Capitaland Animal Hospital

02/14/2025

Happy Valentine's Day!

02/14/2025

02/14/2025

As you prepare beautiful bouquets for your loved ones, don’t forget to choose pet-safe flowers so every member of the home—furry friends included—can safely enjoy the gift of love! 🌸🐾

02/13/2025

Tooth resorption is when a cat’s body starts breaking down and absorbing the hard tissue of their teeth (like enamel and dentin). Over time, this can cause damage to the teeth, often starting at the roots and working its way up.

How common is it?
This condition is common, affecting more than 50-75% of cats over 4 years old

Symptoms to Watch For:
Cats are sneaky about dental pain, but here are some possible signs.
1. Drooling.
2. Trouble eating or avoiding dry food.
3. Pawing at their mouth or face.
4. Red, inflamed gums (especially near the affected tooth).
5. Tooth loss or broken teeth.
6. Bad breath—no judgment, but if it smells worse than usual, it’s worth checking.

What Causes It?
The exact cause is a mystery (cats love their secrets), but some potential culprits include:
• Genetics: Some cats might just be more prone to it.
• Diet and oral health: Issues with calcium, plaque, or tartar could contribute.

Treatment Options:
Unfortunately, tooth resorption isn’t reversible. But don’t panic—here’s how your vet can help:
1. Tooth Extraction: If the damage is severe, the affected tooth will need to be removed.
2. Pain Management: Your vet may prescribe medication to keep your kitty comfy during recovery.
3. Regular Dental Care: Prevention is key! Professional cleanings and at-home care (like brushing or dental treats) can help protect your cat’s teeth.

💡 Pro Tip: Cats need regular dental checkups, especially as they age. A lot of cats with tooth resorption don’t show obvious signs of pain, so dental X-rays during routine checkups can catch it early.
Image & content from
Cornell Feline Health Center

02/13/2025

02/13/2025

If you or your Valentine have pets, please choose a Valentine’s Day gift very wisely! Avoid toxic or hazardous gifts!

Learn more about toxic and non-toxic flowers here: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants

More Valentine’s Day do’s and don’ts for pet parents here: https://aercmn.com/valentines-day-dos-and-donts-for-pet-parents

02/13/2025

Did you know? Tomorrow is Pet Theft Awareness Day. This is an excellent time to give some useful tips on how you can prevent your dog from becoming a statistic.

https://hubs.ly/Q036485H0

02/12/2025

02/12/2025

‼️‼️Pet Owners! If your pet's microchip was registered with SaveThisLife.com, your pet's data is NO LONGER REGISTERED!!!

If your pet is lost, the scanned chip won't bring up data so that veterinarians or shelters can learn who your pet belongs to.

Read here to find out more and to learn what to do to get your pet's microchip registered again. https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/pet-owners-urged-to-re-register-microchips-after-company-shuts-down

02/12/2025

Please be especially aware of sugar-free treats made with xylitol which can be deadly to your pet.

02/11/2025

So sad! Beware of the danger of some common household items.

This grieving family lost their beautiful pup two weeks ago when he suffocated in a plastic container of Animal Crackers, leaving them heartbroken. Alyssa Davey writes, "R***r, our “mini” Australian Shepherd, had just turned 7 - only 10 days before we experienced a devastating accident. My husband and I have two small children and another “mini” Australian Shepherd who is preparing for ACL surgery. Life is hectic as we get ready each day, making sure everyone gets where they need to go, shutting all the doors, and ensuring nothing is left out that the dogs could get into. Like many families with young kids, we often have typical toddler and kid snacks around the house.

I want to help raise awareness about the dangers of plastic containers, as well as plastic bags. No matter how well-trained, dogs are animals, and at the end of the day, they will do what animals do. We had left out a plastic, bear-shaped animal cracker container - something we had done countless times before. Despite the lid being on tightly, R***r managed to chew it off while we were at work, and he got his head stuck. By the time my husband got home, it was too late.

My husband, like many men, carries a pocket knife and keeps it sharpened regularly. Even with that, he found it much more difficult than it should have been to cut open the container. He was left with cuts all over his hands, and nearly two weeks later, he still finds himself looking down at them—painful reminders of the horrible scene he walked in on and how hard he tried to save our baby.

Our vet was incredibly supportive and compassionate, but even they couldn’t do anything to save R***r.

I have filed a complaint with the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Yes, the container should not have been left out, and the guilt eats us alive. But no container should be that difficult to cut open. Not only do I hope to prevent another dog—or any animal—from suffering this way, but awareness also needs to be raised for children, who could just as easily get trapped in a container like this.

We miss our boy more than anything in the world. He was the happiest, most attention-stealing, ball-loving, fetch-playing, best boy ever."

We have had reports of several dogs who have suffocated in containers similar to this bear-shaped one that holds animal crackers. We urge everyone to keep all food bags and food containers safely out of reach of your pets. Though the family did the right thing by keeping the lid on tightly, R***r was determined to access the container. All pets can be unpredictable at times - so we always need to exercise caution to prevent pet suffocation. Please share in honor of sweet R***r, gone too soon.
www.preventpetsuffocation.com

02/11/2025

Keep the chocolate out of your pet's reach this Valentine's Day! Please don't leave chocolate boxes on the table or counter. Learn more about chocolate toxicity in dogs here: https://aercmn.com/why-is-chocolate-toxic-to-my-dog/

02/11/2025

02/11/2025

Find out how massage can help improve your dog’s health and well-being, from calming anxiety to easing pain. 👇
https://animalwellnessmagazine.com/how-massage-can-benefit-your-dog