Dr. Deb Reed

This is a very common question that pet owners have when we rattle off the vaccines that your cat or dog needs. Vaccines are an important part of your pet’s preventative health care. Understanding what we are vaccinating for and why will help you make the best decisions for your pet’s care. Vaccinations for Dogs…

Salmonella infections in people have been in the news a great deal recently. Because Salmonella contaminated peanut butter from a plant in Georgia has been found to have been used as an ingredient in many food products for human consumption, veterinarians have been concerned that pet foods may turn out to have been made with…

Indoor Cat Definition: Never steps outside the house except for a car trip to vet Outdoor Cat Definition: A cat that leaves the house, even if only occasionally. Examples Indoor Cat Vaccinations Rabies Purevax once a year, starting at 12 weeks of age. Rabies exposure for the indoor cat is usually through contact with a…

Rats are easy to care for and friendly. Read on for health tips. Diet: Rat pellets are complete and balanced. Mazuri is a good brand. The seed mixtures can be fed as a treat. Fruit and vegies in small amounts are enjoyed. Rats don’t have problems with overgrowth of harmful bacteria like the guinea pigs…

Rabbits that are well socialized make great family pets. Below are some important care instructions for rabbits. Diet: Feed timothy hay-based rabbit pelleted food free choice until full grown, then ¼ cup per 5# rabbit per day. You can feed alfalfa-based pellets until six months old but avoid them afterward as it can cause sludgy…

Hamsters are furry, cute and entertaining to watch. They do have a short life span, only 12-18 months, for the dwarfs; 2 yrs for the Teddy Bears.Cage – plastic bottom, wires spaced safely for the size of the hamster. The dwarfs can get their head through some bars and get caught. Use Care Fresh bedding….

Guinea Pigs are wonderful little pets, and who can resist their sweet little squeaks? Read on for important information on the proper care of your guinea pig. Diet: Pelleted food for guinea pigs has some Vitamin C added, but it’s never enough, so it’s recommended to feed a source of Vitamin C daily. Oxbowhay.com makes…

Say you went into the clinic for a physical exam and vaccinations, and you were told your dog has a heart murmur. What does this mean? A heart murmur is an abnormal sound heard when listening to the heartbeat. Instead of the normal “lub dub” sound, you will hear a “woosh dub”. The most common…

Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) occurs when the heart is not working well enough to pump blood effectively, leading to build-up of fluid in the lungs called pulmonary edema. This in turn triggers increased breathing rate, labored breathing, and coughing, along with reduced energy and sometimes collapse due to low oxygen levels in the blood. Fluid…

Signs: Decreased appetite and amount and shape of stools. Acting uncomfortably or not moving around or being as active. Grinding teeth, breathing faster. Causes: Overgrown molars making it hard to chew hay. Not enough grass hay fiber in diet. Not enough fresh greens in diet. Hair, carpet fibers, bedding in stomach. Too many carbohydrates ie…