball has tired herself out batting at holiday ornaments, she may curl up under the tree for a nap. This makes purrfect sense: cats are precious gifts!

Supervise The Humans

Cats are fairly nosy little furballs, and like to keep a close eye on their humans. Fluffy will monitor you as you are cooking, cleaning, and getting ready for holiday festivities. Your thoughtful pet may even lend a helping paw with giftwrapping and changing sheets!

Sleep On Guest Coats

Are you having company over in the next few weeks? If you ask your visitors to put their coats on a spare bed, you may want to close the door to that room. Otherwise, there’s a good chance you’ll find Fluffy snoozing on someone’s jacket!

Play With A New Toy

Your kitty definitely deserves a special present. After all, Fluffy is part of the family! Offer your pet a few new playthings. Classic options, like catnip mice, are always a good option. You can also try something more modern, like an automated laser pointer or a mechanical ‘swimming’ fish.

Try New Boxes

After everyone has finished opening their presents, set a few boxes aside for Fluffy. As we all know, cats absolutely love boxes!

Season’s Greetings from all of us here at Old Dominion Veterinary Clinic. Please contact us, your local Roanoke, VA vet clinic, anytime.

Cat Care, General Care

DIY Cat Toys

Did you know that playing is beneficial to your cat, both mentally and physically? Kitties can get bored and unhappy with nothing to do all day. Making sure Fluffy has plenty of toys is very important! You don’t have to break the bank buying cat toys, however. There are lots of great playthings you can make your feline buddy. Making cat toys is also a great rainy-day project for kids. A Roanoke, VA vet lists some cute DIY kitty toys below.

Catnip Mice

For the easy version of this, just take some baby socks, stuff them with catnip, and sew the openings shut. Voila! If you want something a bit more involved, you can use patterns to create specific shapes. Add felt ears and pipe-cleaner whiskers if you like!

Toilet Paper Roll

You can do quite a bit with the cardboard tubes from toilet paper or paper towels. Cut them into rings, and assemble them into small balls. Then, put some catnip in the middle. Or, put some treats inside the roll, and then fold the corners into an ‘envelope.’ You can also just cut narrow strips into the ends, then fold them back. Look online for more options.

Cardboard Mouse

In just a few minutes, you can turn a piece of cardboard into a little ‘mouse’ for your kitty to bat around. Trace an outline of a mouse shape, and cut it out. To add depth, glue two together, or make a little ‘fin’ section out of another piece of cardboard.

Puzzle Toy

Take the tube from a can of potato chips. You can peel off the label or cover the can with contact paper. Another option is to glue thick wrapping or parcel paper onto it. Be sure to make the edges neat, so the lid still fits! Then, use a round object to trace circles onto the tube. Cut the circles out with an X-acto knife. Drop a catnip mouse into the tube, close the lid, and tell your feline pal not to use it. She’ll immediately start playing with it!

Pipe Cleaner Kitty Toy

It doesn’t get much simpler than this. Take two pipe cleaners, and twist them into a little ball shape. Just be sure there are no sharp parts sticking out! Presto!

Please contact us, your Roanoke, VA pet hospital, for all your cat’s veterinary care needs. We’re here to help!

Behavior, Dog Care, General Care

Puppy Training Tips

Have you recently welcomed a puppy into your home? If so, the next few months are going to be filled with adorable moments! You’ve also got quite a bit of pet parenting ahead of you. Little Fido has lots to learn! In addition to housebreaking and crate training, Here, a Roanoke, VA vet offers some puppy training tips.

Furriculum

Start by teaching your pet basic doggy obedience commands, such as Sit, Stay, Come, Heel, and Lay Down. Work on one command at a time, and don’t move on until your furry pal has mastered each one. These commands can be taught along with housebreaking and crate training. Once little Fido has these mastered, you can show him some cute tricks, or move on to more advanced training.

Pawsitive Thoughts

Never punish your puppy for not picking things up quickly enough. Instead, keep things cheerful by rewarding your canine buddy with treats and praise for doing well. Also, be sure to only work with your pooch when you’re in a good mood. Man’s Best Friend is very intuitive, and can pick up our moods very quickly. If you’re grumpy or stressed, little Fido may sense it, and could form a bad association with training. You definitely don’t want that!

Timing

Dogs don’t have very long attention spans, especially when they are young. Long classes will likely bore your four-legged student. Try to work with Fido for a few minutes every day. This will keep things fun and fresh for your furry friend. If you don’t have much time for training, consider enrolling the little guy in doggy daycare. Many of these programs offer training.

Consistency

Consistency is very important when training dogs. Be sure to use the same phrases every time when teaching your furry buddy vocal commands. If you say ‘Come’ one day and ‘Fido, get over here now!’ the next, you’re probably going to confuse your pet.

Rewards

Giving little Fido a gold star probably won’t impress him very much. Instead, you’ll want to offer your pup something more tangible, like food. Use small snacks, like bits of kibble or piece of hot dogs. If your adorable student gets too full, he probably will be more focused on napping than learning!

Does your puppy need an exam, microchipping, or parasite control? Please contact us, your Roanoke, VA pet clinic, for all your puppy’s veterinary care needs.

Dog Care, General Care, General Health

Senior Dog Care Tips

Did you know that big dogs age more quickly than small dogs? Large breeds can become seniors as early as age six, while little pooches may not enter their golden years until age nine or even older. However, no matter what type of dog you have, his needs will change a bit as he ages. Read on as a Troutville, VA vet lists some great senior dog care tips.

Senior-Friendly Products

We strongly recommend getting your canine buddy a good, high-quality doggy bed, so he can sleep comfortably at night. Fido may also appreciate elevated doggy dishes, which will be easier for him to eat from than bowls on the floor.

Good Food

Proper nutrition is always important, but it’s particularly crucial to older pets. Be sure to feed your pooch a high-quality senior pet food. Snacks are fine, but don’t go overboard with fatty treats.

Proper Exercise

While your four-legged buddy will definitely slow down as he ages, he will still need regular activity. You may find that taking a slow, relaxing walk with your furry best friend is a great way to wind down after a long day at work!

Regular Veterinary Care

One of the best things you can do for Fido in his old age is to make sure he sees the vet regularly. Follow your vet’s recommended appointment schedule. At home, watch for signs of illness, and contact your vet immediately if you notice anything unusual.

Pet Ramps

As your canine friend grows older, he may have a hard time climbing on and off the couch, or getting in and out of the car. Pet ramps or stairs will help Fido get around more easily.

Pain Management

It isn’t uncommon for dogs to develop medical issues, such as arthritis and hip dysplasia, in their senior years. Ask your vet for specific advice on your furry pal’s care needs. For instance, Fido may really benefit from certain supplements, pet massage, or pain management treatments.

Nail Care

Overgrown nails are very uncomfortable for Man’s Best Friend! Fido may change his stride to compensate. Over time, this will strain your pup’s bones and joints, and can contribute to painful bone/joint issues, such as arthritis and hip dysplasia. Keep your furry friend’s claws trimmed!

Please reach out to us, your Troutville, VA pet hospital, for all your dog’s veterinary care needs. We’re here to help!