You want to keep your friend parasite free... but there are so many options; Heartgard, Frontline, Certifect, Interceptor, Revolution, Comfortis, ProHeart, Trifexis... how do you choose??
The best way to figure it all out is to stop in at the Bangor Veterinary Clinic and we can help. But in the mean time here are some things to keep in mind.
We had a very mild winter...and we are seeing fleas and ticks NOW! Also VanBuren county is #2 in the state of Michigan for the most heartworm positives. So far this year we have seen 28 dogs that tested positive for heartworm disease.
A few of the differences in preventive products:
Heartgard - monthly "chewable treat" heartworm preventive
Frontline - monthly topical flea/tick preventive
Certifect - Frontline with Amitraz for "quicker tick kill"
Interceptor - is off the market due to manufacturing problems
Revolution - monthly heartworm/flea preventive
Comfortis - oral monthly tablet for flea prevention
ProHeart - is Back! - 6 month injectable heartworm preventive
Trifexis - monthly topical for heartworm, flea and intestinal parasites.
Pricing based on Manufacturer’s and our Doctor’s Promotions
Frontline and Revolution... Purchase 9, get 3 free.
Certifect - Purchase 3 - $5 rebate, Purchase 6 - $12 rebate
Heartgard... Purchase 11, get 1 free, PLUS $15.00 mail in rebate
When you purchase these products from a licensed veterinarian, the manufacturer guarantees them. This includes services such as paying for treatment, replacing product, or even having Terminix® come to your home.
You don’t receive these guarantees when you buy from other sources, ( Walmart, TSC, Internet).
Parasite Prevention Options...
The Biggest Loser Competition for your Pet!
The Gobles and Bangor Veterinary Clinics are having a Biggest Loser competition this year to help your pets get healthier.
In 2009, a national study showed that nearly 45% of all dogs are overweight. Pet obesity is now the biggest health problem to pets in the United States. The effects of obesity can include arthritis, diabetes, reduced life span, increased surgical and anesthesia risk, ruptured cruciate ligaments and fatigue.
What can be done?? Diet and Exercise. This sounds simple but in fact when one simply tries to cut back on food, it just does not seem to work.
Feed in meals instead of leaving food out all the time. Leaving food out encourages snacking.
Exercise…. Taking your dog for a walk is good for them as well as you. Consider interactive toys that can be used when you are not home or where your own participation is minimal.
Competition is running from February 4th, 2012 to June 2nd, 2012.
Grand Prize is over a $150 value and consists of 6 months of Frontline™, a bath and toe nail trim from Pretty Paws in Gobles, and a free pet portrait session and 8x10 from Blue Heron Photography.
2nd prize is 3 month of Frontline ™, a Premier collar and leash and a gift certificate for one day of “Day Care” at Pretty Paws in Gobles
3rd prize is 1 month of Frontline™, a Premier toy and a Pet Odor candle.
Sign up: January 23rd – February 4th
First Weigh-in – Saturday February 4th – 1-3pm
Final Weigh-in – Saturday June 2nd 1-3pm
Entry Fee: $5 per animal. Each participant will receive a package of Lean Treats™. All proceeds go to Animal’s Best Friend, a charity to help with the cost of spaying and neutering pets.
In 2009, a national study showed that nearly 45% of all dogs are overweight. Pet obesity is now the biggest health problem to pets in the United States. The effects of obesity can include arthritis, diabetes, reduced life span, increased surgical and anesthesia risk, ruptured cruciate ligaments and fatigue.
What can be done?? Diet and Exercise. This sounds simple but in fact when one simply tries to cut back on food, it just does not seem to work.
Feed in meals instead of leaving food out all the time. Leaving food out encourages snacking.
Exercise…. Taking your dog for a walk is good for them as well as you. Consider interactive toys that can be used when you are not home or where your own participation is minimal.
Competition is running from February 4th, 2012 to June 2nd, 2012.
Grand Prize is over a $150 value and consists of 6 months of Frontline™, a bath and toe nail trim from Pretty Paws in Gobles, and a free pet portrait session and 8x10 from Blue Heron Photography.
2nd prize is 3 month of Frontline ™, a Premier collar and leash and a gift certificate for one day of “Day Care” at Pretty Paws in Gobles
3rd prize is 1 month of Frontline™, a Premier toy and a Pet Odor candle.
Sign up: January 23rd – February 4th
First Weigh-in – Saturday February 4th – 1-3pm
Final Weigh-in – Saturday June 2nd 1-3pm
Entry Fee: $5 per animal. Each participant will receive a package of Lean Treats™. All proceeds go to Animal’s Best Friend, a charity to help with the cost of spaying and neutering pets.
Do or Don’t: Table Scraps For Fido?
Ah, the holidays. It’s that time of year when friends and family gather around the table to enjoy good food and good company. It can also be a time when your pooch gets to indulge in a few extra table scraps. No one loves holiday food more than Fido. But is it okay to share what’s on your plate with your canine companion? And is there such thing as too much or just enough? Here are a few tips on how to share a tidbit here and there without endangering your pooch’s health.
‘Tis the season for overindulgence.
From Thanksgiving to New Year's, the holidays mean lots of foods high in fat, sugar and salt. Often what doesn’t get finished at the table goes into Fido’s bowl. It’s important to remember that when you give your dog a treat from your plate, you’re adding to his caloric intake. Trouble is, Fido doesn’t need a lot of extra calories. According to the ASPCA, overweight pets are at a higher risk of diabetes, liver problems and joint pain. By giving Fido that piece of pie or serving of stuffing, you’re doing more than showing him your love—you could be hurting his health.
Aim for a balanced diet.
Keep in mind that if you feed your pooch a complete, balanced commercial diet, adding anything that isn’t complete and balanced can throw his nutrition out of whack. So, as a general rule, you shouldn’t feed Fido table scraps. If you’re set on giving your dog treats or people food outside his normal diet, be sure that his treats make up less than 10% of his total caloric intake each day.
Make no bones about it.
Many families eat turkey, ham and roast beef during the holidays. If your family does, you may be tempted to give Fido a bone or two to gnaw on. In almost every case, the bones are too small, sharp, and brittle for your dog to chew on safely. Sharp bones can cause intestinal issues, which can turn a fun holiday treat into an expensive trip to the vet.
Limit daily treats.
Guests and kids love giving the family pet a treat. The trick is to supply the right kind of treats, so that they can feel like they’re giving your dog love and you can avoid looking like the bad guy. Or, when it’s not a great time for a treat, you can also suggest that Fido would love a game like fetch instead.
Find the right foods.
Maybe sweet potato casserole and pecan pie aren’t great choices for your pooch. But what about a bit of lean turkey? Or some cooked peas or other vegetables? Dogs love baby carrots, celery and even bits of vegetables you wouldn’t think they’d like. There are also some foods that can be toxic for Fido, including anything containing chocolate or macadamia nuts. So it’s important to be careful. Be sure anything you or your guests feed your beloved canine is healthy, low calorie, low sodium and low fat so he can enjoy many years of long life with you.
Still not sure what you can and can’t feed your pet? Here are a few tips from the experts at the ASPCA:
Skip these treats.
•Chocolate
•Coffee
•Alcohol
•Grapes or Raisins
•Uncooked Meat or Eggs
•Bones
•Onions, Garlic or Chives
•Milk
•Salt
‘Tis the season for overindulgence.
From Thanksgiving to New Year's, the holidays mean lots of foods high in fat, sugar and salt. Often what doesn’t get finished at the table goes into Fido’s bowl. It’s important to remember that when you give your dog a treat from your plate, you’re adding to his caloric intake. Trouble is, Fido doesn’t need a lot of extra calories. According to the ASPCA, overweight pets are at a higher risk of diabetes, liver problems and joint pain. By giving Fido that piece of pie or serving of stuffing, you’re doing more than showing him your love—you could be hurting his health.
Aim for a balanced diet.
Keep in mind that if you feed your pooch a complete, balanced commercial diet, adding anything that isn’t complete and balanced can throw his nutrition out of whack. So, as a general rule, you shouldn’t feed Fido table scraps. If you’re set on giving your dog treats or people food outside his normal diet, be sure that his treats make up less than 10% of his total caloric intake each day.
Make no bones about it.
Many families eat turkey, ham and roast beef during the holidays. If your family does, you may be tempted to give Fido a bone or two to gnaw on. In almost every case, the bones are too small, sharp, and brittle for your dog to chew on safely. Sharp bones can cause intestinal issues, which can turn a fun holiday treat into an expensive trip to the vet.
Limit daily treats.
Guests and kids love giving the family pet a treat. The trick is to supply the right kind of treats, so that they can feel like they’re giving your dog love and you can avoid looking like the bad guy. Or, when it’s not a great time for a treat, you can also suggest that Fido would love a game like fetch instead.
Find the right foods.
Maybe sweet potato casserole and pecan pie aren’t great choices for your pooch. But what about a bit of lean turkey? Or some cooked peas or other vegetables? Dogs love baby carrots, celery and even bits of vegetables you wouldn’t think they’d like. There are also some foods that can be toxic for Fido, including anything containing chocolate or macadamia nuts. So it’s important to be careful. Be sure anything you or your guests feed your beloved canine is healthy, low calorie, low sodium and low fat so he can enjoy many years of long life with you.
Still not sure what you can and can’t feed your pet? Here are a few tips from the experts at the ASPCA:
Skip these treats.
•Chocolate
•Coffee
•Alcohol
•Grapes or Raisins
•Uncooked Meat or Eggs
•Bones
•Onions, Garlic or Chives
•Milk
•Salt
Fleas, Ticks and Mosquitoes.... OH MY!!
What’s the buzz this summer? Fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes can make your pet’s life miserable and can cause serious health problems. The good news is that you can keep these pesky creatures at bay. Find out the top five ways to protect your pet.
Whether he is a couch potato or the active outdoorsy type, your pet deserves to be protected from external parasites. Here is some advice to help prevent fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes from setting up residence on your pet.
1. THINK AHEAD.
Talk with our staff about external parasite prevention before the weather gets warm. Many safe and effective flea and tick control products are now available, so protecting your pet is simply a matter of working with our veterinary team to determine which preventive regimen will be best.
A few days after feeding, a single female adult flea will start laying eggs—as many as 50 a day. Within a few weeks or months, she can lay hundreds or thousands of eggs. If your pet is on a preventive regimen, however, you will not have to worry about having flea infestations on your pet or in your house or yard. Not only can flea preventive products kill adult fleas, but many of them can also keep eggs from hatching or larvae from developing. These products are administered orally or topically and are given every 30 days.
Ticks can pass some unpleasant and potentially life-threatening diseases to your pet. To keep your pet safe, our staff will recommend a tick preventive product. These products generally work in one of two ways: They prevent ticks from attaching to a host, or, more commonly, they interfere with a tick’s ability to feed and cause the tick to detach within 24 hours. Both methods are effective at preventing disease transmission. Obviously, a tick that never attaches cannot harm your pet. In addition, it takes at least 24 hours (and possibly longer) for a tick to transmit disease, so if a tick detaches before then, your pet should not contract a tickborne disease. Also, depending on the area in which you live, our staff may suggest administering a Lyme disease vaccine to be absolutely certain your pet is protected.
Mosquitoes can be more than annoying pests; they can also transmit dangerous heartworm disease. In addition to flea and tick control products, our staff will prescribe an appropriate heartworm preventive. As an added incentive, some heartworm preventives also treat your pet for intestinal parasites.
2. USE PREVENTIVE PRODUCTS CORRECTLY.
As the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center advises, “Always read the label carefully before using any flea product on or around your pet.” This also goes for combination flea and tick preventive products. Some products do double duty: They can be used to control fleas and ticks and to prevent heartworm (and other parasites).
Our staff can recommend preventive products that are highly effective and safe to use on your dog or cat.
Do not use human mosquito-repellent products (particularly those that contain DEET) on pets. These products can harm your pet. In addition, never use a flea control formula on your cat that is only meant for dogs, and vice versa. Some products are meant only for cats, some are meant only for dogs, and some can be used for both. Be sure to follow the packaging instructions and our staff’s advice.
The good news for pet owners is that the currently available flea and tick preventive products are easy to use. Discuss any questions you have with our veterinary team.
3. MAINTAIN A MANICURED YARD.
Clear away any overhanging branches or thick underbrush, mow the grass regularly, and keep the yard as dry and sunny as possible. Ticks tend to hide in brush and wet areas. If you can keep wildlife such as deer, rabbits, or squirrels out of your yard, you will have a better chance of keeping your pets pest free. Some deer have ticks, and wildlife may carry fleas.
Still waters are the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. Regularly empty any container in your yard that might collect water, such as birdbaths, buckets, empty trash containers, saucers, and flowerpots. If you have a pond, keep it aerated so water does not have a chance to stagnate.
Clearing parasite breeding grounds will help, but doing so cannot completely protect your pets from being bitten. However, if your pets are on year-round protection, these measures provide a solid complement to their preventive regimen.
4. INSPECT YOUR PETS FOR FLEAS AND TICKS.
Just returned from taking your dog for a walk? Use a comb to thoroughly check his body for any ticks that may have climbed onto his coat. If you spot a tick, remove it immediately. Even if your pet is on a preventive product, you may still find ticks hitching a ride. Remember that many products thwart ticks by interfering with their ability to feed, not their ability to attach.
Look for flea dirt, which resembles black pepper specks but is actually the flea droppings left on your pet’s coat. Scratching, chewing, or licking persistently can also be signs that fleas are present. If your pet is on a preventive product, however, these signs most likely point to some other cause. The best course of action is to contact our staff.
5. PROTECT ALL PETS IN THE HOUSEHOLD.
Just because a pet is always kept indoors does not mean it cannot get fleas or ticks. An owner or another pet in the household that spends more time outdoors could unknowingly bring these parasites inside.
With so many easy-to-use and highly effective preventives available, there is no reason to let pests have a free ride on your pet. Ask our staff which type of prevention is best for your pet, be diligent about administering it regularly, and follow the above recommendations.
Then get set for a summer of pest-free fun.
Whether he is a couch potato or the active outdoorsy type, your pet deserves to be protected from external parasites. Here is some advice to help prevent fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes from setting up residence on your pet.
1. THINK AHEAD.
Talk with our staff about external parasite prevention before the weather gets warm. Many safe and effective flea and tick control products are now available, so protecting your pet is simply a matter of working with our veterinary team to determine which preventive regimen will be best.
A few days after feeding, a single female adult flea will start laying eggs—as many as 50 a day. Within a few weeks or months, she can lay hundreds or thousands of eggs. If your pet is on a preventive regimen, however, you will not have to worry about having flea infestations on your pet or in your house or yard. Not only can flea preventive products kill adult fleas, but many of them can also keep eggs from hatching or larvae from developing. These products are administered orally or topically and are given every 30 days.
Ticks can pass some unpleasant and potentially life-threatening diseases to your pet. To keep your pet safe, our staff will recommend a tick preventive product. These products generally work in one of two ways: They prevent ticks from attaching to a host, or, more commonly, they interfere with a tick’s ability to feed and cause the tick to detach within 24 hours. Both methods are effective at preventing disease transmission. Obviously, a tick that never attaches cannot harm your pet. In addition, it takes at least 24 hours (and possibly longer) for a tick to transmit disease, so if a tick detaches before then, your pet should not contract a tickborne disease. Also, depending on the area in which you live, our staff may suggest administering a Lyme disease vaccine to be absolutely certain your pet is protected.
Mosquitoes can be more than annoying pests; they can also transmit dangerous heartworm disease. In addition to flea and tick control products, our staff will prescribe an appropriate heartworm preventive. As an added incentive, some heartworm preventives also treat your pet for intestinal parasites.
2. USE PREVENTIVE PRODUCTS CORRECTLY.
As the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center advises, “Always read the label carefully before using any flea product on or around your pet.” This also goes for combination flea and tick preventive products. Some products do double duty: They can be used to control fleas and ticks and to prevent heartworm (and other parasites).
Our staff can recommend preventive products that are highly effective and safe to use on your dog or cat.
Do not use human mosquito-repellent products (particularly those that contain DEET) on pets. These products can harm your pet. In addition, never use a flea control formula on your cat that is only meant for dogs, and vice versa. Some products are meant only for cats, some are meant only for dogs, and some can be used for both. Be sure to follow the packaging instructions and our staff’s advice.
The good news for pet owners is that the currently available flea and tick preventive products are easy to use. Discuss any questions you have with our veterinary team.
3. MAINTAIN A MANICURED YARD.
Clear away any overhanging branches or thick underbrush, mow the grass regularly, and keep the yard as dry and sunny as possible. Ticks tend to hide in brush and wet areas. If you can keep wildlife such as deer, rabbits, or squirrels out of your yard, you will have a better chance of keeping your pets pest free. Some deer have ticks, and wildlife may carry fleas.
Still waters are the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. Regularly empty any container in your yard that might collect water, such as birdbaths, buckets, empty trash containers, saucers, and flowerpots. If you have a pond, keep it aerated so water does not have a chance to stagnate.
Clearing parasite breeding grounds will help, but doing so cannot completely protect your pets from being bitten. However, if your pets are on year-round protection, these measures provide a solid complement to their preventive regimen.
4. INSPECT YOUR PETS FOR FLEAS AND TICKS.
Just returned from taking your dog for a walk? Use a comb to thoroughly check his body for any ticks that may have climbed onto his coat. If you spot a tick, remove it immediately. Even if your pet is on a preventive product, you may still find ticks hitching a ride. Remember that many products thwart ticks by interfering with their ability to feed, not their ability to attach.
Look for flea dirt, which resembles black pepper specks but is actually the flea droppings left on your pet’s coat. Scratching, chewing, or licking persistently can also be signs that fleas are present. If your pet is on a preventive product, however, these signs most likely point to some other cause. The best course of action is to contact our staff.
5. PROTECT ALL PETS IN THE HOUSEHOLD.
Just because a pet is always kept indoors does not mean it cannot get fleas or ticks. An owner or another pet in the household that spends more time outdoors could unknowingly bring these parasites inside.
With so many easy-to-use and highly effective preventives available, there is no reason to let pests have a free ride on your pet. Ask our staff which type of prevention is best for your pet, be diligent about administering it regularly, and follow the above recommendations.
Then get set for a summer of pest-free fun.
Introducing the Companion Therapy Laser
We are proud to announce that we now have the Companion Therapy Laser here at the Gobles and Bangor Veterinary Clinics. The Laser Therapy System allows your pet to heal faster after surgery or any traumatic injury. It eases pain and improves mobility without the use of pharmaceuticals and surgery. The therapy provides your geriatric animal relief of aches and pains, and allows for more freedom and improved quality of life. Some of the disorders that respond to laser therapy are Arthritis, Hip Dysplasia, Numerous Skin Conditions, Post Surgical Pain Relief & Increased Healing, Wound Healing, Degenerative Joint Disease, Gingivitis, Insect Bites/Stings, Lacerations/Abrasions, Cystitis, Burns, and more... Ask us for more details...