Miscellaneous Topics – Page 2 – Animal Hospital at Thorndale, INC.

Elective Procedures are Returning – But It Will Be Slow

Miscellaneous Topics / By Joan M. Yarnall, V.M.D., Ph.D. / 05/11/2020 11/07/2021

Following the Pennsylvania State Board of Veterinary Medicine guidelines and following Governor Wolf’s direction, the Animal Clinic at Thorndale will begin offering elective procedures when they are officially sanctioned. Elective procedures include spay and neuter and annual examinations and vaccination updates. Our hospital will need to have sufficient surgical Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to safely …

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We are slowly returning to routine puppy and kitten exams and elective procedures

Covid 19 – Can Cats Be Infected?

A few lions and tigers at the Bronx zoo began to show signs of Covid 19 infection after coming into contact with an asymptomatic zoo employee. Officials tested only one tiger because obtaining samples requires anesthesia for the large cats. The sick cats had dry coughs and loss of appetite. The World Health Organization (WHO) …

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Information on how Covid 19 may affect pets is changing daily

On-Line Requests for Medications/Foods

Keeping Pets Healthy and Safe, Miscellaneous Topics / By Joan M. Yarnall, V.M.D., Ph.D. / 03/22/2020 11/07/2021

With most people staying home during Covid-19 shutdowns, on-line shopping for medications, pet foods and supplies has exploded. On-line requests for prescription items need a veterinarian’s approval. This takes time away from our doctor’s ability to care for our patients in need. Filling these requests also indirectly places a financial burden on our hospital. We …

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on-line request affecting veterinary practices

Covid-19 Affects Veterinary Surgery and Dental Schedules

Miscellaneous Topics / By Joan M. Yarnall, V.M.D., Ph.D. / 03/18/2020 11/07/2021

The Covid-19 pandemic is already having widespread affects upon small businesses, including the veterinary community. At this writing, we are not seeing disease from this particular corona virus in our pets. The virus is, however, directly affecting how veterinary practices are able to conduct interactions with human pet owners. To help reduce possible viral spread, …

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Covid-19 is affecting medical and surgical supplies

Feline Arthritis: More Common Than You Might Expect

Keeping Pets Healthy and Safe, Miscellaneous Topics / By Joan M. Yarnall, V.M.D., Ph.D. / 03/16/2020 11/07/2021

Our feline friends are living longer thanks to advancements in veterinary medicine, better home care and nutrition. However, with longer lives come chronic diseases such as osteoarthritis. We frequently see older dogs with arthritis. Studies reveal that feline arthritis is more common than we once thought. We want to help our aging felines stay comfortable …

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What Cat Owners Need to Know

Keeping Pets Healthy and Safe, Miscellaneous Topics / By Joan M. Yarnall, V.M.D., Ph.D. / 02/17/2020 11/07/2021

Cat owners know that cats can be fussy creatures. Cats rule the house. And they have rules for what behaviors they will and will not tolerate from us. Once we do something to annoy our cats, we have to pay the consequences. They may hiss, walk away in disgust, or even lash out with claws …

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Cat owners need to know that string toys can be extremely dangerous if eaten by your cat

Resolutions for Pet Owners’ New Years

Keeping Pets Healthy and Safe, Miscellaneous Topics / By Joan M. Yarnall, V.M.D., Ph.D. / 01/05/2020 11/07/2021

Resolutions to improve our habits are something many of us make every New Years. Most of us don’t live up to our own expectations. For pet owners there is help. Make New Year’s resolutions that include your pets! These will give you the extra motivation you need to have a healthier and happier 2020.

Resolutions for cat owners can be to increase their exercise. Image by photochur from Pixabay

The healing power of a purring cat

Miscellaneous Topics / By Joan M. Yarnall, V.M.D., Ph.D. / 12/10/2019 11/07/2021

If you love cuddling up with your cat we have good news. Research has shown that the vibrations of a purring cat can improve one’s health in many different ways. So why do cats purr in the first place? How does purring benefit cats? Perhaps they have evolved with the ability to purr as a …

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Dog Personality – Nature vs Nuture

Miscellaneous Topics, Special Topics of Interest / By Joan M. Yarnall, V.M.D., Ph.D. / 11/25/2019 11/07/2021

Dog breeds differ in appearance because we humans selectively bred the dogs to look certain ways. This selective breeding also linked groups of behaviors to each breed. Retriever breeds like to retrieve. Beagles love to bark. Border collies are natural herders. New studies are beginning to identify the DNA links to these breed specific dog …

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Dog personality with a breed is in part genetically determined. 3 golden retrievers playing in a puddle

Senior dogs: How to Care for Them

Keeping Pets Healthy and Safe, Miscellaneous Topics, Special Topics of Interest / By Joan M. Yarnall, V.M.D., Ph.D. / 10/31/2019 11/07/2021

All of our dogs are aging. Giant breeds will age more quickly than smaller breeds. For example, a Great Dane is considered to be a senior by 5-6 years of age, while a Chihuahua is a senior around 10-11 years. However, age is not a disease. Improved medical and nutritional care can make a difference …

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