Search Results for ‘preventative’

By: Laura Scharenbroich ZimmVet Daycare Staff

When was the last time you brought your cat to the veterinarian? Was it within the last year? A couple years ago? Even if your cat appears to not be sick, there are still preventative ways to keep them healthy.

Here are 7 great tips to keeping your cat healthy:

1. Groom your Cat

Most cats groom themselves on a regular basis. But you can help your furry friend by brushing or combing. This will help to remove any dead hair so they don’t ingest while self-grooming. This also gives you a chance to notice any changes to the body.

2. Make sure you have enough litter boxes

A good general rule of thumb to go by is one litter box per cat plus one more. So if you have two cats, go with 3 litter boxes. To help encourage good litter box habits, keep the litter boxes clean. Regular cleaning will also help you notice if anything is out of the ordinary.

3. Use a Scratching Post

If your cat’s claws are still intact be sure to supply some form of scratching post. This helps your cat stretch out their muscles and also helps remove old layers from their nails. Scratching is a normal marking behavior and can help with environmental enrichment.

By Kaytie Wildman ZimmVet Veterinary Assistant   

So you’ve decided to adopt a giant breed puppy!  Here are some tips on bringing your puppy home and giving them the basic care.  Initially before deciding on adopting a giant breed puppy, self education is essential to starting them off on the right paw.

Health is one of the most important aspects for giant breeds. With giant breeds, come giant responsibilities. That includes researching and seeking out a veterinarian that is knowledgeable in giant breeds and that can help guide you and your new pup to a healthy life. Staying up to date on a flea and tick preventative, heartworm prevention, and age appropriate vaccines are some of the many important things you will discuss with your veterinarian.

Feeding your new puppy may seem daunting, but with research and following the advice from your veterinarian, you can start them on the right food and feel at ease that Fido will receive all the nutrition he needs. For puppies under the age of 6 months, it is recommended that their feedings be divided into 3 meals throughout the day; morning, midday, and evening. Free feeding is not recommended; over eating can result in rapid growth, stress on joints and bones, overweight, skeletal malformation, and other health issues. The type of food is just as important as how frequent they are fed. Not all puppy foods are created equal. Dogs that will be over 50 pounds as their adult weight should be fed a large breed puppy food until at least 12 months of age. Keep human food and treats to under10% of their total diet to help prevent unbalancing of the food. Monitoring weight, measuring out food, and keeping track of how much they consume is important. If your puppy is eager and inhales their food, look into getting a slow-feeder bowl. It is recommended that giant breeds have an hour of rest one hour before and after every feeding. Talk to your veterinarian about a surgery called gastropexy. This is usually done around 1.5 years of age and prevents twisting of the stomach.

Benefits of Therapeutic LaserBy Dr. Maria Krenz, DVM – ZimmVet-763-856-4848

Pets are living longer, happier lives as a result of routine preventative care and advancements in medical technology. Laser therapy is another tool for treating and managing a wide variety of conditions in pets.

The History of Laser

The therapeutic laser was developed in 1960 with documented use in pets in 1967. In the 1970s, it was accepted as a physical therapy modality.  As more studies have been carried out, interest in therapeutic laser for treating various conditions has grown dramatically.  Therapeutic laser can be used in conjunction with, or instead of medication to manage pain, inflammation and wound healing.  This is similar to acupuncture, massage therapy, and other alternative therapies.

Technology Behind Laser

Therapeutic lasers use light waves of a specific wavelength to cause photobiomodulation, or the alteration of cellular and tissue physiology. Light absorbed by cellular components stimulates electrons and activates cells to promote growth, proliferation, migration, and repair.

Laser therapy helps tissue repair by causing the following:

• Endorphin release
• Vasodilation, which increases blood flow to bring in oxygen and cells involved in the healing process
• Muscle relaxation
• Decreased inflammation
• Faster healing and repair

The main clinical benefits of laser use in pets include decreased inflammation, decreased pain, and improved wound healing.

By: Samantha Sams CPDT-KA Lead Trainer/CGC Evaluator ZimmVet

Obedience training in any form can be extremely beneficial to your dog, both mentally and physically. One of the unique and useful things we offer here at ZimmVet is Private Lessons. These can be utilized for many different situations, or concerns. Each session is tailored to your family’s specific needs. Our private lessons are usually between 30 and 45 minute sessions. This time period works within your dog’s attention span, and will keep them willing to participate the entire session.

In-Clinic Lessons

We offer lessons at ZimmVet for both you, and your dog to learn together. We can use these lessons to focus on 1 or 2 specific concerns or needs, and come up with a plan of action for you to work on at home. These are also great to help integrate a new furry family member into the home.

Daycare or Hotel Stay Lessons

These lessons are offered while your dog is here for any length of stay. A trainer will work one on one with your dog. These are great for things you would like your dog to brush up on, or new things you would like them to learn. We always follow these lessons up with either an in-person conversation to discuss how things went, or an email with specifics if requested.
Most dogs love the additional attention they receive during their stay. This is a great way to pamper your pooch!

By Dr. Maria Krenz, DVM – ZimmVet-763-856-4848

Lyme Disease High Risk for Zimmerman Dogs

In the Zimmerman area, dogs are at a high risk for contracting Lyme disease from a tick bite. In 2017, 12.78% of all of the dogs tested in Sherburne County for Lyme disease were positive for this painful disease. Now is the time to make sure your pet is protected. The best level of protection includes using a Lyme vaccination, tick prevention products as well as checking your pet daily for ticks.

By: Rebecca Brethorst, CVT

Lyme Disease Awareness

May is Lyme disease awareness month. According to the the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) 1 in 10 dogs tested positive for Lyme disease in Sherburne county in 2018. The bite of a tick infected with Borrelia Burgdorferi bacteria causes Lyme disease. Symptoms of Lyme disease in dogs include; fever, lameness, lethargy, loss of appetite, and swelling of joints. As Lyme disease progresses, it can lead to kidney failure and death. Dogs that spend a lot of time outdoors are most commonly infected with Lyme disease. However, ticks can be carried into yards on other animals and dogs can become infected just by going into a fenced back yard to use the bathroom. Tick control is extremely important for the prevention of Lyme disease. Check your dog daily for ticks and remove them quickly. Vaccinating your pet for Lyme disease and using a tick preventative as directed by your veterinarian are also crucial to the prevention of Lyme disease. If your dog is experiencing any of the symptoms above call your veterinarian to have your pet seen as soon as possible. 

By Dr. Maria Krenz, DVM – ZimmVet-763-856-4848

Advances in medical technology and preventative care are allowing pets to live longer, happier lives.  It is not uncommon for cats to reach 20 plus years of age, and small dogs to live 18-20 years.  More often pets are seen as a family member and people are looking for ways to spend as much time as possible with their beloved pets.  Owners can influence their pet’s lifespan and quality of life with a few simple care guidelines.

Ideal Weight-Add 2 Years of Pet Life

Extensive research has been performed to evaluate the effects of obesity on lifespan and medical conditions, such as arthritis.  Data shows that an ideal weight pet will live on average two years longer as compared to its obese littermate.  Since pet owner’s control their cat or dog’s feedings, lifespan is directly influenced by an owner’s ability to regulate calories and provide adequate exercise.

There are many resources available for pet owners to help their pet’s lose weight. The first step is to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to set a goal weight for your pet, calculate their calories needed for safe weight loss and create a weight loss plan.

There are many tools available to help pet owners achieve their pet’s weight loss goals. The PortionPro™ Rx Pet Feeder is an automatic feeder tailored to each individual pet in the household. It is available on ZimmVet’s online store ZimmVet.com click on Online Pet Pharmacy.