Dogs are more likely to run away and get lost on the 4th of July than most any other time of the year. They can be stressed by all the commotion of the cookouts or travel, then on top of that many are in complete fear of the sounds of fireworks. Fear makes even the best of us do things we wouldn’t normally do—like running away to hide from the scary noise then ending up lost. It’s also a tempting time to eat inappropriate things, like dangerous chicken bones from your BBQ, or even fireworks. Yes, according to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, they get a lot of calls about dogs eating fireworks. No one ever accused a dog of having a refined palate. (Flint on the nose, lovely, bright acidity with a dry mouthfeel, mineral with a charcoal finish?)

Let’s take a look at a few ways to keep your dog safe on the 4th of July, and even the next time New Year’s Eve rolls around.

Fear of Loud Noises in Dogs, Especially 4th of July Fireworks

First thing’s first. If you know that your dog is scared of thunder, he or she will also be scared of fireworks. Even the small ones you or your neighbors might want to set off are likely to be a problem. Many dogs take off just trying to escape the source of the scary sounds. Maybe they slip out of their collar or dart out a door or gate. They are likely to run and hide without thinking about where they are going: away from the fright is all that matters in the moment. This is how they get lost so easily. If your dog gets lost, and you are unable to find him or her quickly, contact your neighbors for help immediately, and call animal control to see if your dog has been picked up and taken to the county shelter. If your dog is picked up but not microchipped or wearing tags, they will be placed on a 72-hour “stray hold” with the county. You have 72 hours to reclaim your dog.

For extreme cases of fear, it’s possible for your vet to prescribe a medication to help keep your pup calm. This should be done with care and planning, though. Do not ever give your pet a sedative without the guidance of your veterinarian.

Create a Calm Place for Your Dog

If the sound of fireworks near your home is unavoidable, seeking an interior room that is quieter and turning on the tv or music is recommended. Be calm and laid back yourself so that your dog doesn’t pick up on your worry. Some tasty treats to create a positive association can’t hurt either.

Speaking of Tasty Treats…

Holidays are prime time for dogs to eat things that are bad for them. Be extra careful that your pup doesn’t have access to inappropriate food. Sometimes it’s a matter of an open trash can at a cookout. Sometimes it’s a guest who doesn’t realize that leftover bones from their dinner plate can splinter in the intestines. Don’t be afraid to ask your party guests to not give any food to your dog, no matter how cute those begging eyes are.

Travel Stress & July Heat

The 4th of July is a prime time for travel. Be sure to plan well if your pets are going with you. Be mindful of how travel can cause animals some stress, even if they typically enjoy a car ride. Never, ever leave your pet unattended in a car. You’d be amazed at how easily a car can get too hot, even when the temperature feels comfortable outside.

Lots of new people bustling around can also create stress in dogs. There’s just a lot going on! Be mindful of how your guests are interacting with your dog so that everyone involved has a positive experience.

Questions or concerns about fear and anxiety in dogs? Contact us!

Raleigh dog laws are important for all residents to know. Luckily for locals, the laws that are in place are pretty balanced and to the benefit of both the dog and the dog owner. Some seem obvious, but others aren’t because they have some specifics involved. For example, did you know that there is a tethering law that hinges around a set maximum number of hours dogs can be tied out?

We think it’s a good idea to be familiar with these not just for ourselves, but for others. After all, the animals are protected by these, too. So even if our personal dogs are spoiled-rotten couch potatoes without a care in the world (spoiled as they should be 🤷‍♀️💜), we’re really doing our due diligence to just be aware. Let’s take a look!

Dog Laws in Raleigh, NC

Many of Raleigh’s pet laws actually pertain to both dogs and cats. This is not a comprehensive list. For additional laws, see the City of Raleigh’s website. Note that Wake County doesn’t have jurisdiction for enforcing animal control laws in Raleigh, Cary, Garner, or Holly Springs. Each of these municipalities has its own ordinance.

Tethering

A dog may not be tethered or otherwise restrained while unattended for more than 3 hours in a 24 hour period. This prevents accidental strangling and works to prevent them from being left out in harsh weather conditions. Anything used to tether a dog temporarily must be at least 10 feet long.

Leash Law

It’s against the law for either dogs (or cats!) to be allowed to run loose off of their owner’s property except in designated areas like dog parks. Did you know that you can be given a misdemeanor citation for this?

Adequate Shelter

Dogs and cats must be provided with adequate shelter. This means that at a bare minimum, they must have some sort of “house” that is enclosed on at least three sides, has a roof, has a floor, good ventilation, and plenty of room to lie down in comfort. This means that if a dog lives loose in a backyard without housing provided, even if the owner thinks that it has shade and protection under a deck or carport, the owner is breaking the law.

As a side note here, we have witnessed the heartbreaking results of pets being left out in heat or extreme cold. We recommend that you bring them inside.

Raleigh’s Pooper Scooper Law

Yep. Raleigh dog laws include a “pooper scooper” law. If you leave dog poop on private property of anyone who hasn’t given you permission to leave the poop, you’re breaking the law. This law exists primarily for health reasons. No one wants poop affecting water supply or the spreading of intestinal parasites, but it’s also just good manners.

Does Raleigh Have Breed-Specific Legislation (BSL)?

No. And we’re proud of our city for this. A few cities around the country have banned certain breeds from living within the city limits despite controversy and upset in their communities over it. Pitbull-type dogs are one example, and we can vouch for what great dogs they are as a whole. It’s hard to think of a breed of dog we haven’t treated as patients, and we’re glad to have them all!

Are Dog Tags Required in Raleigh?

No. They used to be, but this ordinance was lifted in 2012.

Dog teeth cleaning, cat teeth cleaning, human teeth cleaning…

Here are before & after photos of two dog dentals we did recently.

…we’re really all pretty much the same when it comes to dental health. Pets, like people, have a constant battle with bacteria in their mouths. This requires attention to prevent plaque, gingivitis, infections, decay, and the sneakiest problem of all: major organ problems. Whole body wellness starts at the mouth. Think about it. We sustain our whole bodies by taking in water and food. It makes sense, too, that constantly ingesting bad bacteria could have the opposite effect. Dental cleanings are so important.

Listen Up, Raleigh. It’s More Than Bad Breath.

Pup or kitty have the breath of a Balrog?

Bad breath is just the symptom you are most likely to notice early on. If your pet’s mouth smells like the trash bin behind a sushi bar, it’s time to see your vet. Your dog or cat is likely already experiencing some gingivitis, there might be pockets forming in the gums, and tooth decay that is becoming painful.

Further, chronic periodontal disease is shown to cause heart, liver, and kidney problems. The bacteria in the mouth can make it to the circulatory system, then traveling throughout the body. Functional changes can happen in the liver, and kidneys can be damaged. There are even studies showing a link between periodontal disease and insulin resistance!

Advanced symptoms include:

• Drooling
• Pawing at the mouth
• Difficulty chewing
• Loose or missing teeth

See how to prevent periodontal disease by learning how to brush your pet’s teeth!

What Does Cat or Dog Teeth Cleaning Involve?

Dental procedures are very thorough. Every single tooth and the surrounding gums, tongue, and lips are inspected individually for signs of infection, damage, growths, retained puppy or kitten teeth, etc. Teeth are cleaned with special tools. Your pet’s teeth are charted to document the condition of each one. If needed, your vet will recommend dental x-rays to see if the roots are damaged and a tooth needs to be extracted.

Pets will need to be anesthetized for dentals. As with any procedure involving anesthesia, we first need to do some in-house diagnostic blood work to be sure your pet is healthy enough for it. Patients are monitored constantly during a dental.

Questions about cat or dog teeth cleaning or periodontal disease? This is actually one of our favorite subjects to talk about. Call us!

Choosing the right dog for your family might seem a bit daunting at first given the variety of dogs available. It’s an important decision, though, because as pet owners we need to be sure we’re setting up our families and the new dog for success. This means committing to positive-reinforcement training, consistency of long-term care, and being realistic about what our eyes like versus what our lifestyles are more suited for. There are many factors to consider from breed traits to individual personality that will help you to make the best choice for your family and your lifestyle. So what kind of dog should you get? Let’s look at some broad considerations.

Dog Breeds

When you picture your favorite dog breed, what is it that draws you to them? Their looks? Athleticism? Intelligence? Above anything else, you have to start with your own family lifestyle, and then narrow down from there.

Energetic Breeds

A high-energy dog is not a great match for someone who doesn’t have an active lifestyle. Sometimes people make the mistake of thinking that time outside in a yard equates to active time for these dogs, and that just isn’t the case. They usually need more than just sniffing around their yard to release energy. If you are active, would love to take your dog for long walks or hiking, or have regular exercise time outdoors, this could be a great fit!

• terrier breeds
• husky
• herding breeds
• boxer
• weimaraner
• dalmatian
• some hound breeds, etc.

Intelligent Breeds

Dealing with highly intelligent breeds is similar in nature to high-energy breeds. They need an outlet for their busy minds. Bored or energetic dogs are set up for a harder time fitting into a family without the activity they need. Keep their minds busy and their bodies active. These guys tend to be very quick to learn new commands and tricks, and they thrive off of interaction.

• herding breeds
• poodles
• retrievers
• doberman
• rottweiler
• bloodhound, etc.

Couch Potatoes

Not very active? You might be surprised at some of the breeds on this list.

• greyhound
• bulldog
• pekingese
• Bernese mountain dog
• chow chow
• pug, etc.

Other Breed Traits

Many people are also drawn to certain physical traits: short-noses, particular sizes, colors, or coats. It’s wise to consider any possible medical issues associated with those traits. Often, these breeds have been created to have certain looks, but from a medical standpoint, the very thing that makes them attractive is also what creates potential problems. For example, Dachshunds are famous for having back problems and sometimes requiring surgeries later in life. Cocker spaniels have those beautiful, silky, hairy ears that commonly have recurring infections in them. Several breeds have a high incidence of vision and/or hearing impairment in white dogs, like Great Danes. Mast cell tumors are more common in Boxers than other breeds. Be sure to research medical needs associated with particular breeds, and always stay current with your pet’s wellness exams!

Mutts are often overlooked and underrated.

Many veterinarians will agree that mutts are often more hearty and longer-living than their purebred counterparts. They are a blend of wonderful qualities but with a lower incidence of the aforementioned breed-specific traits. To our knowledge, there are no studies to prove any of this, but experience makes a strong statement. Don’t forget about these dogs when considering your next pet! What kind of dog should you get? Maybe the question is what kind of mutt you should get!

Puppies or Adults?

People often want to go straight for a puppy when getting a new, furry family member. Puppies are adorable, goofy fun. We get it! We love them too! Puppies are also a lot of work for the first year of life especially, and often for a good while after that. Be sure that the higher energy of a puppy is a good fit for your family and also that you can commit to the consistency and positive-reinforcement training techniques that are needed to train a puppy.

Adult dogs are wonderful for any type of family, and best of all, they are already old enough to be house-trained and are less likely to use chewing as their way of exploring the world like many puppies. And contrary to that famous idiom, you CAN teach an old dog new tricks.

Speaking of old dogs, the seniors are almost always the easiest dogs to have in your home yet the least likely to find a new family who wants them. These guys are great because they know when it’s time to relax and cuddle, are often very trustworthy in the house when left alone, and are generally good at just going with the flow.

Lyme disease is serious business all year for pets and for humans. Since it’s National Lyme Disease Awareness Month, it’s the perfect time to refamiliarize yourself with all you need to know about it to protect your pets and your two-legged family members, as well!

How is Lyme Disease Spread?

Lyme disease is spread by black-legged ticks commonly known as deer ticks similarly to how heartworms are spread by mosquitoes. The ticks are vectors, meaning that they don’t cause the disease directly, but they can carry the nasty little bacterium that does: Borrelia burgdorferi. Deer ticks aren’t the most common ticks in the Piedmont region of NC (lone star ticks top the list), but their presence in any number is reason to exercise caution.

Click here to check out this great map tool that reports confirmed cases of Lyme disease in dogs in 2018!

The reason Lyme disease can spread to pets and humans so easily is because ticks thrive in any environment with grass or shrubbery and especially in wooded areas. They hatch by the thousands. When they aren’t feeding on a host, they spend most of their time hanging out on leaves and grass waiting for their next meal to brush by and pick them up.

Once bitten by a tick carrying Borrelia burgdorferi, the good news is that it usually takes at least 24 hours for the bacteria to be transmitted to a pet or person. It isn’t instant.

Lyme Disease Prevention

Lacey, an adoptable Great Dane/ Lab mix from Great Dane Friends, plays in grass without fear of Lyme disease thanks to her tick prevention.

First thing’s first: give monthly flea and tick prevention to dogs and cats. The thing to note is that when a tick bites a pet who is current on their monthly preventive, the tick will die. Because it takes at least a full day of feeding for Lyme disease to be transmitted by a tick, this method of prevention is very effective. Just be sure not to give your dog’s preventive to your cat because some flea and tick products can be deadly to kitties while being totally safe for dogs. Stick to species-specific products.

Next, keep your yard trimmed and tidy. The more overgrowth you have with grass or shrubbery, the happier the ticks will be with their home. Don’t spark joy for ticks.

Lastly, get in the habit of checking your pets and yourself for ticks after a day spent outdoors. Outside time is important for us and our dogs to get exercise, so it shouldn’t be avoided. We just have to be sure we’re looking for and removing any ticks quickly.

Symptoms & Treatment

Lyme disease symptoms typically take at least a couple of months to present from the time of the offending tick bite. Some of the symptoms can masquerade as other issues initially, so it’s a good idea to be familiar with these.

• Fever
• Swollen joints
• Lameness
• Joint inflammation can migrate from one joint to another
• Lack of appetite
• Decreased activity

If your pet has these symptoms, see your vet. If you recall a tick bite on them, don’t forget to mention that during your appointment. Lyme disease is usually treated successfully with antibiotics.

Questions about tick prevention or other illnesses transmitted by them? Ask us!

*Dog photo courtesy of Great Dane Friends of Ruff Love – Great Dane rescue in NC and SC

Does the best vet in Raleigh for your dog or cat seem to be hard to find? There are a lot of options and factors to consider. After all, choosing a veterinarian isn’t just about finding a doctor who can give your pet a rabies vaccine. An animal hospital is a team of many professionals all functioning within the same facility to provide services that you need. Choosing the best vet in Raleigh (or anywhere!) requires some consideration. We’ve got some tips to help!

Feel Free to Ask Lots of Questions

When choosing a vet, you should feel welcome to ask questions of anyone on the team. Receptionists, vet technicians, kennel staff, and the veterinarians are all there for the health of your dog or cat. This means more than diagnosis, treatment, and boarding. It means education for you, the caretaker, and transparency about the practice as a whole.

Worried about post-op monitoring? Ask what the team’s procedure is.

Curious about kennel conditions for boarding? Ask to see them!

Need help understanding a medical condition? The right vet should be helpful in explaining the diagnosis, treatment, and any long-term care considerations.

Ability to See a Particular Veterinarian

Some pet owners prefer to schedule appointments with particular doctors at a practice. This can be because they like the doctor’s communication style or personality, but it can also be because the doctor has an area of special interest that is highly relevant to the pet’s particular health needs. For example, a dog with chronic skin conditions might be a great fit for a doctor with a special interest in Dermatology and Allergies.

Veterinarians didn’t just go to vet school to learn the basics. They have to be very knowledgeable about a much broader spectrum of medical needs than many human doctors do. Have you ever been to a single primary care physician who could remove a bad tooth, perform a hysterectomy, repair an ACL injury in your knee, treat an ear infection, manage your arthritis pain, and give you a pedicure? Veterinarians are problem-solvers by nature. Compassion and experience make them great at what they do.

Still, expect even the best vet in Raleigh to know when to refer your pet to see a specialist. Raleigh, NC has a solid network of specialist veterinarians for everything from neurology to cardiology.

What to Look for at the Animal Hospital

When visiting a new animal hospital, you should be able to see that the space is clean and free of clutter. This is a medical facility, after all. Checking in and out should be easy without too much of a dog or cat traffic jam to do so. If you need help getting your pet in or out of your car, someone should be able to help you. If your cat is nervous around dogs, a reception area that is spacious enough to allow you to find a space to sit without a canine spectator is ideal.

Reviews & Recommendations for the Best Vet in Raleigh

While it’s true that people as a whole are more inclined to leave reviews for any type of business when they are annoyed about something, it also serves as a good marker for how great a place is when their online reviews are still overwhelmingly positive. Good reviews are harder to earn than negative reviews are, right? (Don’t forget to leave your vet professionals positive reviews when you are happy!)

Questions?

Ask us. We’re here to help!

Contact us or Meet Our Vets!

Have you heard of a body condition score (BCS) for dogs and cats? It’s a scale that is commonly used by veterinarians and other professionals to rate the overall condition of a pet as it pertains to weight and nutrition. Though this might sound dull, it’s actually a great way for pet owners and vets to easily see where a pet stands and either make adjustments to weight or help us diagnose an underlying health problem.

Why Should I Talk to My Vet About Body Condition Score?

We get it. It’s easy to not fully realize how underweight or overweight a dog or cat actually is simply because we get used to seeing them a certain way every day. They might be slightly underweight or incredibly obese, but the health problems that can be associated are substantial and sometimes deadly.

Underweight Pets

If a dog or cat is underweight, it can just be an indicator that they need to be fed more– and possibly better–food. But it might also be a symptom of possible conditions ranging from hyperthyroidism to cancer.

Taking those two possibilities as examples, we can see the importance of keeping a close eye on body condition score. Thyroid conditions are usually easy to treat with an affordable daily medication and greatly improve quality of life. And we all know that any type of cancer has the best prognosis the earlier it is caught.

Overweight Pets

If a dog or cat is overweight, it’s probable that the excess weight is caused by a diet that is too high in calories for the level of exercise of the pet. While less common, it could also be caused by hypothyroidism or even Cushing’s disease, as just two examples. The critical thing to note about the dietary cause, though, is that obesity wreaks havoc in the long term, just as with humans. Just like with people, obesity is linked to diabetes, aches and pains from extra stress on joints, weakened cardiovascular function, etc. Preventing years of pain from joints or the challenge of daily insulin injections is so worth it for our furry family members! For dogs, in particular, a good deal of difference can be made just by feeding healthier treats that you probably have in your kitchen already!

Body Condition Scoring Systems

There are two commonly used body condition scoring systems. One ranks a scale of 1-9, and the other ranks 1-5.

Note that 1 is the poorest condition. This pet would be emaciated. Five/nine is very obese and all too common. This pet is easily out of breath, the heart is working harder, and development of diabetes would be no surprise. Any potential orthopedic issues would be exacerbated by the extra weight, as well.

The ideal body condition score for dogs and cats is in the middle of each scoring system. You should be able to feel the ribs without obvious fat over them. You should be able to see the waist behind the rib cage, and the abdomen should tuck up when viewed from the side. Of course, this varies a bit by breed. A Boxer will have a more tucked-appearing abdomen than a Labrador Retriever! Please feel free to ask your vet for guidance on your pet’s target weight.

Can you feel your dog’s or cat’s ribs with your hands? Are you concerned about their weight or unsure? We’d be happy to talk to you about it during a Wellness Exam!

Prevention and early detection are key to maintaining your pet’s good health, which is why it’s important to share this easy, visual tool.

Heartworm prevention is an absolute must for pets. The tough part is sticking to the required monthly schedule for giving it to them. It gets even more fun when you aren’t sure if they actually swallowed the tablet or if whatever your other dog is smacking on in the corner is the rejected tablet in question. Fortunately, dogs and their people have a much easier option: an injectable heartworm prevention that only has to be done twice per year. That’s it.

ProHeart 6

The product that allows this simplified and more consistent approach to heartworm prevention is ProHeart 6. We’ve been administering this to our canine patients for a while now, and both their owners and our veterinarians have been very happy with it. It has improved consistency of prevention (a win for your dog!) while having a price point that is very similar to monthly preventatives over the same period of time (a win for you).

How Does it Last 6 Months?

The active ingredient, moxidectin, is delivered to the body in slow-release microspheres. These stay in the body for six months by being stored in your dog’s adipose tissue, or fat. ProHeart 6 has been specifically formulated to give slow, sustained protection from heartworms, so you don’t have to worry about it tapering off during months five and six. Your dog is protected for all six months.

Consistent protection is important throughout the United States, but in the hot, humid southeastern U.S., we really, really can’t afford to be anything but diligent. Mosquitoes transmit heartworms, and the high numbers of them in this part of the country have always meant more cases of heartworm disease in pets than in other areas–even in winter! Year-round protection matters here.

How to Get the 6 Month Heartworm Prevention

Our approach to administering this injectable option is the same as for any heartworm preventative. Your dog needs to have had a current heartworm test done so we know he/she doesn’t already have adult heartworms. The test is done with a small blood sample and also tests for common tick-borne diseases, too. Unlike many vet practices, we are able to run most of our diagnostics in-house using special equipment and tests. Heartworm tests are one type of many that we can give you a result during your visit!

If the heartworm test is negative and a wellness exam shows no other concerning health problems, your dog is likely a great candidate for a ProHeart 6 injection–just like with any other prevention!

New Clients Only Pay $1 for Wellness Exams! That’s a Savings of $64.

Come see us! We’d love to help you protect your dog from heartworms this year, especially as we enter the most mosquito-heavy seasons.