Services
We are a full service hospital open six days a week, Monday-Saturday. For your convenience, we offer extended evening hours on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, in addition to Saturday appointments until 1 pm. For more information please contact us by phone at 610-873-4091 or email us at animalhospitalthorndale@gmail.com.
Listed below are just a few of the services available at the Animal Hospital at Thorndale. Click on the links for additional information.
Wellness Examinations
There are several basic types of physical examinations, based on your pet’s health and age and ongoing progress in a medical or surgical treatment plan. They all have many similarities and also some unique differences tailored to your pet.
Our goal at the Animal Hospital at Thorndale is to provide the best care possible for your pets. Routine physical examinations are an important part of your pet’s health care. Even apparently healthy pets benefit from annual examination and appropriate testing. As our pets age or develop medical problems, more frequent examinations will be needed. Your pet cannot talk, but you can certainly be in their corner and help us to help you provide them with many healthy and enjoyable years of life.
Keeping track of your rapidly growing and changing puppy or kitten is imperative to allow the doctors at the Animal Hospital at Thorndale to intercede quickly if any problems arise. On the initial examination, we will complete a full physical examination, nose tip to tail tip, using the stamp on the record as shown below for the annual examination. We will discuss with you a number of medical and surgical issues, including vaccinations appropriate for your pet and the time table for those vaccinations, parasites, both internal and external such as intestinal parasites and heartworm disease, and flea and tick prevention specific to dogs and cats, common zoonotic diseases, congenital defects, appropriate diets, some basics in behavior training, including house and litter box training, biting and jumping, spay and neutering, to mention a few. We recommend that, even in apparently healthy growing puppies and kittens, the doctor complete a physical examination at least every other visit through the puppy or kitten series of vaccinations. If problems arise, more frequent examinations may be warranted. Generally, we will schedule your next expected visit before you depart for home, and continue to preschedule your appointments until the puppy/kitten series is complete. Thereafter, we will send you a reminder card in the mail or by email to let you know when the next annual visit is expected.
This is the most common examination for pets. Once they have moved on past the puppy and kitten phase, we send you a reminder when your pet is due to be scheduled for its next annual examination. In the past, the vaccination schedules for the prevention of the most common diseases dictated the need for the annual examination. Recent evidence supports the administration of some core vaccines every three years after the first year booster vaccination. There are important exceptions and we will do our best to keep your pet on track for which vaccines are due with our reminder system. Because annual examination reminders occasionally become out of synchrony with the vaccination reminders, we always suggest you telephone ahead to check which services are due when scheduling an appointment.
Regardless of whether your pet is due for a vaccination, it should have a physical examination at least yearly. Pets unfortunately age more quickly than humans. Skipping a yearly examination could be like skipping 5-15 years of your own life. Many illnesses can be detected early and successfully treated based on annual examination findings and appropriate diagnostic screening tests. Dogs and cats are not like humans in that they cannot tell you if they are ill. In fact, evolution has designed them to cleverly hide signs of illness. They certainly get many different diseases and parasites than their human counter parts. It is always amazing the number of potentially manageable problems that can be detected early on routine examinations. Be proactive in your pet’s care. You can potentially save a life and give better quality to years. Geriatric dogs and cats should be seen at least every 6 months and have more extensive testing, just as in the geriatric human world.
Think of the annual physical examination as a systems check, tip of nose to tip of tail.
Patient Description: This includes your pet’s breed, age, hair coat length and color, any identifiers such as tattoos or microchips, spay or neuter status, and prior surgical procedures. This is a permanent part of your patient’s record and we will always check to be certain the patient presented for the examination is the one described.
Patient history: The first part of the examination is actually the patient history. This is the owner’s report of how the pet has been doing. We will ask you a number of basic questions about diet, appetite and thirst, exercise, elimination habits, noticeable changes in activities, respiratory issues like coughing and sneezing, changes in the skin, ears, nails, eyes, etc., limping or other mobility problems, growths appearing or changing in size or consistency, and travel to other areas of the country or other countries. You may not know all the answers, but the more complete the information you provide, the better we will be able to assess your pet’s health.
This is a basic acronym for Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan which is the basis for medical record keeping and allows the veterinarian to formulate treatment plans and assess patient progress.
We will get an overall subjective assessment of your pet’s attitude and general appearance. The history can contribute to this assessment because animals often behave differently in our office that they do in the safe confines of your home.
Our hospital actually uses a “stamp” on the patient’s record that the doctor will check off or notate deviations from normal. This stamp allows for consistency between doctors and helps assure that the objective examination was complete:
_____ Wt. (lbs) _____ R.R _____ Feet
_____ Eyes _____ Resp. _____ Lymph
_____ Ears _____ GI _____ Repro
_____ Nose _____ Musc/Skel _____ Urine
_____ Mouth _____ Neuro _____ Anals
_____ MM/CRT _____ Skin _____ Temp.
_____ HR _____ Endo _____Other
_____CV
MM/CRT=mucous membranes and capillary refill time; HR=heart rate; CV =cardiovascular system; RR=respiratory rate; Resp= respiratory system; GI=gastrointestinal system; Musc/Skel=musculoskeletal systems, Neuro=neurologic systems; Endo=endocrine systems; Lymph-lymphatic system; Repro=reproductive system; Urine=urinary system.
Each system entails a number of different components. For example, the respiratory system starts at the nose and mouth, travels through the neck and into the chest to the far reaches of the lungs. The urinary system begins at the kidneys, and travels through the ureters, bladder, and urethra and surrounding structures. We may or may not record a temperature or express anal glands in pets, depending on their history and symptoms.
The Doctor will assess your pet’s overall health. On a healthy annual examination, the doctor will let your know your pet is doing well and plan to see you at the next recommended visit. If any problems or impending problems are found, the doctor will formulate an individual plan customized for your pet. This may include further diagnostics, lifestyle changes, specific medications or surgical recommendations.
Because our pets cannot communicate directly with their doctors, the owner is the patient advocate. The “presentment or presenting complaint” is often a list of problem(s) or symptoms that the owner has noticed. This may be very vague, such as “just not doing well”, or very specific, such as they broke the dewclaw toe nail on the right front paw. Based on whether the problem is imminently life threatening, minor, or somewhere in between, the doctor may address the specific problem first or go to the overall health assessment. Unless your pet has had a complete physical examination recently, and also only if the problem is deemed minor, the doctor will perform a complete examination (using the stamp above). Many health problems are associated with related problems and underlying causes. The physical examination is often essential to correctly diagnose your pet’s problem and develop a correct treatment plan. Frequently, additional diagnostic testing will be needed to objectively examine and assess your pet. Blood tests, fecal examinations, radiographs, and/or screening ultrasounds may be warranted.
Some problems just don’t seem to go away as quickly or completely as we would like. Some problems cannot be cured (such as allergy or arthritis) but can be successfully managed. We make every effort to have our doctors available throughout your pet’s lifespan to answer questions, repeat medical progress examinations, and perhaps change assessments and treatment plans as your pet’s responses change. There is no one size fits all program in veterinary medicine. Over time, more subtle causes of a non-specific problem may come to the surface. If your pet is doing well on a medical progress telephone call, we would like to know. That information becomes an important record of what treatments successfully worked for your pet. If a treatment is not succeeding as planned, promptly informing our doctors can prevent unwanted discomfort for your pet and allow us to reassess and redirect the treatment plan before things progress. Certainly, if new problems arise, we want to be informed as quickly as possible. Remember, you are the one at home with your pet on a day to day basis. You are our patient’s best advocate. The better informed your pet’s doctors are, the better the care you and we will be able to give.
Urgent and Critical Care
Our pets are subject to many illnesses and injuries. Many of these conditions need prompt medical or surgical attention. Other conditions need ongoing care. We are available to address your pet’s needs when they arise. The Animal Hospital at Thorndale can provide continuing care in our hospital. Our hospital is equipped and our staff is trained to best assist your pet when health problems develop or when an injury occurs. If you think your pet has an emergency, call our office at 610-873-4091. Give us as much information as you can about your pet’s condition. Give us your name and telephone number, and pet’s name if he/she is already a patient of ours. This way we can best prepare for your pet’s arrival and immediate care.
Spay and Neuter
At the Animal Hospital at Thorndale, we know making the decision about whether and when to spay and neuter your pet is a very important one. We recommend that all pets not intentionally destined for a breeding program be spayed or neutered at about 6 months of age. As soon as your new pet first arrives in your home, it is the time to start discussing this among family members. Older female dogs and cats that were not spayed prior to their first estrus (heat) cycle are more predisposed to develop breast cancer. Uterine infections, which can potentially be fatal, can also develop in older unspayed dogs and cats. Neutering males helps prevent medical problems such as prostate gland enlargement and curtails behavioral problems such as urine marking. Of course, a spayed or neutered pet cannot add to the overabundance of unwanted pets that sadly wind up on the streets, struggling to survive, or in shelters, competing with so many other homeless pets, to find their forever homes.
There is new information about the health effects of spaying and neutering certain breeds of dogs earlier or later than 6 months of age. Please be aware that our doctors are following this information very carefully. To date, studies suggest that each breed appears to be unique in how they respond to the age of spaying or neutering. Some problems common to specific breeds may occur more or less frequently when shifting the spay/neuter age. Please ask us about any concerns you have about the appropriate age for your pet’s surgery.
The gonads are the organs in the body that produce the reproductive hormones, eggs and sperm. Technically, the terms neutering and gonadectomy can apply to the removal of the ovaries (female) or testes (male). The term “castration” is specific to the male, and means removal of the testicles (also including their associated epididymis and a part of their vas deferens). A “spay” applies to the female.
A spay typically means that both ovaries, the oviducts (fallopian tubes) and uterine horns down to the uterine body just above the cervix, are completely removed. The technical term is an ovariohysterectomy. Despite common belief that this is an easy ordinary procedure, one should think about the equivalent procedure in humans to understand its significance. A spay is a major abdominal surgery for your pet and should be treated as such.
Castration involves removal of the testes, epididymis and a portion of the vas deferens. Generally these organs are located outside the body cavity, and can be removed through a scrotal or pre-scrotal incision. In some cases, where the testes failed to descend into the scrotal sac properly, they may actually still be inside the abdomen. The patients with undescended testicles are called cryptorchid (both testicles retained inside the abdomen) or hemicryptorichid (one testicle inside the abdomen and one in the scrotal sac where it belongs). These patients should be neutered because the retained testicles have a higher rate of developing tumors as the pet grows older. Surgery on a cryptorchid or hemicryptorchid male is a major abdominal procedure.
All patients undergoing surgery at the Animal Hospital at Thorndale will have a pre-anesthetic examination and blood work. Depending on the age and health of the patient, we offer several levels of pre-anesthestic blood testing. If there are any concerns about your pet’s health identified during the examination or blood tests, we will call and discuss these issues prior to proceeding. It is important that the owner be accessible by telephone throughout the day when their pets are in our hospital. We want to be able to communicate concerns and progress in a timely manner. If your pet is healthy, he or she will be given a pre-operative sedative. An intravenous catheter will be placed. This not only allows us to administer intravenous fluids throughout the surgery, but also gives us direct access to the patient’s cardiovascular system during the procedure and during recovery. This is an extremely important measure we take with all of our surgical patients even during short procedures requiring sedation or general anesthesia. Our operating room is used exclusively for surgery and kept extremely clean. Surgical drapes, instruments, gowns, scrub brushes, hand towels, and other surgical accessories are all thoroughly cleaned and autoclaved (sterilized) for each patient.
Once a surgical level of anesthesia is induced, in most cases by injectable anesthetics, an endotracheal tube placed. This is a tube that goes through the patients mouth into the trachea, the main air passage into the lungs. This allows us access to the patient’s respiratory system, not only to administer gas anesthetics and oxygen, but also to control the patient’s breathing if needed, and in some cases administer drugs directly into the airway. Again, this is important for your pet’s safety and allows us to maintain an appropriate anesthetic level.
Once the patient is stabilized under anesthesia, he/she is surgically prepared by our board certified veterinary technicians while the veterinarian “scrubs in”. Surgical preparation includes clipping the hair from the surgical field and scrubbing the area to be absolutely certain it is clean prior to surgery. During this initial phase, and from this point forward during the procedure, your pet will be carefully monitored. Our hospital will follow your pet’s heart and respiratory rates, pulse strength and rate, depth of anesthesia, electrocardiogram, temperature, blood pressure, oxygen content in the blood (pulse oximetry) and carbon dioxide level in their expired air. All that “beeping” equipment that is used in a human hospital is also connected to and carefully monitored while your pet is in our care. We believe your pet is an important family member and will care for them as though they were one of our own.
Once the patient is prepared, the surgeon, wearing sterile gloves and typical surgeon’s garb, will be presented with a sterile surgical drape and sterile surgical instruments. The surgical procedures involve an incision to access the reproductive organs to be removed. It is very important for owners to understand that the length of an incision does not affect healing time. Incisions heal edge to edge, not by length. Occasionally an incision will need to be made longer by a surgeon to gain access to unusually placed organs or to control any bleeding.
During abdominal surgeries, access is generally made through the midline of the patient. There is a strong connective tissue line running stem to stern in all of us called the “linea alba” or white line. Generally there is less bleeding along this entry line and also it is a very strong layer to close with internal sutures once the procedure is concluding. Once the surgeon has gained access to the abdomen, the reproductive organs are located, and the blood supply to those organs to be removed is ligated (tied off with suture material). The organs are carefully removed and the patient checked repeatedly for any bleeding prior to closing the incision.
For castrations, the incisions are either made through the scrotal sac or through the skin along the midline just in front of the scrotum on the abdominal wall (pre-scrotal). With testicles in the proper position, only more superficial layers surrounding the testicles (tunica vaginalis, being the proper term) are incised to expose the testicle, epididymis, vas deferens, spermatic cord (blood supply). The abdomen is not entered so the procedure and recovery are easier for the surgeon and patient. Once the testicle has been exposed, the surgeon will clamp off and then ligate the spermatic cord. This cord contains the main testicular artery going to the testicle and the network of veins leaving the testicle. This network of vessels serves as a counter-current heat exchanger, similar to a car radiator, to keep the testicular temperature lower than the internal body temperature. Sperm production requires a slightly lower temperature. The testicles of cryptorchid animals are generally unable to produce sperm due to the higher temperatures in the body, although hormone production is normal in these retained testicles. In dogs with scrotally placed testicles, there is generally a substantial muscle, the creamaster, that allows the body to pull the testicles closer in for warmth during colder weather. This muscle is also often ligated during castration. If a scrotal approach was used, as commonly done in cats, there are generally no external sutures placed in the scrotal sac. The internal sutures will eventually dissolve after the blood vessels have permanently sealed. In a pre-scrotal approach, primarily used in dogs and rabbits, when the incision is small, the sutures may be all buried under the skin. Sometimes a small amount of surgical tissue glue is used on the surface to cover the wound and keep the skin edges neatly together. If skin sutures are used, they generally need to be removed in 10-14 days after surgery.
During a spay, it is important to consider the complexity of the procedure. There is a blood supply to each of the ovaries that comes directly off the aorta. The uterus is fed by a two directional supply, at the top by this ovarian artery and at the cervical end by a uterine artery. All these vessels must be accounted for and securely ligated. The ovaries themselves lie very close to the back body wall, up near the rib cage, and both ovaries and uterus are attached by firm ligaments which give them support, especially during the downward weight applied during a pregnancy. Unlike in humans, the uterus in our patients consists of two long tubes, each running from the upper abdominal back body wall, where the respective right and left ovaries are located, all the way down to the pubic inlet where the cervix is located. Our patients have litters, not single young, so the long tubular uterine horns give a place to safely grow all those puppies and kittens (or bunnies or rodents). During their pregnancies, the fetuses appear as multiple “lumps” along each of these uterine horns. During an ovariohysterectomy, the ligaments supporting the ovaries and uterus must also be broken and assessed for any bleeding. Obese patients are challenging because there is a lot of abdominal fat to wade through to access these organs. Females in estrus (heat) will have an enlarged reproductive tract with an exuberant blood supply, awaiting a potential pregnancy. Generally this is not a problem in cats, but especially in large dogs, it creates a greater surgical risk. We recommend that dogs in estrus have their surgery delayed until 4 months after the heat cycle, so their reproductive organs will be in a quiet phase.
Similarly, when the surgeon is retrieving a cryptorchid testicle trapped in the abdomen, the incision will generally be made through the linea alba. Of course, in the male, it is necessary to push the overlying penis and prepuce aside to gain midline access. The retained testicle is located by following its attachment to the urinary outflow system backwards. The sperm produced by a testicle travel through the vas deferens, to connect to the beginning of the urethra below the neck of the bladder. By locating the bladder, finding the vas deferens of the “missing” testicle, the surgeon then traces the vas deferens backward to the testicle. This could be anywhere along its normal embryonic journey. The retained testicle could be anywhere, high up near the ribs against the back body wall, inside the middle of the abdomen or out in the inguinal ring. The inguinal ring is the opening at the inner thigh through which the blood vessels to the hind leg emerge as well as the blood supply and vas deferens of a normal testicle. The latter emerge through this opening on their way to the scrotal sac. Because it is attached to the vas deferens, the retained testicle can be always located by following the trail backwards from the neck of the bladder. Once the testicle is found, its blood supply, attachments, and vas deferens are ligated, and the testicle removed from the abdomen. While this is not a “hunt and peck” surgery for the missing organ, it is time consuming to move internal organs around to trace the vas deferens. Sometimes the position of the testicle in the abdomen can make it difficult to elevate it into the surgical field for removal. This is a major abdominal surgery.
Fortunately for many cryptorchid dogs, the “retained” testicle is not truly in the abdomen, but has escaped through the inguinal ring and is located somewhere on its journey outside the body to its proper home in the scrotal sac. Sometimes these can be felt, or palpated, while the dog is awake and bouncing around on the exam table; other times they may be so small that they can only be felt when the dog is under general anesthesia on its back on the surgery table. They are then generally located in a fat pad adjacent to the exterior of the inguinal ring. Ones that can be identified by careful palpation can sometimes be pushed down into the pre-scrotal incision and removed with the other testicle. Sometimes a separate incision is made through the skin and tunica vaginalis to extract the partially retained testicle closer to the inguinal ring. Other times this testicle is so small that it cannot be felt inside the fat pad. In this case, the surgeon will need to go in abdominally to locate the vas deferens and trace it back to the hidden testicle. By gently tugging on the vas deferens, the surgeon will be able to see the testicle move under the skin near the external inguinal ring and retrieve it. At this point, the patient has had an abdominal surgery and recovery will be slower. During a castration, the retained testicle MUST be removed. Remember this is a potential tumor site later in life. If for some reason your veterinarian is uncomfortable retrieving a retained testicle, please call our doctors so it can be take care of properly.
All abdominal surgeries are generally closed with three layers of suture. The deepest layer is the linea alba. The second layer is a tough connective tissue just below the skin’s surface, the subcuticular layer, and the outermost layer is the skin. In most cases, skin sutures, or staples if used, need to be removed in 10-14 days.
All patients deserve to be comfortable before, during and after their surgery. Our hospital will always provide the proper analgesics for your pet while in our care. We will also be sending home additional pain relief medications for you to administer to your pet once they are home. If you find that your pet is still uncomfortable during or after completing its course of medication, please call us and we will dispense additional medication or prescribe it for a longer time period.
Because certain pain medications can interact with each other and other drugs, it is very important that you inform us of any medications and supplements your pet has taken for the 10 days preceding their surgery. If they take medication routinely, please inform us ahead of time so we can discuss any adjustments that might need to be made prior to surgery.
As described above, your pet will go home with analgesic medication to keep them comfortable after their surgery. Please read these directions carefully and do not overdose the medication. If your pet seems uncomfortable, even with the dispensed medication given, call us and we may add on additional medications. Each patient is unique. Most pets will be able to eat their normal diet for dinner after their return home. We do recommend that you cut back on the portion of food because they have had an anesthetic and surgical procedure. The day after they are home they can resume their normal eating habits. We may send home an Elizabethan collar to prevent your pet from chewing or licking at the incision. Again, each pet is unique. Most will not bother their incision, while others can be obsessed with licking or chewing it. If you prefer not to use the collar, certainly an abdominal wrap, such as an Ace bandage, may help protect an abdominal incision from your pet’s licking. For male dogs, putting them in boy’s underwear, worn upside down so the tail can wag out the fly opening may be sufficient. Don’t forget to use something colorful and take photos! If the incision line has any odor or unusual discharge, schedule a recheck. Licking a surgical incision with a dirty tongue is often the cause of a post-operative infection. In these cases, antibiotics will be needed.
The most important aspect of post operative care during this recovery period is the restriction of activity for 10 to 14 days. At the end of this time period, the skin sutures, if present, will be removed. It is imperative to confine cats so they are not leaping tall buildings with single bounds. Dogs must be leash walked to go out to the bathroom and immediately back into the house. If your dog is excessively active in the house, it may need to be crated. The sutures are holding the internal layers together so the body can grow new tissue across the incision line and heal.
Swelling along the incision line may occur. Any excessive stress on the sutures may cause them to break and a hernia may result. This will look like a swelling below the skin suture line that when pressed upon, will pop its contents back into the body cavity through the hole left by the missing sutures. Another more common type of swelling along the suture line is called a seroma. This is a fluid filled, generally firmer swelling that cannot be “reduced” into the body cavity. It does not disappear when you press on it. Seromas most commonly develop when the pet is too active after surgery. The layers closed with suture material are rubbing against one another as your pet wriggles around. The irritation to the tissues results in an excess production of fluid. Seromas will resorb on their own over time and the surgery area will go back to being flat. Occasionally the seroma may drain through a small gap in the skin sutures. While this is not harmful, it should be checked, and wrapped if the drainage is excessive. If your pet develops a swelling along its incision line, schedule a post-operative recheck in our hospital.
Occasional patients will need sedation during the recovery period. Please let us know if you are having difficulty curbing your pet’s energy.
Please keep in mind that you are in charge of your pet’s post operative home care period. We are here to help you if any problems should occur. We certainly want our surgeries to have a complete and successful recovery.
Geriatric Care
We love our senior citizens! Providing appropriate care for our pets as they enter the later years of their lives is one of the most rewarding things an owner and veterinarian can share. These guys have been with us throughout the years, often through thick and thin. Some have stood by us with unquestioning loyalty and unconditionally support us through the worst days of our lives. After years together, we know each other’s quirks and personalities. We know what we like and don’t like. The senior years can be the time we reward our furry friends for all the years of love they shared with us.
Alternatively, if you have been fortunate enough to take the leap and adopt a senior pet, you are in for a marvelous adventure together. They are story tellers. They have a history which they will share with you. Old dogs can certainly teach us new tricks. Old cats, too.
Certainly our seniors sleep more, play with less vigor, and tire more easily. Some will develop mobility issues, changes in sleeping, eating, and drinking habits. It is very important for owners to keep in mind that age is not a disease. It just means our body is more likely to have more problems. Many of these can be corrected or controlled if owners continue to advocate for their furry friends and report any and all “aging changes” they observe to their veterinarian.
Many of these senior patients have been with our veterinary hospital for years as well. Watching the wild child puppy or kitten grow to be a mature responsible adult is a joy for our profession. Helping them over the bumps in the road through their senior years is what we are trained to do. The challenges can sometimes be tougher, but our staff are up to the challenge and love working with our seniors.
At the Animal Hospital at Thorndale, we ideally like to see our senior patients at least twice yearly for regular examinations. If we are working with known health issues, we may want to see them more often. Patient history is an extremely important part of these examinations. An increased thirst or need to urinate could be signs of impending kidney failure or diabetes, not just a response to hot weather. At least once yearly, senior pets should have a complete blood count with differential and a full blood chemistry and urinalysis. Blood thyroid level testing is important as well since hyperthyroidism is common in older cats and hypothyroidism is common in older dogs. Additional tests may be recommended based on the physical examination and screening blood and urine tests. Radiographs (x-rays) of the chest and abdomen may be warranted to look for things such as internal tumors, heart disease, bladder stones, pneumonia, and other conditions. We may suggest an abdominal ultrasound if you pet is having digestive or urinary problems.
Unspayed and unneutered pets are predisposed to a number of potentially life threatening problems. Unspayed females become more likely to develop a pyometra or infection of the uterus. They will become very ill and potentially die if the uterus ruptures internally. Unspayed females are also more likely to develop breast cancers. Unneutered males can develop testicular tumors and also can suffer from benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). With careful physical examination and testing, we can accurately diagnose and treat these problems.
Heart and respiratory problems are more common in elderly pets. Coughing or an increase in the respiratory rate or effort can be the sign of serious illness. Some pets will have problems with urinary incontinence as they age and may leak urine while they are sleeping or resting. Other pets will be generating large volumes of urine because they are diabetic or in kidney failure. Some older pets may begin to experience digestive problems, like constipation, intermittent vomiting or diarrhea. Proper blood and stool testing, along with x-ray and ultrasound can help determine the cause and lead to an effective treatment plan. Arthritis is common in our older pets. They begin having problems going up or down the stairs or climbing into bed. Some of these problems, rather than being joint or bone problems, may actually involve the nervous system. A careful physical examination, and perhaps x-rays, CT scans and MRI’s, can sort out the underlying cause and result in a working treatment plan. Each body system is affected by normal wear and tear. Cancer happens, but it is not always a death sentence. Oncology is a very dynamic field in veterinary medicine. New therapies and treatments are always being identified.There are many ways, with our guidance, that owners can greatly improve the quality and quantity of life for their pets if problems are identified and addressed in a timely manner
Of course, at the Animal Hospital at Thorndale, each patient’s treatment plan is directed specifically toward the individual. We will try to establish a complete “problem list” for your pet and continue to update it as the years progress. By treating all the treatable things, not just one or two major problems, we can greatly improve the quality of life for many of our pets. Some treatments are as simple as making dietary changes, adding supplements, and incorporating controlled exercise programs. The majority of our senior patients can be readily managed at home with continued good communication between owner and veterinarian. With appropriate diagnostics and examinations we can formulate and modify our strategy. At the Animal Clinic at Thorndale, we work very carefully with our owners to optimize patient care within whatever limits the owner sets. Quality of life for all is our ultimate goal.
In-House Laboratory Testing
Time is often of the essence in veterinary medicine. If your cat is diabetic, you want to know at the time of the examination, so options for treatment can be discussed. If the stray you rescued has leukemia and is potentially contagious to your other cats, you will want to know before you take it home and everyone is introduced. If your 5 month old Sheltie is vomiting because it is Addisonian and unable to correctly balance its blood electrolyte levels, you need to know right away so appropriate treatment can begin immediately. Having the capability of finding answers quickly and correctly via in-house testing can be life saving, if not just simply more convenient. At the Animal Hospital at Thorndale we can perform many important diagnostic tests in-house, while you wait. In-house testing can provide a range of diagnostic results within minutes.
Tests that are not currently available for us to run in-house are sent to veterinary laboratories specialized in handling animal samples. Test times vary and we will keep you informed of the anticipated reporting of results.
Obstetric and Pediatric Care
Obstetrics and Pediatrics, also known as pregnancy planning, pregnancy, whelping and raising a litter of puppies or kittens, can be extremely rewarding and a lot of fun. These can also be time consuming, worrisome, and financially draining when things go awry. If you have chosen to breed your cat or dog (or just happen to rescue one that is pregnant), the Animal Hospital at Thorndale is here to help guide you to have a safe pregnancy, delivery, and early pediatric lives with your furry friends. For a planned breeding, we always recommend that you have future owners of the litter already lined up before proceeding. There are so many deserving dogs and cats that need forever homes. Adding to the pet population should be an educated and intentional decision. Breeding pets to entertain or educate our children is inappropriate. Many excess pets will be neglected and suffer needlessly. Our goal is to help direct you through this decision to breed your pet. Once you have made this decision, our goal is to help provide the best care possible for the mother and her litter.
Our doctors at the Animal Hospital at Thorndale are available to assist you with any questions or concerns you have about breeding, whelping, and raising newborns. We are experienced in whelping difficulties and Caesarian section. We can instruct you in how to raise an orphan puppy or kitten. We can help you best time your breeding and have available ultrasound and x-ray to confirm a pregnancy. For special cases, we can set up a referral with a reproduction specialist at an area referral practice. Our goal is to have your pet’s breeding and pregnancy be healthy and successful for all concerned.
Vaccinations
At the Animal Hospital at Thorndale, we know getting vaccinated is no fun for your pet. However, vaccinations can save your pet’s life! Common pet vaccinations include several core vaccines and also vaccines specifically tailored to your pet’s life style. Both dogs and cats are required to have a current rabies vaccination in the State of Pennsylvania. Other vaccines are listed as “core”, or highly recommended, vaccines. There are also optional vaccines, that may be recommended depending in lifestyle. At the Animal Hospital at Thorndale, we will thoroughly discuss your pet’s life style and risk factors with you and customize a vaccination program appropriate for your pet.
Rabies vaccination is required by Pennsylvania State law for all dogs and cats (with the exception of wild barn cats) and is mandatory for the licensing of dogs. Any warm blooded animal can transmit rabies. Not having your pets vaccinated can put you and your family at risk. Even indoor dogs and cats must be vaccinated.
Rabies is a viral disease. Regardless of the initial site of virus introduction into the animal, the virus eventually invades the central nervous system and ultimately causes death. There are no known effective treatments once neurological signs have developed, so it is very important that all pets who have tangled with wildlife or been bitten by non-vaccinated animals been seen by the veterinarian.
The rabies vaccine is given to all pets over 12 weeks of age and then it is boostered one year later. Depending on the type of vaccination given as the booster, protection can last from 1-3 years when a booster is then again given.
Canine Vaccines
Distemper, Adenovirus 2, Parainfluenza and Parvo are regularly given as a combination vaccine. This vaccine is also referred to as DA2PP or the “distemper/parvo” vaccine for the two most important components.
Distemper is a contagious viral disease between dogs that was fairly common in the United States until the introduction of effective vaccines in the 1960’s. In some parts of the world, it remains an important and devastating disease. Dogs coming from rescues and shelters are often involved in distemper outbreaks. This is a “whole dog” illness and is often fatal or results in permanent damage in the lucky ones who recover.
Adenovirus can cause liver problems and eye problems and Parainfluenza is often involved in “kennel cough” outbreaks along with other viruses and bacteria.
Canine parvovirus ( “Parvo”) is still commonly seen and can be deadly to younger dogs. The classic signs are vomiting and bloody diarrhea. Because of the severity of the disease and its rapid spread through the canine population, keeping your dog’s vaccination up to date is very important.
The DA2PP vaccine is considered a “core” vaccine, meaning it is highly recommended that it should be kept current throughout your dog’s life. Puppies begin the vaccination series around 6 – 8 weeks of age and receive a booster every 3 – 4 weeks until they are 16 weeks of age. Current recommendations are to have a final parvo vaccine at 18 weeks or more of age. Adult dogs who have never been vaccinated receive a series of 2 vaccines. After the initial vaccination series is complete, we booster again 1 year later and then every three years thereafter.
Canine infectious tracheobronchitis, or “kennel cough”, is a highly contagious respiratory disorder in dogs. It is characterized by bouts of nonproductive (dry) coughing lasting from days to even weeks. The most common agent thought to cause “kennel cough” is the bacterium, Bordetella bronchiseptica. Viruses are often commonly present as well.
The vaccine is usually required for any dog that will be kenneled, goes to doggy day care, or puppy classes, and is suggested for those that visit the groomer or dog park often. This vaccine is given annually to those dogs who need it.
Just as the name says, this is a “Flu” vaccine. Canine influenza has appeared very sporadically in our local region and, as with human flu, can potentially be deadly. Certain kennels will require this vaccine. The initial vaccination series (2 vaccines) is boostered annually thereafter for those at risk of exposure.
Lyme Disease is caused by a bacterium called Borrelia. It is transmitted to dogs through the bite of a tick. Once in the blood stream, it is carried to many parts of the body but is especially likely to localize in joints. Dogs will commonly run high fevers, be lethargic, painful and have swollen joints. Rarely, Lyme has been implicated in causing irreversible fatal kidney failure. Certain breeds of dogs may be predisposed to side effects from the vaccine in combination with Borrelia exposure. The vaccine is about 60% effective in preventing Lyme disease.
Be certain to discuss with your veterinarian whether this vaccine is recommended for your dog. The necessity of the vaccine may be based on the number of deer ticks your pet comes in contact with and your ability to control ticks with products such as Frontline Plus and possibly a tick collar.
Typically, the initial vaccination series of two vaccines spaced two to three weeks apart must be followed by a yearly booster.
Leptospirosis is a disease that may be on the increase again. Infected animals can show signs of kidney and liver failure. Dogs most at risk are those spending time in streams or ponds where the water could be more readily contaminated by infected wild animals urinating in the water. Eating wild animal carcasses and getting bit by an infected wild animal can also transmit the disease to your dog. Humans can also be infected. transmission from infected pets to people has occurred. It is important that you discuss with your veterinarian your dogs potential risk of exposure to this disease when deciding whether or not to vaccinate. The vaccine is effective for 12 months against those specific types of Leptospira bacteria for which the specific vaccine was developed. Unfortunately, new strains of this disease do appear, and vaccines do not always keep up. In the past this vaccine was very reactive, causing frequent allergic reactions when given. Newer vaccines have much improved track records.
Feline Vaccines
Feline Chlamydia psittcae, Calici Virus,Viral Rhinotracheitis, and Panleukopenia are often administered in a combination vaccine commonly referred to as the “feline distemper” vaccine, FCVRC or the “upper respiratory” vaccine.
Chlamydia, Calci and Rhinotracheitis cause the most common upper respiratory diseases in cats and can be devastating in young kittens. The vaccine will help lessen the severity of these diseases and is important for all cats because you can accidently track these diseases into your house or they can be shared across a screen window. Feline panleukopenia virus , also known as Feline infectious enteritis, Feline distemper, feline ataxia, or cat plague, is a viral infection most commonly seen in barn cats. Once contracted, it is highly contagious and can be fatal to the affected cat.
The feline upper respiratory vaccine is a core vaccine and highly recommended for all cats. Kittens receive a series of boosters every 3 to 4 weeks from 6 to 16 weeks of age. Adults who have never been vaccinated receive two boosters. After the initial series, the cat needs to receive a booster 1 year later, an then every three years thereafter.
Feline Leukemia is a cancer in cats that most often is caused by infection with the Leukemia virus. Therefore, this is a contagious cancer, from cat to cat. We recommend that all cats being introduced into a household with existing cats be tested for this virus prior to contact with your existing cats so they cannot bring this deadly disease into your home. If all cats in a household test negative for the virus, there may be no need to vaccinate. Transmission is by direct contact with infected saliva or urine. However, any and all cats that go outside or have any risk of exposure to cats that may have the disease should be vaccinated.
This vaccine is given as an initial series of 2 vaccines given 3-4 weeks apart and must be boostered yearly. This vaccine is about 80% effective.
Miscellaneous Dog and Cat Vaccines
There an numerous other vaccines available for your pet and the number is constantly increasing. Common ones you may hear about are against FIV ( Feline Immunodeficiency Virus or cat “aids”) , FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis), and even Ringworm (fungal infection). Speak to your veterinarian about whether any of these vaccine would be appropriate for your pet based on his/her lifestyle.
Pet Microchip Identification Systems
The Animal Hospital at Thorndale offers the Home Again microchip identification system to help ensure your pet’s proper identification and prompt return to you should he or she become lost. Microchips can be read in any shelter, rescue, or veterinary hospital that has a universal microchip reader.
Wellness Diagnostic Screening
The Animal Hospital at Thorndale offers both Junior and Senior Wellness Diagnostic Screening Programs. We recommend at least annual screening for young healthy pets and twice annual screening for our senior pets. Senior Wellness testing generally includes more blood test values and a complete urinalysis. Certainly you can elect to run the more comprehensive tests on a younger dog or cat as well. We want to keep your pet at their healthiest and happiest for many years to come.
Many of us will choose to have blood tests run on ourselves when visiting our family doctor for a routine physical examination. We may feel great, but want to know if our cholesterol, blood sugar, and levels of other signifiers of health are okay. We know how important a good baseline is when diagnosing future health concerns. Also, we know early detection of hidden health problems gives us the best options for treatment. The Animal Clinic at Thorndale offers a Wellness Diagnostic Screening Program for healthy pets between the ages of 1 and 6. The Junior Wellness Diagnostic Screening Program includes a complete blood count, an abbreviated blood chemistry profile and a heartworm test (antigen test for dogs and antibody test for cats).
To be eligible for this program, your pet must have a complete healthy physical examination, be current with or receiving needed vaccinations, meet the age requirements, and not have any clearly apparent abnormalities that would require more extensive testing at this time.
The goal of this program is to establish a good baseline of significant blood values. We can then continue to monitor them regularly through your pet’s growth and early years. Once your pet reaches 7 years of age, more extensive routine testing (our Senior Wellness Diagnsotic Screening Program) will be recommended. Routine screenings can also be very helpful in identifying early changes in your pet’s health. Identifying these changes can enable you and your pet’s veterinarian to take a proactive roll in maintaining that health.
If you would like Junior Wellness testing for your pet, please notify the technician or doctor during your next visit.
Our pets are important family members who provide us with years of love and companionship. We all hope our best buddies will enjoy long, healthy lives with us. Annual physical examinations, routine vaccinations, spay/neuter procedures, and baseline blood screenings are important aspects of each pet’s lifelong healthcare. As the years pass, however, additional examinations and more extensive blood screening tests are recommended to provide early detection and treatment of medical conditions.
We define a senior pet as any dog or cat seven years of age or older. Age is not a disease, but our older pets are more likely to develop certain diseases. Unfortunately, they cannot tell us if their hips are “ouchy” today or if they are feeling under the weather. Wouldn’t it be great if our pets could talk! They must rely upon their human caretakers to detect changes in their daily activities. Sometimes, these changes are very subtle and owners do not realize their friend is ill until significant loss of appetite or weight becomes apparent.
Our goal as animal health practitioners is to detect medical conditions as early as possible to provide treatment and potential cures. A complete blood count (CBC), blood chemistry, and urinalysis are three simple testing procedures that provide us with invaluable information about your pet’s health status. With our Senior Wellness Diagnostic Screening Program, we can screen your pet for medical conditions such as diabetes mellitus, kidney disease, liver disease, anemia, and bleeding disorders. The earlier we find these problems, the sooner we can start to help your pet feel better and fill those golden years with plenty of happy purrs, tail wags, and sunny walks in the park.
We all hope for a good quality of life for ourselves in our senior years. Routine blood and urine screening is one way you can help your pet maintain a good quality of life in the senior years as well.
If you would like the Senior Wellness testing for your pet, please notify the technician or doctor you during your next visit.
Internal Medicine Services
At the Animal Hospital at Thorndale, our veterinary staff provides the highest level of diagnostic and therapeutic care for problems affecting the internal organs of the body. We will take a detailed patient history and perform a complete physical examination. The breed, age, and sex of your pet often help shape our diagnostic work up. Our hospital offers a wide range of in-house diagnostic testing: we can analyze blood, urine, stool, and cytological samples to provide answers during your visit. We also offer an extensive list of specialized tests that can be performed by our outside laboratory. Many of these test results are available the next day. Our digital radiology (X-rays) and screening ultrasound can often provide important diagnostic information.
Soft Tissue Surgery
The doctors at the Animal Hospital at Thorndale are all very experienced surgeons and will work to make your pet’s surgical experience as stress free and pain free as possible. We all understand how difficult it is for owners to turn over the care of their pet to our surgical team. To help ease your worries, what follows is a description of a typical patient day when admitted for soft tissue surgery in our hospital.
Skin and Ear Care
The most common reason pets need to visit their veterinarian is problems with their skin and/or ears. At the Animal Hospital at Thorndale, our doctors are highly trained and experienced in diagnosing and treating a very wide range of skin and ear conditions. Skin and ear problems often go together because they are frequently affected by the same processes. Also ears are lined with a special type of skin.
Problems with skin and ears can be due to a large variety of causes. Under each general class of disorder are listed just a few of the more common causes of the disorder. There are many other possible examples of each disorder listed. In fact, there are over 160 known causes of skin and ear problems in dogs and cats. Often the pet’s problems will overlap these categories. For example, a flea allergic pet will likely scratch and chew, traumatically injuring the skin surface, setting it up for a secondary bacterial and/ or yeast infection.
- Hormonal Problems – e.g. diabetes, Cushings, thyroid problems, melatonin inbalance
- Metabolic Problems – e.g. Liver disease, kidney disease
- Neurologic Problems and Behavioral – e.g. lick granuloma, nerve damage
- Cancers – e.g. Mast cell, cutaneous histiocytosis, cutaneous lymphoma, malignant melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma
- Benign growths and swellings – e.g. lipomas, impacted sebaceous glands, histiocytoma, skin tags, aural hematomas
- Parasites – e.g. fleas, ticks, chiggers, lice, mites
- Infections – e.g.bacterial, fungal and yeast, viral
- Autoimmune Disease – e.g.pemphigus, discoid lupus erythematosis
- Allergies – e.g. contact, food, flea, atopic
- Congenital – e.g. Ichthyosis, dermatomyositis, color dilute alopecia, seborrheic dermatitis
- Trauma – e.g. lacerations, bite wounds, scratching and chewing, burns
- Inflammatory – e.g. sebaceous adentitis
- Nutritional – e.g. Vitamin A deficiency, Zinc deficiency, poor quality diet
- Idiopathic – unknown cause
With so many potential causes of skin and ear problems, diagnosis of the underlying problem can take some time and energy, on behalf of the veterinary team and the owner. The patient’s signalment (breed, age, spay/neuter status, coat color, weight) all can provide clues. A complete history of when and how the problem developed, whether this is the first time or recurrent, is it seasonal or year round or random in occurrence, has it gotten better or worse, is it pruritic (itchy) or not, exposure to other animals, foreign or domestic travel, housing and diet, outdoor environment, affected siblings, other behavioral changes, known health problems, previous response or lack of response to medications and topical treatments, etc. all help with the diagnosis.
A thorough physical examination will help describe the location of the problems on the body such as singular, multiple, or generalized, dorsal (on the back), ventral (underside), ear canal or pinna, feet, face, or perianal, etc. Certain skin problems appear more commonly on certain areas of the body. A specific description of the condition seen such as parasites seen, papules (red dots) crusts and scale, pustules, epidermal collarettes (circular skin lesions) , ulceration, alopecia (baldness, either patchy or localized) etc. Though not specifically diagnostic, certain skin conditions often have a “typical” appearance. Of course, the list of skin or ear conditions that have that appearance can still be extensive, and needs to be further narrowed down.
Depending on what is seen on physical examination, the doctor proceeds with diagnostic testing. Commonly used tests are skin scrapings and ear wax smears to check for mites and for cytology, tape preps to look for lice and chiggers, combing for parasites and to obtain samples for fungal culture, hair plucking for cultures and cytology, aspiration of a mass for cytology and culture, blood tests and urine and fecal tests to examine for metabolic and hormonal problems, culture to identify a bacterial cause and its sensitivity to antibiotics, and biopsy. Additional testing may be recommended, such as allergy testing and food and supplement trials. In difficult cases, we may refer you to a Board Certified Veterinary Dermatologist.
Fortunately, the more common skin disorders can be effectively managed, even if not completely cured. For example, while a bacterial infection may be cured by antibiotics, an underlying allergy that caused the scratching that led to the infection cannot be cured (Same as in humans, there is no cure for allergy). Treatment would involve treating the bacterial infection with appropriate antibiotics and shampoos and managing the allergy with medications, perhaps diet, and environmental control. A secondary yeast infection in the ear canal can be treated with an antifungal medication, but it may recur if the pet has underlying allergies, swims or is bathed frequently, has a narrowed ear canal or is genetically predisposed to excessive sebum production. Long term management may involve the use of specific cleaners and medications, and in some cases even surgery on the ear canal.
Many skin and ear problems are not curable. But it is important to know that with an owner being the advocate for their pet, successful outcomes are possible. Hormonal and metabolic disease therapies, immunosuppressive therapies, allergy therapies, and nutritional therapies often need a lifelong commitment and constant communication between veterinarian and owner. We may recommend a referral to a Board Certified Veterinary Dermatologist when cases are not resolving as expected or are difficult to diagnose or treat. Board Certified Veterinary Oncologists are also available to assist us when managing malignant cancers. Long term management is very important in most skin and ear conditions.
Our veterinary staff is here to guide and assist you to provide the best care possible for your pet.
Dental Care
Gum and periodontal disease cause problems in our furry friends, just like us. The inflamed gums and decayed teeth provide an access entry point for bacteria into the blood stream. These bacteria settle out in and cause damage in vital organs like the heart, kidneys, and lungs. Think about the people you see with bad oral health – their overall health is usually pretty poor as well. The same thing happens in our pets. Most pets over three years of age are already showing signs of dental disease. At the Animal Hospital at Thorndale, helping owners improve and maintain their pet’s dental health is very important to us.
There are several things you can do at home to improve your pet’s dental health:
- Dental diets – Daily feeding of food specifically designed for tartar control (such as Hill’s T/D) provides a “brushing action” as your pet crunches on its dinner. These diets work for pets who actually chew their food rather than “inhale it”. When feeding these diets, be careful not to overfeed. There is a lipid (fat) layer sprayed on the outside of the kibble to enhance the flavor. We don’t want chubby pets with clean teeth.
- Dental chews and Treats – Daily chewing of specific dental treats and chews (such as CET chews) can also help prevent plaque and tartar build up. The abrasive action of chewing helps scrub the tooth surfaces clean. When feeding these treats, it is important to monitor your pet so they are not attempting to swallow them in large pieces. These chews will dissolve once they go down, but be certain they have been well chewed first.
- OraVet – is a gel that you apply to the surface of the teeth on a weekly basis. It has been shown to help prevent the “attachment” of plague forming bacteria.
- Teeth brushing – This is the most important thing you can do at home to improve your pet’s oral health. We recommend brushing your pet’s teeth daily, or at least several times a week. Brushing is an ideal method to remove plaque from the surface of your pet’s teeth. A toothpaste specifically designed for pets is best. They like the flavors and the toothpaste is not harmful if swallowed. Flavors include such things as poultry, seafood, and malt. Yum!
Just like for us, brushing is not always enough. We visit our dental hygienist twice yearly. Even brushing with an electric toothbrush twice daily, the hygienist will still find a bit of plaque to clean off our teeth. Same goes for our pets, especially if their teeth are not thoroughly brushed twice daily. Having a professional dental prophylaxis, or teeth cleaning, is another important component of good oral hygiene. During a physical examination, the veterinarian will examine your pet’s oral cavity to determine if a dental cleaning is recommended. Most pets over three years of age have periodontal disease! The cleaning procedure is just like what you have done at your dentist’s office, with one important difference. Our furry friends will not necessarily “open wide” or “lean your head to the right” like we do for the hygienist. Therefore, a complete oral examination and dental prophylaxis requires general anesthesia.
Our hospital uses very safe anesthetic protocols. We will discuss with you any recommended blood tests and perhaps even chest x-rays prior to anesthetizing your pet. We do everything we can to ensure the health of your pet. Your pet will have an intravenous catheter, and endotracheal tube will be placed to protect their airway and allow us to maintain a safe level of anesthesia. Our patients are all carefully monitored, using all that “beeping equipment” with which you are familiar in a human hospital. We monitor heart rate and rhythm with an electrocardiogram (EKG), we measure the oxygen level in their blood, the carbon dioxide level in their expired air, their blood pressure, and body temperature. They remain under our direct observation throughout their recovery from anesthesia. Should there be any discomfort with the procedure, we carefully monitor and alleviate their pain with appropriate medications, in the hospital and when they go home. The gums and teeth will be probed and evaluated for any abnormalities. The teeth are cleaned/scaled and polished to remove tartar/calculi and give a smooth surface to prevent further build up. In certain cases, extractions or other oral procedures may be necessary. Our veterinarians can discuss these procedures with you during the initial examination and once we have more thoroughly examined your pet’s mouth under anesthesia.
When it comes to cleaning your pet’s teeth, we also recommend taking full mouth dental radiographs to look for hidden defects in the teeth and associated structures. Finding these problems while your pet is already under anesthesia allows us to treat problems that may be painful to your pet. Many of these problems could not be found on just a visual examination. We also may recommend radiographing a single tooth prior to extraction. This can help the oral surgeon decide on the safest and least traumatic approach to removing the tooth. Digital dental radiology has been a tremendous help for the doctors at the Animal Clinic at Thorndale in providing optimal dental care for your pet.
Once your pet’s teeth are cleaned and polished, we recommend continuing dental care at home with you brushing their teeth daily if possible. Ask the staff at the Animal Hospital at Thorndale to show you proper brushing technique. We want to keep that smile healthy for years to come!!
On Site Pharmacy
At the Animal Hospital at Thorndale, our on site pharmacy is well stocked with a wide variety of medications, both oral and topical. Our goal is to help you provide prompt, accurate, and cost-effective care for your pet. Most medications that our doctors prescribe, specifically tailored for your pet, can be dispensed directly at the time of your visit. We may special order medications if they are needed.
Refills, as specified by the doctor, can be available for pick-up at your convenience with a simple call ahead. Most medications can be ready for pick up within 24 hours or less. On rare occasions, a specific medication may be out of stock. Unless it is on a manufacturer’s backorder, we generally can have it for you within 1-2 business days.
Some patients require medications that are not commonly available, unique to their specific condition. We will always do our best to locate these medications for you and also work very hard to find the best available pricing for the medication. Depending on whether the medication is available in the human market or strictly a veterinary product, we may write you a prescription to take to your human pharmacy or to a human hospital pharmacy. Before ordering a custom veterinary product, we will verify the price and availability of the medication with you. Custom orders need to be paid for at the time of placing the order. Custom orders are generally not returnable to the supplier under any circumstances.
Our prescription medication is based on the best pricing we can obtain from our pharmaceutical suppliers. Occasionally, we have been faced with dramatic price increases from our suppliers. In these cases, we make every effort to (1) look for a less expensive supplier of the same medication or (2) if the medication is also available in the human pharmacy, find the best local pricing available for you. In this case, we will direct you to that pharmacy with a written prescription.
Certain times our pets, especially cats, need medications flavored to find them more palatable. We are fortunate to have a close relationship with Epicure Pharmacy, where they can often create a more tasty way for you to present the medication to your pet. Some medications can also be formulated to be administered by other routes, such as ear creams or liquids instead of tablets. Please let our doctors know if you have specific concerns about your ability to administer medications to your pet. Of course, medications are only effective if given as directed, so our goal is to help you be successful.
Our doctors are willing to write a prescription for your pet’s medication or food at no additional cost to you. If the medication is readily available at a local human pharmacy, that is always the safest and most effective way to fill a written prescription. Some medications are only available for animals and are not available at your human pharmacy. We recognize that we cannot always match a “big box” pharmacy prices because, while we may only stock 100 tablets at a time of a specific drug, the “big box” pharmacy can often stock thousands or even tens of thousands of same tablets at a much reduced price.
We do caution you to look very carefully into the pharmacy if it is “On-line”. Unfortunately, even some of the big name pet pharmacies have danced around legal scrutiny. We have had requests for prescription refills for medications that pets are not actually taking, or for pets not even under our care. Some of these pharmacies are purchasing medications and products through illicit sources. Always verify that the medication is not secondarily repackaged and rerouted from foreign countries. Watch very carefully for hidden shipping fees as well as estimated time for delivery. Most manufacturers will not permit warranty coverage for veterinary products purchased from such non-veterinary sources. Follow this FDA link to read more about online pharmacies by clicking here.
Our office will not fax prescription forms. With your specific request, we can telephone in a prescription to a pharmacy of your choice, or give you a hand written prescription to mail in. Most reputable pharmacies will not accept a faxed prescription coming from a fax machine outside of the prescriber’s office. Because there is the potential of “signature theft” via fax, we have opted no longer to allow this method of filing prescriptions from our office.
Unfortunately, just as in the human world, we need to be carefully about tampering and contamination of medications. In general, dispensed medications are not returnable. Under certain circumstances, we may accept an unopened sealed bottle or blister pack. Certain foods are returnable for a full refund by the manufacturer, even if opened bags or broken cases. We cannot accept returns for products purchased elsewhere or that have expired. We will verify the original purchase and purchase date at our office. Please call if you have any questions about a return and we will be happy to assist you.
Our pharmacy is designed to provide convenient, prompt and accurate dispensing of medications and foods for your pet. Please let us know if you have any questions or can be of assistance.
Hospitalization
If your pet needs to stay in the Animal Hospital at Thorndale for medical or surgical care, please know that we completely understand your concerns about leaving your pet. Even if your furry friend is being dropped off for a scheduled procedure, we understand that you will also be sharing in the stress of separation. Our doctors will keep in touch with you throughout the day with updates. Be certain we have a telephone number at which you can be reached throughout the day in case any questions or concerns should arise. We will make every effort to make your pet’s stay with us as stress free and pain free as possible.
Diagnostic Imaging
At the Animal Hospital at Thorndale we offer digital radiology, or digital x-rays, and screening ultrasound as part of our diagnostic repertoire. Both modalities have a wide range of usefulness. Both techniques do have some limitations. We will discuss both below so you understand why we may recommend one technique over the other, or recommend they be used in combination.
Diagnostic imaging, by digital radiology and/or screening ultrasound, are performed routinely in our hospital by our board certified Radiologist, Dr. Simpler. Additional specialized testing , such as MRI and CT scans are also now locally available on referral. Our goal is to provide the best care possible for your pet. If you have any questions or concerns about diagnostic imaging, our veterinary staff will be happy to assist you.
Pain Management
Pain is no fun! It comes is a variety of forms and intensity. It can be acute (sudden onset) or chronic (on going) or even acute on chronic (an exacerbation of an existing problem). Pain can be a minor inconvenience or extremely debilitating or excruciating. Our pets cannot tell us in words when, where, and how much they hurt. But they do give us very important clues as to how they are feeling. Often when a human owner has a certain medical problem, such as arthritis, a urinary tract infection, torn ligaments or a broken bone, they can readily appreciate and empathize with the pain their pet feels. Although our pets have evolved to better hide their pain as part of their survival instinct, there is no doubt that they do suffer pain. Often painful pets hide away from us. They object to being moved or startled. They do not eat or drink normally. Owners may notice tremors, an increased respiratory rate, panting, and if felt on the chest wall a pounding rapid heart rate. Limping is a sign of pain. The only reason our pets do not put full weight on a leg is that it hurts to do so. The third eyelid may be up. The pet may be sitting or walking hunched, not climbing or jumping up or down as usual, reluctant to move, or just unable to get comfortable. Often times a pet, when visiting with the doctors at the Animal Hospital at Thorndale, appears to “be suddenly much better.” However, once given a chance to relax, the painful behaviors may become more evident. What you see as abnormal behaviors at home are very important in helping us assess your pet’s level of pain. At the Animal Hospital at Thorndale we will take a detailed history as well as perform a physical examination to determine the cause of your pet’s pain. Additional testing such as x-rays, blood work, urinalysis and perhaps ultrasound may be needed to help diagnose the underlying problem. In some cases, we may recommend a referral to a specialist, such as an orthopedist, neurologist, oncologist, or diagnostic imaging specialist. Additional tests such as MRI and CTscans are available in nearby referral practices.
Some pain is predictable and we can make preemptive strikes to prevent it from occurring. At the Animal Clinic at Thorndale, our surgical patients receive pain relieving medication before, during and after their procedures. Most will go home with additional medication to be given at home during their recuperation from surgery. Pre-surgical medication helps prevent the “wind-up” response to painful stimuli, meaning once a painful stimulus has occurred, one is more sensitized to pain. Our pre-anesthetic protocols are designed to help prevent this “wind-up”. When appropriate, we also may chose to use local and or topical anesthetics for a surgical procedure. Post surgical pain medications have been shown to improve recovery speed. Fewer complications occur when patients are more comfortable. We always follow up the day following a procedure to be certain your pet is recovering well. We are available to answer any questions or discuss any concerns you may have after a procedure. If your pet remains painful or becomes painful after the initial course of medication has been given as directed, we usually recommend a recheck examination and may dispense additional or different pain medications if warranted.
Our trauma patients are assessed and rapidly given pain relieving medications to help stop ongoing shock and inflammatory reactions. Chronic pain sufferers, such as those with cancers and arthritis, benefit from titrating the doses and types of medications given. NSAIDs (non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs) can often be used in patients with good kidney and liver function. Each patient is unique in their response to NSAIDs. One drug may work in one patient but not in another. Just as in humans, there appears to be more effectiveness of certain drugs in some patients and not others. It is very important that human NSAIDs and pain medications NOT be given to pets unless specifically directed by a veterinarian. Acetaminaphen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, is extremely toxic to cats, and other commonly used human OTC medications can cause kidney failure and gastric ulcers in our pets. We carry a variety of pet safe NSAIDs and will work with you to select the safest and most effective medication for your pet. Some patients, unable to properly metabolize NSAIDs or are not responding well to NSAIDs may benefit from a variety of other medications. Some may be improved with supplements such as Cosequin or Dasequin and Omega3 fatty acids. Some may actually need narcotic medications or drugs like gabapentin. We work with each patient as a unique individual and will develop a pain management plan specific to your pet’s needs.
It is very important to us that your pet remain comfortable and have as good a quality of life as possible. Our staff are trained at assessing pain and act as patient advocates in making certain your pet is comfortable during its stay in our hospital. We ask that pet owners remain vigilant and keep us informed of signs of pain during your pet’s continued care at home. If you have any questions or concerns about your pet’s quality of life or pain levels, our veterinary staff will be happy to assist you.
Pet Nutrition Counseling
What to eat and how much to eat are questions that often beleaguer humans and humans feeding their pets. There are so many varieties of pet foods available, both commercially and by prescription, making pet nutrition often confusing. At the Animal Hospital at Thorndale, our goal is to make the best recommendations for your pet’s optimal health at each life stage. It is very important to note that dogs and cats have distinct nutritional requirements. It is also important to note that optimal nutritional standards do not exist in the human world, and not in the animal world either. Our knowledge of the “best” nutrition for our pets is constantly evolving. Through ongoing research, certain dietary requirements are being added and subtracted from pet (and human) diets. For example, the discovery that cats had a unique requirement for the amino acid taurine in their diets helped all but eliminate a certain type of once common heart problem, dilated cardiomyopathy.
AAFCO is a government agency that provides a minimum nutrient certification label on commercial pet foods which have been tested and passed the minimum requirements. Generally, good quality foods will at least have this certification. We recommend looking for it on the label. Most large brand name pet foods will provide good nutrition for your pets. Keep in mind that the average pet store employee is generally no more trained in nutrition than a high school student. They are often directed by management to push a certain brand for financial, and not pet, health benefits. Advertising can be very misleading. We may think that the appetizing crystal plate of gourmet food placed in front of a perfectly groomed television cat must be the best nutrition. Because we humans purchase our pet foods, appearance and style, can be misleading. We recommend feeding larger brand name foods (no white bag or store brand) with a history of quality control and quality nutrition. Premium brands like Science Diet, Eukanuba, and Iams generally provide more nutrition per mouthful, hence smaller feeding portions and less waste.
One of the things to look for on a label are the phrases “contains” versus “contains one or more of the following”. If a label says the food “contains” a certain list of ingredients, then that is what is in it, in decreasing amounts as listed on the label. If it says “contains one or more of the following”, any one or more, in any proportion, of the listed ingredients may or may not appear in the food. For example, if corn and wheat are both listed, but corn is currently cheaper, you can bet there will be more corn in the product during that manufacturing cycle. While good manufacturers still monitor the relative amounts of essential nutrients in these foods, trying to feed them to an animal with dietary sensitivities can give a roller coaster of good and bad results. What the pet eats and how its digestive system reacts will depend on which ingredients happen to be in the next bag of food.
Kittens and puppies, pregnant and nursing dogs and cats do have specific nutritional requirements. Look for labels specifying that the food can be used for puppies or kittens or “for all life stages”. Pregnant and nursing animals should be fed kitten or puppy food (species appropriate) or “all life stages” foods.
Certain types of foods formulations provide certain benefits for the general population of pets. Increased oils and water content in canned food can help with coat condition. Cats that do not drink enough water can be helped by a higher water content in canned food. The abrasive scrubbing action of chewing a dry food may help with certain dental conditions. When comparing canned and dry foods for nutrient content, it is absolutely necessary to compare them by “dry matter”. Some food manufacturers will provide this information on their website, and rarely on their labels. For example, a dry food may say it is 20% protein and a canned food may say it is 15% protein. However, when you consider that the canned food may contain a lot of water, say 33%, by subtracting out the 1/3rd of the can that is water content, the dry matter protein in the canned food is actually 27%. Be careful when feeding semi moist foods. Many of these have a higher sugar content than canned or dry foods. Diabetes is a very real problem in both dogs and cats.
There is no doubt that pet food manufacturers want to sell pet food. Recommended feeding directions on the food tend to be towards the high, rather than low end of energy requirements. Many nutritional studies are done on animals that are exercised regularly. Many of our house pets are couch potatoes, at least during most of the day while we are away at work or the kids are in school. A bag or can of food gives feeding guidelines for a certain “optimal” weight range. We recommend, especially if your pet is already chubby, to go to the lower end of optimal and monitor your pet closely.
On an ideal weight dog or cat, you should just be able to feel their ribs as you slide your flat hand over their chest wall. If you need to push in to find the ribs, you are feeding to much. If the ribs are pronounced, you can increase their intake. Keep in mind that spayed and neutered animals generally need fewer calories because they no longer have that “breeding burn” of calories. Also, like us, the older our pets become, the fewer calories they need to maintain the same weight.
Young puppies and kittens need to eat three meals a day. Adults generally do best if fed two meals a day. Fixed feeding schedules usually work the best. This not only gives you better control over how much your pet eats, it also helps you stay tuned in to your pet’s appetite level on a twice daily basis. You will recognize health problems affecting appetite much earlier if you know exactly when and how much your pet normally eats.
Cats are not small dogs. They have very unique nutritional requirements and will become very ill if only fed dog food. Cats and dogs are not vegetarians. If you insist on this life style for your pet, we recommend a consultation with a veterinary nutritionist so your pet does not develop significant health problems from an improperly balanced diet. Certain prescription foods used to prevent urate crystals in the urine, may provide an option to reduce animal proteins. At the opposite end of the spectrum, an exclusively all meat diet will result painful bone disease. Meats are high in phosphorus and low in calcium, so an all meat diet “pulls” calcium out of the bones. As wild animals, dog and cat ancestors also ate the contents of their prey’s digestive system (plant material because most prey are herbivores) and gnawed on bones (calcium supply).
Home cooking, if you chose this option, needs to be done with extreme care. Minerals and vitamins, specific amino acid requirements, and micronutrient requirements are all very important. Dogs and cats are not small humans. Our office can recommend some better balanced home cooked diets if you feel you have no alternative. Be cautious with “all natural, no preservative” and especially raw diets. If you chose all natural no preservative foods, be certain to check any expiration dates and purchase foods where you know there is a rapid turnover of product. Look for the freshest product possible (and the AAFCO seal). Raw diets are not recommended by the AVMA. Salmonella and listeria are common, potentially deadly, bacteria often found in raw meats. Certain parasites, such as toxoplasmosis, the tapeworm echinococcus, and liver flukes can also be found in raw meats and fish. If you chose to feed a raw diet, use all the proper raw food safety handling procedures you would for handling raw meats for humans.
Calories of all kinds count, unfortunately, for all of us. Obesity is a “growing problem” in pets as well as humans. We can help you regulate your pet’s weight with proper diet and exercise recommendations, customized for your pet. Of course, you and your family will need to commit to any diet plan we recommend, but we are more than willing to help you with “weigh-ins” and adjusting the diet so you can succeed. We understand pet “begging” and can talk you through ways to reduce their food intake and reduce their “begging” habits. Understanding the “pack mentality” of dogs can help you understand begging. When the alpha wolves (that would be us) eat, the under wolves beg (your pet). Feeding your pets at your mealtime will help alleviate begging. Also recognize that it is not the volume of food you give them for begging that is important, just the fact that you gave them something. You can set a small bowl of broken pieces of treats on a counter for the day’s allotment. That way you can regulate the calories consumed more readily.
For most young healthy dogs and cats, a good commercial food from a well known brand or a premium food will provide excellent nutrition. Many health problems can be significantly helped by properly modified nutrition. As our pet’s age, they, like us, are more prone to develop health problems. We recommend senior pets be examined twice a year and have diagnostic blood and urine screens at least yearly. Cats in kidney failure have been shown to have their lifespans extended for many years when diagnosed early and then eating exclusively a prescription diet designed for their specific needs. There a diets designed for weight reduction, food allergies and sensitivities, diabetes, preventing and dissolving urinary tract stones, liver and heart failure patients, to name a few. We have readily available consultations with pet nutritionists when more than one metabolic problem occurs in your pet. With their guidance, we can develop a unique nutritional plan for your pet.
Pet Selection Counseling
If you are considering a new family member, we are certain you have a lot of questions. Your ability to provide for and time available to spend with and train a new pet can often help you decide what type of pet you should purchase or adopt. At the Animal Hospital at Thorndale, we are here to help you select the best pet(s) for your family and life style.
Fresh water fish certainly can be easy to care for, but still require your attention. The aquarium or pond needs to be a proper size, have proper aeration and filtration and needs periodic cleaning. A hobby pond, stocked with koi or goldfish, can remain open all winter in our area of the country if provided with an operating waterfall or bubbler system and an appropriately sized heater on the coldest of days. The fish can overwinter as long as there is sufficient unfrozen water below the surface and a source of aeration. In the heat of the summer, you will likely need to add water to replace evaporation and to cool the water temperature on the hottest of days. We can refer you to commercial pond installers or discuss DIY options.
Pet rodents and rabbits can also be rewarding pets but take attentive owners to provide proper nutrition and husbandry. We can discuss proper cages, feeding and water and exercise needs and necessary care. Many pocket pet species now have commercially available food and bedding. Supplementing with correct fresh foods and frequent cleaning of cages are needed. Rabbits can be trained to use a litter box. Precautions must be taken in the house so wires and valuable objects are not chewed when handling these pets. Proper handling techniques can be discussed so that these smaller pets do not injure themselves or you.
Cats and dogs are the most common forms of household pets we see. There are advantages to each species and often we will have both in the same household.
Cats tend to be more solitary and independent. For people who need to be gone from the home for extended times during the day or overnight, cats make a wonderful choice. Assuming your cat is young and healthy, given a safe secure water and food supply and clean litter boxes, you can be gone overnight without kenneling or paying a house sitter. If you are gone for longer periods of time, having a friend or neighbor stop by periodically may be sufficient to monitor and provide care. Cats do need socialization and attention and directed play times. Many behavior problems, like house soiling, can be alleviated by providing enriching activities to keep your cat entertained and physically fit. Because they are more solitary animals, having multiple cats is not generally necessary, and too many cats can actually be problematic. Our interactions with our cats are generally less demanding than with a dog. Many adult cats are content to sit on our laps and relax with us after a long day at work whereas a dog is going to require walking and exercising. Different breeds of cats have different “personalities”. Some cats are actually more hypoallergenic that others. Some will require constant brushing and perhaps professional grooming. We can certainly discuss your cat ownership goals and help you select a purebred or mixed breed cat to best fit your household. Always consider adopting a rescue, especially adult cats. Too many of these loving pets have been abandoned and neglected and will readily adjust to your loving home.
Dogs can be incredible fun to own and come in a huge variety of sizes, shapes, coat lengths, and personalities. They definitely take more time and care than cats, but for many the rewards far outweigh the additional commitment. Whereas cats tend to be more independent, dogs tend to be more socially adept. They are instinctively pack animals, so enjoy being in groups, whether with multiple dogs or in households full of people. They do require being fed at least twice daily and walked multiple times during the day. Most adult healthy dogs can be left in the house for a six to eight hour work day. Much longer times require a pet sitter or someone to come over to the house to let them out during the day. All dogs require exercise, though some more than others. The size of the dog, while important to your housing space, does not always dictate the energy level. Surprisingly, for example, a large breed sight hound, such as a greyhound, can be a wonderful apartment companion, if given a daily run. You need to consider grooming when selecting a dog. Can you commit the time and energy to brush out a shedding Malamute or financial resources to pay a groomer? Short coats tend to “stick into” fabrics on furniture while longer coats tend to “dust bunny” across the floors. Certain breeds have reduced shedding and reduced allergic potential. Is this important to your family? Do you want a companion devoted only to you or a dog which is great with children and tolerant of a lot of commotion? Do you want a dog that you can put in a crate to travel with you on an airline or in your car, or would you consider a house sitter or kennel when you travel? Do you have air conditioning to keep a northern breed comfortable through the summer or do you have blankets, dog coats, and are okay with a higher heating bill in the winter with a more “tropical” short coated breed. Do you want a pet that sounds the alarm when someone arrives or is laid back about changes in their environment? Do you have a securely fenced yard or safe area to walk a dog day and night? Are you willing to get up early to walk the dog even on your days off? Many of us have had childhood experiences with certain breeds which also has a substantial bearing on our “ideal dog” concept. Don’t forget there are many, many rescued dogs that need homes. Consider adopting a senior citizen who deserves the love and comfort of a forever home.
Our goal at the Animal Clinic at Thorndale is to help you match an appropriate pet to your home and lifestyle. If you have questions about specific breeds of pets, we can assist you. There are many deserving pets, young and old, that need loving homes. Before purchasing or adopting, be certain you are willing to “do the work” and make the financial commitment to care for your pet throughout its entire life. Keep in mind that even young pets can come with significant hidden health problems. We recommend that, once you have made your decision, that you have your pet examined by a veterinarian as soon as or before you bring it home. If there are already other pets in the house, it is advised that the new addition not be in contact with them until its health can be ascertained. Our veterinary staff can help guide you on the path to appropriate pet selection. We can help you make certain your introduction of a new pet into your home goes smoothly and safely for all.
Pet Behavior Counseling
Behavioral Training is a very important part of pet ownership. At the Animal Hospital at Thorndale, we spend time with new pet owners discussing training and encouraging proper behaviors in their pets. We also work with existing pet behavior problems and can even set up referrals to board certified veterinary behavior specialists. We offer medications, when appropriate, to help alleviate your pet’s anxiety or fear and to help you better establish a working training pattern.Whatever your pet behavior needs, we are here to guide you and assist your pet to become the best pet ever.
Our pets have instinctive evolutionary behaviors, designed to help them survive as wild animals. Using their keen sense of smell and acute vision, scent marking, nesting behaviors, burying urine or stool in soft dirt or sand, rolling in foul smelling disguising scents and predatory behaviors would all fit into this realm of evolutionary behaviors. Added on top of these intrinsic behaviors, humans have manipulated and fine tuned certain behavioral traits by selective breeding programs. Herding dogs like to chase and round up their “property”. Sporting dogs are good at sighting, pointing, and retrieving prey for their owners. Hounds are excellent trackers and bark when on scent. Working dogs can pull carts, protect property and families, and some of the smaller breeds are excellent for hunting burrowing prey or sitting calmly when held in arms. For better or worse, we have moved all these behaviors into our homes and expect our feline and canine friends to somehow understand human rules and human acceptable behaviors. We expect them to get along with multiple species in a confined space, some of which might even be considered potential prey. We expect them to understand our language, facial expressions and tone of voice. All of these are possible, but effective training takes skill, care, patience and positive reinforcement.
Of course, using our pet’s natural instincts can help in training. Crate training works for dogs because a proper crate is like a den or cave for a wolf or fox. These animals quickly learn not to eliminate in their “den”. Similarly, sandy kitty litter is a natural substrate when litter box training a kitten. Puppies and kittens often play with littermates by practicing predatory behaviors. Unfortunately, we and our families are not prey and we need to redirect these behaviors away from us to acceptable objects like toys.
Pets, like humans, learn best with positive reinforcement. This means rewarding appropriate behaviors and redirecting or reshaping incorrect behaviors into ones which deserve a reward. Often we unwittingly encourage bad behaviors. If your pet is jumping on you for attention, shouting and swinging your hands around actually encourages this behavior by generating excitement. Try instead turning your back to your pet with your arms folded against your body. Once your pet stops the unwanted behavior, that is when you give them the earned attention.
Cats should never be taught that human body parts are play objects. Never encourage a cat to chase after moving hands or moving feet under a blanket. Cats are magnificent motion detectors, which makes them excellent predators. If you do not want your 10 pound adult cat jumping out from behind a door to grab onto your calf as you walk by, start immediately by redirecting all pouncing behaviors away from humans to appropriate toys. (Never leave toys with strings attached unattended with a cat in the house. Many cats will ingest long pieces of ribbon or string and need major surgery as a consequence.)
Many dogs do very well with “Nothing in Life is Free” training. The basis of this training is the dog first learns to “sit” on command. Thereafter the dog “sits” for everyone and for everything done to or for him. It establishes the dog’s position in the family “wolf pack” as omega, meaning he needs to do something for us before getting what he wants or needs.
Our office can refer you to a number of area puppy socialization and training classes. Our staff can also make training suggestions about how to work with a variety of behavioral concerns. If you follow the links listed below, there is more information on raising and training puppies and kittens. Adult pets can also “learn new tricks” so the information contained on these pages can also help with older pet behaviors.
For usual or rapidly changing behaviors in pets, we definitely recommend a physical examination and perhaps blood tests and urinalysis, and x-rays to rule out medical problems or painful problems that could be affecting your pet. Pets that pose a potential biting hazards to humans and other pets need to be properly confined until evaluated. Our doctors will be happy to discuss training and behavioral issues with you. In some cases, medications may be dispensed to assist with training or to alleviate a medical problem that is affecting your pet’s behavior. In some cases, we may also recommend a referral to a veterinarian who specializes in behavioral problems.
Common Behavioral Problems - An Ounce of Prevention
There are a number of things you can do with your young puppy to prevent this very common phobia from ever developing. The most important thing is to redirect and reward for appropriate behaviors. If there is a storm and your puppy is looking startled or anxious, redirect its attention to some kind of happy play. Ignore the storm and toss a ball in the house or play with a favorite toy. Soon your puppy will be happily ignoring the noise and lightening flashes. Continue to work with positive rewards during the storm episodes so your dog never associates a storm with a negative event. Once the phobia develops, it is much more difficult to “fix”. You can try hyposensitizing your dog by finding a recording of a thunderstorm to play on your sound system. If your dog reacts, it is a good one. Then you will turn the volume to the lowest level possible and go about normal activities, only paying attention to non-fearful reactions. Over time you will gradually increase the volume. If your dog reacts negatively you do not reward this behavior, rather you stop the sound and back step to a non-reactive level. This takes time and effort. Overtime you can have a high volume and flicker the lights. The idea being that by repeated non-threatening exposures the dog will be hyposensitized to the noise and flashing lights. It is important to ignore and redirect negative behaviors and reward the correct behaviors.
We unwittingly often cause this behavior in our dogs. We love them so much that we make a big deal of our comings and goings, so of course they respond in kind. Prevention is by never making a big show as you leave or return. Hopefully your dog is crate trained and knows it has a “safe” place. A small confined area will feel like a den (like for a wolf). When leaving, escort your puppy to its crate and quietly depart. When you return, do not make a big show. Quietly escort your puppy outside. Rewards are only for calm behaviors like sitting in your presence. If your dog has already learned that your departures are “scarey”, you have some work to do to get them to not be reactive. Baby steps over time work to hyposensitize and reduce your dog’s anxiety. You need to figure out the cues to which your dog is responding. Perhaps picking up the keys or a hand on a doorknob. You then need to make these moves toward departure over and over without responding to the dog until it is no longer reacting. After you [pick up the keys go back and sit down or do some other non-reactive behavior until your dog learns that when you pick up the keys it is not a problem. Gradually, you progress by baby steps to going out the door, starting the car, driving around the block, etc. It is also very important that each time you return you do not greet the dog with excitement. That would only reinforce the absence being a big deal. Only reinforce the correct calm behaviors. Have the dog sit calmly when you return. Once he has regained control you can reward the positive behavior.
There are multiple forms of “aggression” in cats and dogs. Some behaviors are just play and need to be redirected. Training and socializing puppies and kittens will go along way toward preventing problems. Some pets have fear aggression, food aggression, dominance issues, protective issues etc. Each type of aggression needs to have the triggers identified and step by step progression of training to help correct the problem. It is very important that any pet which could potentially bite and injure a human be handled with extreme caution. Even in the hands of a certified veterinary behaviorist not all problems can be solved. Many problems can be prevented by proper training and socialization of puppies and kittens as described above. Our staff will be happy to assist you.
Having a well behaved and trained pet can be a joy for the entire family. Our goal at the Animal Clinic at Thorndale is to provide the best care possible for your pet so that they can be happy healthy members of your household.