Vitamin Supplements for Senior Dogs

As a general rule, a dog that is 7 years old or older is considered to be senior.  At this stage of life, it is usually recommended to start feeding a food that is formulated for older dogs. If you have an older dog in your family is also a good idea to discuss dietary supplements with your veterinarian. As dogs age they tend to absorb fewer vitamins.  Some animals also tend to eat less when they get older.  Whether this is caused by dental disease or just a general decrease in appetite, the result is lower nutrient intake. Feeding the dog more is generally not a good idea, as weight gain can be a problem for dogs later in life. A dietary supplement will provide the dog with the vitamins and minerals he needs to help him combat the aging process, without the extra calories.
Even if you don't notice anything different about your older dog, that doesn't mean that there aren't changes taking place. It is best to prevent any problems before they happen, and one way to do this is to provide a nutritional supplement. Ask about our Golden Years supplement for dogs during your next visit to VACC. If your dog has a blood clotting disorder, diabetes, or a history or urinary stones it is important to speak with your veterinarian before starting any supplements.
Unfortuantely we all have to get older, but we can make it easier on our pets by providing the proper care.

Post Surgical Care

Recently a client came to pick up her puppy after the dog's laparoscopic spay.  Both the client and her dog were so excited to be together again.  As we were discussing post surgical care, it was clear that she was distracted.  She had spent the day worrying about her baby, and she just wanted to take her home.  It is common for people to be so eager to get their pet home after a surgical procedure, that they forget everything they talked about during the discharge. If your pet had a procedure here at Veterinary Associates of Cape Cod, we would send home printed instructions on post surgical care. If you misplace this sheet, or have any questions at all, feel free to give us a call at (508) 394-3566.

Here are some basic things to remember when caring for a pet after surgery (laparoscopic or otherwise):

• Check the incision daily for swelling, pain, odor, or discharge.
• Make sure your pet doesn't drink too much water when you get home.  They can be fed their normal diet the same evening, but don't be alarmed if they don't want to eat right away.  Call the hospital if your pet doesn't eat for 2 days in a row.
• If your pet starts to lick or chew at the incision, put an e-collar on them as soon as possible.
• Restrict activities like running, jumping (this includes jumping into the car), playing roughly with other animals, and climbing stairs for 7-10 days.
• No bathing or swimming for 10 days.
• If your pet's incision has internal sutures they will eventually dissolve on their own, but this could take several months.  Don't worry if you can feel the sutures under the skin.  If your pet received external sutures, you will need to come back to the hospital to have them removed  in 2 weeks. 
• Make sure to start any medications as directed by your veterinarian.  These are prescribed to help speed up your pet's healing process.
• Call the hospital if you notice any of the following:
• Loss of appetite for more than 2 days
• Refusal to drink water for more than 1 day
• Weakness or depression
• Vomiting of diarrhea after the first 24 hours

Post surgical complications are rare, but unfortunately they do sometimes occur.  If you are unsure about any aspect of your pet's care after a surgery, call your veterinarian.

Things to do with your dog on Cape Cod

If you, like many of us, think of your pets as family members, consider including your dog the next time you plan a vacation or day trip.  Remember to keep your pet's individual personality in mind.  Some pets would rather stay at home with a pet sitter, but some love to go to new places.

Many Cape Cod hotels and campgrounds allow dogs, although some do require an extra fee for pets.  Click here for a list of  pet friendly lodging on Cape Cod.

Most Cape Cod beaches allow dogs during the off season, but during the summer months the rules change.  Leashed dogs are allowed on some beaches during the summer, including the Cape Cod National Seashore, and the town beaches of Provincetown.  From 6 am to 9 am during the summer in Provincetown, you can let your dog run off leash.  Provincetown is also home to an off leash dog park, the Pilgrim Bark Park.

If you think your dog might enjoy a boat ride, consider a whale watch, or a Cape Cod Canal cruise.  If shopping is your thing, the Black Dog General Stores in Chatham, Falmouth, and Provincetown, and Hot Diggity in Mashpee and Osterville allow well-mannered, leashed dogs. 

Cape Cod is also home to several outdoor restaurants including Cobie's Outdoor restaurant in Brewster,

 and P.J.'s Family Restaurant in Wellfleet.

Remember to check with your destinations beforehand to make sure your dog is welcome, and be a responsible pet parent.  Always have control of your dog, and clean up after them.

Have a great summer from everyone at VACC!

Eco-Friendly Cat Litter

Cat litter can be a significant part of the cost of owning an indoor cat.  Litter made of clay, whether clumping or not, has a much higher cost to the environment.  The clay that goes into cat litter is the product of strip mining.  This process destroys the soil and vegetation of the area, and leaves behind land that is barren for generations.  Clay cat litter also takes up space in our landfills.
Fortunately, there are alternatives.  The following plant-based litters are all made from renewable resources, and are probably the most environmentally friendly options available.
World's Best Cat Litter is made from corn.  This clumping litter is biodegradable as well as flushable.  For those who wish to avoid using products that contain GMOs, this litter may not be the best choice, as corn is one of the most common GM crops.
Swheat Scoop is a clumping litter made from wheat.  The naturally occuring enzymes in the wheat neutralize odors.  Currently there are no GM varieties of wheat being grown.
Feline Pine comes in clumping and non-clumping formulas.  This litter is made from the pine shavings that are a byproduct of the lumber industry.  This company has a "Pine Perks" program that allows customers to collect and redeem points that they can exchange for things like donations to the ASPCA or reforestation programs.
Blue Naturally Fresh comes in clumping and non-clumping varieties, both of which are made from walnut shells.
Yesterday's News is a non-clumping litter made from recycled newspaper.

Being conscious of where your cat's litter comes from is a big step toward going green, but is just as important to think about where the litter goes after your cat is done with it.  If you choose to compost your litter, make sure it is far away from your vegetable garden.  Be careful about flushing the litter as well.  Currently there is a problem in California with sea otters becoming infected with toxoplasmosis.  This is thought to be a direct result of flushed cat feces.

Is it Safe for Dogs to Eat Grass?

Those new shoots of grass that are popping up this time of year are very tempting for some pets. No one is really sure why cats and dogs eat grass. Some do it when they aren't feeling well, and some just seem to like it as a snack. Whatever the reason, it is generally not a good idea to allow them to graze on the lawn.
The biggest danger is the artificial fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides that are sprayed on many lawns. Lawn chemicals have been linked to malignant lymphoma, and bladder cancer in dogs, and hyperthyroidism in cats. Ingestion of these chemicals can also affect your pet's nervous system and cause symptoms such as dilated pupils, lethargy, and tremors. If you suspect that your pet has been poisoned by a lawn chemical or anything else, immediately contact the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
Another hazard of eating grass is the possibility of infection with intestinal parasites like roundworms.

If you just can't say no to that adorable face, try using a pet safe, OMRI approved product on your lawn, or you can grow some grass for them inside using wheatgrass seeds.

It's Flea and Tick Season

As warmer weather approaches, people are spending more time outside with their pets. This means there is an increased chance of flea and tick bites. Because we don't have very long periods of freezing temperatures on Cape Cod, your pet is still at risk of picking up fleas and ticks even during the colder months. For this reason, the doctors at VACC recommend year round flea and tick prevention. If your pet has not been on these preventatives all year, now is the time to start back up again.

Not only can fleas make your pet itchy and cause anemia, but they can carry diseases like Bartonella (also known as "cat scratch disease"), and parasites such as tapeworms. Ticks harbor many diseases as well, including Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.

At VACC we recommend monthly treatment with Canine Advantix II for our canine friends. This product not only kills fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes, but it repels them too, so most of the time they don't even get a chance to bite. For our feline friends we recommend Revolution. While this product is not 100% effective against ticks, we feel it is the best option because it prevents fleas, feline heartworm, ear mites, roundworm, and hookworm.

If you have any questions or concerns about fleas and ticks, ask your veterinarian, or contact us here at VACC.

Think Twice Before Buying a Pet for Easter

Many people are tempted to bring home a new pet for Easter. Rabbits, chicks, and ducklings are hard to resist when they are babies, but it is important to remember that these animals will require years of care and attention. Every year shortly after Easter, animal shelters across the country are overwhelmed with unwanted rabbits, chickens, and ducks. Unfortunately, many of these animals are euthanized due to lack of space in the shelters.

Here are some things to keep in mind before you buy that cute Easter pet:

• Rabbits require a lot of space to run, dig, and play. They will not thrive if they are living in a hutch 24 hours a day.


• Rabbits, and especially chickens, and ducks all crave social interaction with others of their own kind. If you are adding just one animal to your family, be sure you have enough time to play and interact with him or her.


• Rabbits can be expensive to own. Their diet should consist of hay, and fresh vegetables as well as rabbit pellets. Veterinary care will often be more expensive than it would for a cat or dog because many animal hospitals consider them to be exotic pets.


• While rabbits can be trained to use a litterbox, chickens and ducks will eliminate where they happen to be standing when they get the urge.


• Rabbits do not always make good pets for children. Younger children may not understand the proper way to pick up their pet rabbit, and may accidentally injure them.

Should you decide that a new pet is the right choice for your family this Easter, please consider adopting from a local shelter or rescue.