Shoreline Animal Hospital

Did you know that dental disease is the 2nd most common disease in cats and dogs and 80% of animals have some form of dental disease by age 3?

Many people notice their animals have bad breath.   Bad breath is not normal, it is a sure sign that oral disease has already begun. Once dental disease has started, it progresses steadily causing gingivitis, tooth decay and tooth loss.  In some cases it can eventually contribute to heart, kidney and liver disease.  However, with daily dental care, dental diets, annual exams and dental cleanings as recommended by your veterinarian, dental disease can be prevented.

Dental disease starts with a build up of bacteria on your pets teeth. As the bacteria multiplies it will gradually form into a hard layer of calculus on the surface of the teeth. Daily brushing will help to prevent the bacteria from building up however, only a professional dental cleaning will remove the calculus once it has formed. The calculus that forms on the teeth will press against the gums causing gingivitis, an inflammation of the gums. As the disease progresses, the roots of the teeth become exposed and the bone that is holding the teeth in place may become compromised. This will eventually lead to loose teeth and then loss.   Often dental disease has progressed to this level before a pet will show any symptoms such as a decreased appetite, difficulty chewing kibble, weight loss or reluctance to play with toys.  So don’t assume because your pet is eating or playing with toys that they have healthy teeth and gums.

Other risks to teeth can result from chewing.  Many pet owners are not aware that the objects their animals are chewing on may cause damage to their teeth.  Hard toys, bones, sticks and ice cubes can fracture a tooth. It is possible for an animal to have a fractured tooth with no symptoms.

Although routine cleanings and yearly exams may seem expensive, the treatment of advanced dental disease is far more costly to both your pet’s health and your wallet.  Please call our office or your veterinarian today to schedule a complete physical exam and learn more about preventive care to help control dental disease.  Your pet will be much healthier and happier!

Now that cold weather is finally here, we want to remind all pet owners to make sure that their pets are protected from winter hazards.  Winter is a beautiful time, but many pets are not well adapted to the cold.

Try to keep pets indoors in the winter and keep a close eye on them when they are outside.  Make sure that any pet that is outside and unattended has shelter where they can escape the snow and wind.  Dogs can have a dog house bedded with clean blankets, hay or straw.  Cats could also use a dog house or have access to a barn, shed or garage that is free of dangerous chemicals such as antifreeze.  Just a small amount of antifreeze ingested by a pet can cause kidney failure.  Also it is important there is plenty of unfrozen water available.  Put warm water out and change it frequently.

Cats will at times hide up inside cars near the engines seeking warmth.  If the car is started, they can be severely injured.  Honk your horn or bang on the hood to try to scare any cats out before you start your car.

If your pet is not a breed that is naturally protected with a thick coat, consider a doggie sweater or coat on walks and be careful to not stay out too long when temperatures are below freezing.  Also, monitor your dogs paws for ice balls and damage from ice melt that is not pet friendly.  Many small breeds don’t like the cold, but winter booties can make the experience more comfortable.  Look for ones that are waterproof and are easy on easy off. You may also wipe paws with baby wipes to remove any excess salt that may cause illness.

Use caution near bodies of water that might be partially frozen.  Dogs can easily fall through the ice and then can not escape.  Keeping your dog on a leash is always safest.

Monitor your pet for signs that they are uncomfortable outside.  Shivering, shifting/dancing on feet, chewing at feet, collapse,  refusal to move and crying are all signs that your pet needs to be taken inside immediately.  Pets can suffer from frostbite and the ears are a common site.

If you are unsure what level of cold your pet can handle or you are concerned about any damage/injury your pet may have suffered, please contact your veterinarian immediately.  We at Shoreline Animal Hospital wish you a safe and fun winter season.

To all our clients and patients:
We ARE OPEN for our regular business hours, and although we are somewhat limited, we will be here to assist you and your pets in whatever way we can. As of Wednesday, August 31 we still do not have power thanks to hurricane Irene. We have only one working phone line, so if you call the office and there is no answer, try again!
We hope that all of you weathered the storm safely and we are hoping to get back to normal life very soon!

“There are many reasons why a dog ends up in a shelter but there is only one reason why they don’t get out-  because they don’t have anyone to adopt them”~  Lorin Liesenfelt, Dog Days founder. 

Although more than 44 million people in the United States own at least one dog, more than 5 million dogs are euthanized each year because they don’t have a home.   This is a shocking statistic and we hope to help make a difference….

Join us on Aug 27 and 28th at the Parmalee Farm in Killingworth, Ct from 11AM -  4 PM for a unique opportunity to welcome a loving four legged friend into your family.  Approximately 80 dogs and puppies from shelters across Ct will be available for adoption.  All dogs have been neutered or spayed, microchipped and evaluated by a trainer.  Dr. West and Dr. Berman will be on site providing medical advice for getting your new pet off to a healthy start.  They will also be providing a free sample of Frontline Plus, to protect against fleas and ticks,  generously donated by Merial. 

The mission of the Dog Days organization is to organize community based events that help shelters in CT connect with the public.  By bringing together a large variety of dogs to one location, they can more succesfully match dogs with potential new families.  Dog Days has held several events in other Ct towns and they have had great success in adopting out most of the dogs.  Will you be one of the lucky ones???

This is the first major event to be hosted at Parmalee Farm and it is a beautiful historic location to hold such an exciting 2 day event.  We hope we will see you there to help you welcome a new member into your family!

For more information on this event, the Dog Days organization, adoption procedures and fees , donations or volunteer opportunities, please follow this link  http://www.godogdays.org/Welcome.html

On May 20th, Dr. West spent the day at the Haddam Killingworth Middle School speaking to 5th graders in 3 groups of ~ 60 students each followed by the entire 7th grade all at once.  

The 5th graders are learning to be scientists.  They have been conducting experiments, gathering data and coming up with conclusions.  Dr. West titled her power point presentation for them  ”The Mystery of the Vomiting Dogs”.  Her goal was to present two cases which started with the same symptoms.  Max the Golden Retriver and Phoebe the Pug both were weak and vomiting.  She then lead the children through the steps she would take as a vet to diagnose the pet’s problem.  Dr. West started by encouraging them to create a list of questions they would ask the owner to get a thorough history.  Then, they were walked through the physical exam findings.  The next step was to decide what tests would make sense for each pet.  Then they put this information and data together to make a diagnosis and treatment plan for each pet.  What they learned was that each step needed to be completed to get the whole picture.  In the end, despite similar presenting complaints, Max and Phoebe had completelydifferent problems.  Max had a sock obstructing his intestines and needed surgery to get him well.  Phoebe had eaten sugar free gum and was experiencing a low blood sugar level from xylitol toxicity.  With intravenous fluids she also recovered well. 

In the 7th grade, the kids are learning body systems.  They are currently working on the respiratory system, so Dr. West used a power point presentation to walk through the various parts of the respiratory system and discuss a few differences between animals and humans.  She presented a few cases to demonstrate how a veterinarian might examine each part of the system.  Some examples included an endoscopy video of the larynx in a race horse, x-rays of an asthmatic cat and a dog with a collapsing trachea which was repaired surgically with a stent.

It was a fun filled  and educational day. The kids seemed to enjoy the presentations and they asked lots of great questions.  Perhaps a few are even budding veterinarians.