Holiday Safety Tips From Hollywood Florida's Best Vet

How You and Your Pets Can Have a Happy Holiday From Hollywood Florida's Vet Dr. Megan Cassels-Conway, DVM

'Tis the season for extravagant holiday feasts, gathering of family and friends, cookies and candy and all the decadence of the holidays. At the veterinary clinic 'tis the season for pancreatitis, gastroenteritis and chocolate toxicity. All the wonderful things we love about the holidays can spell disaster if our furry friends partake alongside us. Vomiting cats and dogs with diarrhea put a damper on the holiday spirit but can easily be prevented. Use this guide as your holiday helper this season to avoid the major culprits of the holiday pet woes.

Chocolate

This is one most people know about but do you know just how little it takes? The darker the chocolate the more theobromine and caffeine, making baking chocolate the worst. Signs range from mild vomiting and diarrhea to seizures and heart arrythmias and eventually death. Baked goods are not quite as bad as pure chocolate but can still pack quite the punch.

Turkey, Ham, Drippings and Gravy

There's a good chance you're four-legged friends will be staring you down during your entire meal pred, but don't give in to the pouty eyes. Meat skin, fat, drippings and gravy can be extremely high in fat for pets. This is a level of fat they are not used to and their body cannot metabolize properly. These levels of fat result in pancreatitis, a severe inflammation of the pancreas (the organ producing enzymes to break down fat in the intestines). Pancreatitis is typically seen as bloody vomiting and diarrhea, although both are not always seen. Pork products or turkey skin are frequent culprits of pancreatitis but any high fat food can do the trick. Pancreatitis can cause severe dehydration and can become life threatening. It is best to avoid human food for all pets.

Onions and Garlic

Members of the onion and garlic family can be toxic to dogs and cats in very low doses. Feeding any food that has been cooked with onions or garlic is enough to do the trick. Ingestion leads to destruction of red blood cells, needed to transport oxygen around the body. Dramatic anemia can occur within hours and leave your pet severely weak with breathing difficulty.

Xylitol

Sugar substitutes are a common way we watch our waistlines over the holidays. Xyltitol is one of those sugar substitutes found in many candies, gum and even peanut butter. Canine bodies do not recognize a difference between xylitol and regular sugar and release large amounts of insulin which can result in severe hypoglycemia. Later on xylitol causes death of liver tissue.

Nuts and Raisins

Some of our favorite holiday snacks and cookie ingredients can lead to severe medical concerns in pets. Macademia nuts can cause neurologic problems from weakness to seizures in dogs. Effects on cats are unknown. Raisins and grapes have an unknown component which causes severe kidney damage with as little as 1-2 grapes or raisins.

Alcohol

This may seem like an obvious one but happens more often than you would think. Alcohol poisoning occurs in dogs and cats with much smaller amounts than you might imagine. For a small puppy or kitten, even a few licks of a spilt drink on the floor can affect the nervous system and heart. The holidays are full of wine, beer, eggnog and other festive libations. Enjoy the festivities but be sure to clean up spills and keep an eye on drinks, never leaving them unattended.

And if you just have to give in...

If those pouty puppy or kitty eyes get the better of you, what can you give your pet? Stick with raw or steamed vegetables and fruits. Dark green vegetables such as broccoli, green beans, spinach; carrots; apples and sweet potatoes are healthy, safe treats for pets when they au natural. Problems arise when they are cooked with butter, oil, cream or drippings. You can always give regular dog food or biscuits, as well in moderation. Sometimes your pet just wants to feel included and have a little snack while you eat.

If your pet is know to have eaten a toxic food or substance, call your veterinarian immediately. Daytime emergency care is offered at DPC Veterinary Hospital in Davie, FL. Contact your veterinarian immediately if your pet shows any of the signs discussed above. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call us at (954) 989-9879.

Davie Florida Vet Offers Low Cost Vaccine Wellness Clinic in October

DPC Veterinary Hospital will be holding four Vaccine Wellness Clinics at their Davie Florida location on October 16th, 21st, 23rd & 28th, 2015 from 2pm-5pm. They will be offering affordable vaccine packages for pets including a Feline Wellness Package for $35 and a Canine Wellness Package for $85. Additional options including heart-worm prevention are available.

“Providing low cost vaccinations to help pet owners and the community has always been a big part of our mission.” according to Nancy Abecassis of DPC.

DPC is a full-service veterinary clinic in Davie, Florida. Since their establishment in 2001 they place the care, diagnosis and treatment of pets as their primary concern. They offer a comprehensive and compassionate approach when treating pets. Their pledge is to provide the highest quality of veterinary care at an affordable price. If you would like more information on the Vaccine Wellness Clinics contact DPC Veterinary Hospital at (954) 989-9879.

DPC Veterinary Hospital

6991 Stirling Road

Davie, FL 33314

Ft. Lauderdale’s Leading Vet Offers Summer Safety Tips for Your Pet

Ft. Lauderdale’s Leading Vet Offers Summer Safety Tips for Your Pet

Sometimes it's easy for pet owners to forget that their pets have different tolerances to the hot climate than humans have and that leads to putting them unintentionally at risk. We've put together some simple tips to remind pet owners what they can do to ensure that their cat or dog makes it through another Florida summer without harm.

5 Tips to Keep Your Pet Safe in the Summer

Heat is your pet's number one enemy during the summer. While we like to get outdoors and often take our pets with us, we have to keep in mind that the climate is more dangerous to our four legged friends than it is to us. Be alert to signs of heat stroke in your pet and don't hesitate to get it to a veterinarian for help.

1. Water Safety. If you take your pet with you on a boat, make sure they wear a floatation device. Not all dogs are good swimmers and the ocean, or even a lake is certainly not the same as a backyard pool.
2. Avoid Party Animal Behavior. If you throw a BBQ party outside advise your guests not to feed the pet. The things we like, alcohol, buffalo wings, chocolate ice cream and cake can do serious harm to a pet's digestive system.
3. Symptoms of Heat Stroke. If your dog or cat exhibits excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling, mild weakness, stupor or even collapse, get them to a vet immediately. Animals with flat faces like pugs and Persian cats are more susceptible to heat stroke because they can't pant as efficiently as other pets.
4. Hydration. Make sure your pet has easy access to plenty of fresh, clean water to prevent dehydration. If you have an outside dog, make sure that both the pet and the water bowl have an area that is shaded all day long.
5. Safe Walks. Keep in mind that your pet doesn't slip on a pair of tennis shoes when they go for a walk with you. There is nothing between the hot concrete and their bodies other than the pads on their paws. While those pads are durable they are not indestructible and can blister from the heat. Keep walks short or limit them to grassy areas (if they have not been recently sprayed with insecticides).

These are all simple tips but they are essential for your pet's safety. If you have questions about a specific summertime activity and what, if any risk it poses to your pet, give us a call today and we will be happy to offer our advice.

Microchipping Pets in Hollywood FL : Veterinarian

Give Your Hollywood FL Pet a Permanent ID Card by Micro chipping 

While we all hope our pets never get lost or injured away from home, giving them a way to tell the shelter or veterinarian where they live and who their "parents" are can go a long way in ensuring a happy reunion.

At DPC we use the HomeAgain microchip and lost pet service because we believe that it offers the best value and is the most effective of the microchipping services. The HomeAgain chip is a permanent ID for your pet and will literally last a lifetime. The chip contains a unique identification number that is registered with HomeAgain with your pet's name and owner contact information. The chip can be "read" with a low frequency scanner which all shelters and veterinarians (about 50,000 nationwide) have.

Micro chipping your pet in Hollywood is a quick and simple procedure. At DPC Veterinary Hospital in nearby Davie, our veterinarians simply inject the microchip (about the same size as a grain of rice) under your pet's skin located between its shoulders. The process is very similar to a regular inoculation and your pet will act no differently as it does when getting its shots.

A nice feature of the HomeAgain chip is that it has a patented anti-migration feature that keeps the chip in place. Some chips will "slip" from their location making it difficult for a scanner to read. In fact given the work load at most shelters, if the chip can't be read between the shoulders then the shelter often assumes the pet is not chipped.

You Play the Most Important Role in Getting Your Lost Pet Back

When you have your pet microchipped at DPC our staff will assist you in setting up your registration on HomeAgain. We'll also show you how to enter changes to that information if you move, change a phone number or have any other changes in contact info. It's very important that this record be kept current and you are the only person who can insure that it is.

Ft. Lauderdale Pet Owner FAQs About Micro chipping

Here are a few FAQS we get from Ft. Lauderdale pet owners have about microchipping pets.

1. What are the chances of the pet actually being found and scanned?

At DPC Veterinary Hospital we use HomeAgain as our micro chipping partner and they have an extensive network of rescue shelters, veterinarians and volunteers that are immediately notified when a pet is reported missing. Once you report the pet missing, HomeAgain will send a flash message including date/time/location of when the pet went missing along with a description and even a photo to everyone in the network within a 25 mile radius of your home or known location when the pet disappeared.

2. Can microchips track a lost pet?

No. The chip has no internal power source or GPS function. The chip only contains a unique number identifying your pet. The chip is "read" by a low frequency scanner that all animal control facilities, rescue shelters and veterinarians have. Because there is no power source there is no battery to replace. Your pet's chip is literally his or her ID for life.

3. Does embedding a chip require surgery?

No it doesn’t. The microchip is about the size of a grain of rice and is inserted under the skin between the pet's shoulders using a syringe. There is no anesthesia required. The process is almost identical to administering vaccines and your pet will react the same way it does when getting shots.

4. Is micro chipping expensive?

NO. At DPC we microchip pets for $40.00 and that includes the first year's registration on HomeAgain. From there it's about $17.00 a year for the lost pet service.

Microchipping Pets : Microchip : Pembroke Pines : Veterinarian

Pembroke Pines Florida Pet Owner Opt for Microchipping 

Unfortunately, only 15% of dogs and 2% of cats in shelters are ever returned to their rightful owner. A chip can help make sure your pet is properly identified and he or she finds their way back to you.

Pembroke Pines pet owners will want to consider microchipping their pets to provide indisputable proof the pet belongs (lives with) to them. If your pet gets loose or lost and winds up in a shelter anywhere in the country, having a microchip embedded greatly increases the chances of a reunification.

The microchip is a small device that is injected between the shoulders of your pet using a syringe very similar to those used for your pet's shots. There is a unique number on the chip that can then be used to register the pet's name, owner name, phone number and address. This chip can be read by a scanner and almost all shelters and veterinarians have scanners so the odds of your pet's chip being read are strong.

The key to this system though is the pet owner. When the chip is inserted the identification number has to be registered with the manufacturer's database. If the pet owner's contact information (name, phone number, address) changes, those changes need to be reflected in the database registration. Many more pets are microchipped than are properly registered.

If you are interested in getting your pet microchipped, we offer the service 7-days a week at DPC Veterinary Hospital. Just give us a call or walk in.

Microchipping Pets : Microchip : Davie : Veterinarian

Microchipping Davie Pets

By microchipping your pet, Davie pet owners can dramatically improve their chances of recovering their dog or cat if it wanders off or is stolen. The sad fact is that nationally over 8 million pets wind up in shelters and only 15% of dogs and less than 2% of cats are ever reunited with their owners. Microchipping can increase the odds that your pet will find its way back to you.

You can think of pet microchips as small dog or cat tags. These tiny devices, which include a unique identification number, are inserted in your pet between the shoulders using a syringe similar to the type used when your pet gets inoculations.  The chip's number can be read by a scanner which all shelters and veterinarians have allowing them to check the manufacturer's database and get the owner's contact information.

Don't Let Your Pet Slip Through the Microchip Crack

Microchipping sounds like an excellent means of identifying a pet that winds up in a shelter but there is unfortunately a chink in the armor and it involves the pet owner.

Having the chip injected into the pet takes less time than filling out the paperwork that goes with the process. That paperwork is exceptionally important and has to be maintained in order to make the information on the pet relevant.

As a fallback position, the chip identifies which veterinarian placed the chip. If a scanner can't get an owners contact information they can contact the vet and ask for assistance.

If you would like to get a microchip for your dog or cat, give us a call at DPC Veterinary Hospital and set up an appointment. If your pet is already a patient at the clinic, you can just ask that the chip be inserted as part of your pet's next scheduled inoculation visit. Read more:

Pet laser therapy : Hollywood : Q&A

Pet Laser Therapy Q&A

If you are a Hollywood pet owner and you are considering pet laser therapy for the first time, you probably have a few questions regarding the treatment. We have put together a Q&A to help you better understand this amazing therapy.

Is pet laser therapy new?

Pet laser therapy is relatively new with only about 600 veterinary clinics and hospitals across the country with laser devices. Laser therapy for humans is several decades old. The healing and rejuvenation associated with lasers has been sought out by professional athletes for years. However it wasn't until recent advances in technology that the therapy became practical and affordable for veterinary use.

What conditions can be treated with pet laser therapy?

Because of the laser's ability to reduce inflammation and encourage new, health cell growth it can be used to treat a wide array of veterinary health issues. Best known for arthritis treatments, the laser can also be used for wounds, fractures, urinary tract infections, ear infections, dermatology issues, joint pain and many other conditions.

How does it work?

A laser is light energy. The laser used in pet therapy sends a measured dose of light energy into deep tissue where it is absorbed by the damaged cells. The energy causes a chemical reaction that produces ATP the fuel required for new cell growth. The treatment also causes a release of endorphins that causes the pet to relax. The secret to the success of laser treatment is the production of ATP which encourages cells to self heal and replicate.

How is the pet laser therapy applied?

The beauty of laser therapy is its simplicity. The veterinarian simply passes a flashlight sized headpiece to administer the laser over the affected area. Your pet feels a soothing warmth and pain is relieved almost immediately.

Are there any side effects?

There are no known side effects to laser pet therapy. This is one of the major advantages of laser therapy over drug therapies                            

If you have any questions about laser therapy for your pet we encourage you to call us. Read more:                                

Pet laser therapy : Fort Lauderdale : Senior Pets

Pet Laser Therapy for Senior Pets

Pet owners in Fort Lauderdale can now help their senior pets put a little bounce back in their step thanks to pet laser therapy available from DPC Veterinary Clinic in Davie.

If you are not familiar with laser therapy as a veterinary treatment it may surprise you that your pet can now receive the same treatment that professional athletes received for strained knees, elbows, shoulders and backs. Laser therapy has been used for decades because of its restorative qualities but it has only recently been adapted for veterinary use.

How the Pet Laser Works 

The laser sends "packets of light energy" into deep tissue at the cellular level without damaging the cells. The light energy is absorbed by the cells and causes a chemical change resulting in the production of ATP, a substance that fuels the rejuvenation and repair of cells. The more ATP produced, the more healthier cells and the more healthier cells the more healthier the pet becomes.

The actual treatment involves a vet setting the laser for the condition being treated and then taking a flashlight sized applicator and moving it over the affected area. The pet feels soothing warmth and relaxes much like you would during a massage.

Sessions vary in length but are typically short and the results are immediate. Your dog or cat will be friskier than before and if there was any pain in the joints it will be gone.

To learn if pet laser therapy can help your senior pet give us a call and make an appointment for an evaluation. Read More: 

Laser Therapy for Pets : Pembroke Pines : Pet Laser Therapy

Laser Therapy for Pembroke Pines Cats and Dogs

Pets in Pembroke Pines now have access to an amazing advancement in veterinary medicine; laser therapy for pets. The services offered at DPC Veterinary Hospital now include pet laser therapy which can treat a wide array of pet health issues quickly and without pain or any undesirable side effects. Our veterinarians and staff are trained on the Companion Therapy Laser™, an FDA laser that sends light and heat into an affected area producing almost immediate curative results. 

Laser therapy has been around for decades for humans but has only recently become widely available for cats and dogs. Our Class IV laser reaches deep tissue on a molecular level and excites damaged cells encouraging them to "heal themselves" and replicate. This process also releases endorphins which when coupled with the warm heat from the laser literally give the pet a "warm and fuzzy feeling."

Pet Laser Therapy - Fast, Effective, Many Applications

The pet laser reduces inflammation, speeds up the healing process by encouraging cell growth and relieves pain. Because it has these characteristics it can be used to treat many common ailments.

Using laser therapy almost always replaces the pharmaceuticals minimizing or eliminating side effects and the sometimes difficult task of getting your pet to "take their medicine."

What Your Pet Experiences

While the laser unit is about the size of a three drawer file cabinet, the only part that comes in proximity to your pet is the wand which is hand held and roughly the size of a flashlight. The vet sets the laser using your pet's size, weight, age, skin and hair/fur color and the condition being treated. The laser then calculates the strength duration of the light energy.

The wand is then repeatedly passed over the area being treated until the laser turns itself off. For a small dog this could be about 2 minutes. Your pet will feel a pleasant warmth and the endorphins released by the treatment will totally relax him or her. If the treatment is for arthritic or other pain the relief will be almost instantaneous.

Your pet is going to love you. Read more:

Favorite Florida veterinary clinic Davie : Vaccines : Veterinarian

Many people call DPC their favorite Florida veterinary clinic in Davie and with good reason. DPC offers that perfect combination of exceptionally talented veterinarians and technicians, advanced diagnostic and therapeutic veterinary technologies, the convenience of 7 day a week service and most of all, the sincere, caring attitude of the entire staff who treats your pet like they were their own.

The vets practicing at DPC Veterinary Hospital are some of the best in Florida and they have the state-of-the-art tools and technologies needed for timely diagnosis and treatment of your dog or cat. When your pet is hurting you want to ease their discomfort as quickly as possible.

At DPC there is no need to go to a diagnostic specialist for ultrasound or digital x-ray and there is no waiting for results to come back from an outsourced veterinary lab. DPC is fully equipped and staffed to handle any veterinary medical issue from shots to major surgery.

Our Concern is Your Pet's Total Health

While we are prepared to handle any veterinary event from emergencies to surgeries, our goal is to promote pet health through preventive care. Many of the diseases that were the bane of both cats and dogs can now be prevented through vaccines. Keeping your pet's shots up to date is an important step in keeping your four legged friend healthy for many years.

In short, DPC Veterinary Hospital is a comprehensive veterinary care facility whose objective is to keep the community's pet population healthy by providing expert services at affordable prices. We understand how important your "furry" family member is to you and we want to help you in keeping him or her in perfect health for a very long time Read more