Have you ever considered painting your cat?

March 8th, 2010

Some of these paint jobs cost $15,000 and have to be repeated every three months as the cat’s fur grows out.  Unbelievable!  


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March Back In for a $20 rebate

March 1st, 2010

Earn a $20 rebate when you purchase one 4-pack or 6-pack Advantage Topical Solution or K9 Advantix, or one 3-pack or 6-pack Advantage Multi from Berkley Animal Clinic during March 2010 and return to our clinic for any preventative or treatment service between 4/1/10 – 12/31/10.

Mail-in rebate offer valid only with eligible product and preventive or treatment service purchases during valid mail-in rebate offer period.  Offer may not be combined with other Bayer product offers.  Offer not available to Bayer Animal Health employees, spouses or immediate family members.  Original mail-in rebate form must be fully completed and must include original recepts for product purchased and veterinary service must be at least $20.  Rebate form must be postmarked by 1/31/11.  Bayer is not responsible for late, lost, damaged or misdirected mail.  This offer is valid in U.S. only, except where prohibited, taxed or restricted by law.  One rebate per qualifying purchase and service.  One rebate per household.  To qualify for this rebate, you must be a legal U.S. resident and be 18 years or older.  Only actual purchaser of the qualifying product and service may participate in this rebate program.  Bayer reserves the right to modify or withdraw this promotion at any time.  Please allow 6 – 8 weeks for rebate check delivery.  Rebate checks are void 90 days after date of issuance.  For questions about rebate fulfillment, please call 1-866-789-3189.

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Feeding your dog

February 26th, 2010

As in human nutrition, the goal of good nutrition in animals is to maximize the length and quality of life. It is very important to feed our companions a healthy and well balanced diet that meets their specific needs. Lets begin by taking a look at the nutritional needs of dogs.

It is first important to remember that not all dogs are the same, just like no two people are the same. Because of this, their nutritional needs can be very different. One thing all dogs have in common, however, is their need for a complete and balanced diet. A complete and balanced diet means that your pet is receiving the proper amount of vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates, fiber and other key nutrients.

Lets examine pet foods a little closer. Complete and balanced diets, those without excesses and deficiencies, help to avoid health problems. Giving your dog the right food throughout its life helps to avoid diseases like diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, and of course obesity. Lets look at choosing the right food for every stage of your dogs life. There are many high quality premium dog foods available, such as Hills Science Diet, Iams, Eukanuba and many more. It is important to avoid generic diets that have too many fillers and too little nutritional value.

We will begin with puppies. A puppy requires a great deal of nutrition to get through its first year healthy and happy. In order to get the correct nutrients for growth, such as calcium and phosphorous, it is important to feed a diet specifically for puppies until they have stopped growing. This usually occurs by twelve months of age, but in large breeds this may not come until eighteen months. A diet tailored for growing large breeds should be fed to these puppies.

As a puppy becomes an adult dog, the nutritional and energy needs of the dog change. As a responsible pet owner, we will want to shift to a diet to meet the nutritional requirements of the adult dog. These high quality diets contain carefully balanced ingredients, such as vitamins and antioxidants that are vital for preventing disease. Feeding the right diet at the right life stage can have a significant impact on increasing the life span of our pets.

By age seven, we should be transitioning our nutritional focus to our pets golden years. As our pets slow down, so do their nutritional needs. Premium diets targeted to the needs of older dogs contain fewer calories, yet just the right balance of essential nutrients. Obesity at any age will likely shorten your pets life span; however, feeding the correct diet will help to prevent obesity. Your veterinarian can help you determine if your pet is overweight. You should be able to feel his or her ribs, but not see them. If you cant feel your pets ribs, your dog is probably overweight. Current estimates suggest that at least 35% of dogs are grossly obese. Genetic factors, as well as overfeeding, greatly influence weight gain. Remember to avoid giving your dog an excessive amount of treats and never feed table scraps! If you can easily see the ribs, your dog is probably too thin.

The amount of food needed changes rapidly during a puppys first year. Most puppies should be fed 3 times a day until they are 6-8 weeks of age. After this age, most dogs are fed one to two times daily. The quantity of food can be determined by reading the suggested feeding volumes listed on the food bag. Regularly scheduled meal times are optimal as opposed to free feeding throughout the day. Free feeding often leads to obesity.

Your pets nutritional needs are paramount to a long and healthy life. With the help of your veterinarian, you can develop a well balanced nutritional program that will help to ensure a happy and healthy dog!

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Kitty needs a good home

February 17th, 2010

She is three years old, all black, already spayed and front declawed, and needs a home by Friday, 2/17/10.  Her owner is giving you her litterbox and carrier.  If interested, call Kevin at 248-396-9124.

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Too cute!

February 12th, 2010

Thank you Sharon for sending us this cute picture of Prada!  I know he’ll be warm during these winter months.

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Cat elimination problems

February 11th, 2010

Throughout their lives, many household cats will experience some problem with elimination behaviors. These behaviors may include urinating, defecating or scent marking outside of their litter box. Although the causes for these behaviors vary greatly, most stem from medical issues, litter and litter box aversions, or stress caused by changes to environmental factors. In order to diagnose and correct the behavior it is important to determine the underlying cause behind the new behavior.

There are many different medical conditions that may cause your pet to begin eliminating in unwanted areas. It is important for your veterinarian to perform a complete examination and, perhaps, other tests to determine if there is a medical condition that would precipitate the behavior. Some of the medical conditions that your veterinarian would look for are diseases of the urinary tract, liver, kidneys or endocrine system. Many of these diseases can cause pain when urinating or may cause increased fluid intake and excretion. Other diseases of the colon and digestive tract may also cause defecation problems. When examining your cat for medical causes, your veterinarian will also look for limitations in motor and mobility functions. If your pet is having difficulty with its senses, joints or other muscular issues it may not be able to access its current litter box as easily and, therefore, result in unwanted elimination behaviors.

At times, some cats may experience an aversion to their current litter or litter boxes. These aversions may be due to smell, size or the tactile sensation. If your pet has started to eliminate in unwanted areas, analyze where the behavior occurs, the type of substrate, the time of day, and the frequency with which the animal demonstrates the behavior. Your pet may demonstrate these behaviors if the litter box is located in an undesirable area. Area that are considered undesirable vary by pet, but are often high traffic areas, areas that are far away from all family members, such as basements, or areas that are inhabited by many pets. Determine the type of substrate your pet prefers to eliminate on, such as hard surfaces or on carpet. Some pet owners notice that their pets only practice the unwanted elimination behaviors at specific times of day, such as when the owners are preparing to leave or when a child returns home from school. Other animals may demonstrate these behaviors when their box is cleaned, due to an aversion to the scent of the cleaners used.

In order to minimize unwanted elimination behaviors it may be necessary to try many different combinations of location, litter and box, until your cat is satisfied with its new litter box. Begin by offering your pet two litter boxes. One box should remain in the current location and the other should present a new option of box, litter or location. Once your pet demonstrates a preference for a new choices, change the first box to that choice and keep offering new options with the second. This process will allow you to find the perfect match for your pet.

Some ideas for determining different animals preferences include: For a cat that location appears to be the problem, work to move the new box to a quite are of the home. If your pet prefers to eliminate on a specific type of substrate, mimic that feeling in the litter box. For example, for a cat that prefers to eliminate on tile, linoleum, or another hard surface, line the litter box with newspaper or a fine layer of litter over plastic; for a cat that prefers carpet, line the rim of the box with carpet and place a fluffy litter inside; and for a cat that prefers eliminating in plants, use a sand or very fine litter. For a cat that may be experiencing physical conditions such as muscle pains, experiment with low sided boxes or ramps. Some cats crave privacy and will only eliminate in boxes with hoods, while others feel that they may be ambushed and will not enter a box that is covered. The key to determining your cats preferences is to slowly and patiently analyze your pets behavior and choices. Continue to work with your cat and offer new choices, until you and your pet are satisfied with the perfect combination.

During the process of determining the best elimination scenario, it may be necessary to confine your pet when you are not able to be present and supervise its behaviors. If confinement is necessary, be sure to choose a secure location where the animal has not inappropriately eliminated in the past and provide comfortable bedding, food, water and a litter pan with the preferred substrate. As you find the right combination of elements and your pet begins to eliminate appropriately, the confinement periods should be able to be eliminated.

When analyzing the cause of your pets behavior, be sure to look for factors that may cause stress elimination. Cats are very sensitive to changes in their territory and may stress easily. Strong stress factors such as new pets, a new baby or the loss of a family member may trigger unwanted elimination episodes. Other factors such as new furniture, changes in routine or moving may also cause issues. Finding the perfect combination for your pet, may take time and patience, but your beloved pet will soon be demonstrating model behavior.

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Reminder – there’s still time to book your pet’s dental appointment

February 10th, 2010

Call today to reserve your pet’s spot for our dental promotion.  The promotion is running for the months of February and March.

During these months, the dental procedure includes anesthesia, daily hospitalization, hand scaling, polishing, flouride application, Oravet application, an Oravet go home kit, preoperative bloodwork, IV catheter and fluids, toe nail trim, and a goodie bag of tartar control products.

The price for a canine dental is $215.00 and a feline dental is $185.00.  Any other procedures or services performed will be an additional amount.  Your pet must be current on an annual wellness exam, Distemper complex vaccine, Rabies vaccine, Bordetella vaccine (for dogs), fecal check, and Heartworm test (for dogs).

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Dangers of buying drugs online

January 27th, 2010

USA Today posted an excellent video of veterinarian Patty Khuly discussing the dangers of buying drugs online.  Watch this before opting to make that internet purchase!

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/pawprintpost/post/2010/01/cutting-costs-on-pet-meds-be-wary-of-online-sales/1

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Great article!

January 25th, 2010

Here are some amazing cat facts by Pet Insurance 101.  Read and enjoy!

http://www.petinsurance-101.com/2009/09/20/amazing-cat-facts/

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February and March Dental Promotion

January 20th, 2010

If your pet’s teeth need cleaning, February and March are the months to do it! 

During these months, the dental procedure includes anesthesia, daily hospitalization, hand scaling, polishing, flouride application, Oravet application, an Oravet go home kit, preoperative bloodwork, IV catheter and fluids, toe nail trim, and a goodie bag of tartar control products.

The price for a canine dental is $215.00 and a feline dental is $185.00.  Any other procedures or services performed will be an additional amount.  Your pet must be current on an annual wellness exam, Distemper complex vaccine, Rabies vaccine, Bordetella vaccine (for dogs), fecal check, and Heartworm test (for dogs).

Call today to book your pet’s appointment!

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