Things You Should Never Do to Your Cat

Being a pet parent is a big responsibility. You’re in charge of feeding them, making sure they get enough exercise, cleaning up after them, and much more. Now, we have faith that you’re a good parent to your feline friend, but nobody’s perfect. There are probably a few little things that slip your mind in the hustle and bustle of the day. So these are things you should never do to your cat.

Forget the Flea & Heartworm Medication

Even if your cat never goes outside, fleas and mosquitoes that carry heartworms can easily get into your home, so you’re better safe than sorry. Heartworms can be deadly to cats, so always make sure to stay on top of those preventative medications.

Leave Your Windows Open

Curiosity killed the cat, right? That could sadly be the case if you leave your windows open and your adventurous feline wanders into the world. Always make sure your windows are locked when you’re not home, and only open them an inch or two when you are.

Push Your Cat Off the Counter

How would you like it if someone pushed you off an elevated space? Pushing your cat off the counter can physically harm him and make him feel unloved. Instead, gently pick up your cat and place him on the floor if he jumps onto your counter tops.

Ignore Hairballs

It’s normal for cats to get hairballs once or twice a month, but that doesn’t mean you can’t help them out with some grooming. Brush your cat regularly, and be sure to notify your vet if your cat is hacking up furballs more than twice a month.

Another big thing to not do to your cat? Skipping vet visits. Regular check-ups are important to keep them healthy and catch any potential problems early on.

At Berkeley Heights Animal Hospital, we strive to keep your pets in perfect health so the both of you can enjoy life together. We offer free vaccines or a free exam for new clients, as well as affordable veterinary care for all patients. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 908-464-0023.

Keeping Your Pets Cool for the Summer

Now that the weather is finally nice, you probably want to get everyone out of the house for some outdoor fun — including your pet. While he may love the exercise and fresh air, he probably won’t be too big a fan of the heat. That’s why you should follow these tips to keeping your pet cool for the summer.

Never Leave Your Pet In a Car

It doesn’t matter if you’re “just running inside for a minute.” Being left in the car, even with the windows cracked, can cause your pet to experience major dehydration, heat stroke, and even death. If you have to make stops, take them inside with you or leave them home to begin with.

Bring Along Plenty of Water

If you’re taking your pet to play outside, have plenty of water available for them to drink throughout the day. A major key to keeping them cool is keeping them hydrated.

Hang Out in the Shade

Pets prefer laying in cool areas, so if you’re going to be outside, set up shop under a tree or in another shaded area.

Include Canned Food in Their Diets

Refrigerated canned food offers some cooling relief to the heat during mealtime, so start adding it to your pets food during the summer.

Avoid Hot Pavement

If walking barefoot on pavement burns your feet, it’ll burn your pet’s paws. Aim to walk on grass and/or invest in booties to protect your pet’s feet.

Bring a Wading Pool

If you know your pet is going to be outside for a good portion of the day, bring along a blowup kiddie pool and fill it with cool water. This will give your pet much-needed relief from the heat and offer some extra fun.

If your pet experiences any heat-related symptoms or injuries, contact Berkeley Heights Animal Hospital. We treat your pets like they’re our own, so you know you can trust us to keep them healthy and safe. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call us at 908-464-0023.

Flying with Your Pets 101

Everyone wants their pet to join them on vacation! However, traveling with your pets can sometimes prove to be problematic.  If you’re planning on heading to the airport with your pet, here’s what you keep in mind.

Make Sure Your Pet Fits

With the exception of service or guide dogs, airlines usually have strict rules for the size of pets that can fly in the cabin with you. Since their carriers often have to fit underneath the seat in front of you, pets smaller than 15 pounds are best to fly with.

Important: Even though some airlines allow you to "check" your large pets in crates, it's very stressful and potentially dangerous for pets to travel that way. If you absolutely must travel with your larger pet, we suggest you drive.

Ensure Your Pet is Okay to Fly

Flying can already be scary for a person who is aware of what’s going on, but it can be even scarier for a pet who doesn’t. If you think flying with scare your pet, or he will be too loud or excited during the flight, you should consider leaving your pup home or driving to your destination.

Call Ahead to Reserve Space

Many airlines have a limited number of spaces they’ll reserve for pets, so make sure you call ahead to reserve your spot and avoid any mixes on your day of travel.

Prep Your Pet the Day-Of

Don’t feed your pet the morning of your trip, and remove his water bowl no later than two hours before you take off. Once on the plane, watch how much water you give him. Give him enough water to keep him hydrated but not too much that he would have to cross his legs.

Be Prepared for the Flight

Line your dog’s carrier with wee-pee pads just in case he needs to relieve himself during the flight. Also, pack an extra blanket in case the AC on the plane is too cold for him. If you really want to make him feel comfy, put one of your t-shirts in his carrier so he has your familiar smell close to him.

You should definitely get your pet examined before flying to prove to airline officials that he is perfectly safe to fly. If you’re near Summit, NJ, head to Berkeley Heights Animal Hospital! We offer free exams for new patients and can get your pet up to date on his shots so he’s ready to jet off on vacation. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call us at 908-464-0023.

What to Do If Your Pet Gets Fleas

Imagine coming home to see your poor pup scratching away at his skin, unable to stop the itch. That’s what life is like if your pet gets fleas. Beyond the discomfort your pet feels, fleas could also spread through your home and make life difficult for your and your family. If you discover that your pooch has fleas, here’s what you should do.

Immediately Apply a Flea Control Product

The first step in fighting a flea infestation is killing the little buggers. Use a product that kills fleas at the source but also prevents future infestations as well. In order to get the best treatment for your pet, consult your trusted veterinarian.

Wash Everything

Launder everything your pet commonly uses — his bedding, blankets, sweaters, etc. Wash them in hot water and dry them on high heat to kill any fleas, larvae, or eggs that could still be lingering on the materials. If you can’t wash certain items, throw them out to prevent the pests from jumping back onto your pet.

Vacuum Your Home

Fleas, larvae, and eggs could still be lingering on your couches, carpets, and other areas that your pet may have visited. Vacuum all those surfaces to get rid of any remaining fleas.

Wipe Out Lingering Larvae

Even after you clean the majority of your home, larvae can still be hiding out deep in your carpets. Contact a pest control specialist to look into treatments that can get rid of the remaining larvae.

Backyard Prevention

To prevent future infestations, create a yard that’s less likely to be affected by fleas. Wildlife and feral cats are a big source of fleas and flea eggs, so avoid leaving out food that would attract them. You can also close up any hiding spots, like under porches, and keep your yard free of leaf litter.

If you notice your pet scratching more than usual, call the trusted vets at Berkeley Heights Animal Hospital. We can treat you pet for fleas, as well as provide you with flea prevention treatments to stop future infestations. We treat you pets like they’re our own, so call us today at 908-464-0023!

Famous Military Animals

Happy Memorial Day! Each year, we take today to remember all those who gave their lives in defense of our country. As brave as all of those men and women were, there were also some Furry Friends alongside them. We're here to give recognition to some of the most famous military animals in history.

Sefton, the Horse

Sefton the horse served 17 years of active military duty as a show horse and as one of the members of Buckingham Palace's Changing of the Guard. He was the first-ever British Horse of the Year, won numerous medals, and has a wing named after him in the Royal Veterinary College. He even survived a severed jugular along with 34 other wounds after his formation was hit by an IRA bomb during a trip to the Palace. It's safe to say, that's one tough horse.

Nemo A534, the German Shepherd

Nemo was a sentry dog during the Vietnam War, who was used to sniff out the enemy from a distance. On December 4, 1966, Nemo and his handler spotted hidden Viet Cong fighters, and after a fight, caused two enemy casualties. However, Nemo's handler was wounded, as was Nemo -- he lost an eye and was shot in the nose. With his Handler unable to move and backup not yet there, Nemo laid on top of his handler’s body and fought off anyone who approached them. By the time his own company arrived, Nemo was in such a defensive mindset, that he had to be sedated before he could be treated by a vet.  After that act of heroism, Nemo was given a permanent retirement kennel and worked as a recruiting dog for the rest of his days.

Wojtek, the Bear

Wojtek was adopted by a Polish Artillery Supply Company who was fighting in the Middle East in 1943. Since pets weren't allowed on transport ships, the Polish Force enlisted Wojtek as a private so he could travel with the company. Wojtek could perform a military salute and even carried munition during the Battle of Monte Cassino, never dropping a single crate.  After the war, Wojtek moved to the Edinburg Zoo, and his legacy lives on in the emblem of the Polish 22nd Transport Company —  a picture of a bear carrying and artillery shell.

At Berkeley Heights Animal Hospital, we strive to keep your pets in perfect health so they can be the heroes of your own home. We offer free vaccines or a free exam for new clients, as well as affordable veterinary care for all patients. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 908-464-0023.

Keeping Your Pet Safe During Memorial Day Weekend

It’s almost Memorial Day weekend, and you know what that means — BBQ's, fireworks, and plenty of outdoor fun. Since your pet is part of the family, you should want her to have just as much fun this weekend as you do. Part of keeping having fun is keeping her out of harm’s way, so follow these tips to making sure your pet stays safe this Memorial Day Weekend.

Keep Your Pet Out of the Picnic Basket

We know it’s tempting to share a snack with your pet, but a lot of the food you’re eating could be poisonous to her. Instead of feeding her human food, bring along some treats for her to munch on. Also, make sure to keep food scraps, like corn cobs and fruit pits, away from your pets, since they pose a choking hazard.

Protect Your Pet  from the Sun

If you’re outside in the heat, make sure you give your pet plenty of water. She could easily get dehydrated, resulting in a bunch of health problems. You should also talk to your vet about sunscreen from your pet, especially if she has a light-colored or short coat, because, yes, pets can get sunburned too. In general, it’s best to keep her in the shade as much as you can.

Leave the Leash On

Memorial Day is fun for everyone, but for your pet, it’s a day of unknown smells, sounds, and sights. She’ll probably be tempted to go adventuring, which could leave you with a missing pet. Always keep your pet on a leash and have her up-to-date ID tags on her collar.

Be Ready for Fireworks

To you, fireworks may be the best part of this weekend, but they could be terrifying to your pet. If you know she’s scared of fireworks, make plans to have to have your pet inside safely inside with someone to comfort her while they’re going off.

Important: If your pet really freaks out from fireworks, do not give her Benadryl or any human medications to relax her. Human medications can be lethal to pets. If you think your pet needs them, ask your vet about low-dose tranquilizers to calm her down.

Berkeley Heights Animal Hospital is committed to helping you keep your pet safe this Memorial Day weekend. We offer emergency veterinary care 24/7 by partnering with Newton Veterinary Hospital. If your pet needs emergency care, contact us right away for help at  908-464-0023.

How to Introduce Your Kids to a New Dog

How many of you remember the joy of growing up with a dog in your home? He was your best friend, so it’s no surprise that you’d want to give your child the same great experience. If you’re planning on bringing a new dog into your home, make sure you know the proper steps to take when introducing your kids to him.

Basics

• Make your kids understand that a dog is a living creature with feelings, not a toy. This means teaching them how to gently handle and interact with your dog and that things like tail-pulling aren’t allowed.
• Brief your kids on the signs to watch for in case your new dog becomes uncomfortable. Ensure they know that a lowered tail or growl is a sign to back away from the dog.

Introducing the Dog

• Let the dog come to your kids, not the other way around. This may be hard with younger children who will be excited to play with their new pooch, but it gives your dog enough time to get comfortable and approach his new family when he’s ready.
• Try the “time out” technique. If your new dog misbehaves, isolate him from your kids for 30 seconds, and then bring him back. Use repetition to teach your dog the right and wrong way to behave around your kids.

Moving Forward

• Involve your kids in your new dog’s training. Bring them on walks, and let them help take care of the dog. This teaches your children responsibility and teaches your dog that your child is someone to obey, too.
• Be patient. This is a learning experience for both your dog and your kid. Both of them are adjusting to having a new buddy, so let them become best friends at their own pace.

If you’re getting a new dog, you’ll need a trustworthy vet like the ones at Berkeley Heights Berkeley Heights Animal Hospital. We care for your pets as if they were our own, and even offer free vaccines or a free exam for new patients! Keep your pet healthy from day one, and call us at 908-464-0023 for more information or to schedule an appointment.