Resources for Pet Parents

In addition to the Pet Health Care Library, LVS has provided the following links to websites that provide some useful information on a variety of topics related to veterinary medicine and companion animal health care.  

How to Have Happy, Healthy Cats and Dogs Who are a Joy in All Respects: Follow these LINKS!

• Fear Free Pets
  The Fear Free mission: "To prevent and alleviate fear, anxiety, and stress in pets by inspiring and educating the people who care for them."  Seems like a pretty good idea to us.
  
  
• For info about Pre-Vet/Stressful Event Pharmaceuticals (PVPs) and Why Calming Medications May Be Helpful For Vet Visits Sometimes our canine and feline patients benefit from anti-anxiety medication prior to vet visits, grooming appointments or nail trims at home.  Since physical restraint is the last thing we'd welcome if we were terrified of being handled, receiving a vaccination or having our blood drawn, we avoid the old "how 'em down and get it done" approach with our patients. Our goal is not to sedate our patients with PVPs, but rather to remove their fear to help them be willing and relaxed participants in their own healthcare.
  
  
• Cat Info
  What should I be feeding my cat to keep him or her healthy and avoid common nutrition-related diseases and emergencies? How do I transition my cat from what he or she is eating to what he or she should be eating? This site covers what you need to know about feline nutrition.  We just advise skipping the "raw food" section as it can be difficult to do safely and there are plenty of other good options available.  This site also has bonus info on common feline conditions and perhaps most importantly, the litterbox from your cat's perspective.
  
  
• Guidelines on Selecting Food for Your Pet
  What should I feed my dog? How do I pick a brand of food? What do I look for on a food label?
  
  
• The OSU Indoor Pet Initiative
  From your dog's and cat's basic needs and how to provide for them (e.g. scratching and cats) to toys, perches and everything in between, this is an excellent resource.
  
  
• What Type of Fence Should I Have for My Dog?
  Our detailed explanation of which fence is best and why.
  
  
• How to Find a Qualified Trainer and What to Look For and What to Avoid in a Trainer
  Everything you need to know to choose the correct trainer/training facility. 
  
  
• Training Collars: Why Choke, Prong and Electric Collars are No-Gos
  Please read before you are tempted to resort to a training collar for control.
  
  
• At Attention Dog Training
  Our recommended provider for puppy kindergarten and obedience classes.
  
  
• What A Good Dog 
  Trusted provider of boarding, swimming and training services.
  
  
• Root for Your Dog
  Trusted provider of private training, select areas of behavioral counseling, pet selection and adoption counseling as well as other services.
  
  
• Take the Lead Dog Training
  Trusted provider of private training, select areas of behavioral counseling, pet selection and adoption counseling as well as other services.
  
  
• ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center
  THE resource for any animal poison-related emergency, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. 
  
  
• Companion Animal Parasite Council
  Pets are susceptible to internal and external parasites- click this link to find out which parasites are threats to your dog or cat and how to prevent disease associated with them.
  
  
• Heartworm Society
  Everything you ever wanted to know about heartworm disease can be found here!  And yes, we really do have heartworm disease in Pennsylvania!  This is an easy disease to prevent and a difficult one to treat. Prevent it.  

Tips for Medication Administration

Most importantly- work with a hungry pet! Do not try to administer medications after a meal or if your pet has free access to food throughout the day/night (pick up/limit access to food, particularly DRY food for 4-6 hours prior to PVP administration). 

 *Remember to offer BLANK treat first, then treat containing medication, followed by blank treat*

Always utilize the 1-2-3 (4-5) trick! Prepare 3 to 5 “treatballs,” with one containing the medication. Give 1 or 2 treatballs without the medication. While your pet is swallowing the treat, let him/her see your coming with the next one. Slip in the treatball with the medication, quickly followed by a chaser treatball. 

Good options for hiding the medications are: 1-2 TBS of tuna or sardines with juice, anchovy paste, liverwurst, hot dog, smelly canned food, Gerber’s baby food- chicken or other flavor, whipped cream, Easy Cheese, yogurt, cereal milk, Peanut Butter, Deli meat, small pieces of cooked chicken, turkey, tuna, etc., chicken broth/chicken soup, Marshmallow Fluff, mini marshmallows, Tomlyn Veterinary Science Pill-Masker (can wrap around whole capsule), Pill Pockets (use a bits of one as treats, then cover pill/capsule with small amount of one)- Greenies or Milk Bone Pill Pouch versions.

• Sometimes we need to try quite few different treats to identify the magic treat, which also may change over time.
  
  
• Any dry treat (e.g. Temptations for cats) can be crushed, mixed with a small amount of water and made into a tasty “pill pocket”
  
  
• Sprinkling Purina's Fortiflora (1 sachet) OR parmesan cheese on wet treat or food can be enormously helpful to increase palatability, particularly for cats.

For patients with food allergies/sensitivities:

Hypoallergenic or novel protein Pill Pockets (e.g duck), Tricky TREATS, Hill's Science Diet HypoTreats, Purina Gentle Snackers, Proviable Forte paste or Fortiflora (make a paste with water)- any dry treat can be crushed, mixed with a small amount of water and made into a tasty “pill pocket."

If administering a liquid/oral suspension by syringe, paste/coat the outside of the syringe with something tasty (see above) and let your dog or cat lick the treat while you slowly depress the plunger of the syringe to deposit the oral medication in his/her mouth or check pouch/under tongue, as directed.

Medications often come in various formulations (pill, capsule, oral suspension, transdermal, etc.)- please let us know if you think a different formulation may be more appealing to your pet.