Start summer off right

Schedule your pet’s annual checkup todayto be sure your pet is healthy!

It’s summer! Time for BBQs, long hikes and refreshing water play! You and your pet enjoy this time of year. It’s filled with activity, fun and food!

There are a few things we have to talk about. First, is your pet eating the right food for their lifestyle? Meeting your pet’s nutritional needs is vital to their health and happiness. So before you take your big hike with Fido or start your movie marathon on the couch with Fluffy, bring in your furry friend for their annual exam.

Second, if your pet is just 10% over their ideal body weight (that may mean 1 lb. for a 10 lb. cat), they are at risk for developing serious medical conditions. Who wants that for their buddy? No way, you say! Come in for a checkup and a pit stop at the scale!

Third, most “people” food is not good for pets, especially from the grill! For example, feeding your pet chicken bones can cause tooth fractures and tear up their digestive tract during digestion.

Fourth, come in today to ensure your pets vaccinations and monthly preventives (Heartworm, Flea, and Tick) are up to date before heading out to the beach, lake, or park.  Let us know your vacation destination to ensure proper protection from disease!

Make an online appointment for your pet’s annual checkup today – we’ll give them a thorough physical exam from nose to tail! And we’ll talk about what they’re eating and if we have to make any changes.

Who loves your pet besides you? White House Animal Hospital of Course! Book your pet’s yearly exam today online or call 615-672-0357 Today so we can keep your pet healthy and happy this summer!

Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease: Is your dog protected

The warmer days of spring and summer offer more outdoor fun for people and dogs alike. These warmer times also offer greater opportunity for dog-to-dog contact and the spread of Bordetella bronchiseptica, one of the most common causes of Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease (CIRD).

This highly contagious disease, also known as “kennel cough,” goes beyond the kennel. Your dog can pick up kennel cough anywhere: doggy day care, dog parks, you name it. Your dog can be infected even through just a brief contact.

Dry, hacking cough, retching and a watery nose can be signs your dog may have Bordetella.
CIRD can affect dogs of any age and some can be infected before showing clinical signs. This
can make diagnosis challenging, making it best to take preventative measures and reduce
dog-to-dog contact.

Although this disease is treatable, prevention is the first line of defense. The veterinary team at
White House Animal Hospital reminds dog owners that prevention is easy and preferable to treatment.

Tips for prevention of Bordetella
• Avoid crowding and stress.
• Limit dog-to-dog contact.
• See us here at White House Animal Hospital for a vaccination to provide protection both at home and away.

Contact White House Animal Hospital to make an appointment for a risk assessment and more information on Bordetella and CIRD.  Schedule your pets appointment on online at http://www.whitehousevet.com/contactus.html

Kristi May, MS, CVPM, LVMT, AHT, BS, ABCDT 

White House Animal Hospital 615-672-0357

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Bones, Muscles and Joints

Keep your pet moving and grooving this spring
Schedule their yearly checkup today!

Musculoskeletal diseases (conditions that involve bones, muscles and joints) can affect pets of all ages. They can have aches and pains like we do. But sometimes these diseases are hard to spot. Think about your furry friend for a moment...

Have they stopped jumping on you when they greet you at the door?

Have they stopped perching on the window sill?

Is your pet acting “old?”

These changes in activity may be due to weather, age or good training. However, to guarantee your pet is at their best, we have to rule out they don’t have a hidden musculoskeletal problem. Infections, hormonal imbalances, nutrition, blood disorders and arthritis can all affect your pet's activity—the way they play, move, eat and cuddle!

The good news is we have ways to prevent, cure or manage these conditions, so your pet can continue to have a good quality of life. White House Animal Hospital offers Cold Laser Therapy, pain management, and joint supplements to provide your pet withe the best options to get moving again!  We are committed to the well-being of your pet for their lifetime. The best way to do this is to book your pet’s yearly checkup today. Make an appointment and together, we’ll keep your pet’s bones, muscles and joints (and the rest of your furry friend) in good working order!  Schedule your appointment today at http://www.whitehousevet.com/contactus.html!  

Kristi May, MS, CVPM, LVMT, AHT, BS, ABCDT 

White House Animal Hospital 615-672-0357

Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pethospital/

Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/WHPetVet

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Q: Is your pet at risk for any of the following:

Q: Is your pet at risk for any of the following:

A) Fleas

B) Ticks

C) Worms

D) All of the above

A: D) All of the above (and they ALL can be tough to spot!)

Schedule your pet’s annual checkup today at http://www.whitehousevet.com/contactus.html to be sure your pet is healthy and enter your name in the drawing for a Free Supply of Vectra 3D!  Get one entry for every multi-pack of Vectra 3D purchase. 

Is your dog very tired? Is your cat eating less than usual? These seemingly minor changes may mean your pet has a flea allergy, an internal parasite infection, or a tick-related disease.

Let’s talk about fleas first. The majority of pets don’t have fleas—but many have been bitten because fleas are everywhere! Yes, fleas live outdoors but they can live indoors too – even in really clean homes – year-round in any climate. Fleas will gladly hitch a ride on your pet into your house. And all it takes is one flea bite (specifically the fleas saliva), to set off a full blown skin allergy. Pets may scratch their sides, neck or even lick their paws until they’re red and painful. What pet wants to move around or eat when feeling this miserable?

Internal parasites (such as worms) can infect your pet in a number of ways. Sometimes, it’s hard to know if your pet has them. But left untreated, worms can be dangerous to your pet’s internal organs. They can even cause your pet to lose blood.

Ticks are tricky. Even when you check your pet for ticks they can be tough to find because they’re small and hide well in dark fur. But it’s crucial to find ticks and remove them quickly. Why? Some ticks carry bacteria that cause disease (such as Lyme disease, but there are many others). And all you need is one undetected tick bite for your pet to become infected. They can become sick and develop kidney problems. At times, these diseases can be fatal.

Ugh! Is there any good news?

Yes!

We’re experts when it comes to flea allergies, tick and internal parasite checks at White House Animal Hospital. Even if your pet is on regular monthly preventive, it is still important for us to make sure your pet is healthy.  This month you have a chance to win a Free Years Supply of Vectra 3D with every multi-pack purchase of Vectra. Drawing May 1st and June 1st 2016!  

Make an appointment for your pet’s annual checkup today online at http://www.whitehousevet.com/contactus.html! – we’ll give them a thorough physical exam from nose to tail. Let’s also confirm the prevention you’re using is right for your pet!

Kristi May, MS, CVPM, LVMT, AHT, BS, ABCDT 

White House Animal Hospital 615-672-0357

Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pethospital/

Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/WHPetVet

Follow us on Pintrest at https://www.pinterest.com/WHPETVET/

It is Almost Spring!

Time to check for heartworm disease! Schedule your pet’s yearly checkup today!

Prevent Heartworms

It’s March—springtime is around the corner! Worms in your garden…and worms in your pet? Eeew! Hold on, let’s explain…

The worms you find in your garden mulch are not the same worms that cause heartworm disease in pets. Mosquitoes carry heartworms. And all it takes is one mosquito to bite your pet to become infected.

Here’s the good news about heartworm disease. It’s an illness that can be easy and affordable to prevent. The bad news is, if you don’t prevent it the right way, your pet is at high risk of getting sick. Heartworm disease is dangerous to your pet and some signs of the illness are tough to spot. Your pet may be acting fine, but they may have so many heartworms inside their body that it can become life threatening.

You may be thinking, “my pet stays indoors, so there’s no need for heartworm prevention.” But, heartworms are carried by mosquitoes, which get into everyone’s homes! One mosquito bite is all that’s needed to spread the disease to your furry friend.

Schedule your pet’s yearly checkup with us. We’ll do a thorough exam, including a simple heartworm test, to make sure your pet is at his/her optimum health. And we’ll talk about the best way to prevent heartworm disease, so your pet stays healthy, happy and safe!

Make an appointment for your pet’s annual exam online today at http://www.whitehousevet.com/contactus.html! 

Kristi May, MS, CVPM, LVMT, AHT, BS, ABCDT 

White House Animal Hospital 615-672-0357

Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pethospital/

Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/WHPetVet

Follow us on Pintrest at https://www.pinterest.com/WHPETVET/

Dog Biscuit Recipies

February 23, 2016 is Dog Biscuit Day!  Lets Celebrate!

Here are a few recipes to make your own home-aid dog biscuits:

Beef Dog Biscuits

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 cups whole wheat flour
• 2 cups cracked wheat
• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder

• 1 tablespoon brewers' yeast
• 1/2 cup dry milk powder
• 3 cups beef broth
• 1/8 cup milk

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Grease a cookie sheet.
2. In a large mixing bowl combine white flour, whole wheat flour, cracked wheat, cornmeal, garlic powder, brewer's yeast and instant milk. Stir in 2 cups broth. Mix the ingredients well using either your hands or an heavy duty electric mixer. The dough should be very stiff. Gradually mix in the remaining 1 cup broth to make a bread-dough consistency.
3. Roll the dough out to a 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch thickness on a floured board. Cut out biscuits into any shape you please. Place the biscuits on the prepared cookie sheet. Brush the tops of the biscuits lightly with milk.
4. Bake the cookies 45 minutes; turn oven off completely but do not remove the biscuits. Let the biscuits sit in the oven overnight (for 10 hours). Store biscuits in an air-tight container.

Chicken Dog Biscuits

Ingredients

• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 cup rye flour
• 2 cups bulgur
• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1/2 cup dry milk powder

• 4 teaspoons salt
• 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
• 1/4 cup warm water
• 2 1/2 cups chicken broth
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon milk

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Dissolve yeast in warm water until foamy, about 10 minutes.
2. In a large bowl, stir together the all-purpose, whole wheat, and rye flours with the bulgur, cornmeal and powdered milk. Stir in the yeast mixture, salt and chicken broth to form a stiff dough. Add more broth if necessary to hold dough together. Roll dough out to 1/4 inch thickness on a lightly floured surface. Cut into desired shapes using a cookie cutter. Place biscuits 1 inch apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Combine the egg and milk; brush onto the tops of the biscuits.
3. Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes, then turn off the oven and let the biscuits sit in the closed oven overnight to become extra hard and crunchy.

Peanut Butter Dog Biscuits

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup cornmeal
• 1/2 cup rolled oats
• 1 1/2 cups water, or as needed

 

• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 2 eggs
• 3 tablespoons peanut butter
• 2 tablespoons vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.
2. Mix together whole-wheat flour, all-purpose flour, cornmeal and oats. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and gradually pour in water, oil, eggs, peanut butter and vanilla. Mix well.
3. On a flat surface use a rolling pin to roll out the dough. Cut the dough into dog biscuit shapes using a cookie cutter. Place the biscuits onto the prepared cookie sheet.
4. Bake the cookies for 20 minutes. After the biscuits have cooked 20 minutes turn off the oven off but let the biscuits remain inside the oven for another 20 minutes to harden.

Peanut Butter Banana Dog Biscuits

Ingredients

• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup mashed banana
• 1 tablespoon honey

 

• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup wheat germ
• 1 egg white, lightly beaten, for brushing

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking sheet.
2. Stir together the egg, peanut butter, banana, and honey in a medium bowl; blend thoroughly. Stir in the flour and wheat germ; mix well. Turn dough out onto a floured board and roll to 1/4 inch thick. Cut into desired shapes with a cookie cutter, place on prepared baking sheet, and brush tops with egg white.
3. Bake biscuits in preheated oven until dried and golden brown, about 30 minutes, depending on size. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack.

Peanut Butter and Pumpkin Dog Biscuits

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup canned pumpkin

 

• 2 tablespoons peanut butter
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Whisk together the flour, eggs, pumpkin, peanut butter, salt, and cinnamon in a bowl. Add water as needed to help make the dough workable, but the dough should be dry and stiff. Roll the dough into a 1/2-inch-thick roll. Cut into 1/2-inch pieces.
3. Bake in preheated oven until hard, about 40 minutes.

Sweet Potato Dog Biscuits

Ingredients

• 1 sweet potato
• 2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

 

• 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 2 eggs

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Prick sweet potato several times with a fork.
2. Heat sweet potato in a microwave on high until tender, about 6 minutes. Cut potato in half and scoop flesh out of the skin into a bowl; discard skin. Mash potato with a fork or potato masher and transfer about 1 cup to a large bowl. Save any remaining sweet potato for another use.
3. Mix whole wheat flour, applesauce, and eggs in the large bowl with the sweet potato until a dough forms. Turn dough out on a well-floured surface and roll dough to about 1/2-inch thick. Cut out shapes using a cookie cutter or cut dough into strips with a pizza cutter. Arrange cookies on an ungreased baking sheet.
4. Bake until crisp, 35 to 45 minutes. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack.

Turkey and Cranberry Dog Biscuits

Ingredients

• 3 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup shredded cooked turkey
• 1 cup dried cranberries

 

• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth, or as needed

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease baking sheets, or line them with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, whisk the whole wheat flour and baking powder together until thoroughly combined, and stir in the cooked turkey meat and dried cranberries. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture, and drop the egg into the center; pour in the olive oil and about 1/2 cup of chicken broth. Mix into a soft dough. If mixture is too dry, mix in more chicken broth, about 1 tablespoon at a time, until dough is of desired consistency.
3. Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface, and knead for 1 to 2 minutes. Roll the dough out 1/4 inch thick, and cut out with your favorite cookie cutters.
4. Bake until the treats turn brown, about 25 minutes. Turn the oven off, and leave the dog treats in the oven an additional 30 minutes to dry out. Refrigerate leftover dog treats.

Kristi May, MS, CVPM, LVMT, AHT, BS, ABCDT 

White House Animal Hospital 615-672-0357

Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pethospital/

Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/WHPetVet

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Low Stress Vet Visits with Pheromones at White House Animal Hospital!

Low Stress is better not only for your pet but also for you!  Have you ever put off taking your pet for their annual wellness?  Don't put off your pets health.  White House Animal Hospital uses multiple low stress methods to help you and your pet have a better experience at White House Animal Hospital as well as receive well rounded care for not only the physical needs!

Stress 

Many situations can be perceived as stressful by dogs, such as loud noises (fireworks, thunderstorms, household appliances), going to the vet, traveling by car, home alone, kenneling/boarding, and changes in the home environment or the composition of the family.  Even small changes in your home and your daily routine can upset your dog and increase stress.

Stress can lead to unhappy behaviors such as hiding, excessive barking and whimpering, soiling in the home, and destroying household items.

Pheromones

White House Animal Hospital uses Adaptil™ and Feliway™ Pheromones in our lobby to help your pets relax before coming into the exam room.  The Veterinarians and staff treat their lab coats and scrub tops with pheromones as well as towels and kennels are treated in our hospital recovery to ensure your pets comfort from the time they walk in the door to the time they leave. 

Adaptil™

The comforting pheromone in Adaptil has been clinically proven to help increase focus during training in puppies and adult dogs.  Additionally for dogs in stressful situations, Adaptil helps reduce the signs of stress which are usually inappropriate behaviors.

Adaptil is a synthetic pheromone that mimics the pheromone mother dogs emit after giving birth to help their puppies feel calm and secure.  Dogs of all ages recognize this pheromone throughout life.  

White House Animal Hospital has a variety of Adaptil products including diffusers, travel spray and collars to offer help in many situations, both indoors and outdoors, and for short-term and long-term use.

Feliway™

When a cat feels comfortable in their environment, they rub their cheeks against objects leaving a facial pheromone.  Feliway is a synthetic copy of the feline facial pheromone used by cats to mark their territory as safe and secure.  

By mimicking the cat's natural facial pheromone, Feliway creates a state of familiarity and security in the cat's local environment.  As a result, Feliway can be used to help comfort and reassure cats while they cope with a challenging situation such as moving or traveling.  Feliway helps reduce or prevent unwanted behaviors caused by stress.

Feliway is available at White House Animal Hospital in the form form of a plug in diffuser that will diffuse an area of up to 700 square feet.

Multicat™

Sometimes sharing a home can be difficult for cats. In fact, 60% of cat owners with more than 1 cat in the house report issues of tension between cats. If your cats aren’t getting along, use Feliway MultiCat.

Feliway MultiCat can help all cats living under one roof feel more safe and secure with their surroundings and ease animosity. It’s a copy of the feline appeasing pheromone mother cats produce during lactation. Cats of all ages sense this pheromone and it provides a calming effect that cats can recognize throughout life.

Multicat is available at White House Animal Hospital in the form form of a plug in diffuser that will diffuse an area of up to 700 square feet.

Kristi May, MS, CVPM, LVMT, AHT, BS, ABCDT 

White House Animal Hospital 615-672-0357

https://www.facebook.com/pethospital/

Adaptil, Feliway, and Feliway Multicat are trademarks of CEVA.  Whtie House Animal Hospital uses and provides these products for our clients.  For more information about CEVA Products please visit http://www.makinghappierpets.com/