Townline Animal Hospital

01/29/2025

WELLNESS WEDNESDAY: February is National Pet Dental Health Month! 🐾🦷

Did you know pets often hide their mouth pain until it becomes a big problem? Dental disease is one of the most common issues affecting pets, but it’s also one of the most preventable.

Just like humans, pets need annual teeth cleanings to keep their mouths healthy and pain-free. Unlike us, though, pets don’t understand the need to hold their mouths open during cleanings, so they need anesthesia to ensure the procedure is safe and stress-free.

Regular dental care isn’t just about fresh breath—it helps prevent pain, tooth loss, and even serious health issues affecting the heart, liver, and kidneys.

🐕🐈 Now is a great time to schedule your pet’s dental check-up today and give them something to smile about! 🦷✨

We have many availabilities for dental cleanings in February!
📞 847-549-3187
🖥 www.townlineah.com
📱[email protected]

01/26/2025

Happy Sunday ❤️ Chute and Nolan

01/22/2025

WELLNESS WEDNESDAY: Core Vaccinations
Did you know that core vaccinations are essential for your pet's health and safety? Core vaccines are those recommended for ALL dogs and cats, regardless of age, lifestyle, or location. They protect against serious and highly contagious diseases that can pose risks to both pets and humans. 🛡️💉

Why Are They Considered Core?
Core vaccines protect against diseases that are:
✔️ Life-threatening
✔️ Highly contagious
✔️ Prevalent or widespread

🐶 Core Vaccines for Dogs (Based on AAHA Guidelines):
1️⃣ Rabies: A fatal virus that affects the nervous system and is transmissible to humans.
2️⃣ Canine Distemper*: A severe, often fatal disease affecting the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems.
3️⃣ Canine Parvovirus*: A highly contagious virus causing severe gastrointestinal illness.
4️⃣ Canine Adenovirus-2*: Protects against hepatitis and respiratory disease.
* There is generally one vaccination that protects against these diseases
5️⃣ Leptospirosis: Protects against a zoonotic bacterial infection that can cause liver and kidney damage.

🐱 Core Vaccines for Cats (Based on AAHA Guidelines):
1️⃣ Rabies: A fatal virus that affects the nervous system and is transmissible to humans.
2️⃣ Feline Panleukopenia (FPV)**: Also known as feline distemper, a deadly viral disease.
3️⃣ Feline Herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1)**: Causes severe upper respiratory infections.
4️⃣ Feline Calicivirus (FCV)**: Protects against respiratory infections and oral disease.
**There is generally one vaccination that protects against these diseases
5️⃣ Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV): Considered a core vaccine for kittens under 1 year old, as they are at higher risk for this contagious viral infection.

💡 Pro tip: Puppies and kittens require a series of vaccines to build immunity, followed by boosters as adults. Work with your veterinarian to create a personalized vaccination schedule!

📅 Schedule your pet’s vaccination appointment today and give them the gift of protection and a healthier future!
📞 847-549-3187
🖥 [email protected]

01/21/2025

Its cold out there!! Your dog's feet need protection from not only the ice and snow, but also all the salt on the roads and sidewalks that can sting their paws. These can be purchased online and at most local pet stores.

These are Dr. Lovell's favorite winter booties for her dogs. They are semi-reusable and like rubber gloves to protect the dog's feet. They do not fall off, like some of the Velcro boots. They can be tight around the dog's ankle, so they are not meant to stay on all day, but work perfectly for walks outside in the winter.

** We are not affiliated with this product, just something we like. **

01/20/2025

01/18/2025

How Can Acupuncture Help Your Pet?

01/15/2025

WELLNESS WEDNESDAY: Ear Infections
Ear infections are a common issue we see in dogs, and they can range from a one-time occurrence to a chronic problem tied to underlying allergies. Here’s what you need to know:

👉 Single Event vs. Chronic Issue:
Some ear infections happen as isolated incidents, but for many dogs, recurring ear problems are a sign of allergies—either environmental, like pollen or dust, or food-related.

👉 Why Your Dog Needs to Be Examined:
Every ear infection is different, and not all medications work for all infections. To properly treat your dog, we need to identify the cause and prescribe the right medication—whether that’s an ear cleaner, drops, or oral medication.

👉 Chronic Cases May Need Allergy Management:
If ear infections keep coming back, it’s a sign your dog likely needs allergy treatment. This could mean:
• Allergy medications to control environmental triggers
• A diet change to address potential food sensitivities

👉 Patience is Key:
Chronic ear infections can take time to get under control. It’s a process that may involve follow-up visits and adjustments to your pet’s treatment plan.

If your dog is showing signs of an ear infection—like head shaking, scratching, or redness—don’t wait! Call us today to schedule an appointment. 🐶💕
📞 847-549-3187
🖥 [email protected]

01/15/2025

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01/13/2025

🦷 We have openings for teeth cleanings in January!! 🦷

Pet dental cleanings are done under general anesthesia. We take full mouth x-rays to ensure the roots of each tooth are healthy and then completely clean each tooth. Blood work is performed prior to anesthesia to make sure your pet is healthy and to see if any special protocols are needed. ❤️

Give us a call or send and email to schedule or for an estimate of cost.

📞847-549-3187
🖥[email protected]

01/10/2025

The office will be closed today, however, we are available by phone until 4PM. We will be open for regular business hours tomorrow

01/10/2025

Do you ever wonder what happens behind the scenes at the vet clinic?
It’s mostly this — love and snuggles ❤️

01/09/2025

Please consult with a veterinarian before trying to treat chronic conditions, neurological conditions, or seizures with over the counter products.

https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/cvm-updates/fda-warns-six-sellers-unapproved-seizure-drugs-animals?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1jhdebxSenqs0oYnJwvXx7lrds9QKfD2CM4xL0EoEUsw5GLNfHF_iBYjA_aem_4-OY9Oyfz5XRBYDlJFHRCA

Today, the FDA posted warning letters sent to six firms selling unapproved drugs that claim to treat and control seizures in dogs and cats.

01/08/2025

WELLNESS WEDNESDAY: H5N1 - Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI)
Did you know that domestic cats can become infected with HPAI? Here's what you need to know to keep your feline friends safe:

How Cats Can Get Infected:
🦠Eating raw meat from birds or beef contaminated with the virus
🦠Consuming unpasteurized raw milk
🦠Hunting or eating wild birds outside

Protect Your Cats:
✅ Keep cats indoors to prevent hunting or contact with wild birds
✅ Avoid feeding cats (and dogs!) raw beef, poultry, or unpasteurized/raw milk
✅ Safely dispose of any dead wild birds you find and keep pets away from them

🚨 While HPAI has not been found to infect domestic dogs at this time, it's still important to avoid feeding them raw beef or poultry and to keep them away from wild birds.

Together, we can keep our pets safe from preventable risks. Share this info to spread awareness! 🐾❤️

01/04/2025

We understand there’s been growing concern about the current strain of Bird Flu (H5N1). While this strain is primarily affecting birds and some livestock, there has been an increase in cases among mammals, particularly cats. Fortunately, the risk to cats remains low, and even lower for dogs, but it’s still important to stay vigilant.

So far, many of the symptoms listed are similar to other conditions and we recommend speaking to your veterinarian if you are concerned for your pet.

We encourage pet owners to stay informed through reliable sources such as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for the latest updates.

CDC:
https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/virus-transmission/avian-in-other-animals.html

IDNR:
https://dph.illinois.gov/resource-center/news/2024/december/release-20241220.html #:~:text=SPRINGFIELD%20%E2%80%93%20The%20Illinois%20Department%20of,(HPAI)%20is%20the%20cause.

01/01/2025

Happy New Year!!

12/31/2024

New Years Hours and after hours options:

***edit — last line should read visit your CLOSEST emergency hospital 🤦🏼‍♀️ ***

12/30/2024

More information about raw diets and how they are very dangerous to feed your pet.

If you do not want to feed your dog or cat kibble, we can help provide you with many options of fresh diets that are much safer than raw food.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/12/30/raw-pet-food-recall-deaths-what-to-know/77245033007/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0dWkhvY-Z0Rx__0dUUJxMUAMudsyaycysXb9QoUjdmAyCHeMOn2ps2QrE_aem_lVVuApHKHCVyUssnopkRPQ

Health officials have warned against feeding pets raw food.The risk is particularly acute as bird flu spreads. Three cats who ate raw foods have died.