Veterinary Medical

Coronavirus (COVID-19)-Companion Animal Q&A Update 4-6-2020

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          The following blog post is an update from Dr. Wendy Zawoysky’s post on 3/3/2020. We strive to keep our clients informed with the best information possible on COVID-19 and its potential affect on companion animals. Please continue to monitor our blog and social media posts for the most current information we are receiving.   The widely reported occurrence of a Tiger at the Bronx Zoo testing positive for COVID-19 and showing signs of a cough and reduced appetite raises appropriate questions about the risk to pets from COVID-19, and whether they could become an important … Read more »

Coronavirus (COVID-19)-Companion Animal Q&A

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          Hi everyone, its Dr. Wendy. Let’s talk Coronavirus! We are fielding an increasing number of calls from concerned clients about the human Coronavirus (COVID-19) and its relevance to companion animals. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), no animals in the United States have been identified with the virus, and there is no evidence that dogs or other pets can contract or spread COVID-19.  Here is a link to the specific section at the CDC site where animals are addressed: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html#animals. Below are my quick answers to your most common concerns based … Read more »

Nature Lover, Cat Lover…Should a Cat Go Outside?

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Nature lover, Cat lover…a perspective. An outdoor cat is any cat that spends time outdoors including feral, stray, farm, unowned, and indoor/outdoor cats.  An estimate from 2013 suggests that outdoor cats kill 1.3 to 4 billion wild birds and 6.3 to 22.3 billion wild mammals in the US, per year!  And not all prey are quickly killed by cats.  Many may be maimed or injured creating an even greater humane concern.  One rehabilitation center in Minnesota admitted 5600 animals in 2019 that had been attacked by cats.  Cats are considered just one of the many reasons for population decline of … Read more »

FDA Warning- “Grain Free” Diets Linked to Heart Disease?

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Potential Link Between Grain-Free Diets and Heart Disease in Dogs- Diet Change Recommended for Safety The FDA published an article late last week highlighting a potential link between certain brands of food (producing mostly grain-free diets) and a significant increase in reported cases of “Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy”, particularly in medium and large-breed dogs. https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/news-events/fda-investigation-potential-link-between-certain-diets-and-canine-dilated-cardiomyopathy Currently, the cause of the problem is unknown, and is likely to be quite complex.  Taurine and other amino-acid levels, the grains being used, manufacturing practices, and ingredient sourcing are all being investigated.  It will be quite some time before we have a clearer understanding of … Read more »

Getting Your Dog in Shape for Summer Outdoor Adventures

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Spring has Sprung! After a long winter it is easy for us here in Bellingham to get excited for the summer months and all the great outdoor activities that are so easily accessible in our area. And what a better way to enjoy the outdoors than with our furry friends as companions! Whether running, biking, or hiking there are just a few things I would recommend when taking your dogs on the trails. Please note all dogs come in different shapes and sizes so these are solely general recommendations that you can use to guide your dog’s activity level. Exercise … Read more »

Help! My Pet’s Got an Itch!!

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There is nothing more frustrating than being woken all night listening to a pet scratch, chew and lick.  And if you have experienced this, you know that it is probably equally as frustrating and sometimes painful for our beloved pets.  Itch and subsequent scratching and chewing of the skin can be caused by many conditions and it may take several visits to the veterinarian to help determine the cause and prevent recurrence of itch.  First and foremost, our goal is to stop the itch to ensure your pet’s welfare.  A pet that is scratching regularly, even when they don’t show … Read more »

New Puppy or Kitten? Time to Get Social!

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Socialization is a critical time period in the development of  young animals,  allowing them to lead well-adjusted lives and to encourage a future of positive interactions with people, places, animals, and things. Technically this socialization period begins around 3 – 4 weeks of age, though most pet parents don’t usually pick-up their new puppy or kitten until 8-10 weeks. The period ends around 13 – 14 weeks (10 – 11 weeks in kittens); however, even after this time, there is still an opportunity to make a positive impact and reduce future fear, anxiety and stress. This critical socialization period is … Read more »

FDA Fact Sheet on Isoxazoline-containing Flea and Tick Products, Including Credelio

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https://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/ResourcesforYou/AnimalHealthLiteracy/ucm620940.htm The FDA released a Fact Sheet today to help ensure that pet-owners and veterinarians are aware of potential neurologic side effects from flea and tick preventive products containing that contain the Isoxazoline class of medications.  These products include Credelio (the flea/tick preventive recommended by Fairhaven Vet for dogs), Nexgard, Bravecto and Simparica. It is unclear as to why the FDA released this fact sheet.  The potential for virtually all effective flea/tick products to very rarely cause neurologic signs is well-known, but they are considered safe for the vast majority of animals.  Dr. Kummer has emailed the FDA to enquire … Read more »

Veterinary Visits- Managing for a Fear Free Return Home

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Have you ever experienced this scenario? You’ve just picked up your beloved pet from the hospital and returned home only to have your other pets act aggressively or ignore their housemate altogether! What has happened? Why are the other pets acting this way towards their housemate that they usually get along with? This is a scenario that is more common than you may think and there are a few reasons why this may occur. First, the pet may smell different to the housemates so they act as if this is a new animal being brought into the household. Think back … Read more »

Parasite Control Recommendations

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Parasite Prevention 2018 Helping you to maintain optimal health in your 4-legged family members has always been our primary focus at Fairhaven Vet, and parasite-control is an increasingly important part of good, preventive, health-care!   The incidence of external and internal parasites has clearly been rising in our area.  These parasites not only pose a health risk to your pets, but many can cause disease in people as well. Fairhaven Vet now recommends Year-Round comprehensive parasite prevention for your pets:  Dogs: A combination of once-monthly Credelio (Fleas and Ticks) and Interceptor Plus (Internal Parasites) is recommended for all dogs for excellent, safe … Read more »

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