Miller Animal Hospital

09/17/2025

Great job to our employees for meeting our most recent goals. Thank you Terry's Kitchen Catering for supplying a delicious lunch today.

09/10/2025

To socialize your puppy effectively, consider the following tips:
Start Early: Begin socialization between 3 to 12 weeks of age. Early experiences are crucial for developing a well-adjusted dog.

Expose to Various Environments: Introduce your puppy to different people, pets, and environments to help them become comfortable in various situations.

Use Positive Reinforcement: Reward your puppy with treats and praise during socialization to create positive associations.

Enroll in Classes: Consider puppy socialization classes as early as 7 to 8 weeks to provide structured socialization opportunities.

Monitor Interactions: Always supervise your puppy's interactions with other dogs and people to ensure they are positive and safe.

These steps will help ensure your puppy grows into a confident and well-socialized adult dog.

09/05/2025

Treatments for Pain Management
The quicker you can identify that your pet is experiencing some discomfort, the quicker you can get them some help. It’s important to remember consult with your veterinarian before giving your pet anything for pain. After a thorough examination, your veterinarian will develop an effective treatment plan that may include one or more of the following:
• Medications like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are an effective treatment for arthritic issues by helping reduce stiffness, swelling, and joint pain. They are typically safe for dogs and cats with few side effects, but they can be harmful if given incorrectly. A more natural approach may include supplements like omega fatty acids and glucosamine.
• Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation can be useful in helping to get your pet back on their paws. This can include more traditional methods, like therapeutic massage, or more advanced treatments like hydrotherapy, laser therapy and acupuncture. Our veterinary team has had great success in each of these therapies at our Don and Karen LaRocca Pet Wellness Center.
• Weight Management can be key to dealing with chronic pain. Just like in humans, an unhealthy weight can lead to various issues such as stiffness, swollen joints, breathing issues, and even depression. Starting on and maintaining a healthy diet and exercise plan will get your pet on the right track to a pain-free life.
We all love our pets and want them to always feel their best. With regular check-ups and a keen eye for changes in their moods and behavior, you and your pet will have many happy and healthy years together.

09/03/2025

September is Animal Pain Awareness Month; a time to call attention to the signs that our pets may be silently suffering.
Know the Signs
There are obvious pain signals your pet may be giving you, including lethargy, heavy panting, and incontinence. Other signs can be more subtle and often mistaken for slowing down with age. Here are a few of key signs that you want to look out for and follow up on with your veterinarian.
• Decreased Activity: Your pet may not be playing like they used to or won’t go up/down the stairs. Loss of interest in daily walks.
• Difficulty Standing or Jumping: Unable to stand from a laying position. Cats may hesitate when jumping or repeatedly miss the mark.
• Decreased Appetite: No interest in food is a key sign of possible pain for your pet. It could indicate mouth pain or stomach problems.
• Overgrooming: Repeated licking or chewing the same area.

09/01/2025

We are closed today for the Labor Day Holiday. We are back tomorrow for normal hours. 8:00-5:00

08/29/2025

08/28/2025

Why Are F***l Exams Important for Pets?
F***l exams are crucial for pets as they help in the early detection of intestinal parasites, which can lead to serious health issues. These parasites can cause discomfort, weight loss, and even death if not treated. Regular f***l exams allow veterinarians to identify and treat infections before they escalate, ensuring the pet's health and the health of the household. Additionally, some intestinal parasites can be transmitted to humans, making f***l exams a preventive measure for both pets and their owners.

What happens if I don't do f***l exams for my pet?
F***l exams can not only help to protect the health of your pet but also you and the human members of your family.
Some of the intestinal parasites found in dogs on a f***l test are zoonotic. This means that animals can pass them on to humans. Contact with contaminated f***s is usually the main mode of transmission. These can include:
• Picking up f***s
• Gardening or playing in the yard
• Your dog licks your hand and then you touch your mouth or eat
• Your dog licks your face
Young children are more vulnerable to parasites from dogs because they love to get dirty and pick up anything on the ground (including p**p) in an instant, and they despise washing their hands. Furthermore, they may find it amusing when the dog licks them in the face. If you have children, it is especially important to keep an eye on your dog for intestinal parasites.

08/26/2025

National Dog Day is celebrated annually on August 26th to honor all dogs and promote dog adoption, raising awareness about the number of dogs in need of homes.

08/22/2025

Good morning from Dr.
Singh here at Miller Animal Hospital. Welcoming new and senior patient.

08/21/2025

Types of Feline Aggression
• Play aggression seen in cats that have not been properly socialized
• Fear aggression: caused by unfamiliar stimuli
• Petting-induced aggression: may be due to overstimulation
• Redirected aggression: caused by an exciting stimulus that a cat cannot directly respond to
• Pain-induced aggression seen in cats experiencing pain/discomfort
• Status-induced aggression: directed toward individuals to assert social dominance
• Territorial aggression: directed toward individuals to assert territorial dominance
• Maternal aggression: protective behavior seen in queens that has recently whelped

08/19/2025

Vaccines for Puppies & Dogs
A vaccination plan helps keep your canine companion protected against dangerous diseases.

Veterinary medicine has advanced to the point where we can prevent harmful and fatal disease in your pet. Vaccines are essential to the well-being of your pet and by extension other pets in their surroundings. At Cornell Animal Hospital, we provide a vaccination program to prevent our patients from missing or having late doses of their vaccines. We offer all the vaccines required by law (core) and other important vaccines that are pet-specific (non-core). To learn more about our vaccination program, please reach out to us.

When should I have my dog/puppy vaccinated?
Puppy vaccination should begin when they are between 6 to 12-weeks-old. These vaccines will continue until they are 3 to 4-months-old. Core vaccine booster shots will be given every 1 to 3 years. Non-core vaccines will be administered based on your veterinarian’s recommendations.

Which vaccines should my puppy or dog get?
All dogs are required to receive core vaccines. Core vaccines protect against deadly diseases that have a high transmission rate. Some of the diseases or infections your pet can develop without these vaccines can spread to humans. The core vaccines your pet should have are:

Rabies
Canine distemper
Parvovirus
Other vaccines may be recommended for your furry friend because of their risk factors. Some important shots your pet may need are:

Leptospirosis
Bordetella
Lyme
Can my puppy/dog have reactions to vaccines?
Yes, some pets have reactions to vaccines. It is normal for some pets to become fatigued, lose their appetite, have diarrhea or experience swelling at the injection site. These reactions are usually minor and generally subside after 48 hours.

08/12/2025

Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease

House Soiling
Lower urinary tract disease (LUTD) covers a range of disorders from mild to serious. The signs of LUTD are usually referred to as lower urinary tract signs, or LUTS.
LUTD includes abnormalities in the structure and function of the bladder and the urethra (see figure). Surveys suggest that is the number one reason cats visit veterinary practices.
Clinical Signs
The most common signs of LUTD include:
• Difficult or painful urination
• Increased frequency of urination
• Crying out while urinating
• Blood in the urine
• Inappropriate urination (that is, outside of the litter box)
• Frequent licking of the ge***al region.

In cats, LUTS often have more than one cause and may be brought on by infections, inflammation, diet, and behavioral issues. Cats with urethral obstruction will often show the above signs but will pass little or no urine and will become increasingly distressed. A urethral obstruction is an absolute EMERGENCY, requiring immediate veterinary treatment.
While cats of any age can show LUTS, it is most frequently seen in middle-aged, over-weight cats that get little exercise, use an indoor litter box, have restricted access outdoor environments, and drink less water. Male cats may be at an increased risk, and stressful environmental factors, including living in a multi-cat household and changes in routine, such as a move to a new home, may also increase the risk that a cat will develop LUTS.