Dr. Stephanie Goldstein

12/02/2025

Brushing Your Pet’s Teeth: A Step-by-Step Guide 🦷🐶

Maintaining your dog and cats oral hygiene is crucial for their overall health. Here’s how to effectively brush your dog’s teeth:
🦷 Gather Supplies:
• Pet Specific Toothbrush: Choose a toothbrush designed for pets - the bristles are softer and specially angled.
• Pet Friendly Toothpaste: Use toothpaste formulated for pets, as human toothpaste can be harmful to them.
🪥 Acclimate Your Pet:
• Let your pet taste a small amount of the toothpaste to get them accustomed to the flavor.
• Gently rub the toothpaste onto your pets teeth and gums using your finger to familiarize them with the sensation. 
🦷 Positioning:
• Choose a quiet time and place to minimize distractions.
• Gently lift one side of your pets upper lip to expose the teeth.
🪥 Brushing Technique:
• Apply a small amount of toothpaste to the toothbrush.
• Brush in small, circular motions, focusing on the outer surfaces where plaque tends to accumulate.
• Initially, concentrate on the large cheek teeth and canine teeth, gradually working up to brushing all of the teeth. 
🦷 Frequency:
• Aim to brush your pets teeth daily.
🪥 Positive Reinforcement:
• Offer praise and rewards throughout the process to make brushing a positive experience for your pet.

Regular brushing helps prevent dental diseases and promotes your pets overall well-being. If you have concerns or need assistance, consult your veterinarian for guidance.

10/02/2025

Losing a beloved pet is like losing a family member. Their love, loyalty, and companionship leave a lasting imprint on our hearts. If you’re grieving, know that your feelings are valid, and healing takes time.

The Veterinary Social Work Service at the UT College of Veterinary Medicine is now offering a free virtual Pet Loss Support Group to help those in need navigate grief in a supportive space.
Monthly sessions run February through June. Learn more and register here: utianews.tennessee.edu/veterinary-college-offers-support-for-grieving-pet-owners

UTCVM-University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine

Meetings Are Free of Charge

08/02/2025

🏈 Who is excited for tomorrow’s game? Who are you cheering for? Let’s see pictures of your pets supporting their team! Peyton is ready for game day! 💛❤️🏈 💚🩶

08/02/2025

🥶 Hope everyone is staying warm! Happy ! Enjoy these adorable faces and have a great weekend!

04/02/2025

🦔 Happy National Hedgehog Day! 🦔

Celebrate these spiky friends with proper care:

✅ Healthy Diet – High-quality hedgehog food, insects, and veggies.
🏡 Cozy Habitat – Warm, spacious, and enriched with tunnels and wheels.
🩺 Vet Check-ups – Prevent obesity, mites, and dental issues.
⚠️ Watch for Illness – Weight loss, crusty skin, or low activity? See a vet!

Share a pic of your hedgie in the comments! 🦔❤️

03/02/2025

February is Veterinary Dental Month! 🦷🐶🐱

Did you know that by the age of three, most pets show signs of dental disease? Regular dental care is essential for your pet’s overall health, preventing bad breath, gum disease, and even serious health issues affecting the heart and kidneys.

This month, prioritize your pet’s oral health by:
✔ Scheduling a professional dental check-up
✔ Brushing their teeth regularly with pet-safe toothpaste
✔ Offering dental chews and toys for cleaner teeth

If you notice your pet has bad breath or is slower to eat, please schedule an exam!

30/01/2025

🐾 Pyometra in Pets: A Silent but Deadly Threat! 🚨

Did you know that pyometra is a life-threatening infection of the uterus that commonly affects unspayed female dogs and cats? This condition can develop quickly and requires urgent veterinary attention!

⚠️ Signs to Watch For:
🔴 Lethargy & weakness
🔴 Loss of appetite
🔴 Increased thirst & urination
🔴 Vomiting or diarrhea
🔴 Swollen abdomen
🔴 Vaginal discharge (in open pyometra)

Without treatment, pyometra can lead to severe infection, kidney failure, and even death. The best way to prevent this? Spaying your pet!

If your pet is showing any of these symptoms, don’t wait—contact your vet immediately! 🏥💙

25/01/2025

🐶 🐱 Hope everyone had a good week! Stay warm and have a wonderful weekend.

24/01/2025

For those of you who live in PA, there was a bear attack in Jim thorp. The bear was positive for rabies! It is so very important to have your pets rabies vaccinated, even indoor cats!

The most common rabies transmitters are bats, skunks, fox and raccoons. Bats are notorious for getting inside homes, exposing pets and people to rabies.

Rabies is a fatal disease that can be transmitted to humans!! Please keep your families and pets safe by having your furry friends vaccinated!!


https://www.facebook.com/share/19ouN9cZGg/?mibextid=wwXIfr

17/01/2025

This week’s line up is truly one you don’t want to miss! Be sure to comment how old you think the puppies in the last picture are! 🐶 🐱 🐰 🐢

14/01/2025

🐾 ⛄️ Caring for Your Pets This Winter ❄️🐾

As temperatures drop, it’s important to keep your furry friends safe and cozy! Here are some winter pet care tips:

1️⃣ Bundle Up: Short-haired and small pets may need a sweater or jacket to stay warm during walks.
2️⃣ Paw Protection: Salt and ice can irritate paw pads. Wipe your pet’s paws after walks and consider using pet-safe booties or balm.
3️⃣ Hydration is Key: Ensure fresh water is always available, as winter air can be dehydrating.
4️⃣ Keep Them Active: Play indoor games or try short, brisk walks to keep your pet moving.
5️⃣ Beware of Frostbite: Limit outdoor time for pets, especially in extreme cold. Watch for signs of frostbite, like pale or red ears, paws, or tails.
6️⃣ Car Safety: Never leave pets in a car during freezing temperatures—they can quickly get too cold.

Your pets rely on you for warmth and care, so let’s make this winter safe and enjoyable for them! Let’s see pictures of your pets bundled up!

13/01/2025

🤣 Isn’t this so true?! I have 2 dogs, 2 cats, and about a thousand fish 😂 How many pets do you have?

09/01/2025

🐰 Can you guess the breed of this adorable bunny? 🐰 Here’s a hint: it’s known for its amazing fur, which can be used to make yarn. Drop your guesses in the comments below! 🐇

03/01/2025

🚨 ALERT 🚨 There has been a lot of discussion in the news about the avian flu (H5N1) and the risks to cats. We are seeing a significant number of cases in birds in PA. Here is some information about the disease and how to keep your cats safe.

1. How do cats become infected?
🦠 Eating raw or undercooked meat and unpasteurized milk
🦠 Exposure to infected wild birds or poultry
🦠 Exposure to people who work on affected farms and to their clothing

2. What are the clinical signs of H5N1 in cats?
🐈 Initial signs include loss of appetite, lethargy, and fever, which quickly progresses into:
- Neurologic signs (e.g., ataxia, circling, tremors, seizures, or blindness)
- A LOT of nasal/eye discharge, sneezing, coughing, difficult breathing

3. How can H5N1 infection be prevented in cats?
🐄 Don’t feed cats any dairy products that have not been pasteurized
🥩 Thoroughly cook meat before feeding and avoid feeding raw meat-based treats or diets
🐱 Keep cats indoors to prevent exposure to birds and other wildlife
🐔 Keep cats away from livestock, poultry, especially in areas with known H5N1 outbreaks
🐓 Thoroughly wash your hands after any encounters with poultry, livestock, or wild birds and other animals
🐱 After interacting with sick or dead animals that may have been infected with H5N1 virus, change your clothes and shoes, and thoroughly wash any exposed skin

Remember, cats do get upper respiratory infections, so please if your cat has been exposed to raw meat, unpasteurized milk or an infected bird, immediately contact your veterinarian.

31/12/2024

🎉🐾 Happy New Year 🐾🎉

As we ring in 2025, I want to thank all my wonderful pet parents for trusting me with your fur babies’ care this past year. Here’s to another year of wagging tails, purring cuddles, and keeping your pets happy and healthy!

🐾 New Year Pet Tips:
✨ Keep your pets safe from fireworks—create a cozy, quiet space for them.
✨ Start the year with a wellness check! Healthy pets = happy pets.
✨ Remember to update their ID tags and microchip info if needed.

Let’s make this year pawsitively amazing! Share your favorite pet memories of 2024 in the comments below— I would love to see them! 🐕🐈🎆

25/12/2024

Merry Christmas 🎄 and Happy Hanukkah 🕎 to all that celebrate. Hope everyone gets to spend time with their friends and family. Have a wonderful day!

25/12/2024

🎄Merry Christmas Eve! Hope everyone has finished all their holiday shopping. What did you get your four legged children? I promise I won’t tell them 😁