Loving Paws Pet Clinic

08/03/2024

Have you taken the test to find out what breed dog you are yet?

We at Loving Paws did!
First one is Dr. Colgan.
Can you guess what breed dog she is?

Doberman!

Doberman's are intelligent, loyal and protective of their people, just like Dr. Colgan is! If you've ever met her then you know she exudes the Dobie energy. Affectionate to people but ready to stand up for what she believes is right, without hesitation. She also shares a Dobermans love for working, which is why she owns and practices in her own vet clinic.

Do you agree to her being a Doberman? If not, what breed do you think works better for her?

07/18/2024

It's the Koala! Did you guess this furry critter correctly?

The koala is a marsupial, as are kangaroos, opossums, and their closest relatives, the wombats. After a very short gestation, marsupials give birth to embryonic or premature babies that are roughly the size of a jellybean. A koala baby, called a joey, is born after about 35 days. Hairless and blind, a joey uses its sense of smell and strong front legs with claws to climb up its mother’s fur into her downward-facing pouch. In the pouch the joey attaches to a teat to nurse and continues developing for the next six months.

A joey’s first solid food is p**p called “pap,” a specialized form of the mother’s f***s that is soft and runny. Pap provides the youngster with the digestive bacteria needed to tolerate a diet of eucalyptus leaves, which are toxic for most other mammals. At about six months of age, a joey begins emerging from the pouch to ride on its mother’s back. Powerful legs and sharp claws are used for climbing trees. Koalas come to ground only to move between trees. Of the 700 species of eucalyptus found in Australia, koalas eat the leaves of fewer than thirty. They consume 1 to 2 pounds a day, picking out young leaves and shoots. Due to this toxic, low-nutrient diet, they sleep between 18 and 20 hours a day to conserve energy. Koala populations continue to decline. In the late 1920s the Australian government enacted a nationwide ban on hunting of these iconic marsupials for their fur. Today, habitat fragmentation and loss due to logging, brushfires, and drought resulting from climate change are the greatest threats.

07/17/2024

Time to guess who this creature is!

Hint: Live in Australia

07/16/2024

Cold water tail syndrome - another hazard of summer time!

This is also known as limber tail syndrome, broken wag or broken tail. It’s formal name is acute caudal myopathy, and it is a relatively common condition in sporting dogs. It is caused by restriction of the blood supply (ischaemia) to the tail muscle, generally after swimming, or exposure to cold or wet weather. A limp tail usually confirms the diagnosis. Treatment involves gentle warming with heat packs, pain relief prescribed by your vet, and rest. The prognosis for a full recovery is excellent; most affected dogs will regain their tail tone and wag within a few days, but this may take up to a week.

If you believe your dog is suffering from this, give us a call at 217-318-3030 so we can help get them feeling better!

07/15/2024

When the weather is nice, many people like to have picnics and barbecues. Our furry friends have an excellent ability to sniff out and raid leftover food. As a dog owner, it is important to dispose of waste and leftovers carefully so that our dogs can’t eat potentially dangerous items. Use a strong and sealable bag for waste, and dispose of it in a bin or place in a safe place where dogs cannot reach it.

Bags of rubbish can contain sharp pieces of glass, wooden skewers or metal grills, as well as packaging and food scraps, such as bones. If chewed and swallowed, pieces of bone can puncture the delicate stomach or get stuck in the dog's mouth, oesophagus or further down the intestine. Corn cobs are also not digestible, and therefore can easily get stuck in the intestine. Dogs with a foreign body or intestinal blockage will often start vomiting and show signs of abdominal pain. These cases are an emergency that will require surgery to resolve.

If you believe your dog has gotten in to things they weren't supposed to, please go to the U of I ER or call them at 217-333-5300.

07/14/2024

Because you are super smart, you guess Tiger didn't you?!?

There are two recognized subspecies of tiger*: the continental (Panthera tigris tigris) and the Sunda (Panthera tigris sondaica). The largest of all the Asian big cats, tigers rely primarily on sight and sound rather than smell for hunting. They typically hunt alone and stalk prey. A tiger can consume more than 80 pounds of meat at one time. On average, tigers give birth to two to four cubs every two years. If all the cubs in one litter die, a second litter may be produced within five months.

Tigers generally gain independence at around two years of age and attain sexual maturity at age three or four for females and four or five years for males. Juvenile mortality is high, however—about half of all cubs do not survive more than two years. Tigers have been known to reach up to 20 years of age in the wild.

Males of the larger subspecies, the continental tiger, may weigh up to 660 pounds. For males of the smaller subspecies—the Sunda tiger—the upper range is at around 310 pounds. Within both subspecies, males are heavier than females.

Tigers are mostly solitary, apart from associations between mother and offspring. Individual tigers have a large territory, and the size is determined mostly by the availability of prey. Individuals mark their domain with urine, f***s, rakes, scrapes, and vocalizing.

Across their range, tigers face unrelenting pressures from poaching, retaliatory killings, and habitat loss. They are forced to compete for space with dense and often growing human populations.

07/13/2024

Time to guess that animal again! Ready for this? It's gonna be a real doozy!

Hint: Do you really need one? 🤔

07/12/2024

One danger of summer time and our dogs is blue-green algae. When blue-green algae blooms in lakes, streams and seas, a poison can form in the water. There are many species of blue-green algae; only some produce toxic compounds. If a dog drinks or swims in the water, it can suffer from rapid and often fatal algae poisoning.

If you believe that your dog has been exposed to the toxic blue/green algae please go to the U of I ER or call them at 217-333-5300.

07/11/2024

Just like humans, dogs can get sunburn.

Dogs with thin-skin or very thin fur are most at risk. Dogs with pink skin have less of the protective pigment melanin, in the skin, which therefore increases their risk of sunburn. Dogs, like humans, can be at increased risk of developing skin cancer if they get sunburn. To prevent sunburn, use a pet-specific perfume-free sunscreen on all exposed areas. If in doubt, it is best to ensure that dogs have plenty of access to cool, shady spots, and avoid long periods of time in the sun.

07/10/2024

Water intoxication goes by a variety of names, including water poisoning, hyperhydration, and water toxemia. No matter what you call it, this problem can come on suddenly, and the outcome can be fatal.

In dogs, excessive water intake often occurs when swimming, diving, or water-retrieving. Even play-biting the stream of water from a garden hose or sprinkler can overload a dog’s system and lead to water intoxication. Because their bodies have to work harder to clear out the excess water in their system, toy and small dogs are at greater risk than larger ones.

Symptoms include: Lethargy, Bloating, Vomiting, Loss of coordination (including stumbling, falling, or staggering), Restlessness, Drooling, Pale gums, Dilated pupils, Glazed eyes.

If you believe your dog is suffering from water intoxication go to the U of I ER as soon as possible as this is very life threatening! You can call them at 217-333-5300.

07/09/2024

Has your pet pulled a Houdini and managed to get out? Here are some resources that could help you try to bring them home again!

Lostmydoggie.com or Mylostpetalert.com

If they have a microchip then you can get on Home Again (or another microchip company) and they can send out alerts.

On Facebook you can post to Spotted in Chambana or Lost Pets of Champaign

Reach out to Animal Control and vets near by. When people find a stray pet, a lot of times they will take them somewhere to see if they have a microchip. Reaching out to animal control or vets can put them on the alert for any stray coming in.

07/08/2024

Finding stray cats and kittens is not as uncommon as we would like it to be. If you do come across a stray cat and would like to learn more about telling ages, get suggestions and advise then alleycat.org is the best place to go!

This website has so much helpful information and resources to help you or someone you know. You can never have too much information!

Alley Cat Allies is the world's leading cat advocacy organization. Improving the lives of all cats and kittens. Learn how to save pet and community cats: stray and feral.

07/06/2024

07/05/2024

Alright Loving Paws family, today is the last day for voting! Hop on and give us one last vote.

We can't do any of this without. We appreciate you and all the fur babies you bring to us!

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07/04/2024

Good morning. Have you had your coffee yet? If you have then do me us a great favor and go to the link below to vote for us!

Not had your coffee yet? Vote for us while you wait for your wake up juice to brew!

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07/03/2024

Did you guess that it was an Echidna? Then you got it!

These dashing creatures are actually endangered. The echidna, sometimes called a "spiny anteater," is an unusual mammal. It is so different from any other that it still puzzles researchers and scientists. The echidna has remained unchanged since prehistoric times, finding ways to survive while other species became extinct. But what really sets echidnas apart from other mammals? Female echidnas lay eggs! Egg-laying mammals are called monotremes. There are only five monotremes in the world: four echidna species, and one platypus species.

Echidnas are found throughout Australia, Tasmania and New Guinea, from the highlands to the deserts to the forests. They are solitary creatures and mind their own business. Echidnas may be active during the day, evening, or both, depending on the season and food sources.

07/02/2024

Can you guess this animal? Answer tomorrow!

Hint: Can be found in Australia, Tasmania, New Guinea and lay's eggs.

07/01/2024

Show our clinic some love by going to the link below and voting for us!

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06/30/2024

Summer is the best time to do some much needed traveling! If you are planning to leave the USA with your furry friend, there are some things you need to be aware of. That even includes going to Canada or Mexico, whose borders we share.

The CDC has changed their regulations about bringing your pet BACK into the USA. Please pay close attention to that well in advance because some things take 28 days or longer to complete before traveling.

A lot of countries require a microchip in your pet. If they do require a microchip, most of the time they require that the rabies vaccine be given AFTER the microchip has been placed. Meaning that any rabies vaccine done prior to getting the microchip is considered invalid.

Just some things to think about when traveling with your pet. We want to make sure everyone gets where they are going safely!

06/29/2024

Our competitive spirit is high, how about yours? Go to the link below and vote for us. We can't do this without you!

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06/28/2024

Flowers are so pretty and it's rewarding to plant them in the ground. As you are planting your flowers, remember there are some plants that are toxic to your pets, even the bulbs!

Below is a few of the plants that can harm your furry friend.

If you think your pet has gotten in to a toxic plant please call the Pet Poison Helpline at 800-213-6680

06/27/2024

Vote for us yet? Hop online so we can help you be able to brag to everyone that you helped us get first place!

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06/26/2024

Tis the summrey season for the pest we all know as ticks! These pests are sneaky ninjas that carry diseases and like to latch on to your furry friend. To keep these pests from leaving their mark in the form of disease (like lyme disease for example) make sure to keep your pet on a preventative.

The tick problem in Illinois is really bad right now! Below are the ticks that have addresses here in Illinois.

When looking at flea and tick preventatives, make sure you read the box closely!
Not all flea preventatives kill ticks as well.

06/25/2024

Time to vote! Help us get to first place so we can brag to everyone!

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06/24/2024

With the summer sun here to stay for a bit, there are some dangers to be aware of when it comes to your furry friend. One of the biggest danger is leaving them in a turned off parked car. The car can get very hot very quick, leading them to get heat stroke which is considered a medical emergency. Below is a chart of how quickly the temperature can rise in your car.

If you believe your pet has heat stroke go to the U of I ER or call them at 217-333-5300

06/23/2024

Have you voted today? You can vote once a day!

We would love the bragging rights of first place, and we can't do it without you!

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06/22/2024

Summer time has shown us that it is finally and truly here with high heat temperatures. With higher heat temperatures keep in mind that brachycephalic dog's are prone to heat stroke! So keep an eye on your four legged friend and make sure to avoid leaving them in a hot car or outside for too long!

Symptoms of heat stroke in dogs include:
- Panting, this can progress to distressed or noisy breathing as the heatstroke worsens.
- Restlessness or agitation, pacing, seeking shade or water.
- Drooling.
- Red gums or tongue.
- Increased heart rate.
- Vomiting or diarrhea.

If you suspect your pet is having a heat stroke call the U of I Emergency room at 217-333-5300 since that can become a medical emergency very quickly.

06/21/2024

If you don't know already, well here we go! People's choice awards 2024 is here and ready for voting! Every vote counts. Just hop on the site below and vote for us!

We want to brag that our clients love us!

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05/19/2024

Did you guess the ears from yesterday???

The large ears belong to ..*drum roll* ... a JACKAL!

There are 3 types of Jackals: The golden, or common, jackal lives in open savannas, deserts, and arid grasslands. Side-striped jackals are found in moist savannas, marshes, bushlands, and mountains. The black-backed — also called silver-backed — jackal lives primarily in savannas and woodlands. Jackals have family values, some pups will stay with the family and help raise their siblings to help with the pup survival rate!