Burlington Veterinary Hospital – A Pet Care Facility

At Burlington Veterinary Hospital, our goal is to provide compassionate care for all pets in need. We understand that every pet has unique needs and wants, which is why we strive to give each patient individualized attention.

Our focus is always on the health and wellbeing of your pets. From routine check-ups to unexpected emergencies – we’re here to help you with every pet problem.

Our staff is super friendly and we offer excellent and affordable pet wellness treatment plans for your loved animal because they deserve the best.

7 TIPS To keep your pet’s teeth healthy and improve overall pet health

Taking care of your pet’s teeth is important for it to have good health in general, although many people do not give it importance and do not give it adequate care and do not provide this type of attention, that is why in This time we give you some tips on how you can maintain the oral health of your pet to avoid health problems such as bad breath, chipped teeth and also that you protect them from serious diseases. It is for this reason that we give you some tips to take care of your pet’s teeth so that it is healthy and a happy pet.
You must create habits

No animal, at first, will be comfortable with you putting your fingers in its mouth, with foreign objects, or with substances that are new to it, that is why your pet needs pet dental care since it is small, so that when it grows up to see it as part of your normal routine.

That is why we recommend that for 5 minutes every day, try to adapt your pet to the contact of your hands with his mouth, gently insert his fingers and rub his teeth with extreme delicacy to avoid hurting him, at first do not You will like it but as the days go by you will feel more comfortable.

When your little pet’s teeth are complete, you can begin to habituate them with a soft bristle brush. On the contrary, if your pet is already an adult, this process will take a little more time, so arm yourself with a lot of patience and do not give up.

After this, we leave you 7 important tips to keep your pet’s teeth clean:

Try to get a brush that has soft bristles, and that is special for pets, it is changed at least twice a year.

Do not use toothpaste for humans, these are very strong and are toxic for your pet, go to any pet store and get a toothpaste formula for pets, usually in these clinics they sell dental care packages.

Try to clean your pet’s teeth once a week, and always do it after playing and eating.

As an additional tip, add carrots and apples to their diet, these foods help clean the teeth, for more information consult your trusted veterinarian in lakeshore vet.

Buy your pet cleaning toys, generally they must be made of natural rubber or nylon, make sure they are not so hard if your pet is small.

 Prevent your pet from biting other objects that are in your house, this can wear down or hurt their teeth.

Once a week, check and check your pet’s mouth to see if it has tartar, wounds, cavities or any other sign that is not normal.

There are many options to maintain the oral hygiene of your pet, and it is necessary to find the correct way that most benefits your pet health and their teeth in general, take into account these other options that we present:

Get quality food: the food of our pets and important, that is why it has to be of quality and contain the appropriate nutrients to maintain their health in general terms, especially their teeth, this food has to be crunchy, dry, and of a specific size so that the food does not get stuck in the teeth or accumulate in the gums, in addition, the nutrients should help to strengthen their growth and their teeth.

–Have a healthy diet: avoid high levels of carbohydrates and never give your pet’s food as treats for humans, because not only will you make them sick but also these are accumulated in their teeth.

– Bones: Depending on the pet you have, you can give it raw cow bones and cartilage, this strengthens its teeth and helps keep your pet’s gums clean.

– Brushing: get special brushes and toothpaste for pets to start your oral hygiene routine.

– Toys. Some pet toys were designed and do the job of toothpaste, while others can help you remove tartar and anything that is stuck in your mouth.

– Remember to make regular visits to the vet: do not stop visiting the vet at least once a year, schedule your appointment in Burlington Lakeshore vet to do general checkups and your pet’s teeth.

Please visit us to check your pet teeth and keep your pet healthy as it should be Book Appointment Today!

How to Induce Weight Loss in a Dog or Cat

Weight Loss in a Dog or Cat, The most important subject to be addressed is nutrition. Your pet’s energy intake (caloric intake) should be monitored. Remember, dogs and cats in general only need 300 to 500 kcal per day. Every calorie a pet eats should be counted, even pet treats or bites of people food.
Every pet food has a different amount of calories per cup; therefore, when changing foods, you must read the bag for recommended feeding amounts. An overweight-management food is recommended and is available from every major pet food manufacturer. These foods have been tested to ensure that the recommended amount of food will meet your pet’s requirements. Some foods may be higher in fiber to aid in weight loss, while others will be higher in protein. If your pet does not respond well to one type of food, you may have better success with another. There are now several excellent weight loss foods available for both dogs and cats.
Ideally, an overweight or obese pet’s activity level should increase. This can be challenging with dogs that also have other medical disorders such as heart disease or arthritis and is virtually impossible in any substantial way with cats. However, taking dogs on brief leash-walks at least once a day, slowly increasing the distance over a period of weeks, can be very helpful. Dogs and cats also enjoy retrieving balls, sticks, or play mice. Using toys to increase your pet’s activity level is a good idea, in moderation: a little bit of extra activity every day is better than a great deal all at once and then no more. Laser pointers or even flashlights make an excellent toy for most cats, and some dogs. They will often chase after the light, burning calories while having fun. Just be sure that you take away any stuffed toys once they become torn so as to help prevent your pet (dogs especially) from swallowing the damaged toy, potentially leading to an obstruction in the stomach or intestines.
Successful weight loss takes time. Perhaps the greatest predictor of successful weight loss is endurance on the family’s part. Pets should only lose a maximum of 10% of their body weight per month. This is a small amount compared to what humans can lose. For example, a 20-pound (9-kg) dog should only lose 2 pounds (900 grams) per month.

The entire family must be on board when starting a weight-loss program. Treats must be monitored and strictly limited. Often, pets are obese just as much from the treats they are eating as from their actual food. Any extra calories the pet receives can be detrimental to the weight-loss program.
If a pet begins to limp, is unable to get up after walks, or becomes extremely inactive, please contact your veterinarian. These could be signs of excessive physical activity and/or morbid obesity.

Begin by determining, with your veterinarian, what an ideal lean body weight is for your pet (target, or goal weight) and what a realistic time frame is for decreasing the weight to this level. Then mathematically, you and/or your veterinarian can calculate how much food to feed if providing slightly fewer calories per day than the body uses, causing the metabolism to switch to consumption of excess fat as fuel. The typical time frame is 3 to 6 months to restore normal body weight.

1- Weigh your pet at least once a month to ensure weight loss. If your pet is not losing weight with your current methods, then some changes need to be implemented. This may include diet and/or exercise method

2-Your veterinarian may welcome quick visits for these weigh-ins. This is especially useful for very small or very large pets because your veterinarian has a scale that will work well for the animal’s size.

3-If you will weigh your pet at home, you can use a human home scale. Simply weigh yourself, then pick up your pet and weigh again. Now, subtract your own weight from the total, leaving you with just the weight of your pet. This method works best for medium to large cats and medium-sized dogs.

4-Measure the food. Free-fed pets will likely gain weight. When dishing out portions of food measured in cups, make sure your measuring cup is an 8-ounce (250-mL) cup, not a large disposable beverage cup. For smaller pets, you may need to use a ¼- or ½-cup measuring device.

5-Keep a food diary of the food your pet eats. Include all treats the pet receives and the number of cups fed per day. Calculate the total number of calories and determine if this is 10% less than the recommended baseline caloric intake for an animal of the age and size of your pet.

6-Treats may have to be decreased or substituted. Pets don’t really need treats, so if you are willing you might substitute something else your pet enjoys (petting, ball play, etc.) for food treats. If you want to give food treats, there are low calorie options. Dogs often enjoy canned green beans, squash, broccoli florets, baby carrots (fresh), pieces of apple, wedges/quarters of plain rice cakes, cubes of cooked squash, and individual Cheerios. These can give a dog the impression that he/she is eating something offered by hand (so it is a treat) without the richness and caloric bulk of commercially processed treats or table food. Just be sure to avoid foods toxic to pets, such as grapes, raisins, avocados, and onions.

7-Instead of showing your pet love by feeding them, show them love with attention. Some of the greatest success stories about healthy pets that have reached a lean body weight also involve a greater bond as a result of the process.

8-Make pets work for their food. Just remember that calories they must find still count as calories!

-Dogs: Hollow, thick rubber (Kong) toys can be excellent distracters. Place kibbled dog food inside the Kong toy and they must push the toy around for the kibble to drop out.

-Cats: Place food bowls in different parts of the house; this makes the cat go from place to place to eat.

–Feed pets half the daily portion twice daily. Doing so can help keep blood sugar levels more stable and can decrease begging behavior.

Once your pet has lost weight, be sure to keep the lean body condition you worked so hard to reach. You will now know how much your pet can eat and still feel well; be sure to stay within that range, including treats.
Maintain the activity level you have reached. Many dogs enjoy running, jumping, and playing, and many cats enjoy climbing and chasing; these activities, when encouraged, can help them stay trim.
Older pets are at higher risk for arthritis, just as people are. Your veterinarian can provide medication to relieve the symptoms associated with this condition if it occurs, so physical activity can still take place comfortably. book an appointment today to check your pet wellness. 

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How to Clean a Pet’s Ears

Ear infections are common in pets, and an important way to help eliminate these infections is to clean the ears. It is important to treat the ear canal correctly, ensuring the solution reaches the target location. With practice, instilling solutions into the ear canal is easy and can be done at home as needed.

Equipment/materials needed:
• Gloves
• Cotton balls or gauze
• Ear-cleaning solution
Your veterinarian may have prescribed a solution to place in your pet’s ear. You should wear latex (or similar) medical exam gloves to prevent you from coming in contact with potential bacteria or fungi your pet may harbor. Basic hygiene is important, and you should be sure to wash your hands immediately after each ear-cleaning session.
Choose a location where expulsion of contents from the ear canal, which is going to happen at the end of the procedure with headshaking, won’t cause a messy problem (i.e., don’t do this with your pet beside something that is valuable and difficult to clean).

Ear-cleaning solutions are generally applied to maintain your pet’s ear canals and prevent infection. However, if you notice any of the following symptoms, you should contact your veterinarian immediately:
• Increased fluid or pasty discharge from one or both ears
• Increased redness, swelling, or heat from the ear
• Increased pain
• Increased shaking or scratching of the ears
• Inability to instill the solution (for example, if your pet will not allow it or because you feel you are not doing it correctly)
If your pet shows resentment to having this done, stop the procedure and call your veterinarian for further advice. The ear may be too painful to treat without additional medications, and it is imperative that you not hurt your pet or put yourself at risk of a nip or bite. This may also be an indication that the condition is worsening and should be checked immediately.
Keep in mind that some individuals are more prone to ear disease than others. This can be due to ear shape (floppy-eared dogs are especially susceptible), environment and activity (swimming allows water in the ears and favors infection), and likely genetic predisposition as well. Therefore, ear cleaning should be done when your individual dog or cat needs it, which is different from one individual to the next. Be sure to ask your veterinarian about the best interval between ear cleanings to avoid over- or underdoing it. Excessive ear cleaning must be avoided because it causes inflammation in the ear canal, which is totally counterproductive.
Never use Q-Tips or other cotton-tipped swabs to clean your pet’s ears. Too often, this results in pushing the debris back into the ear canal, which is the opposite of the intended effect. Cotton balls or gauze squares work well to remove debris from the ear flap and upper ear canal.
A really helpful preparatory step is to put the bottle of ear-cleaning solution under your own armpit for 10 or 15 minutes before the ear cleaning. This brings the solution to body temperature and makes it much more comfortable and pleasant for your pet.

1-  In calm pets, ear cleaning can be done with just one person, but with young, excited animals, or pets that dislike (or are unfamiliar with) ear cleaning, it may be necessary to have one person distracting and/or holding the pet while another person instills the solution. The whole process should take about 5 minutes. If it is too complicated or difficult, notify your veterinarian to discuss whether there are alternative strategies.

2-  With one hand, gently flip the ear flap straight up. This is best done by cupping the ear flap (pinna) in your hand, with the haired part of the ear against the palm of your hand and your thumb on the hairless inner surface of the ear flap (see right hand in first photo, below). You should be able to see the inside of the ear (ear canal) this way. Some breeds of dogs have naturally upright ears, and in these dogs, the hand can simply be cupped behind the ear.

3- Holding the ear flap cupped in the palm of your hand means that the ear canal takes on the shape of a funnel. You can then place the lukewarm cleansing solution into the ear canal, allowing the solution to fill the canal to the brim. This means a gentle stream of the solution will need to go in for several seconds, not just a few drops. In a medium-size dog, 1 tablespoon (15 mL) typically will be necessary; a half to 1 teaspoon (2.5 to 5 mL) is expected for cats. Do not allow the bottle tip to touch the ear canal, which would contaminate the bottle and its contents.

4-  Then lower the ear flap and massage the ear canal for 1 minute. Do this by using your thumb and forefinger to gently compress and roll the tube-shaped ear canal. You can feel it through the skin and hair at the base of the ear, directed inward and slightly toward the dog or cat’s hind end.

5-  Having placed the cleaning solution in the ear and done the ear massaging, now allow your pet to shake his or her head. This will loosen debris in the ear canal and propel it outward. Then use a cotton ball to clean the ear flap and upper ear canal.

Once you have finished cleaning the ears, discard any remaining used gauze and gloves. Replace the cap on the cleaning solution, and place it in a safe area out of reach of children and pets.

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How to Change a Pet’s Diet

How to Change a Pet’s Diet?, In general, dogs and cats do well eating the same diet routinely. Unlike people, pets rarely become bored with a single pet food, so change is not needed simply for the sake of variety. However, diet changes may be necessary because of reasons including:
1. Current diet is discontinued or out of stock
2. The pet may have a medical condition that requires a change of diet
3. The pet has entered a new life stage (from puppy to adult or from adult to geriatric)
The most important aspect of changing a pet’s diet is to make the change gradually. Even when the only change is the flavor of the food, or the formulation (canned vs. dry) and not the brand of food, abrupt diet changes can result in food aversions or gastrointestinal upset in the form of vomiting or diarrhea. Gastrointestinal upset can occur due to exposure to new ingre-dients, or changes in the composition of the food (for example, a change in fat content of the new food). This is especially common in dogs and cats that have a “sensitive” stomach or have had previous bouts of gastrointestinal upset.

Talk to your veterinarian about your pet’s dietary needs. Your veterinarian will be able to provide you with the best recommendations in regard to the type of diet and volume of food your pet needs to receive an adequate but not excessive number of calories. Just like people, pets that eat too many calories will gain weight, while
pets that don’t eat enough calories will lose weight. Not all pet foods have the same amount of calories per cup. If you haven’t had the chance to discuss the amount of food to feed with your veterinarian yet, many pet food bags or cans provide guidance on the amount to feed based on your pet’s weight.

Slowly introduce your pet to the new diet by thoroughly mixing in a small amount (25%) of the new food with the current diet for the first 2 days. Monitor your pet’s stool quality, attitude, and appetite. If the new diet is well tolerated, you may continue transitioning the diet by following the proportions shown in the table below until your pet is eating only the new diet.

If your pet develops signs of gastrointestinal upset, you can try to prolong the transition, making the change even more gradually to allow more time for them to get adjusted to the new diet. If problems continue, you should either speak with your veterinarian or if there are no medical issues to consider, try switching back to the previous, original food.

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How to Handle a Dog or Cat That Is Aggressive

Burlington vet lakeshore:  Aggression is a normal form of communication for animals and a common life-threatening behavior problem in pets. The problem is not only dangerous for humans or other animals to which the aggression is directed, but left unresolved, aggression is a common reason for pets to be euthanized.
Staring, growling, hissing, lunging, snapping, swatting, and biting are all behaviors described as aggression. Many conflicting opinions and misinformation can be found online, on television, and in books describing the motivations behind aggressive behaviors. However, scientific research tells us that fear, anxiety, and pain are often the most common reasons why animals will use aggression. as one of Burlington vet, we offer a first time exam that will help in that matter.

When an animal first shows aggression, a thorough physical exam, neurologic exam, and orthopedic exam by a veterinarian will help to rule out underlying medical conditions that may be stimulating the aggressive behavior. A complete blood count, serum biochemistry profile, and urinalysis help to evaluate organ function along with a thyroid profile if supported by other findings, to rule out hypothyroidism in dogs and hyperthyroidism in cats.

Safety is a top priority when living with or working with aggressive animals. Identifying and avoiding the triggers for aggression when possible will reduce the opportunity to practice the behaviors and help your pet feel safe. Recognizing body language cues of fear, anxiety, and stress such as ears back and flat against the head, head down, tail tucked, lips tight and drawn back, leaning away or crouched position, avoiding direct eye contact, licking of the lips, yawning, dilated pupils, and hair standing up (piloerection) will help to increase safety when you recognize these and indicators of a potential aggression response from your pet. Many people are under the misimpression that a dog wagging its tail is happy; this is not true. Tail wagging actually signals a willingness of the dog to interact, be that through happy interactions like play or petting, or in the case of an aggressive animal, through biting.

Treating aggression can be challenging, and often these animals are not cured, but rather managed; it all depends on the underlying motivation.

The procedures below can be helpful, but they do not replace expert help for an individual animal. Contact your veterinarian for referral either to a trained veterinary behaviorist, or to a reputable animal trainer. This is important because many so-called trainers are not actually equipped to help, and some recommendations can be counterproductive.

1- The first step of treatment often involves increasing human safety by teaching the dog to wear a basket muzzle (Baskerville or Italian Basket Muzzle; see Figures 1 and 2). If desensitized and counterconditioned properly, dogs can learn to love wearing a muzzle. Some will even ask to put it on. The openness of the basket helps to reduce severity of bites and allows delivery of treats during training and behavior modification sessions.

2- Identifying potential triggers and avoiding them or the use of desensitizing and counterconditioning to reduce fear associated with these triggers can also be of value.

3- Dogs and cats can react to a variety of different triggers such as other dogs, other cats, certain people, children, noises, bicycles, cars, and situations. For the dog that is aggressive to visitors, putting the dog away in a crate or behind a closed door with a yummy treat such as a food-stuffed Kong or puzzle toy will help remove the dog from situations that make him or her uncomfortable. The long-lasting treat or toy helps to condition the dog to form more pleasurable or positive associations with visitors.

4- For dogs and cats aggressive to other cats in the household, separation is key to managing and reducing aggression.

5- For dogs that are aggressive to other dogs on and off leash, avoiding dog parks or walking the dog in a location where other dogs are rarely present may be required. Teaching the dog to “look” or “watch” you (eye contact) instead of the other dog or person on walks will help to redirect the dog and when paired with yummy treats, form more positive associations with these triggers.

6- Tools such as head collars and front clip harnesses give you better control of your dog on walks and help redirect your dog’s focus away from the trigger as he or she continues to move on past. These can also be used in the house attached to a 6- or 4-foot (2- or 1.3-meter) leash if needed for extra safety. Retractable leashes should never be used with an aggressive dog of any size: they provide no control and can be scary if dropped or snapped.

7- For cats and dogs, positive reinforcement training is excellent for improving communication and teaching behaviors used for redirection in a nonconfrontational way.

8- In the house, dogs and cats can be taught to stay on a mat for various periods of time. This mat is a very useful place to redirect your pet if you notice behaviors indicating an impending fight between household pets or if your pet needs to be safely removed from the couch, chair, or bed without confrontation.

Punishment in the form of shock collars, water bottles, cans of pennies, alpha rolls, spanking, or even just yelling “no” is often counterproductive with aggression. It is much more effective to teach and reward your pet for acceptable behavior than it is punishing the ones you do not desire. The use of corrections can confuse and frustrate dogs and cats, making them more fearful or anxious and increasing the likelihood that they will bite.
As with other behaviors, early detection and intervention are crucial in the management and treatment of aggression. Early socialization along with fun and pleasurable interactions with humans and other animals will help dogs and cats experience less fear or anxiety when presented with novel stimuli in their environment. It gives them the opportunity to form better coping skills. see our services.

How to Brush a Pet’s Teeth, Pet dental Care

Pet Dental Care is essential, Brushing your pet’s teeth is the key to maintaining good oral hygiene. As a result, dental cleaning procedures at your veterinarian are less likely to be simpler (meaning shorter anesthesia time, fewer pulled teeth, etc), your pet’s health may be improved overall (see our wellness plans) , and bad breath (halitosis) is reduced. Brushing the teeth also helps spare a dog or cat oral pain: periodontal disease, a painful condition that occurs when inflammation affects the gums and other tissues around the teeth, is reduced or eliminated with good oral hygiene.
Brushing the teeth is not difficult, and most pets will accept the procedure with a little patience on your part. Primarily, you only need to focus on brushing upper teeth (not the lower teeth), and only the outside surfaces of the teeth (not the inside surfaces).
In dogs and cats, like in people, what the dentist and hygienist do is only a small, though essential, part of the oral hygiene program. The responsibility for health and general well-being of your dog or cat is yours, and this should include basic dental care. Brushing your pet’s teeth is the main component of home dental care. The purpose is to remove plaque before it becomes tartar. Plaque is a slime composed of bacteria, saliva, and food particles that adheres to the teeth and fills the pocket between the tooth and gum. Left undisturbed, plaque rapidly collects minerals from the saliva to form the rock-like brown deposits known as dental tartar. Dental tartar cannot be removed by any amount of brushing. By brushing your pet’s teeth daily, you remove plaque, preventing or slowing tartar buildup. Results depend on the effort you give and on a pet’s predisposition (some develop plaque and tartar easily and require brushing more frequently than others).

Equipment/materials needed:
• Pet toothbrush or child’s/pediatric toothbrush
• Pet toothpaste
It is important to use toothpaste formulated specifically for pets. There are many available in flavors pets like, such as poultry or seafood. Human toothpaste is to be avoided, as it can cause stomach upset if swallowed. Baking soda, with its very high sodium content, can have unintended adverse health effects in dogs and cats with certain illnesses. Hydrogen peroxide can be too harsh for the gums and can cause nausea if swallowed.
Perhaps the most important point to consider is that this simple preventive can become part of a daily routine and, when followed by a treat, becomes something a dog or cat enjoys.

It is easy to train pets when they are young to enjoy having their teeth brushed. Older pets, on the other hand, tend to develop more periodontal disease, and their mouths and/or gums may be tender to the touch. A complete dental cleaning under general anesthesia performed by your veterinarian may be required prior to initiating toothbrushing. Once all of the plaque, tartar and, if necessary, diseased teeth have been removed, you will have greater success.

1- Try to brush the teeth at the same time each day so your pet gets into a routine. Late in the evening can work well if everyone involved is in a quieter mood. If your pet is highly motivated by food, try just before dinner, with the meal acting as a reward for cooperating.

2- The first step is to work with your pet’s mouth. With a little patience, your pet will soon accept your attention. Make it fun for both of you. Use a lot of love and praise to gain a pet’s confidence.

3- Start by handling the muzzle and lips. Soon you should be able to rub the teeth and gums with your finger. Place a little bit of soft cheese (for dogs) or tuna juice (for cats) on your finger when doing this. Many pets will then look forward to this treat.

4- Next, use a soft toothbrush to brush the teeth.

5- Several veterinary brushes are available, and many human (children’s) soft-bristle brushes are well suited to animal use.

6- Finger brushes are not appropriate as they are ineffective.

7- Place a small (pea-sized) amount of toothpaste on the bristles of the brush, lift the upper lip, place the brush on the outer surface of the teeth, and brush gently in small circles.

8- You need only brush the upper teeth, and only the outside surfaces (the side of the teeth facing out, not the side of the teeth facing the tongue). Making it a game that ends in a reward is the key to enjoying this and making it easy on you and your pet.

9- Brushing at least three times weekly is recommended, and once a day is ideal.

By following a consistent program of home care, you will greatly improve your pet’s dental health. This will mean easier professional cleanings, less tooth loss, and a happier, healthier pet. However, there is no substitute for professional veterinary dental care. The biggest part of the tooth lies underneath the gums, and your pet must be anesthetized (asleep) to work with that “under the gum” area.