7 Things Your Pets Really Wish They Could Tell You

Berkeley Heights Animal Hospital

269 Springfield Avenue, Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922

(908) 464-0023

Imagine what it would be like if your pets could talk? Just think about all of the things they would tell you! Despite the fact that our pets can't speak to us through words, though, they can talk to us through their behaviors, and animal behaviorists, nutritionists, veterinarians and pet groomers have also shared their ideas on what animals would say if they had a voice - here are some of the top things your pet wishes they could tell you:

"That's too much food, I'm full!"
Especially during the training period, food is often used as an incentive. However, if your pet doesn't show any interest or doesn't seem motivated when presenting them with treats, you're giving them too much!

"Please don't make me rush when taking me out."
Dogs may seem like they're wasting time when going to the bathroom, but all of their sniffing and circling around is for good reason - in addition to wanting to mark their territory and find the perfect spot, it could also have to do with the earth's magnetic field and their desire to be aligned with it when taking care of business.

"I CAN be trained, please just be patient."
Training an animal can be tough, and in some cases you may think your pet is just untrainable. Of course, though, this is not the case - you just need to be patient and remember that it could take some animals longer than others.

"I just want your attention."
Some pet owners will view behaviors such as excessive barking or knocking things down as bad, but truth is, your pet is just looking for some attention! They love you just as much as you love them and just want to spend some time with you.

"I can't eat what you eat."
Even when your pet sits at your feet while you eat dinner, you must remember that their stomach is not the same as yours, and thus shouldn't be eating the same food! People food can be extremely dangerous for pets, so stick with the dog/cat food you know is safe.

"I would appreciate if you introduced me to people when I'm young."
Meeting new people can be scary for your pets, so it's best to work on introducing them to others in their first few months of being home. The earlier that they get acquainted with different people, the better!

"If I'm not acting normal, I don't feel well."
Even the smallest changes in behavior are signs that your pet isn't feeling their best, which is why it's so important to get to know their personality. If anything seems unusual, know that your pet wants you to get them medical attention!

Now that you've gotten inside your pet's head a little bit, the next time you see them exhibiting a certain behavior, take a moment to think about what they might be trying to tell you! And if it's the last on our list that you notice - that your pet isn't acting normal - know that you can always call Berkeley Heights Animal Hospital to get them the care they need.

For more information about our veterinary services, please call (908) 464-0023 or visit our website today.

How to Find the Right Vet for Your Pet

Berkeley Heights Animal Hospital

269 Springfield Avenue, Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922

(908) 464-0023

Your pets are an extremely important part of your family, so we're sure that you wouldn't put them in the hands of just anyone when it comes to their medical needs. When you're ready to choose a veterinarian for your furry friends, remember that you're looking for someone who can do more than just address an animal's health and well-being - you're really looking for someone who can provide the loving care and attention that your pets need and deserve.

That said, whether you're looking for a veterinarian to care for your first pet or are looking for a new veterinarian to take over your current pets' needs, here are a few things to keep an eye out for:

Scope of services.
You'll want your veterinarian to be well-rounded in the services they provide, as your pet may have various needs throughout their lifetime. Here at Berkeley Heights Animal Hospital we offer everything from wellness exams to animal dentistry, spays and neuters, surgery, preventative care, microchipping and more!

Emergency services.
Sometimes medical attention will be needed after normal business hours, so it's important for you to find a veterinarian that continues to provide care after a regular work day is over. We at Berkeley Heights Animal Hospital have joined forces with 24-hour Newton Veterinary Hospital, so all of our clients can rest assured knowing that an expert is on staff at all times to aid with emergencies.

Affordability.
Medical expenses can add up, so you'll want to find a veterinarian that offers top-of-the-line services at a fair price - this is something we at Berkeley Heights Animal Hospital pride ourselves on! Not only is the first exam FREE for our new clients, but we also offer specials (such as our $299 dental special) and we also offer one-year unlimited canine and feline well-care plans.

Experience.
It's very important for you to feel comfortable with the doctors and staff at the practice you choose, and years of experience can help with that! Did you know that we've been caring for people's pets since 1976? We've been working in this field for quite some time, so we know all of the best practices to follow when providing care!

For those of you in Berkeley Heights, Summit, New Providence, Murray Hill, Plainfield or Westfield, New Jersey, we would love to be the veterinarian you choose to care for your pets. All of our doctors and staff are committed to treating your pets as if they were their own, and we're confident that both you and your pets will love us!

To learn more about us or to make an appointment, please give us a call at (908) 464-0023 today.

Tips for Puppies Who Are Teething

Berkeley Heights Animal Hospital

269 Springfield Avenue, Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922

(908) 464-0023

If you've ever had a puppy before, then you know that biting and chewing are natural behaviors, especially at a young age. However, if you haven't gone through this experience but plan to bring a new puppy home, then this type of behavior is something you'll have to get used to! 

Now we know what you may be thinking - will my puppy ruin my furniture, shoes and other household items during his or her teething phase? While they may resort to chewing anything they can get their little teeth on, the good news is that there are ways to help them develop better teething habits. Here's how:

1. Use taste deterrents to direct your puppy away from items that you don't want them to chew, such as couches, tables, chairs, dressers and more. Puppies are smart enough to recognize when they don't like the taste of something, so applying deterrents around your home can help send them elsewhere for relief.
2. Block off areas that you don't want your puppy to access, such as your closet if you don't want them to chew at your shoes. While this may require you to do some rearranging with your furniture for the time being, you'll be grateful once the teething phase is over and your personal belongings are still intact!
3. Provide your puppy with chew toys that can keep them busy. When purchasing toys for your pup, keep in mind that their teeth are not as strong as adult dog teeth, so you'll want to choose products that are on the softer side.

Speaking of your puppy's teeth, don't forget about how important it is to care for them all throughout their life - taking care of their teeth is actually one of the best ways to extend the life of your pet! 

Our veterinarians recommend an annual dental exam and teeth cleaning for your dog so that their teeth and gums stay healthy for years to come, and we're available to perform various dentistry services such as these exams, oral surgery, dental extractions, ultrasonic scaling of the teeth, ultrasonic polishing of the teeth and more!

To learn more about our dentistry services, please call (908) 464-0023 today!

How to Tell if a Stray Cat is Spayed or Neutered

Berkeley Heights Animal Hospital

269 Springfield Avenue, Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922

(908) 464-0023

Spaying and neutering is so important for cats and dogs for a number of reasons:

1. Females that are not spayed have a higher risk of developing mammary tumors and uterine infections.
2. Female dogs and cats never stop going into heat completely, so there is a risk of potential pregnancy problems at an advanced age.
3. Males that are not neutered can develop behavioral problems, such as urinating in the house and being aggressive.
4. It helps to reduce the overpopulation of dogs and cats.

All that said, if you've gone out intentionally to bring an animal home, then you were probably given all of the information you need about when it would be time to spay or neuter them if the procedure wasn't done already. But what about those stray animals that you see sitting on your front porch sometimes or soaking up some sun in your driveway? 

If you come across a stray cat and are considering rescuing it, here's how you can tell if it was already spayed or neutered:

Inspect the cat's abdomen.
If the cat is cooperative and will let you hold and handle them, flip it onto its back and look at its abdomen area. The fur on this part of the cat is typically shaven before a spay or neuter procedure, so if the fur here is mostly missing or looks shorter than the rest of the cat's body, that could mean they were recently spayed or neutered. However - keep in mind that this isn't the only surgical procedure that requires fur to be shaved, so you'll want to check the cat in some other ways too in order to confirm what has actually been done.

Look for a scar.
Particularly in female cats, a scar should be visible in their lower abdomen if they were spayed recently. You may have to move some of the fur on the cat's abdomen to get a good look if it's already started to grow back, and you should be looking for a straight, thin line that runs down the center of the cat's lower abdomen.

Compare the cat's ears.
A rather obvious way to tell if a cat has been spayed or neutered is to check their ear - if one of the ears looks like it's been clipped, that's a sign that the procedure was most likely already taken care of. You may also find a tattoo within the cats inner ear, or for females, a tattoo marking may be near the scar. Tip - if you find an "M" tattoo, this does not give insight into spaying and neutering, and rather means that the cat has been microchipped.

Aside from all of the self-checks you can do, one surefire way to figure out if a cat has been spayed or neutered is to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. They certainly know everything to look for and can give you their professional insight on the situation!

For those of you in Summit, Berkeley Heights, Murray Hill, New Providence, Plainfield or Westfield, New Jersey, you can always count on the team here at Berkeley Heights Animal Hospital to help with spays and neuters. 

To learn more about our spay and neuter services, as well as our other veterinary care services, please call (908) 464-0023 or visit our website today.