Powder Ridge Veterinary Hospital

12/02/2024

Powder Ridge Post, December 2024

National Cat Lover’s Month

Did you know that December is National Cat Lover’s Month? Cats are such unique creatures! While they are independent and stoic, they can also be very affectionate and loving. They’re great listeners, have long life spans, and provide endless entertainment.

Cats are unique and require special attention and care. Many of our feline friends live indoors and need constant enrichment to keep them active and healthy. We like to provide our hospital cat, Whilby, with plenty of things to keep him busy! He has two cat trees strategically placed in front of windows that look out at our bird feeders. He loves watching birds and chipmunks munching away on their sunflower seed snacks! We also provide him with plenty of toys, with and without catnip. He’s especially frisky at the end of the day while we are cleaning and getting ready to close for the night. Puzzle feeders are also great for helping to maintain your cat’s weight while providing them mental stimulation. Make sure you offer your feline friend a high quality food. Canned food is great for their bladder and kidney health and generally contains less calories than dry food. Treats are okay, but everything in moderation! You can offer treats with other benefits, like Greenies, which taste great and can aide in oral health. While your cat may not go outside, they are still at risk for medical illness and should have a yearly physical with their veterinarian. They age much faster than we do, and one year for them is like four to seven years for us. Imagine not seeing your doctor for seven years! Cats are stoic and easily hide when they aren’t feeling well. Monitoring for subtle changes is important and can help catch many medical issues early. Routine check ups can help your kitty to live a long and healthy life!

Holiday Do’s and Don’ts

The holiday rush is upon us! Some quick tips to remember include keeping human food like onions, grapes, raisins, and chocolate away from your pets, not letting your pet play with tinsel, keeping wires, batteries, and glass ornaments out of your pet’s reach, and don’t let them drink Christmas Tree water. Use caution with candles and hot wax warmers, pet’s can easily burn themselves. Make sure your trash lids are secure and you take the trash out of the house whenever possible. Last, but not least, while we enjoy our gatherings and parties, our pets may not understand the loud noises or increase in visitors. Offer them a safe, quiet place to retreat to, and if needed, ask your doctor for a refill of your pet’s calming medication.

If you’re looking for some gift ideas for you or your friend’s furry companion, you might consider a new bed or blanket to help ward off the colder months. Or, maybe a special photo or ornament from Shutterfly, a monthly subscription to Barkbox or KitNipBox, or…if you’re into DIY…put your skills to the test and make a variety of pet-safe holiday treats. You may also consider getting a gift certificate to your pet’s Veterinary Hospital.

However you end up celebrating, we wish you a safe and happy Pawliday Season!

11/28/2024

11/26/2024

Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving! Our office will be closing early on Wednesday November 27th at 4:00pm and closed Thanksgiving Day November 28th. We are so grateful for you, your pets, and our staff. Thank you for choosing our family to care for yours. ❤🦃

11/01/2024

So...how did your costume photo shoots go? Ohhhh Porkchop 🤦🏼‍♀️😆 Even the pumpkin is laughing. 🎃

10/31/2024

Wishing you all a very Happy Halloween! 🎃 We have a staff meeting today and will be closed from 12:00-1:30pm. We will then be closing early at 4:00pm to allow our staff time to celebrate the holiday with their families. We hope your night is full of treats and not tricks!

10/17/2024

Thank you, Grill Master Albin, for a delicious lunch on this 4th day of Appreciation Week!

10/17/2024

Our office will be closed today between 12:00-1:30pm for a staff event. Thank you, and happy Veterinary Technician Appreciation Week!

10/16/2024

Powder Ridge Post, October 2024

Pet Obesity Awareness
October 12th was Pet Obesity Awareness Day. Have you ever had an overweight pet? It is actually more common than you think. Pets have a “normal weight range” for their breed and body-type. Veterinarian and Technicians use a “body condition score” chart to help pet owners understand the importance of an ideal weight for your pet. It is imperative to keep your pets at a healthy weight, as it can affect their health in so many ways. Like us, excessive weight can put pressure on the knees, hips, and the spine, causing pain and even arthritis. It can sometimes even lead to disc issues and injuries to the hip/leg/knee; some of which may require surgical intervention. It can also inhibit the proper function of some internal organs as well. And it can make it harder to breathe normally, especially for brachiocephalic pets like Pugs, Pekingese, and Persian breeds, or Dachshunds and Corgis, where a little extra weight can affect their spine as they have longer bodies and shorter legs. Weight loss or gain can also be triggered by health issues, and it is just one of the tools we use to help determine if things are status quo, or if we need to look deeper into why your pet’s weight has fluctuated. Your pet’s weight is one of the most important parts of your visit to the veterinarian.

Weight loss:
Every time you bring your pet for a visit with us, you will notice that we check your pet’s weight. Your veterinarian will discuss with you, the best weight loss/management plan for your specific pet and their situation. Exercise routines may be encouraged, in addition to diet changes, which may include the amount and type of food fed, and their feeding times. There are prescription foods to help with weight loss too, but usually it is a multifaceted process that takes some time, dedication and patience, as losing weight too fast can also cause problems. The obvious exercise for dogs is taking them on walks or playing fetch with them, but cats can get exercise too; one way is by climbing their cat trees (They can be fed on a higher level, so they have to climb to get to their food), or by playing more with them, having them chase laser lights, toys, or even feathers on a stick! Remember, it is in your pet’s best interest to keep them within their proper weight range, and to do what we can to keep them at a healthy weight for their body type.

10/14/2024

Happy Technician Appreciation Week! Thank you, Courtney, for making this beautiful cake for your team. What an amazing way to kick off this special week!

10/04/2024

Todays is World Animal Day!
🦒🐁🐢🦓🐒🐣🐦‍⬛🐝🫎🦎🐜
Today, we celebrate ALL animals, big and small! Show us a picture of your favorite animal!

10/01/2024

🐕‍🦺🚶🏽‍♀️🐩🚶🏼🦮🚶‍♂️🐕
Get out there and walk your dogs!

09/28/2024

The World Health Organization celebrates the 18th Annual World Rabies Day on September 28th. Did you know that when it comes to cats and dogs, the Rabies vaccine is a legally required vaccine in the state of Connecticut?

Yes, in Connecticut, all dogs and cats over the age of three months are required to be vaccinated against rabies. This is to protect the public from rabies, as pets that are allowed outside unsupervised are more likely to come into contact with rabid animals.

Here are some other things to know about rabies vaccinations in Connecticut:

Proof of vaccination
Owners must show a vaccination certificate from a licensed veterinarian to license their dogs.

Booster shots
The first rabies vaccination is only valid for one year, and a booster shot is required one year after that. After that, booster shots are required at least every three years.

09/27/2024

How lucky are we to have amazing clients that show their appreciation with cupcakes! This chocolate dachshund cupcake-cake was made special, to say “Thank You” to our wonderful Dr. Albin and amazing team. This looks too good to eat!

09/26/2024

Our office will be closed from 12:00-1:30pm today for our monthly staff meeting. We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your understanding!