Get Fit With Your Pet!

Losing weight or getting in shape seems to be on just about every other person’s to-do list for the new year—and if it’s on yours, you may already have a great workout partner: your dog!

Just like humans, overweight pets are more likely to develop diabetes, osteoarthritis, high blood pressure, heart disease, joint injuries, and cancer. According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, 59% of cats and 54% of dogs in the U.S. are overweight.

Plus, from a behavioral standpoint, walks can be a fantastic way to help your dog “reset.” If your pup is prone to the zoomies, or has a tendency to bounce off the walls on a near-daily basis, setting aside time for daily walks can be life-changing — for both you and your pet!

Here are some tips to help you stay active together:

Try interval walking/jogging with your dog instead of just a simple walk. You’ll both burn more calories and it makes the walk more interesting for your pet.
Play hide & seek with your dog. Put him in a “sit/stay”, hide somewhere in the house, then call your dog to you. Reward with small treats and praise when he finds you.
Instead of a game of fetch, play “catch me” with your dog, rewarding him with the ball when he tags you.
Try agility! This obstacle-course-based activity is hugely fun for dogs and is quite a workout for their owners as well.

And remember, these activities are great for the whole family! This time with your pup can be equally special one-on-one time for partners, children, and siblings. Make it a part of your daily routine and everyone will be feeling happier and healthier in no time!

Avoid These Treats On Halloween

Halloween is a fun, spooky and often tasty time for us—but many treats associated with Halloween can put your pet’s health at risk. Here’s seasonal food (and drink) that you should definitely keep out of paw’s reach:

Chocolate can cause upset stomachs, heart arrhythmia, panting, abnormal heart rhythm, kidney failure, seizures, and even death if large amounts are consumed. Dark and baking chocolate are the most dangerous, as they contain the largest amounts of methylxanthines, substances toxic to dogs and cats. Caffeine and coffee contain these same substances and should be kept away from your pet.

Xylitol—a sweetener often found in peanut butter and chewing gum—is extremely toxic to dogs and cats, as it can cause extremely low blood sugar, seizures, and liver failure.

Grapes and raisins may be healthy treats for people, but not for our canine
companions. Eating them can result in sudden kidney failure.

Nuts contain high amounts of oils and fats that cause vomiting and diarrhea, and potentially pancreatitis in pets.

Alcohol at adult Halloween gatherings might be enjoyable for us, but vomiting, diarrhea, central nervous system depression, respiratory problems, and a truly deadly hangover could be the result if your dog or cat ingests alcohol of any kind. It’s also important to remind little trick-or-treaters not to feed candy to pets and to tuck their goodies safely away from their animal friends. If you think your pet may have eaten something toxic, don’t hesitate to call us or the ASPCA Poison Control Center immediately.

Your Vaccination Questions, Answered

August is National Immunization Awareness Month, created to remind people how important it is to keep their vaccinations up to date. But that advice isn’t just for humans—it’s vital for pets as well.

Vaccinating your pet is a relatively inexpensive but very important way to protect his or her health. In addition to preventing many life-threatening illnesses, vaccinations can keep your pet and family safe from diseases prevalent in wildlife and those that can be passed to humans.

Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions we get about vaccinations:

Q: Are vaccines safe?

A: There is a risk associated with all medical procedures, but serious reactions from vaccines are rare. Given the fact that vaccinations have protected millions of animals from illness and death caused by disease, the benefit far outweighs any risk. At Duvall Vet, we have seen VERY FEW adverse reactions and it’s our policy to minimize any risk by spacing out the administration of “killed vaccines”, which are the ones more likely to cause a reaction.

Q: Why is it important to vaccinate?

A: Vaccinations are your pet’s first line of defense and can also keep them from transmitting some diseases to your family. Scientific evidence proves that the widespread use of vaccines in the last century has prevented death and disease in millions of animals. Even diseases that have become uncommon can still be present in the environment and if pets aren’t protected, they can initiate an outbreak.

Q: Which vaccines does my pet need?

A: “Core” vaccines are those recommended—and possibly mandated by law—for most pets. Core vaccines include:

Rabies (dogs and cats)
DA2PPV – Distemper, Hepatitis, Adenovirus 2, Parvo and Parainfluenza (dogs)
FVRCP – Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus and Panleukopenia (cats)

Other non-core, but highly suggested vaccinations for outdoor cats include FIV for feline immunodeficiency virus and FeLV to protect against feline leukemia. For dogs, bordetella and canine influenza (CIV) shots are a must if they frequent dog parks, boarding kennels, or any place where they’re socializing with other canines. Your DVH doctor may also recommend leptospirosis and Lyme disease vaccinations depending on your dog’s lifestyle.

Q: Does my indoor cat really need vaccinations?

Yes! It’s important to note that even pets who live primarily indoors should be vaccinated, as they can still be exposed to disease if they accidentally escape or are exposed to other animals in or outside the home. We can advise you about which vaccinations are right for your pet.

Q: How often does my pet need to be vaccinated?

A: Annual vaccinations had been the rule for veterinarians, but they are now learning that some vaccines provide less than a year’s worth of immunity while others last well after a year has passed. That’s why most hospitals, including Duvall Vet, customize vaccination plans based on the needs of their patients.

Q: What kind of reaction should I watch for after my pet is vaccinated?

A: It’s pretty common for pets to experience some mild side effects after getting their shots. These include localized swelling, itching, sneezing, lethargy, and decreased appetite. You should make a call to the vet immediately, however, if your pet exhibits any of the following symptoms:

Chronic vomiting or diarrhea
Itchy skin that develops into hives
Swelling of the muzzle and around the face, neck, or eyes
Severe coughing or difficulty breathing
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Q: What about titer testing? Can it prove immunity and eliminate the need for a vaccination?

A: Tests that measure antibody response, aka serologic titer tests, can help vets determine the need for revaccination in limited cases. Unfortunately, the tests don’t tell us if the specific concentration of an antibody is really protective or that a lower concentration means an animal is unprotected. Also, titer tests are not accepted as establishing immunity anywhere in the U.S. and cannot be used as proof of immunity.

Want to know more? To update your pet’s vaccinations, call us at 425-381-4449 or request an appointment online.

Ways To Entertain Your Dog While You’re Away

If you appreciated last month’s blog post on separation anxiety, then you might find this useful as well. With so many of our clients returning to the office as the state reopens, we thought we’d share a few ways to keep your furry friend busy while you’re away. Providing entertainment can alleviate separation anxiety and help to pass the time until they see their favorite person again! Here are a few smart ways to entertain your dog while you’re at the office:

Fill a KONG toy with frozen treats. KONGs are a great way to keep your dog busy — sometimes for hours — by channeling their “need to chew” productively through a toy instead of your sofa. This provides positive reinforcement for laying calmly and focusing on something other than you (or the other items in your home). You can stuff your dog’s KONG with a variety of safe foods, such as turkey and mashed sweet potato, or peanut butter and banana with a bit of greek yogurt. Freezing it will make the challenge last even longer! (Bonus: Here are 39 healthy treats you can stuff into your dog’s KONG.)

Hide snacks around the house. Before you leave, scatter some kibble or a few of their favorite treats throughout the house. You’ll want to do this occasionally so that it doesn’t become a routine, but treating your dog to a fun game of hide and seek every once in a while is a great way to distract them from the stress of your departure!

Turn on the TV. Believe it or not, many dogs actually enjoy watching television — and the sight or sound of other animals can reduce stress by making them feel less alone. Animal Planet and the Discovery Channel are great choices, and there’s even a subscription-based channel dedicated to entertaining your pup! It’s called DogTV.

Leave their breakfast in a snuffle mat. A dog’s sense of smell is one of the ways dogs interpret the world around them. Snuffle mats are great alternatives to food dishes. In addition to being entertaining, they encourage mental stimulation and your dog’s natural desire to forage. It’s important enrichment time that also helps to reduce stress!

Hire a dog walker. A tired dog is a good dog! If your dog has pent up energy, hiring a dog walker to stop by during the workday can be enormously beneficial. The additional human interaction will likely give both you and your pet peace of mind, and exercise is always a great stress reliever!

Keep a steady rotation of toys in the home. Instead of leaving your pet with all of their toys every day, try rotating through a few at a time to keep things interesting.

At Duvall Vet, we carry a variety of anti-anxiety medications that might be a good fit for your pup. There are also a number of over-the-counter options that can help alleviate the stress of separation anxiety. If your pet still struggles with intense separation anxiety despite your efforts to make things easier on them, consider contacting us to discuss other options.

Don’t Leave Me!

How To Prepare Your Dog For Your Return To Work

While you may be dreaming of the day you can go back to the office, your favorite coffee place, and to some gossipy chit-chat with co-workers, your dog might have serious issues when suddenly you’re gone again. (We say dog, because we know that with some exceptions, most cats CAN’T WAIT for you to get back to the old routine and leave them alone, already.) Most dogs thrive on routine and live for the time they have with you, so it’s important you know the signs of pending separation anxiety as well as what to do about it.

Leave the house for short periods of time, but don’t go far. If your pooch begins to bark, howl, whine, or scratch at the door, or tears something up while you’re away for that few minutes, chances are you are going to have a distressed dog on your hands when it’s time to ditch the sweats for suits.

Separation anxiety is no joke—upset dogs can not only do damage to your home and property, but to themselves as well. Having accidents in the house, crate destruction, pacing, howling, as well as chewing walls, doors, and furniture are not uncommon. Some dogs even get anxious when they notice the signals of their owner’s impending departure such as putting on a coat and grabbing keys. So how do you prepare your pet to be alone again?

Start NOW. Don’t wait until the day before you begin your previous work routine. Ease super-attached dogs into it by telling your pet to “stay” and then going to another room for a minute before calling them to you. Putting your pet in a separate room—with a favorite toy or long-lasting treat for 10-20 minutes while you are home may help as well.
One of the most important things you can do is to begin leaving your dog alone in the home for varying periods of time. Leave for just a minute to start, then gradually increase the time you are gone. Your dog will (hopefully) come to learn that absences are safe.
Make leaving a non-event. Don’t acknowledge your dog or say goodbye when you go. Yes, it’s hard not to tell them you love them, to be a good dog and that you’ll be home soon—but it’s necessary.
If possible, getting your dog out for a walk, run, or some other energy-burning exercise prior to your departure is extremely helpful in reducing stress. A tired dog has a much greater chance of being a calm dog. (And by the way, it works for people, too!)
Enrich your dog’s environment! Try interactive games, puzzles, and toys to keep your dog occupied as well as stuffed Kongs, which your pet will positively associate with you leaving. These toys and games don’t have to be expensive, but there’s plenty of more advanced canine entertainment available. Leaving music or the television on and putting your dog in a comfort vest like a ThunderShirt might be helpful as well.
Many pet owners have seen results with herbal solutions and pheromones such as Rescue Remedy or Adaptil products as a supplement to training. Cannabidiol (CBD) is also gaining popularity as a treatment for canine anxiety—but do your research and check with your vet before administering this to you pet.
Make an appointment with your veterinarian. If you’ve tried reconditioning and training but your pet is still exhibiting anxiety or destructiveness, your vet can prescribe medications such as Xanax, Clomicalm, and Sileo.
Reach out to a professional trainer or behaviorist if necessary. In the long run, this will be less expensive than a demolished den or vet bills from anxiety-caused injuries.

Finally, be patient and don’t give up right away as it may just take time for your dog to adjust to your new schedule. Of course, there’s always the option of finding a new job that allows telecommuting or dogs in the office—which many folks have now found makes for both happier people and pets!
We want your pet and your family to be protected! Schedule an appointment online or call us at 425-381-4449 for more information.

Halloween’s No Treat For Pets!

Xylitol—a sweetener often found in peanut butter and chewing gum—is extremely toxic to dogs and cats, as it can cause extremely low blood sugar, seizures, and liver failure.

Grapes and raisins may be healthy treats for people, but not for our canine
companions. Eating them can result in sudden kidney failure.

Nuts contain high amounts of oils and fats that cause vomiting and diarrhea, and potentially pancreatitis in pets.

Don’t Let Your Pet “Fall” Into Trouble

Summer is starting to wind down and as you get ready for fall and back-to-school time, it’s a good idea to be aware of some of the seasonal dangers your pet might encounter.

Rodent Poisons

Rat and mouse poison use increases in fall as rodents seek shelter from colder temps. Rodenticide poisoning is sadly quite common, and these substances—even the ones that say they’re “pet safe”—can be highly toxic and even fatal to pets.

Vehicle Coolants/Antifreeze

Fall is the time when many people change their vehicle’s coolant/antifreeze. Some of these liquids are tasty to pets, so make sure all spills are cleaned up or switch to propylene glycol-based coolants, which are less toxic.

Avoid Mushrooms & Popular (But Poisonous) Plants

99% of mushrooms are harmless—but the 1% that are toxic can cause life-threatening problems in pets. Most poisonous mushrooms are hard to distinguish from non-toxic ones, so keep pets away from areas where mushrooms grow.

There are also many plants that become popular in the fall — from maples to mums — that are actually unsafe for your pet. Some common fall plants that are toxic (or “harmless” but still capable of causing stomach upset) include:

Red Maples
Mums
Ginkgo Trees
Goldenrods
Fountain Grasses
Asters
Russian Sage
Caryopteris
Pansies

You can read more about these plants in detail on the ASPCA website.

Stash the School Supplies

Glue sticks, pencils, and magic markers are low toxicity for pets, but their shapes and smells make them attractive as chew toys. Gastrointestinal and upset and blockages can occur if ingested, so be sure your children keep their school supplies out of paw’s reach. Contact us or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 immediately if you suspect your pet has ingested something harmful.

A Letter From Dr. Gengler

MAINTAINING EXCELLENT CARE AT DUVALL VETERINARY HOSPITAL AMID THE COVID-19 CRISIS

COVID-19, and all the changes it has brought to our personal lives, social lives, professional lives, and our society, have been overwhelming. One cannot open a newspaper, scan social media sites, or walk into a store without a blunt reminder that life in America has changed.

HOSPITAL & INDUSTRY UPDATES

Life at Duvall Veterinary Hospital has changed as well, and we would like to share some details about these changes and what they mean for you, our present and future clients. Also, we want to share two especially important messages for all pet owners, whether in the Pacific Northwest or elsewhere, which we will include at the bottom of this letter.

The most obvious changes have been the logistics of curbside care, a reduction in face-to-face time with our doctors at your visit, and longer wait times. Our building cannot facilitate the degree of social distancing our governor and the health department require. As a result, we must do the best that we can with what we have and continue with our current plan. While this is not ideal, we do understand it is necessary from a public health standpoint. To accommodate these changes to the best of our ability, we have added phone lines, implemented telemedicine options, and are actively hiring to grow our team and keep things moving as efficiently possible.

The less obvious change, and the aspect that we want to address with this statement, is that since mid-April, we have been so busy that our schedule fills so quickly that we have at times been unable to provide the same level of on-demand care our clients have come to expect from us.

Historically, one could call us with a concern, and our schedule was structured such that we could arrange a visit within 24 hours, if not within 4 hours. In seasons past, we have been able to accommodate new clients by making an appointment within a day or two. This was not made possible because we had nothing to do, but because we intentionally built our schedule around being conveniently accessible for our clients and patients.

When COVID-19 emerged, and the governor of Washington instituted the Shelter in Place order, there were restrictions placed on veterinary hospitals. Appointment and medical service availability at all hospitals and clinics in the state was reduced. As March led to April and April to May, some clinics in the area maintained themselves at reduced availability. DVH remained open and served our community’s emergency and urgent care needs during our regular hours, 6 days a week, utilizing our curbside protocols to keep everyone as safe and socially distanced as possible.

Consequently, we have been inundated with new client and patient requests in addition to keeping up with our long-term, loyal clients who became backlogged as their routine preventive care was postponed. We are aware that a large segment of our new client requests come from individuals with genuine need. And, while we loathe turning even one patient away, time is a limited resource. We are doing everything we can to meet the needs for as many patients as possible, day in and day out.

TWO IMPORTANT MESSAGES

First, to our amazing clients, we appreciate your loyalty to us over the years. We are grateful for your trust and for your business. During this time of limited capacity, our priority is being as available to you as we can be. We kindly ask that you call for appointments sooner rather than later, before an issue becomes too serious or emergent.
Second, to the reader who does not have a relationship with a full-service veterinary facility, we recommend you schedule an appointment with a veterinarian today at their earliest availability, whenever that may be. This will establish a relationship between you and your veterinarian, as well as between your pet and your veterinarian. Establish this veterinary-client-patient relationship (VCPR) with a veterinarian in your community today so that one day in the future, in your time of need, you’ll have a clinic that knows you, knows your pet, and can respond to your need with a timely, loyal response.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED PATIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING

In conclusion, we ask that you continue to be patient with the curbside process at DVH during your visits. Our team is working hard to facilitate the smoothest visit possible for you and your pet. Please understand that while our schedule may not be as flexible for you as it has been in the past, our genuine hope is that this is only a temporary necessity as we all navigate this unforeseen experience together. However, we have welcomed a new full-time doctor to our practice, which has increased the number of appointments we can accommodate in a day. We are managing through the pandemic to the best of our ability while also refusing to compromise in our mission of providing the highest quality veterinary care manageable and peace of mind through preventative medicine, in a kind, compassionate, and comprehensive way for you and your pet.

Together, with patience, kindness, and compassion, we will make our way through these unprecedented times.

Stay healthy,

Michelle Gengler, DVM and the Team at Duvall Veterinary Hospital

Safe Fun In The Summertime

Serious summer heat is coming and many animals—especially those outdoors—struggle to keep cool because they can’t process heat as effectively as we do. Here are some tips for keeping your fur-covered friend safe when the weather is warm:

Never leave your pet in the car on warm, or even sunny, spring and summer days. Even with a window cracked on a 70^o day, the interior of your car can reach 100^oin as little as 20 minutes.
Hot asphalt will scorch your pet’s paws. Before you head out for a walk, put your own palm on the pavement—if it’s too hot for you, it’s too hot for your pooch.
Do not shave or trim your pet. A pet’s coat is an important part of her natural cooling system, as it protects the skin from the sun.
Always provide shade and plenty of cool, fresh water.

Symptoms of overheating include excessive panting, increased heart rate and drooling, which can quickly advance to seizures, collapse, vomiting and bloody diarrhea. If your pet exhibits any of these symptoms, call Duvall Vet immediately at (425) 788-2620.

Treating Skin Allergies

Is your pet itching for relief?

If your pet is always itching, licking her feet or chewing on her coat, or if she has a dull coat or flaky skin, there’s a good chance she has skin allergies. Skin allergies are often caused by flea allergies, food allergies and environmental allergies, and to treat skin allergies, you must first figure out what’s causing them.

Start by looking for fleas. If you suspect a flea problem, wash all fabrics in your home and vacuum thoroughly. It’s always a good idea to administer flea medication to pets, especially this time of year.

If you’ve ruled out a flea allergy, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to rule out issues like mange and ringworm. Then, we may recommend an elimination diet to see if your pet has a food allergy. You may have to try many types of food, so this can be a lengthy process. We can also diagnose environmental allergies with skin tests and blood tests at this stage.

Treatments will vary depending on the cause of the allergies. We offer a wide variety of traditional and holistic therapies that successfully treat skin allergies and help pets feel better.

Think your pet might have skin allergies? Schedule an appointment online or call us at 425-381-4449 to discuss your options.