Parkside Animal Health Center

02/21/2025

February is almost over...but it's still Pet Dental Health Month so let's talk about dental accidents!

Most pets don’t show any outward sense of distress/discomfort, so it is really important to peek inside their mouths from time to time at home. 🦷 😳

This dog had a badly broken lower canine tooth. The x-ray shows that the pulp, or center of the tooth, is broken completely open and exposed to the “outside world“, making it a source of pain and infection.

The tooth was removed surgically, confirmed via post-op x-rays, and closed with absorbable stitches to help it heal.

If you notice anything funky like this going on in your dogs mouth, get them in for an exam to be evaluated. They will appreciate it!

02/20/2025

Did you know that February 20th is National Love your Pet Day? 🥳 (that’s today!)

Beyond the every day love and care you provide your pet, below are some ideas for what you can do to make them feel even more special on this day!

1. Upgrade their pet toys: finding a new or stimulating toy for your furry friend may be the perfect way to brighten their day! Try to find something high quality that will last a long time, as opposed to being shredded in a week 🧸

2. Spend quality time with them: our furry friends cherish the time they get to spend with us. Why not sit back and watch a movie with them? You could take them on their favorite hike. Or for cats, engage in play with their favorite toy for active play!

3. Give them a special treat: lots of pets get enjoyment out of getting homemade dog biscuits, snap peas, carrots (or other pet friendly vegetables), plain cooked salmon or even cooked eggs!

4. Get creative: have a photo shoot, teach your pet a new trick, have a doggie spa day- the options are endless

Moral of the story: your pets love spending time with you and they deserve to be reminded about how much you love them 💕

02/14/2025

Love is in the air, and Bixby the Chinchilla wants to know if you’ll be his Valentine? ♥️

A few reminders for today:

🍫 Chocolates are delicious, and a common gift on this day, but chocolate is toxic to both cats and dogs— keep it away from them at all costs!

✋ Xylitol is found in many candies and gums, it is deadly to dogs, so please make sure your furry friends do not have any access to your sweets 🍭

🌸 Lillies and some other flowers are toxic to cats, and some varieties are toxic to dogs as well

🕯 Pets and open flames do not mix, and some scents can cause trouble for their sensitive noses. Keep candles on the romantic dinner table and out of pets reach, and extinguish when you’re not around!

We hope you have a beautiful And safe Valentines Day! 💕

02/07/2025

Blech… Marley here does NOT want anything to do with Birch Sugar! 🍬

Birch Sugar has been proven to be the same thing as Xylitol, which as we covered earlier this week is TOXIC to pets. It is rapidly absorbed into the body and can cause vomiting, collapsing and seizures.

It is most commonly found in gum, candy, ice cream, gummy vitamins, human liquid gabapentin, breath mints and PEANUT BUTTER. 😮

When shopping for treats for you pets, please check the ingredients and stay away from anything that is labeled “sugar free” or “diabetic friendly” (especially peanut butter) .

Please read the link below to learn more about what the negative effects of birch sugar on pets can be! And let’s learn together what we can do to protect our furry friends 💕

https://vetmedbiosci.colostate.edu/vth/animal-health/birch-sugar-is-the-same-thing-as-xylitol-and-its-toxic-to-dogs/

02/01/2025

🐾 February is Pet Dental Health Month!🐾

Dental health is just as important for pets as it is for humans!

Did you know...most dogs have 42 teeth, and most cats have 30.

It is amazing what can happen when their mouths are not maintained regularly, whether that be brushing their teeth multiple times a week, or coming for annual/semi-annual dental cleanings.

Full mouth dental x-rays are standard with every dental procedure we do at Parkside Animal Health Center.

We evaluate all of the structures above and below the gum line, to make certain we don’t miss anything. See below examples of a typical Dog and typical Cat full mouth X-Ray!

01/20/2025

Chilly and slick as it may be, snow can present such a fun opportunity for pets to show off their personalities! ❄️

Some pets get the zoomies and fly into snowbanks, some get pure enjoyment out of rolling around and making snow angels, while some prefer to stay inside cozy by the fire 🔥

This little pup enjoys going on snowy hikes with her dad and showing off how beautiful it can be with aesthetic photos 🥰 (look at those paw prints!!)

Show us here at Parkside what YOUR pets like to do on a snow day! 💕

01/14/2025

It’s also no surprise that we all LOVE to take photos of our furry, feathered, or scaly friends.

In fact, I’d say, that since the invention of the camera phone, we’re all downright obsessed.

And for good reason! They are so cute, silly, and certainly entertaining. 🥰😍😂
So show us some love and post a picture of your photogenic (or not-so-photogenic) pets!

Trust me, we ALL want to see them! 📸🐶🐱🐭🐹🐰🐷🐸🐣🦆🐴🦎🐍🐢

01/10/2025

HOPPY FRIDAY! 🦮🦘

We hope this cute video will JUMP start your weekend with a smile! 😂

01/04/2025

We LOVE Mutts and what better way to bring in the New Year!

This beauty is Greta and she is a mixed breed love from the Bahamas.

Show us some of your favorite mutts below and share some of your favorite mixed breeds! 🥰♥️🐶🐕🐩🦮🐕‍🦺👇

12/28/2024

That sleep Saturday feeling… 💤

12/23/2024

The holiday season is here, and with it are many unexpected hazards for your pets that we wanted you to keep in mind. 🤔

🌿 Poinsettias, Mistletoe and Lilies are toxic to our furry friends

🎉 Holiday Decor to watch out for includes:
- Tinsel, Glitter, Streamers or Ornament Hooks can be choking hazards
- Ribbons, Bows and Wrapping paper can tangle up your pet
- Ornaments and Christmas lights are shiny and enticing, make sure to pick up any broken pieces and cover up light cords

🎄 Christmas Tree water can be dangerous for animals, if the water is stagnant it can cause bacteria growth.

🍭Keep Holiday Treats out of reach - do not share table scraps, as you do not want animals to ingest dangerous ingredients

🥂 Do not leave alcoholic beverages or ma*****na products unattended, since curious pets may sample them

🏠 Holiday Parties where guests are over can create a very stressful environment for animals. Make sure to close all doors (garage doors too) behind you to ensure that your fur babies aren't given to opportunity to escape. If your animal does better being isolated during these times, make sure they have a comfortable "safe zone" such as a kennel, bedroom or bathroom.

✅ To try and assist with stress levels, you can play calm music in the background for your pet. You can also use Feliway/Adaptil sprays, collars or wall plug ins. Thunder shirts are also a good option for our anxious friends, and can provide both comfort and a cute fashion statement!

💥Fireworks are common around New Years, and are very frightening for our animals. Keep pets inside during fireworks to prevent injuries. If your pet has a fear of loud noises, you can talk with your veterinarian about medications to help, and plan to stay around them during the holiday to provide comfort and reassurance.

The holiday season is a beautiful time to get together with family and friends. But remember, our pets are family too.

Lets do everything that we can to keep them safe! ❄️

12/23/2024

📢Pet Safety Tips for Holiday Decor 📢

The Holidays are here and will hopefully bring lots of cheer, but one thing to keep in mind before the end of the year...

Holiday decor can be very dangerous to our furry little ones. Here are some things to watch out for:

🎊 choking hazards such as tinsel, glitter, streamers or Christmas ornament hooks

🎁 ribbons or bows and wrapping paper can tangle up your pet

🎄water from Christmas trees can be harmful and garland pine needles can get stuck in noses

🌺 poinsettias and mistletoe are toxic to pets

🍫 keep holiday treats out of reach

🔌 cover cords from lights, so they aren’t chewed on⚡️

Please keep a close eye on your little furry friends this holiday season so we can help ensure a safe and happy end to this year.

11/13/2024

When was the last time you double-checked your pet's microchip? 🤔

Inevitably, pets get out of the house or yard. Some slip out of their collar and leash from time to time. To ensure that your furry family members are able to be found, a microchip is highly recommended for their safe return to you.

💉 Microchipping is a safe and easy procedure, that can be done at your vet, where a grain-of-rice-sized microchip is inserted between the shoulder blades. It’s placed there with a needle and syringe and can be scanned at veterinary offices and shelters.

⛓ They will provide you with a link or brochure that has the information for where to register your pet online.

🔑 The KEY to successfully having your microchipped pet returned to you, is making sure the address, phone and name information are up to date. That way if your pet is found, they have the correct number on file to call and a correct address listed for you.

This link can help you update your microchip info:
http://www.petmicrochiplookup.org/

We want to keep your pets with you in the safety of your home. Please consider microchipping your furry friends or confirming that their info is up to date if they are already chipped. 🥰

Have a great day!

11/03/2024

It’s Animal Shelter Appreciation Week! 🎉

Share the story of your shelter animals with us below! 📖🐶🐱🐭🐹🐰🐸🐍🦎🐢

10/29/2024

We share this for those in Colorado still trying to read between the lines on the dangerous Prop 129. Please understand this is NOT set up to benefit pets, pet owners or farmers. In its current form, it endangers animal health and welfare. We urge you to learn more about this below.

Our veterinary patients deserve high-quality care. Colorado’s proposed Veterinary Professional Associate (VPA) would lower the standard for veterinary services and put animal health and safety at risk.

10/25/2024

Let's talk laser therapy! 🙋‍♀️

Laser therapy/treatment can be used with (or in place of medication) to help manage pain, inflammation, and wound healing.
At Parkside, we use a class 4 K-laser which can help a pet with:

👉 Increased blood flow and bringing in more oxygen to cells that are involved in the healing process

👉 Muscle relaxation, reducing inflammation and endorphin release

👉 Promoting faster healing and repair in the body (including after surgery)

👉 Arthritis

👉 Tendon/Ligament injuries or traumatic injuries

When we treat your pets, a handheld wand (see picture) is slowly moved back and forth around the affected area, and produces a warm sensation.

Your pet will also look very stylish in their own pair of protective goggles (check out the photo below)!

We have many pets that come in every week, or sometimes even bi-weekly to get treatment, and most of them find the process relaxing and seem more peppy after!

We also provide treatment after all spays and neuters, to help start the incision site's healing process.

10/21/2024

It’s that time of year again, when tricks 😈and treats🍫🍬are at an all time high. That means preparing to keep your pet safe too.🐶💕

🎃 Here are some helpful tips and reminders to keep your pet safe during the festivities. And remember to keep a careful eye on your little furry loved ones. There are always opportunities for mischief to be had. 👀🐱

🚫 Keep pets away from sweets and candy (especially chocolate).

🍬 If you live in a neighborhood that may get trick-or-treat-ers, or plan to have people over, be careful when opening your door, that your pets do do escape.

📇 Make sure your pets are wearing a collar with an identification tag and correct phone number or have a microchip ,so they can be easily found if they do sneak out.

🐈‍⬛ Be aware that unfortunately, some pets are subject to pranksters, particularly black cats. Please keep your pets indoors whenever possible during this time.

🎉 Remember that decorations and strings of lights can be hazardous to your pet. Try to keep cords hidden and streamers or confetti out of reach.

🎭 Be mindful that your pets Halloween costumes are not too tight or uncomfortable for your pets.

🥰 We hope this helps keep your furry friends out of trouble this Halloween!