Posts in Category: Pet Safety

Living on the Jersey Shore has lots of fun perks, but for the pets of Oakhurst Veterinary Hospital, it can add some additional hazards. Paralytic shellfish poisoning in dogs is serious and often fatal, so being sure that you understand how to protect your pet is key.

The winter thaw is on the horizon, and in our neck of the woods, that means we start thinking about longer days, gardening, and….The coming mosquito season! Although steamy days and nights might bring with them summer fun, the mosquitoes that also come with warm weather are definitely not welcome. Not only are they annoying for you, but they could also pose a serious health threat to your pet.

Here are some of the basics of heartworm prevention from your friends at Oakhurst Veterinary Hospital.

Our pets excel at many things, but perhaps they are most adept at keeping us on our toes. Just when we think we understand their motivations, or anticipate their behaviors, they surprise us by going the opposite direction. We really can’t expect anything else but, well, the unexpected. 

It simply goes with the territory to recognize that there are hidden hazards for pets at nearly every moment. The more you know about all the potential risks to pet health and safety, you can not only prevent accidents but you’ll be able to seek help promptly, if needed. 

Not being able to urinate is a serious issue. If you are wondering if a blocked cat is an emergency, Oakhurst Veterinary Hospital wants you to know that the answer is a resounding yes! Do you know the signs of a blocked cat?

The holiday season is a time of joy and excitement. But if you’re a cat owner, you know it also presents a unique set of challenges—especially when it comes to your Christmas tree. 

Oakhurst Veterinary Hospital understands that you want to keep your feline friend safe while still enjoying the holiday festivities. Let’s look at ways to keep your tree standing tall and your cat happily out of mischief.

Fragrant gravy ladled over a steaming mound of mashed potatoes, crisp and golden turkey skins, vibrantly colored cranberry sauce that’s both sweet and tart. If your mouth is watering just thinking about a traditional holiday meal, you can imagine how excited your pet becomes when his or her heightened senses picks up on the aromas of the Thanksgiving and other winter holiday dinners.

It’s tempting to slip a morsel or two to a begging pet, or to nod off after a big meal before putting away the leftovers or taking out the trash, but we can be sure that our pets haven’t overlooked any of these temptations. As delicious as our holiday foods are, some of them pose serious risks to our pets.

Before the holiday season is in full swing is the perfect time to bone up on the principles of food safety for pets.

Accidents, mishaps, and calamities happen throughout the year, but certain types of emergencies affect pets during specific months. For example, chocolate poisonings spring up each Halloween and Valentine’s Day, while antifreeze exposure is a focus in the winter. This time of year, it only makes sense to discuss the ways that fall pet safety tactics can impact your pet’s health, security, and wellbeing.

Clean it Up

Many homeowners take the weeks after Labor Day to tackle backyard or garage duties. Sure, it’s more fun to have your pet nearby while you’re cleaning out the garden shed, weeding, or treating the lawn, but it’s best to keep the following tips in mind:

Establishing and maintaining a pet’s daily routine is one of the best things you can do for their mental and physical health. The ability to anticipate the timing of certain events like bathroom breaks, meals, or walks gives them stability and confidence, and helps to build trust at home. Sometimes a pet’s profound attachment to their owner, combined with unsettling solitude, can lead to separation anxiety. Dealing with separation anxiety in pets can be challenging, but there are special strategies to soothe a pet’s symptoms.

Spaying or neutering cats and dogs has become a relatively universal practice. Shelter animals are “fixed” before they hit the adoption floor, and most breeder contracts stipulate that pets must be spayed or neutered by a certain age. And yet, many animals do not undergo this important surgical procedure. There are many benefits of spaying or neutering your pet that goes far beyond reducing unwanted litters and behavioral changes. Remarkably, surgical sterilization has the potential to positively impact the community and so much more.

There are so many facets to responsible pet ownership, and preventing contagious diseases ranks pretty high on the list. Aside from the vaccinations that a puppy or kitten receives to be safely inoculated from various illnesses, there are numerous boosters of core and non-core vaccinations that provide the greatest defense against disease. Because we know firsthand the devastation associated with contracting a completely preventable disease, we off this primer on the most important pet vaccinations.