Simple Ways to Cut the Cost of Pet Care

Berkeley Heights Animal Hospital

269 Springfield Avenue, Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922

(908) 464-0023

Pets bring an unexplainable amount of joy to our lives, but it's no secret that being a pet parent can be expensive. After all, by assuming the role of a pet owner, you take on the responsibility of caring for them in both their best and worst times, and just like our own care and the care we provide to children, pet care comes at a price too.

We have good news for you, though. Although pet care costs can add up, there are certainly things you can do to keep those costs low! And what's even better is that it's really not too difficult. Below, take a look at how you can work on cutting the cost of pet care.

Bring your pet to the vet for routine check-ups.
Taking your pet in for yearly exams is a lot more cost effective than ignoring them and waiting until something serious happens - not to mention, you risk the health of your pet by skipping wellness visits too. Treating illnesses and other health concerns can be a lot more expensive than protecting against them, so it's well worth it to visit your vet as recommended for routine check-ups.

Have your pet spayed or neutered.
Spaying and neutering doesn't just help reduce the overpopulation of animals - it also helps protect your pets against serious health concerns. For example, female animals that are not spayed have a higher risk for mammary tumors and uterine infection, which would require a very critical and a very costly surgery. Additionally, female dogs and cats will continue to go into heat when not spayed, and this can potentially result in pregnancy problems at an older age. For the males, a health concern in particular that neutering can help prevent is testicular cancer. Considering that all of these health concerns would cost money to treat, spaying or neutering is a cost effective choice.

Brush your pet's teeth.
We know it can be hard to get your pet to sit still, but poor dental hygiene can result in dental disease, which can further lead to heart and kidney problems. Keeping your pet's teeth and gums healthy is an easy way to protect against serious diseases and illnesses, and your main expenses will really just be the supplies you need to brush. If you have a dog that makes it difficult for you to brush their teeth, we have some tips for you here. We also have a $299 dental special going on right now!

Look into pet plans and pet insurance.
If you ever need to bring your pet in for an emergency visit or if they have a serious illness that requires treatment, we know it could put a financial strain on you - this is where pet insurance and pet plans can come in handy! Here at Berkeley Heights Animal Hospital we offer one-year unlimited canine and feline well-care plans (ask us for pricing!) and there are tons of pet insurances out there that you can look into.

See, it's simple! If you're looking for a veterinarian in Westfield, Plainfield, Murray Hill, Summit, New Providence, or Berkeley Heights, NJ to help with preventative pet care, routine exams, spays/neuters, animal density and more, we've got you covered.

To learn about the services we offer at Berkeley Heights Animal Hospital, visit www.berkeleyheightsah.com or call (908) 464-0023 today.

Tips for Traveling With Your Pet for Thanksgiving

Berkeley Heights Animal Hospital

269 Springfield Avenue, Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922

(908) 464-0023

Can you believe it? Thanksgiving is already next week! What do your holiday plans look like this year? If you'll be heading out of town for the week or weekend, we know how hard it can be to leave your furry friends behind, so if you'll be traveling with your pets following right behind you, we want to make sure the trip is as stress-free as possible for the both of you.

Below, take a look at some travel tips we want you to keep in mind this Thanksgiving:

Prepare a travel kit.

Just like you need to pack things for yourself, you also need to pack things for your pet. Some items to include in your travel kit are a food and water bowl (and food and water), a leash, some plastic bags, a scooper to pick up waste, any medication your pet requires, and some first-aid materials. Additionally, you want your pet to feel right at home during the trip, so also make sure you gather some of their favorite toys and a bed or pillow that they feel comfortable with.

Always have someone with your pet.

This is especially important to keep in mind if your trip is a road trip - animals should never be left alone in a parked car. Just like cars can get extremely hot in the summer, they can also get extremely cold during this time of year, which puts your pet in serious danger. With that said, if you know you'll need to make some stops along the way, make sure you're finding places that are pet-friendly so that your pet can stay by your side.

Have the right carrier ready.

Any crate or carrier you use should be big enough for your pet to be able to stand, sit, lie down and turn around. You want your pet to be as comfortable as possible, and if they're feeling crammed, it's going to be a long trip for the both of you. If you'll be driving with your pet in a crate or carrier, you should also make sure it's secure so that it doesn't bounce around during travel.

Properly identify your pet and travel items.

Your pet carrier should be clearly marked with your pet's name, your name and your contact information, and you should always have identification on your pet (such as on their collar) in case something should happen. Additionally, make sure that anyone you're traveling with knows about your pet, and if you'll be flying to your destination, alert the staff so that all the right people are aware.

A final few tips to remember are that your pet should always be in good health before travel, and you should also feel confident that they are healthy enough to travel. Furthermore, you should always seek out a vet in the area that you're traveling to just in case an emergency should arise.

Berkeley Heights Animal Hospital provides a wide array of veterinary care services to patients in Berkeley Heights, Summit, Murray Hill, New Providence, Plainfield and Westfield, New Jersey. Services include, but are not limited to, vaccines, surgical procedures, spays and neuters, animal dentistry and microchips. For more information, please call (908) 464-0023.

Fun Games That You Can Play With Your Cat

Berkeley Heights Animal Hospital

269 Springfield Avenue, Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922

(908) 464-0023

Cats may be asleep for more of their lives than they are awake, but that doesn't mean they don't need just as much play time as say, dogs do. If you have a playful kitty in your life, below are a few fun games that you can play with them to let them release their energy.

Fetch.
Believe it or not, there are some cats out there who want to engage in a game of fetch just like dogs do. And while not all cats will actually bring a ball (or toy mouse) back to you, they will certainly enjoy you tossing something across the floor over and over again so that they can run after it.

Catch the prey.
Cats LOVE when you drag something across the floor on a string - this gives them the opportunity to bring out their inner hunter and stalk and pounce! And it doesn't matter if it's a ball on the end of the string, a mouse, or some feathers - your cat should definitely respond to anything that mimics a real life hunting situation!

Find the catnip.
Although not all cats are attracted to catnip in the same way, for those that are, you can expect your cat to go crazy during a game that's kind of like hide and seek - except instead of you hiding, you're hiding a toy stuffed with catnip! There are tons of toys out there that already have catnip built in, so just take your pick and enjoy the fun.

In addition to playing these games indoors, did you know that cats can be trained to walk on a leash too? If your cat has a lot of energy and could use some exercise, perhaps you should consider training it to be able to go on walks with you! A bonus here is that you'll even get a little exercise in too.

Do you have any other fun games that you and your cat play that we should add to our list? If so, be sure to share them with us on Facebook and Twitter!

Berkeley Heights Animal Hospital has been caring for pets in the Berkeley Heights, NJ area since 1976. Services include, but are not limited to, vaccines, spays and neuters, animal dentistry, surgical procedures and microchips. For more information, please call (908) 464-0023.

Should Your Pet Eat Dry Food, Wet Food or Both?

Berkeley Heights Animal Hospital

269 Springfield Avenue, Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922

(908) 464-0023

Deciding on dinner for yourself is hard enough, so when it comes time to choose a type of food for your pet, how are you supposed to know what kind they'd like best? Many pet parents have struggled with figuring out if they should feed their pet dry food, wet food or both, and if you're in the same boat right now, we want to make it easy for you: there's no right or wrong answer!

Ultimately, it comes down to what is right for you and your pet - this you can figure out by asking your veterinarian for a recommendation, and we also think reading over these pros and cons of each will help:

Wet Food

Animals need water to survive just like we do, but the truth is that not all animals drink as much water as they need to. This is where wet food can be beneficial - wet foods are a great source of hydration! If your pet isn't a fan of his or her water bowl and you suspect that his or her water needs aren't being met, wet food would seem like the appropriate choice.

Just like there are benefits though, there are also some drawbacks to wet food. For starters, wet food can be a bit messy and require more cleaning up. Additionally, wet food will spoil faster than dry food once it's been opened and put out, so you'll need to get feeding times just right to ensure none of the food goes to waste!

Dry Food

Dry food has proven to be extremely convenient for pet owners everywhere due to its long shelf life. If you'll be away from home for an extended period of time and want to ensure that your pet has enough to eat, you won't have to worry about dry food spoiling. Additionally, many pet owners prefer dry food over wet food since it can be more cost effective, and there are some brands that help with dental health!

As for drawbacks, the most obvious would be that dry food does not provide the moisture that wet food does, so if an animal is not drinking water the way they should, dry food wouldn't provide the water they need.

Like we said earlier, there really is no right or wrong answer to what type of food your pet should be eating - instead, it's really all about what's best for their health, what satisfies their hunger, and what makes sense for you as a family!

If you have questions about the food your pet should be eating, you can always ask the trusted veterinarians here at Berkeley Heights Animal Hospital. Your pet's health is our number one priority, so we'll share as many of our expert tips with you as we can when it comes to keeping your pets healthy for years to come!

Top 7 Foods Your Dog Should Never Eat

Berkeley Heights Animal Hospital

269 Springfield Avenue, Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922

(908) 464-0023

Seeing your sweet pup sitting next to you while you're at the dinner table can make you want to share some of your food, but dogs have their own food for a reason - they aren't meant to eat people food! As much as they may give you their adorable "please feed me eyes," one of the most important things you can do to keep your dog healthy throughout its lifetime is to resist the urge to give them a bite - especially a bite of these foods:

Chocolate: Not even a little piece is okay for dogs and it should be avoided at all costs. That's because chocolate contains a substance called methylxanthines which is not only very toxic, but it will also stop a dog's metabolic process. Consuming even the smallest amount of chocolate can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs, and consuming a large amount can result in much, much worse, such as seizures - it can also even be fatal.

Onions: While onions may be a bit more dangerous for cats, they aren't good for dogs either. Unfortunately onions can lead to gastrointestinal irritation, and they can also result in damage to your pup's red blood cells.

Avocado: If you can't get enough of avocados, make sure you aren't sharing any with your four-legged friends. Avocados contain persin, which while it is fine for people, it can actually be poisonous to dogs when consumed in large amounts. 

Dairy products: Milk and any other dairy-based product are a no-no - these can cause dogs to experience some digestive upset since they do not have significant amounts of lactase, which is the enzyme that works to break down lactose in milk.

Nuts: Nuts such as almonds, pecans and walnuts are known to be filled with oils and fats, and, unfortunately for dogs, these fats can cause them to experience vomiting and diarrhea. Additionally, eating nuts can also result in serious health conditions such as pancreatitis. 

Salt: Usually put salt on your pretzels, popcorn or chips? While your dog shouldn't snack on those treats anyway, they especially shouldn't if they're covered in salt. This is because consuming a lot of salt can result in excessive thirst and urination in pets, and some may even experience sodium ion poisoning. Like chocolate, salty foods can even be fatal.

Grapes: While the toxic substance that grapes contain is still not known, what is known is that they can cause kidney failure in pets. Furthermore, grapes can also cause your dog to experience vomiting, diarrhea, a lack of appetite and even dehydration. Along with grapes, you should also avoid raisins for the same reasons.

To learn more people foods that should be avoided by pets, check out this article from the ASPCA.

Berkeley Heights Animal Hospital has been caring for pets since 1976, and offers veterinary care services such as vaccines, surgical procedures, dog and cat spays and neuters, animal dentistry, microchips and more. For more information, please call (908) 464-0023.

How to Keep Your Cat From Scratching Your Furniture

Berkeley Heights Animal Hospital

269 Springfield Avenue, Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922

(908) 464-0023

There's nothing like having your cat cuddle up with you on the couch, but we know that it can be terribly frustrating when that same cute kitty starts to scratch at that couch. However, as a cat owner, you must realize that scratching is part of their natural instinct, and in fact, they scratch for many reasons - some of these reasons include to mark their territory, to stretch, to remove the dead layer of their claws, and to flex their feet and claws.

Don't worry, though, we do have some good news for you - there are several things you can do to keep your cat from scratching your expensive furniture! Here are a few techniques to try:

Use deterrents.
A possible reason for your cat scratching your furniture is that they like the texture, so you'll need to do something to make it unappealing. For example, you can cover off-limit spots with textures that cats don't like, such as aluminum foil and double-sided sticky tape. Cats are also sensitive to smell and they usually don't like citrus or menthol scents, so you can try to use certain odors to keep them away as well.

Provide alternatives.
Since scratching is a natural behavior for cats, you'll need to present them with a place where scratching is acceptable - a scratching post is likely your best bet. These come in all different shapes, sizes and materials, and some will even have toys attached to make them even more appealing. When you notice your cat using their scratching post, remember to praise them so that they start to associate it with being a safe place to scratch.

Interrupt them in the act.
It's extremely important to remember that you should never scold your cat for scratching if you haven't caught them in the act - this will just make them confused and could lead to them developing a sense of fear towards you. Instead, you'll need to stay on top of your cat for a while and interrupt them the moment you see them start to scratch off-limits objects - for example, you can clap your hands or shake a can of coins. Once they're interrupted, you should then bring them over to an acceptable scratching spot (such as their scratching post) so that they can continue. 

Although it can be frustrating to watch your cat rip your furniture to shreds, always remember that they aren't doing it to upset you - scratching is just in their nature, which is why it's up to YOU to teach them acceptable scratching spots!

Berkeley Heights Animal Hospital has been caring for pets since 1976, and offers veterinary care services such as vaccines, surgical procedures, dog and cat spays and neuters, animal dentistry, microchips and more. For more information, please call (908) 464-0023.

Tips to Help You Brush Your Dog's Teeth

Berkeley Heights Animal Hospital

269 Springfield Avenue, Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922

(908) 464-0023

You wouldn't go a day without brushing your teeth, so why should your dog go for a long time without any dental care? Although it can be difficult to really get in there and scrub, it's just as important to brush your dog's teeth regularly as it is to brush yours. And since proper dental hygiene is so crucial for pups everywhere, we'd like to take this opportunity to share some tips on how to make the process easier:

1. Set up a routine. It may take some time for your dog to get used to the idea of someone brushing their teeth, and that's perfectly okay. What's really important here is that you get them comfortable with it and set up a routine that they're familiar with - for example, brush their teeth every day at the same time, and make sure it's when your pup is in a relaxed state.
2. Approach your dog correctly. Use body language to help your dog feel comfortable so that they don't feel like they're being threatened or put in an upsetting position. That said, avoid towering over your dog, but rather kneel or sit right next to him/her. And remember, if your dog is showing that they're nervous, it's okay to wait a few minutes until they calm down.
3. Start slowly. You don't have to dive into everything all at once. Instead, start off slowly and get your pup used to the idea of someone touching his/her mouth. For example, spend a little while just rubbing your finger on your pup's gums and teeth and see how they react - as they start to ease up, then you can move on to using a toothbrush and some doggy toothpaste.
4. Brush in circles. Once you're ready to fully tackle brushing your dog's teeth, do so in a circular motion and make sure you're addressing both their top and bottom teeth. If you notice a little bleeding every so often, that's okay. However, if you see bleeding every time and it's heavy, you could be brushing too hard or your pup may have gum disease - this you can consult your vet about!
5. Be a source of comfort and end with a reward. Throughout the entire process of brushing your dog's teeth make sure you're speaking to him/her in a positive tone and reassure him/her of how good they're being. And after you're done, don't forget to give him/her a treat!

Remember - it will probably take some time for your dog to get comfortable with you brushing their teeth, and even though they may fuss the first couple of times, what matters most is that you're doing something positive for their health and well-being!

Here at Berkeley Heights Animal Hospital, we recognize how important it is for pets to exhibit good dental hygiene, and we also know it can be difficult for pet owners to get their pet to let them in their mouth. That's why part of our veterinary care services are specifically dedicated to animal dentistry! We recommend an annual dental exam and teeth cleaning for your pet and are available to help with a number of dentistry related services such as oral surgery, dental extractions, ultrasonic scaling of the teeth, ultrasonic polishing of the teeth and more!

For more information about our animal dentistry services or to make an appointment, please give us a call at (908) 464-0023 today.