"We're Your Other Family Doctor"
New Patients Welcome
Arnold Veterinary Hospital - 1414 Ritchie Highway, Arnold, MD 21012
Phone: 410-757-7645 Fax: 410-349-0137
Arnold Veterinary Hospital
1414 Ritchie Highway, Arnold, MD 21012
410-757-7645
Arnold Veterinary Hospital - Articles of Interest
Dental Health
Dental disease doesn’t just cause bad breath. The mouth is a prime source of bacteria that can seed the rest of the body. There are significant health risks associated with dental disease that can affect your pet’s heart, liver, and other organs. It can also cause vomiting, diarrhea, and pain or discomfort in the whole head.
Because dental disease most often affects middle-aged or older dogs and cats, a pre-anesthetic blood test is always recommended to assess your pet’s general state of health. This blood test can be done the same day as the dentistry.
To ensure the best possible health for your pet, schedule a dental cleaning today
Traveling With Your Best Friend
Plan in advance is the mantra. While there are more pet-friendly hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, and campgrounds than ever - there's no guarantee you'll find one by chance. Some places require a pet security deposit, which is returned if the chairs aren't chewed up or the carpet piddled on. And, some places charge an extra non-refundable fee for Fluffy to stay.
Be specific when you ask questions. For example, some places only allow one pet per room or at least one pet at no cost. Others only welcome small dogs. But how do you define a small dog? One hotel manager's definition was "knee high". But is that Michael Jordan's knee of Mickey Rooney's?
Pet-friendly accommodations are listed and comments are available on various websites including http://www.pettravel.com/, http://www.petswelcome.com/, http://www.doginmysuitcase.com/, http://www.1clickpethotels.com/ or http://www.travelpets.com/. But don't merely depend on websites, since policies are subject to change. Also, demand a confirmation with all details in writing. In fact, some hotels even offer pet perks - from dog walking to room service menus for pets.
When you arrive at your destination, plan some fun dog-friendly activities. If your dog is going to stay in the room all day, everyday, what's the point of bringing her along?
Dr. Gregg K. Takashima, vice president of the American Animal Hospital Association, adds that it's best to use your own food (or at least the same brand) from home when you travel. And it's important, for all dogs and cats to wear a rabies tag, ID tag and to have an implanted microchip. "If the worst happens, and the pet gets lost - you'll want to do everything you can to increase the odds of recovery," Takashima says.
- by Steve Dale
Fleas and Ticks Are Not Welcome
The good news is that modern veterinary flea products really do a job to zap fleas; so the days of using dips can be relics of a flea fighting history. "The bad news is that fleas and ticks are enjoying a perfect storm of concurrent events, so pet owners must be vigilant," says veterinary parasitologist, Dr. Michael Dryden, Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine.
He says the recent overall increase in temperatures has made it possible for fleas and ticks to survive months longer in places where they normally wouldn't. As sprawling suburbia increasingly intersects with wildlife, our backyards have become a drop-off place for fleas and ticks. Favorable conditions have made it possible for many animals, such as deer and raccoon, to increase in population which can lead to more fleas and ticks.
Dryden says it doesn't take long for fleas to settle into your home sweet home. A couple of fleas could hitch a ride on your shoes, or for sure, your unprotected pet. Laying 40 to 50 eggs daily, it doesn't take long before you can find your home overrun. Dryden adds if those fleas do take up residence, you may have to pay for an expensive exterminator - an expense which may have been avoided with the right protection.
Fleas are not fun house guests. Many pets are allergic to their bites; they do bite people if they're hungry and they spread disease. As nasty as fleas are, arguably, ticks are even more of a concern when it comes to disease transmission, often gifting dogs with a cocktail of infectious agents causing several diseases simultaneously, including any combination of Lyme, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, babesiosis and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. If ticks occur where you live, your veterinarian will likely recommend a product to help protect your pets against both fleas and ticks.
by Steve Dale
Dangers of Pet Waste
If not handled properly, pet waste can be a source of illness for other animals or for humans. Zoonotic illnesses are those that are transmitted from animals to humans and include the following:
- Campylobacteriosis, a bacterial infection carried by dogs and cats which frequently causes diarrhea in humans
- Salmonellosis, the most common zoonotic infection which may include symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, headache, vomiting, and diarrhea
- Toxocariasis, roundworms capable of being transmitted from dogs to humans, often without noticeable symptoms, but which may include rash, fever, cough, or even loss of vision
Pets and children who play in areas where animals defecate are most at risk for infection from disease-causing bacteria and parasites found in pet waste. To keep your family safe, remember these important tips:
When walking with your pet, take along a plastic bag or cup and dispose of the waste properly.
Be aware of the Animal Control Ordinance that governs pet waste clean-up. Keep your property waste free by clearing waste yourself or by contacting the professionals at Scooper Friends Pet Waste Removal Team: 410.721.8825 or http://www.scooperfriends.com/.
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