• "A dog has lots of friends because he wags his tail and not his tongue" -Author Unknown
  • "Every boy should have two things: a dog and a mother willing to let him have one." - Anonymous
  • "Whoever said you can't buy happiness forgot little puppies." - Gene Hill
  • A friend is one who knows you and loves you just the same. - Elbert Hubbard
  • "A hug is like a boomerang - you get it back right away." -Bil Keane
  • "A meow massages the heart." - Stuart McMillan
  • "There is more to life than increasing speed." -Mahatma Ghandi
  • "Happiness is where we find it, but rarely where we seek it." - J. Petit Senn
  • "If your horse says no, you either asked the wrong question, or asked the question wrong." - Pat Parelli
  • "There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man." - Winston Churchill
  • "Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole." -Roger Caras
  • "No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle." - Winston Churchill
  • "Agreeable friends - they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms." - George Eliot
  • "To err is human - to forgive, canine."
  • "Money may buy you a fine dog, but only love can make it wag its tail." -Kinky Friedman
  • "Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." - Anatole France
  • "I hope to be the kind of person my dog thinks I am." - Unknown
  • "Horses - if God made anything more beautiful, he kept it for himself." - Author unknown
  • "Are we really sure the purring is coming from the kitty and not from our very own hearts?" - Terri Guillemets
  • "There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face." - Ben Williams

Current Spotlight - Intestinal Parasites

What is a Fecal Exam?

 A fecal examination is the microscopic evaluation of feces. It is recommended for all pets as part of their wellness evaluation every 6 months. The test may also be performed when a pet is showing intestinal symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea.

How is a Fecal Exam performed?

poop


A small amount of fecal matter (less than a teaspoon) is placed in a container with special flotation liquid. After 10 minutes, the top layer of fluid is placed on a slide and viewed under the microscope.

  Each parasite egg has a characteristic appearance that can be distinguished by trained veterinary personnel.

Why is this important?

Intestinal parasites not only cause problems for your pet, many of them can be transmitted to humans!! It is important to screen your pets for intestinal parasites on a regular basis. 

 Even pets on monthly preventative can be exposed to other types of worms and parasites that may not be detected without a fecal exam!

microscope

Worms & More Worms

       There are many different internal parasites ('worms') that can live inside your pet. Prevention of these parasites is important for your pet's health, and in some instances for your family's health as well.

 Intestinal Worms/Parasitesdogworms

There are many types of worms that can live in your pet's intestinal tract and some can cause serious illnesses.

Hookworms - are very small and live in the small intestine. They suck blood and can cause anemia and/or vomiting, weight loss, stunted growth, etc. Puppies/kittens are especially prone to this type of worm.

Roundworms - resemble  pieces of spaghetti. These are also very common in puppies/kittens. These are the worms that can give your pet a pot-bellied appearance.

Whipworms - live in the large intestine and cause anemia,  weight loss, and sometimes bloody diarrhea. They are difficult to detect on a fecal exam. 

Tapeworms - are first eaten by an intermediate host such as a rabbit or flea!  The pet then ingests the flea/rabbit and the developing tapeworms mature inside your pet. Tapeworm infections are often easy to spot because of the white, rice-like segments in your pet's stool or attached to hair near their tail.

Most intestinal worms pass their eggs through your pet's feces into the soil. Some of these parasites also pose a human health risk because they can be transmitted to you from the feces or infected soil.

Fecal Examinations

A fecal exam is recommended every 6 months to screen for parasite infections. Eggs of different types of worms are passed with the feces. The presence and type of worms can be determined with an examination under a microscope.

Unfortunately, a fecal exam can sometimes be negative even if worms are present. The eggs must be currently shedding in the feces in order to find them with a fecal exam. That is why preventative measures and frequent fecal examinations are important.

PREVENTION

Preventative medicine is the foundation to helping our pets live happier and healthier lives. Strategic parasite prevention is an important part of preventative health care for your dog or cat.

There are several  different products available to prevent and control different types of parasites: intestinal worms, heartworms, fleas, ticks etc. Talk to us about which product(s) best suit your individual animal's needs and lifestyle.

Other guidelines for parasite prevention:
 * Don't let your pet play in areas heavily frequented by other dogs or cats.
 * Keep environment free of fleas since they can harbor tapeworm eggs.
 * Keep children away from dog play areas and feces. Make sure to follow good hygiene practices, such as washing hands.
 * Don't let children run around outside in bare feet. Some worm larvae penetrate into the skin from the soil.
 * Change your pet's bedding frequently and wash it during hot weather.
 * Clean up dog stools before they break down in the soil.
 * Have a complete physical,  and fecal flotation exam done by your veterinarian twice a year.
 * The CDC (Center for Disease Control) recommends a fecal exam every 6 months!