(707) 422-9550
Animal Hospital in Fairfield
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Meet Our Team
    • Meet Our Team's Pets
    • Testimonials
  • Services
    • Cats and Dogs
    • Wellness Care
    • Puppy and Kitten Packages
    • Surgery and Anesthesia
    • Dentistry
  • Connect
    • Blog
    • Pet of the Month
    • Our App
  • Policies & Forms
    • Hospital Policies
    • Payment Options
    • Discounts and Specials
    • Forms
  • Emergency
  • Contact & Directions
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Meet Our Team
    • Meet Our Team's Pets
    • Testimonials
  • Services
    • Cats and Dogs
    • Wellness Care
    • Puppy and Kitten Packages
    • Surgery and Anesthesia
    • Dentistry
  • Connect
    • Blog
    • Pet of the Month
    • Our App
  • Policies & Forms
    • Hospital Policies
    • Payment Options
    • Discounts and Specials
    • Forms
  • Emergency
  • Contact & Directions

What to Expect During Your Pet's Dental Procedure

12/4/2019

8 Comments

 
Picture
Congrats! You’ve decided to take charge of your pet’s dental health and get their teeth cleaned! Keeping your pet’s teeth and gums clean and healthy can help to prevent periodontal disease and other serious health problems down the road. Here’s what you can expect when your pet gets a dental cleaning.
Before the procedure
You and your veterinarian will discuss your pet’s medical history and your vet will perform a complete physical exam. They may also take a sample of blood (and possibly urine, too) for a laboratory work-up. Your vet will discuss possible procedures to identify and treat the underlying dental problems including dental cleaning or scaling, periodontal probing, dental x-rays, and others. They will also polish the teeth to provide a pearly white smile!

Your veterinarian will give you exact instructions, but you may be asked to withhold food from your pet the evening prior to the procedure to reduce the chance that your pet may vomit during the procedure. The duration of time recommended will vary depending on your pet’s age, pre-existing medical conditions, or any medications they are on.
During the procedure
Unlike when you go to the dentist, to get the best evaluation and dental care, our pets need to be anesthetized during their dental procedure. Anesthesia is necessary because it allows your pet to be still so your vet can conduct a thorough examination of the whole oral cavity (including below the gumline), take x-rays (to look for “hidden diseases”), and fully and safely clean your pet’s teeth. This also ensures a safe and comfortable experience for your pet by reducing their level of anxiety, stress, and pain. In addition, it protects their airway from any water or debris caused by scaling away the dental plaque that might otherwise find its way down into your pet’s lungs during the procedure.

Expect to drop your pet off at the veterinary clinic early to get them settled in and have their pre-anesthesia exam. Your vet may administer “pre-meds” (medications that can help to decrease anxiety, pain, vomiting, and even the amount of other drugs needed to provide general anesthesia). Your veterinarian may also give your dog a medication to prevent vomiting and help them return to eating sooner after the dental procedure is completed.
During the dental procedure, your vet will remove plaque and tartar from the teeth and polish them. They will also use a dental probe (like the one your dentist uses on you) to look for pockets of infection around the tooth roots and in the gum. This lets them check the health and stability of the dental ligaments and bony structures beneath the gumline. Dental x-rays may be recommended to fully evaluate the periodontal health of your pet’s mouth and to make sure that no “hidden” disease is present and waiting to flare up (like brewing tooth root infections or resorbed tooth roots). If your veterinarian finds damaged teeth, they may recommend extractions (removing the teeth) or other procedures as necessary.
After the procedure
After your dog or cat’s dental procedure, your veterinarian or veterinary technician will review everything that was performed during the dental procedure with you. If there is an infection or if your pet has an underlying condition that makes them more susceptible to infection, your vet may give or prescribe an antibiotic. Pain medication may also be provided as there can be some level of inflammation and discomfort following a dental procedure.

Your vet may prescribe or send you home with:
  • Pain medication
  • Antibiotics
  • Recommended dental diet
  • Recommended dental chews
  • Recommended toothbrush/toothpaste
  • Dental pads or wipes
    Your vet may recommend feeding just soft food for several days after the procedure if there were any extractions, to allow the extraction sites to heal as best as possible. If extractions happen —or even if not—there may be a recheck appointment needed a week or so later to ensure that all is healing and progressing as best as possible.
Once your pet is discharged and you take them home, you may notice some grogginess, drooling, or drowsiness for several hours. They’re typically almost back to normal that evening and should definitely be back to their normal self (often even better, as the discomfort their dental and periodontal disease had been causing them is now gone!) by the next day. If at any point you’re concerned, don’t hesitate to call your veterinarian for advice.
An anesthetized dental procedure with your veterinarian is just one step to ensuring a healthy mouth for your pet. Your vet will go over best methods of at- home dental care going forward after the procedure.

*This blog post is courtesy of the Zoetis Pet Care, Health and Wellness team. Original Author: Dr. Joyce A. Login*

8 Comments

Assume LOST, not ABANDONED

9/13/2018

1 Comment

 
Picture
It's a common scenario in our business--people come in with a dog or cat they just found (or, as some say, who found them!) and they want to know what to do. Many people in this situation are ready to take on this new project and add the new guy to the family. Sometimes the finder is not necessarily in the market for a new pet, but worried that taking the foundling to the local shelter will end up with them being euthanized, and this makes them understandably reluctant to report the pet as "found." Others are concerned with the sorry state of the pet when it was found, and assume the previous owners mistreated or abandoned the poor thing, but often this isn't true!

What should you do, then, if you find a dog or cat without a collar tag in sight? A good mantra to remember is "Assume LOST, not ABANDONED," and give the previous owner the benefit of the doubt and a chance to reunite with Fluffy. 

Here' are some steps you can take when you find a lost pet:

A great first step is to take the pet to a professional who can scan the pet for a microchip. A microchip is a small ID tag, the size of a grain of rice, implanted in the skin between the shoulder blades. If it is registered to an owner and their contact information is current, the pet can be returned! Sometimes a pet can be lost for months or even years, and be far from home, or in pretty bad shape, but still have an owner looking for them. Pet microchip numbers can be searched at www.petmicrochiplookup.org. If you want to get your dog or cat outfitted with a microchip, give our office a call for an appointment.

Many municipalities have a mandated "holding period" where an animal suspected of having an owner must be held for a certain number of days before a new owner can be legally declared. In our area, that is 30 days. This waiting period gives the owner a chance to come forward and claim their pet. This means, if you find a lost or stray pet, you should report it to the local Animal Control so they can have a record of the pet being found, in case someone comes looking for them. They will be able to help you decide if the pet should be brought to the shelter for holding, or if you can "foster" it until an owner comes forward, or the waiting period is up. Old-fashioned flyers on telephone poles, door-to-door canvassing in the local area, and posting on social media are all good ways to get the word out about your new project. Other places to post flyers include local veterinary offices and the local shelter.

Maybe Fluffy really does need a new home, and is happy to have found you! But, before everyone settles in, make sure you've done what you can to get them back to their family, just like you would want if your pet went missing.

1 Comment

Spring is in Full Bloom!

4/17/2018

2 Comments

 
Picture
Spring is in full swing in the North Bay, which means the old adage “April Showers bring May Flowers” is truer than ever. Our furry friends may become targets, of sorts, to some of our favorite flowers and plants very soon. It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with certain common household plants that may be toxic to your pets and avoid adding distress to your summer plans! ​
Picture
Many green-thumb gardeners are aware that lilies are some of the most toxic flowers to our pets that we may grow in our garden, but issues often arise when someone receives a bouquet and unwittingly exposes their inquisitive housecats. The lily family includes Easter Lilies and Tiger Lilies, as well as the rest of the flowers in the genus Lilium. These plants cause irreversible kidney failure in cats who ingest even a small amount of pollen, petals, or leaves, so we recommend that no lilies be brought into a house with cats. Interestingly, Lily of the Valley is also very toxic, though it is not in the lily family. ​

Picture
Other common plants that are toxic to our pets are tulips (especially the bulbs), irises, morning glory, wisteria, foxglove, Sago palms, azaleas, and hydrangeas, as well as many others too numerous to name. If you’re not sure if a plant in your yard or house is toxic, the ASPCA Poisonous Plants website is an excellent resource.

Common signs that your furry friend might have eaten something toxic are a noticeable lack of energy or lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, lack of appetite, and abdominal pain. If you are concerned your pet may have eaten a toxic plant, you can call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 for advice ($65 fee) as well as calling our office, or the Solano-Napa Pet Emergency Clinic if we are closed.
We hope that if we remain aware of our gardens, our pets, and what they put in their mouths, the coming months are sure to be a beautiful sight for all!
2 Comments

Community Outreach Spotlight: Dr. Woodall

2/8/2018

6 Comments

 
Picture
Dr. Woodall donates her time to International Veterinary Outreach, a non-profit organization run by veterinarians and other professionals working together in different communities around the globe. Dr. Woodall enjoys working with IVO because it allows her to make a difference for animals in communities that don’t normally have access to full-service veterinary care, whether abroad or closer to home.


​Dr. Woodall first started working with IVO in 2011, during her time as a student at UC Davis. She started by going on trips to underserved areas, including Nicaragua and the Covelo Native American reservation, to provide spay/neuter services, vaccinations, and other basic medical care.
Picture
After graduation, Dr. Woodall stayed on with the organization and became the project manager for their Bay Area project, which partners with Oakland Animal Services to help provide surgery for shelter cats. This project has reduced the burden on the shelter, and also decreases the amount of time the cats spend in the shelter before they can be placed for adoption. In the future, IVO hopes to expand this project in order to provide basic medical care, such as vaccines and spay/neuter, for low-income residents of Oakland.

You can read more about IVO’s mission, history, and current projects at ivetoutreach.org.
6 Comments

Dr. Stambaugh's reading list

10/4/2017

2 Comments

 
Dr. Stambaugh here! My husband, who is also a veterinarian, and I recently had a baby of the human variety! As a result, we have been showered with animal-themed children’s everything. Today, we are sharing our current dog-themed favorites from the bookshelf.
Picture

Walter the Farting Dog
​by William Kotzwinkle and Glenn Murray, illustrated by Audrey Coleman

I love it when clients adopt older dogs from the shelter, but I also sympathize when the newly adopted pet comes with unforeseen medical problems. In this case, the poor dog comes with some excessive flatulence, and is nearly returned to the pound for his uncontrollable farting! Fortunately, his new family decides to keep him, and the reason why is hilarious.
Picture


Doggies: A Counting and Barking Book
​by Sandra Boyton

This one’s probably meant for the younger crowd, but everyone enjoys barking, right? As you count to ten, pay attention to all of the different types of noises the dogs make—it’s definitely not just “bow wow” or “bark bark!” I especially appreciate  the worried-looking mutt (maybe a hound mix?) whimpering “nnn…nnn…” He probably thinks someone is about to take his temperature. Poor guy.
Picture

Sally Goes to the Vet
​by Stephen Huneck

This story is really cute. Sally is a goofy black lab. She was cooped up inside all day, but when the rain stops she goes nuts chasing her friend Bingo the cat, and ends up whacking her head! She is rushed to the vet, where she gets to bypass a waiting room full of all sorts of exciting creatures (for the record, while Sally’s vet may see snakes and goldfish, we do not). She gets all patched up, and her vet gives her some sage advice regarding unpleasant situations. Best of all, her friend Bingo is really happy to see her home safe and sound.

Do you have any favorite animal-themed children's books? Share them in our comments below!
2 Comments

Heartworm disease, testing, and prevention

9/14/2017

1 Comment

 
Heartworms sure sound scary—and they are! Though we don’t see a ton of heartworm cases in Fairfield, we recently did diagnose a few, so we are trying to protect as many patients as possible. Also, many of our patients travel to other areas where heartworm may be more prevalent. Read on to learn about what heartworms are, where they come from, and what we can do to prevent them in our pets.

What are heartworms?

Picture
Simply put, they are a parasitic worm that causes heart disease.
In dogs, the adult worms live in the large arteries in the lungs, where they can cause serious problems with blood flow in the right side of the heart. The worms themselves can also dislodge and clog the smaller arteries in the lungs, causing a type of pulmonary embolism and serious respiratory distress.

Picture

​In cats, the larva are usually killed by the immune system before they become adult worms, but the larva still cause inflammation that can damage the lungs, resulting in symptoms very similar to asthma (coughing and wheezing).

​

​Where do the heartworms come from?

Picture

​The answer is the ubiquitous mosquito—and any dog that is exposed to mosquitoes could be at risk. Microscopic heartworm larva infect the patient when a mosquito bites. The larva matures in the pet’s body and makes their way to the lungs.

How do we know if a pet is infected?​ 

Picture
For dogs, the American Heartworm Society recommends an annual blood test. Even if your pet is on monthly heartworm prevention, the test will likely still be recommended because it’s the only way to make sure the medication is working. The test we use only takes 3 drops of blood, and can be run in the clinic in about 10 minutes. This test tells us if a dog has adult, female heartworms.
​For cats, testing is available, but it is a little bit different in that it tells us if a cat has ever been exposed to heartworms, not just if they currently have any.

What do we do about it?

If a pet does have heartworm, treatment is recommended to kill the worms so that they don’t continue to damage the heart and lungs. Unfortunately, treatment is not simple—it requires multiple painful injections, over a couple of months, strict exercise restriction for several weeks, and is costly. Prevention, when possible, is a much better strategy! Heartworm prevention is available as oral or topical products, and is given or applied each month. We carry Heartgard, a beef-flavored chewable tablet, for dogs, and Revolution, a topical product, for cats. 
Let our staff know if you have any questions about heartworm transmission, testing, or prevention!
1 Comment

Ringworm

4/10/2017

5 Comments

 
Picture
Ringworm is a fungal infection that can infect the hair, skin and/or nails of cats and dogs. There are actually no worms involved! This disease is contagious, and can also affect other mammals, including humans, so we want to get a handle on any infections as soon as possible!

Signs to look out for if you believe your pet might have ringworm:
​- itchiness
- hair loss in patches, especially with crustiness
- red, raised lesions 
-abnormal nail growth or brittle, discolored nails


We see ringworm most often in cats, and especially kittens because their immune system is not yet mature. The kittens at the left are both affected--the black one much worse, both have crusty areas of hairloss on their faces, ears, and paws.

​ Some pets may be asymptomatic carriers—they can carry the fungus but show none of the listed symptoms. In these cases, it can still be transferred to people or other animals.


If ringworm is suspected, the doctor will perform either a fungal culture from a sample of your pet's hair, or a special lab test that looks for the DNA of the ringworm fungus. Another way to help make the diagnosis is to examine the pet with a blacklight—some species of ringworm will make the infected hairs glow bright green.

Ringworm is treatable, with oral medications and sometimes also topical medications or shampoos. Treatment is generally for at least one month, but may take longer, so do not stop the medication until given the go-ahead! 

Picture
Decontamination of the environment is important to prevent re-infection, or spreading the fungus to other family members. Ringworm lives on shed hairs wherever your pet has been, so you can disinfect surfaces with bleach (diluted 1 part bleach to 10 parts water). Anything that can be laundered will be free of spores if you wash it twice. During treatment, we recommend limiting contact between the infected pet and any other animals, or people, especially young children or immunocompromised adults who may be more susceptible to infection. 
​

Let us know if you have any questions about ringworm!

5 Comments

The Dangers of Standing Water: Part 3

3/25/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
The last part of this blog series discusses Cyanobacteria, which is more commonly known as toxic blue-green algae. This algae can be found in freshwater lakes, streams and ponds, and some types can produce toxins that sicken cats, dogs, horses, cows and birds. It appears on the top of the water as if it were painted a blue-green color, and some types grow on rocks and sticks on the bottom of the body of water. 

The floating algae tends to cause liver disease, which can be seen as vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, loss of appetite, and yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes. The types of algae that grow on rocks along the bottom are more likely to cause neurologic signs (tremors or seizures), and can be very dangerous, very quickly. Some types of algae also cause skin irritation. Not all algae produce toxins, but because you don’t know just by looking if the algae is dangerous, try not to allow your dog to drink from algae-covered water and do not encourage them to fetch algae-covered rocks from the bottom of creeks and rivers. If there are signs near a creek, pond, or river indicating toxic algae in the area, keep your dog out of the water! And, of course, if you are worried your pet may be showing signs of toxicity, seek veterinary care immediately.
0 Comments

The Dangers of Standing Water: Part 2

3/18/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
The next water-borne infection we want you to know about is an intestinal parasite called Giardia. Like other intestinal parasites, Giardia is transmitted by an animal ingesting feces from an infected animal. Because Giardia is a single-celled organism, not a worm, it can also be spread in water where an infected animal has defecated. Gross!

Signs of Giardia include diarrhea, which may come and go instead of being a problem all the time, and weight loss or failure to gain weight. Sometimes Giardia doesn’t cause any problems, particularly in adult dogs with healthy immune systems, but it can be passed to other animals in the house, particularly puppies, and rarely even to people.

Giardia is one of the parasites we check for when we send a fecal sample to the lab, so any time your pet is being examined for diarrhea, it is smart to bring a fecal sample with you to your pet’s visit. We also like to check a sample on all puppies and kittens, who commonly have parasites, including Giardia. We've been seeing a lot of this parasite lately, so do your best to limit exposure by keeping your dog from eating the poop of other animals, or drinking out of puddles and streams.

0 Comments

The Dangers of Standing Water: Part 1

3/9/2017

1 Comment

 
Picture
It's the tail end of the rainy season so what better topic than the dangers of standing water! This is going to be a three-part post, spaced out through the rest of the month. ​
The first hazard we would like to talk about is Leptospirosis, which can be spread from animal to animal but also to humans. Leptospirosis is a disease caused by infection with Leptospira bacteria. Risk factors for exposure to leptospirosis include drinking from rivers, lakes or streams; exposure to wild animal or farm animal species, on rural properties or on hiking or camping trips, but even if in the backyard; and contact with rodents or other dogs. The bacteria are transmitted through animal urine, particularly in a standing body of water, which your dog may drink or play in.
Picture
While exposure to the bacteria does not always result in illness, dogs can develop severe problems such as kidney and liver failure, which can even be fatal.  To be safe, we recommend your dog be vaccinated against lepto if you go camping, hiking and to lakes or beaches, or if your dog has any exposure to wildlife. Because one of the more dangerous strains of leptospirosis is spread by rats, even dogs living in urban areas are at risk!

Is your dog vaccinated against leptospirosis? We offer the vaccine at our hospital and can make you an appointment if needed. If your dog has never been vaccinated against lepto then we will need to start with the first vaccine and follow up with a booster vaccine in 3 weeks. After that booster, the vaccine is repeated each year. We can send email reminders and postcard reminders that tell you what vaccines and when they are due, so that protection doesn’t fade.

Let us know if you have any questions about leptospirosis!


1 Comment
<<Previous

    Author

    Our technicians and doctors write posts for this blog, hoping to keep our clients informed and entertained. We hope you find their topics helpful and fun to read about!

    Archives

    December 2019
    September 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    October 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Helpful Info

OFFICE HOURS
​​Monday: 9:00  am to 7:00 pm
Tuesday: 9:00 am to 7:00 pm
Wednesday: 9:00 am am to 7:00 pm
Thursday: 9:00 am to 7:00 pm
Friday: 9:00 am to 7:00 pm
Saturday: 9:00am to 6:00 pm
Sunday: CLOSED

Connect With Us

ANIMAL HOSPITAL IN FAIRFIELD
200 Alaska Ave.
Fairfield, CA 94533
Call or Text (707) 422-9550
Fax (707) 422-9130
The greatest compliment our clients can give is their referral. Tell the world what you think of us!
Picture
Picture
Picture

Our Partners In Care

“pet
Terms of Use
Privacy
©2010-2022 Animal Hospital in Fairfield
Photos used under Creative Commons from dolbinator1000, madaise, ngzhengqin