Our Veterinarian Gives Pet Boarding Tips

Sometimes you simply cannot take your beloved pet with you on that extended vacation or business trip. Since we offer pet boarding as well as preventative veterinary services, allow us to suggest three things you can do to help both you and your pet adjust to a boarding stay.

1. Choose the boarding facility with care. Does it offer veterinary care in case of an emergency? Can it safely and dependably administer any necessary medications or special diets? Our trained staff at Jefferson Animal Hospital can take care of these things, as well as such routine procedures as scheduled vaccinations or dental checkups. Knowing that your pet is receiving professional veterinary supervision will also enable you to relax and enjoy your trip.

2. “Train” your pet for a pet boarding stay. Has your pet never ventured into a boarding facility or even another person’s home before? If not, then you may want to prepare your pet for the change of scenery. Consider bringing your pet to the boarding facility you plan on using for one or more “sleep-over” visits so he can grow accustomed to the setting and people there. By allowing your pet the chance to get used to the facility, you will make it a known and comfortable place for your pet.

3. Leave your pet with some of their favorite items. Bring along your pet’s favorite toys, blanket or snacks so that your pet will feel more secure and at home until you return. These familiar items with their comforting ‘scents’ will help your pet adjust to being without you.

Your Baton Rouge Pet Boarding Resource

If you need a Baton Rouge pet boarding solution, contact our Jefferson Animal Hospital today or stop by for a tour. We provide both the personal care and any veterinary attention your pet needs until you return.

Has your pet been boarded before? What favorite items or toys do you make sure to ‘pack’ for your pet?

Baton Rouge Vet
Shares Animal Emergency Symptoms

Our Baton Rouge animal emergency team has assembled a list of five pet symptoms that require immediate veterinary attention. If your pet shows any of the following signs, do not delay! Call for instructions, then come in for pet urgent care as quickly as possible. In any emergency, it is critical to recognize the symptoms, stay calm and act quickly.

Five Signs that Require Immediate Attention
from our Veterinarian

1. Difficulty Breathing—This could point to anything from severe allergic reactions to poisoning. Your pet may also be choking on a foreign object. Call us for first aid instructions and then bring your pet to our veterinarian immediately.

2. Bloated, Painful Abdomen—This could signal an intestinal blockage, kidney failure, or poisoning, and can be very dangerous for your pet if quick action is not taken. If you notice this symptom, bring your pet in to our animal hospital without delay.

3. Seizures—If a pet starts shaking uncontrollably, remove any sharp, dangerous objects from the area and send children and other pets out of the room. Speak in a soothing voice and try to stay calm, since your stress could cause the seizure worsen. As soon as you can get the pet calmed down, bring him or her in for veterinary care.

4. Severe Bleeding—An injured pet may bite, so muzzle him or her first, then try to stop the bleeding. If you cannot stop the bleeding with firm pressure using gauze or a towel, do not remove the saturated gauze you have applied (so as not to remove any clots that have formed); simply add more gauze or towels around the first ones.

5. Unresponsiveness—If your pet collapses and does not respond to any stimuli, bring him or her in immediately.

Other symptoms that warrant immediate attention are severe pain and vomiting or diarrhea (especially with blood). You know your pet best; if you ever feel that something is wrong, you should never hesitate to call for help!

Do you have any questions about any of these symptoms, or any other symptoms?

Rabies: How It Affects Pets and Humans

Here at Jefferson Animal Hospital in Baton Rouge, we are pleased to provide for all of your pet's veterinary needs, from pet boarding to pet surgery to the vital vaccinations. We call vaccinations, especially the rabies vaccine absolutely vital because it is literally a lifesaver for pets. All pets must get the rabies vaccination, so this is one of the most common vaccinations that we do here at Jefferson Animal Hospital. The rabies vaccine is so important that it is actually required by law. We want you and your pet to be protected from the deadly consequences of going without this simple vaccine. It takes only a few minutes and will have lifelong benefits and protection from infection.

Our Baton Rouge Animal Hospital Discusses Rabies

As your Baton Rouge veterinarian it is important to us that we explain what rabies is, and why we encourage all of our animal hospital patients to get the vaccination. Rabies is a deadly disease that can be spread via animal bites (it lives in saliva). If an animal is bit by an animal infected with the rabies virus, there is no cure and death will almost always follow. If a person contracts the rabies virus, they must get treatment in the form of a series of shots but rabies is not always fatal to humans. In Asia, Africa, and Latin America, however, the Center for Disease Control says that tens of thousands of people still die due to rabies infection each year.

It is easy to prevent rabies since we offer two types of vaccinations (the one year and the three year vaccine). The inoculation itself is a very short process, and your pet will generally be back to their regular behavior immediately. The vaccination is performed with very fine needles to minimize pain, and our caring and loving staff will soothe your pet during the shot to minimize any stress or discomfort the animal may be feeling.

Do you have any questions about rabies? Please let us know!

Advice from Our Baton Rouge Veterinarian

Is your dog or cat getting larger and larger, or are you worried that it might happen? Obesity in pets can be caused by a number of conditions and can increase your pet’s risk for certain diseases. Here are some steps you can take to prevent or correct pet obesity:

Get them medically checked. Some cases of weight gain may be related to a hyperactive thyroid gland. The thyroid produces hormones that regulate the metabolism. A thyroid deficiency can leave you with an overweight animal, but our animal clinic can work with you to prescribe medications that can help. Kidney or heart trouble can also lead to bloating, which may look like weight gain.

Stop feeding them “human food.” Dogs and cats love table scraps and will often beg and plead for them until you give in. Be strong! The foods we prepare for ourselves are usually much higher in fat that most pets’ bodies can tolerate, so not only will your pet pack on the pounds, but he will also face elevated health risks associated with an unbalanced diet. Train your pet to be content with his regular portions of dog or cat food.

Learn more about your pet's specific needs. Puppies, kittens and elderly animals all have different health challenges and pet food companies make different formulas for each, so choose your pet food accordingly. If your pet skips a meal, do not panic right away -- animals eat when they are hungry instead of always following the clock. If your pet skips several meals, however, he may be ill and in need of a veterinarian.

Our Animal Clinic Can Help with Pet Obesity

If you need advice on proper pet nutrition and other pet wellness issues, visit us at Jefferson Animal Hospital here in Baton Rouge. We can determine your pet’s ideal weight and recommend the proper nutritional and lifestyle habits to keep him slim and trim!

What steps do you take to keep your pet fit and healthy? How did you get them to stop begging for people food?

Protect Your Pet from Toxic Foods

Some foods that are perfectly safe for humans to eat are toxic to your pets. It's important to know what foods can be dangerous to your pet's health so that you avoid a trip to the animal emergency room and the need for pet urgent care. Our veterinarian and team of technicians offer Baton Rouge pet wellness care to keep your pets as healthy as possible. Keep an eye out for the following foods to protect your pet.

Pet Wellness Care Includes Avoiding Toxic Foods

Chocolate and food that contain caffeine are dangerous to pets. Caffeinated foods and drinks contain chemicals called methylxanthines. If your dog ingests these foods, he may experience nausea and diarrhea, requiring a trip to the animal clinic. Other symptoms of methylxanthines ingestion include an abnormal heart beat and seizures.

Our veterinarian recommends not feeding your pet uncooked, yeasted bread dough. Since the yeast is still alive, the dough can continue to rise in your pet's digestive system, causing stomach upset. In some cases, the stomach or intestine can even rupture. You may feed your pet cooked bread, but only in very small amounts. If you are unsure, check with our team at Jefferson Animal Hospital.

Some fruits, such as grapes and avocados, are poisonous to pets. Persin, a chemical in the skin and flesh of avocados, can make your dog very sick. A chemical in grapes can cause kidney failure, especially if your pet already has health problems. If your dog or cats ingests any fruits you are unsure about, bring him to our animal clinic in Baton Rouge right away for care and treatment.

Other foods that can be dangerous to pets include onions and garlic, alcohol, and macadamia nuts. Just as you wouldn't eat raw meat or eggs, avoid feeding them to your pet. You should also avoid giving your pets salty foods or foods that contain artificial sweeteners such as xylitol.

Pet wellness is essential your pet's overall health. What do you do to protect your pet from toxic foods?