The best way to ensure your pet's oral health is to have regular cleanings at our office. Discuss how often you ought to come in as well as a home hygiene regimen with your vet. This will also prevent dental issues from progressing to larger (and potentially deadly) internal issues, such as dysfunction or disease in the heart, kidneys, liver, or lungs.
Vaccination
Regular vaccinations and examinations will help keep your pet healthy and happy. Our veterinarians recommend a yearly visit for your pet. This is because pets age an average of 7 times faster than humans and so by the time they reach 6/7 years old they are considered middle-aged. Larger breeds of dogs are often considered to be seniors by the time they reach 8.
Veterinary Ophthalmology
Health: This breed can be sensitive to flea bites, and prone to cataracts, skin and ear ailments, epilepsy and dislocated kneecaps.
Behavioral Counseling
Temperament: American bulldogs make extremely loyal pets which display strong protective instincts towards their families. Highly alert and great with children, they are sociable animals that need to know their place in the family hierarchy. A firm pack leader, good socialization from a young age and obedience training will make them easier to handle.
Nutritional Counseling
In the wild, hiding pain, illness, or other weaknesses are survival instincts; many times your pet will have the same instincts, even in the safety and comfort of your loving home, so always keep an eye on your pet's eating habits and behaviors. Recognizing the difference between normal changes in mood and red flags can be difficult sometimes. What you interpret as a persistent grumpiness may actually be a sign that your pet is in pain. New irritability, shying away from being touched (especially on the face and around the mouth or throat), sluggishness, loss of appetite or difficulty eating, and lethargy are all behavioral signs which may indicate illness.
Comprehensive Examination
Physical examination You will also be asked to provide a comprehensive history of the health of your pet and the progression of any symptoms that they have displayed. You may also be asked to provide samples of other bodily fluids.
Fecal testing. This allows the veterinarian to check for the presence of internal parasites such as hookworms, roundworms and whipworms.
Behavioral Disorder Treatment
Also known as CDV, Canine Distemper is a highly contagious viral illness that can be debilitating and even fatal. It not only affects dogs but can also be seen in certain species of wildlife including foxes, skunks and wolves. Puppies and non-immunized dogs are most commonly affected, but pets on immune-suppressants may also be vulnerable.
Pain Management
Vomiting Treatment
Diarrhea Treatment
Skin Condition and Allergy Treatment
It is not uncommon to be able to spot fleas jumping off and on your pet’s body, but they are very small and very fast. They are flat-bodied, dark brown or black in color (unless they are full of blood in which case they can be lighter) and usually less than an eighth of an inch big. However, typical behavioral symptoms include restlessness, and chewing, scratching or licking certain parts of his body more often than usual. If you suspect that your dog or cat has fleas, you can check his skin and coat for signs of them or ‘flea dirt’ which looks like regular dirt but is actually flea faeces. If you aren’t sure if it is actual dirt rather than flea dirt, put some on a paper towel and add some water. If it is flea dirt, then it will turn a reddish brown as it will contain blood that the flea has ingested and then excreted.
Upper Respiratory Illness Treatment
The CDV virus is mainly transmitted through direct contact with an infected animal via bodily fluids such as saliva from coughs or sneezes. Inhalation is the most common way it enters a new dogs system. It attacks the respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract and central nervous system.
Dogs- Must be up to date on Distemper, Parvo and Rabies. Leptospirosis 4way, Bordetella, and Canine influenza must have been done in the past year. Dogs 6 months and older must be spayed or neutered.
Parvovirus Infection Treatment
The CPV virus is mainly transmitted through direct contact with an infected animal, or indirectly through contact with the stools of an infected dog which contain a heavy concentration of the virus. This contact can include inhalation as well as touch. The virus can also live in the ground for up to a year where it can be brought into contact with a dog by way of shoes.
Feline Retro Virus Treatment
Bacterial and Viral Infection Treatment
There is no cure for CDV itself, but instead treatment revolves around easing symptoms and ensuring that further problems such as bacterial infections do not take hold. This is usually done in a hospital environment and may involve intravenous fluid therapy, anti-sickness medications, antibiotics, anti-convulsion medications and glucocorticoid therapy.
Ear Infection Treatment
Health: The breed is unfortunately subject to a number of genetic conditions including poor eye health, allergies and skin conditions, bloating, hip dysplasia and ear infections.
Pets can have extremely sharp nails which, if not frequently trimmed, can cause serious injury. Regular trims can reduce the risk of injury, stops them getting caught in carpet or other upholstery, and prevents the likelihood of in-growing nails. For older pets it can also ease arthritis and other joint pain.
Obesity Treatment
We are constantly being told that obesity levels are increasing and we should act now to ensure our long term health. However this problem does not just affect humans. A shocking statistic from the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention states that an estimated 54% of dogs and cats in the United States are overweight or obese.
Diabetes Treatment
Epilepsy Treatment
Heart Disease Treatment
Heartworm is a serious illness that can cause heart failure, lung disease, organ damage and even death in dogs, cats and ferrets. Heartworm is most prevalent in pets living along the Atlantic Gulf coasts from New Jersey to the Gulf of Mexico, and in those living alongside the Mississippi and its main tributaries. However it has been found in pets in all of the US States.
Kidney Disease Treatment
Periodontal Disease Treatment
Regular teeth brushing is the only way to help combat periodontal disease, and if your pet has bad breath then it is a sure sign of a dental problem. Your vet will be happy to recommend specialist pet toothbrushes and toothpaste – just ask!
Whilst a sick pet may require inpatient treatment in care in your veterinary surgery for days or even weeks, you will need to continue providing them with care and compassion to aid their recovery when they come home. This can include administering medication, supporting physical rehabilitation, emotional care, and fulfilling any special dietary requirements.
Spaying and Neutering
You should also speak to your veterinarian about spaying or neutering your pet to help prevent certain physical problems and to prevent marking of territory.
Dog suspected to be infected with heartworm are usually given an antigen test. This is a blood test that detects proteins that are released by adult female heartworms into the bloodstream of the host animal. However this test cannot usually detect infections that are less than 6/7 months old as before this time as any microfilariae may not be fully matured.
X-Ray
Microchipping
Most adoptable pets have already been given a microchip if they come from a rescue group or shelter. If your pet hasn't got one, whether it's a new one or one you adopted before chipping became prevalent, you should take this extra step for your pet. It doesn't matter if your pet lives exclusively indoors or if it loves the outdoors, microchipping is essential for the safety of your pet.
Allbrick Veterinary Clinic L.L.C. is located north of Denver, CO 80260 at 8700 Zuni St (3 blocks north of 84th ave). We are within easy access of both Interstate 25 and Highway 36. Our mantra is " Value on a Professional Level.", which after 40 years has enabled us to grow from a dog and cat boarding facility to much more. We are now a multi doctor veterinary practice offering a wide range of medical and surgical services for puppies and kittens to your senior dogs and cats. Our doctors represent over 60 years of combined animal experience, each with a unique story to tell. So meet them in "our staff" section.
Grooming
While for many people the concept of grooming your pet conjures up notions of brushes and bows, it is in fact a vital element to their overall health and wellbeing. Regularly grooming your animal allows you to catch any underlying diseases or conditions early, meaning that they will be able to be treated quicker and more efficiently and will therefore be less likely to have any lasting effect on your pet.
Dog Training
For more information on training your dog, speak to your veterinarian who may be able to direct you to local dog or puppy training classes.