stewartstownvetservi151087

Pet Massage

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 06:52:03 GMT

Pet Massage

The benefits of massage therapy for both people and animals is not a recent new age fad. In the book “Veterinary Notes for the Horse Owner” author Captain M. Horace Hayes speaks of the benefits of massage for the equine athelete. He penned this book in the year 1877.

Massage therapy for people has been practiced in every culture in most every country for countless generations from the Roman gladiators to the Polynesians to the Japanese. It is a small hop to extend the benefits of massage therapy to our animal companions.

“Why massage for dogs and cats?” you may ask. “Why isn’t me petting my pet the same thing?”

Well for one reason massage tends to go much deeper than you just petting your cat or dog. Massage breaks up the lactic acid that forms in the muscles and facilitates easier mobility. It is extremely beneficial to the elderly patient and unlike other therapies, even laser therapy, the animal really seems to enjoy the attention. It improves blood circulation and when the blood flows better the animal feels better and they tend to heal quicker. It is a good addition to whatever treatment the veterinarian has prescribed. The one downfall of massage therapy is that, like laser therapy, it should not be used if cancer is suspected. Since massage improves circulation it could also feed the cancer. However I have found massage to be very helpful in finding a lump that needs veterinary scrutiny. Many times it is a lump that the owner was unaware even existed and a dog or a cat certainly can’t tell you its there.

Other than the aforementioned instance of cancer, massage therapy can be useful at any stage of an animal’s life. It is helpful in easing labor pains in a mother about to give birth, settles an overly active puppy or kitten long enough for the vet to do their work, calms a dog nervous because they’re at the vet, is a pleasurable way to ease an animal’s arthritis and is very useful in getting the practitioner to notice things the vet needs to be made aware of.

Many different moves are associated with human massage that can be easily adapted to pet massage. Swedish massage is a light bodywork that warms and prepares the muscles by using an effleurage stroke. Deep tissue is a stroke designed to get deep into the tissue and break up any hypertonic regions. ( Otherwise called ‘crunchies’ by most people when their muscles are sore. ) Percussion or tapotement is a light rapping or tapping of the muscles meant to wake up the patient and bring them out of their relaxed state and back to the world again at the completion of the bodywork. Myofascial release can be done on an animal who is highly sensitive and cannot tolerate deep tissue pressure. However myofascial release does take an amazing amount of time to do properly because it is a very slow movement. Myofascial release is used in people usually suffering from fibromyalgia because physical contact can actually be painful to them.

In closing, massage therapy should not be looked at as a ‘luxury’ but a legitimate therapy in adjunct with whatever care the vet prescribes. It eases pain makes the animal more comfortable and is a therapy that most pets really seem to enjoy. It makes the animal easier to manage in the exam room and notifies the vet of problems that might otherwise be missed.

Massage therapy with pets is kneaded.

Halloween Safety For Our Pets

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 06:48:36 GMT

Halloween Safety For Our Pets

Halloween is a time filled with costumes, yummy treats, and lots of excitement. Nothing is more adorable than seeing our pets dressed up as our favorite Halloween characters! Including our pets in Halloween is a lot of fun! However, there are some steps that should be taken to keep our furry friends safe.

Costumes are cute and an integral part of Halloween. Be sure that your pet’s costume does not impede his eyesight, hearing or movement. Costumes should not be too tight or too lose, or have any pieces your pet can chew or swallow.

If you take your pet trick-or-treating with you, be sure to keep them on a short leash so that they cannot grab dropped candies or accidentally trip small children with their leash. Your pet should have identification on his collar and have a microchip just in case he would get separated from you. A lighted or reflective collar or harness will make him easier to see in the dark.

Halloween is a very exciting time and sometimes the excitement is too much for our furry friends. Trick-or-treaters, the shouts of children, the doorbell ringing and even the costumes can be stressful to your pet. If your pet gets anxious, be sure to keep them in a quiet area of the house where they can not bolt out the door if spooked.

Pets are a valued part of the family. They can safely help celebrate the holidays if we take some extra precautions.

Decorating for Halloween can be tons of fun. Make sure there are no small decorations your pet could swallow. Swallowing decorations could result in an intestinal obstruction which needs surgical treatment. Jack-O-lanterns and candles are also very common this time of year, but beware of where you put them. Our curious companions can easily knock them over with their tails or accidentally get too close resulting in burns.

Halloween treats can be very toxic to your pet. Chocolate can cause an elevated heart rate, seizures, high blood pressure and death. Treats containing grapes or raisins can cause kidney failure. Xylitol, an artificial sugar can cause dangerously low blood sugar, liver failure and seizures. Xylitol is most commonly found in sugar free gum, but can be found in a variety of other candy. Make sure you keep any treats out of your pet’s reach inside your home and watch out while walking your pet outside for any dropped Halloween candies.

Keep Your Pets Healthy During the Hot Summer Weather

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 06:45:41 GMT

Keep Your Pets Healthy During the Hot Summer Weather

Summertime is a fun time to be outdoors and to enjoy varying activities. It can be a fun time with our pets also. But there are important things to remember to keep our pets happy and healthy while outside.

Watch out for hot surfaces from baking in the hot sun. They can burn your dog’s or cat’s paws if they walk or run on hot macadam. Protect their feet if that is the only place for them to walk. Also exercise your dog in the morning or evening when it is cooler. Dogs cannot sweat like humans. They release their body heat by panting and sweating from their paws. They can get overheated very easily especially short nosed dogs like Bulldogs, Pugs, Boston Terriers, Shih Tzus and French Bulldogs. Their airways are already compromised by their short noses, so they need to be kept out of the sun as much as possible. Of course they also need lots of water to stay hydrated while outside.

If you are taking your dogs to a dog park, make sure their vaccines are current. It is very easy to spread kennel cough, influenza, parvo and distemper from dog to dog. And you want to make sure the rabies vaccine is current in case there are any altercations between dogs and or humans. Make sure you have your pets tested for internal parasites also because dogs can pick up intestinal parasites by sniffing and eating any soil.

And of course one of the biggest no no’s is to NEVER leave your pet alone in a locked car during the summer. Even if it is cloudy and 75 or more degrees, it doesn’t take long for the car’s interior temperature to reach dangerous levels. If your pet develops heat stroke, get it into a shady area or air conditioned area. Cool down the body with cool NOT cold water. Transport to a Veterinarian as soon as possible.

We are here to help you if you have any questions of concerns. Call us if your pet is in trouble.

Have fun this summer and stay safe.

Pain Awareness

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 06:41:56 GMT

Pain Awareness

Our pets can experience pain just like us. They are subject to all forms of pain. Acute pain can be a result of surgery or trauma. Chronic pain can result from arthritis and tooth infections. These are just a few examples of chronic and acute pain. We would like to make your pet as pain free as possible so they can have a longer, healthy life.

It can be hard to determine if your pet is in pain. Some of the things you can watch out for are changes in behavior, reluctance to jump or go up and down stairs. Your pet may also hide or have a change in their stance. These are all signs of chronic pain, but there are also many other things that signal your beloved pet may be in pain. We can help by examining your pet, taking X-rays, and running bloodwork to help determine an appropriate treatment plan for making your pet more comfortable. If your pet is experiencing acute pain from things such as surgery, we can provide pain management so your pet can heal faster and return to their normal behavior and daily routines.

We have plans in place for your pet’s surgery and recover to make sure they are as free from pain as possible. Pain medication is given prior to their procedure and also sent home with them afterwards. When a pet is happy, eating well and pain free, they can heal faster.

If you feel that your pet is experiencing pain, please do not hesitate to make an appointment to have a pain evaluation and consultation. Remember that your pet may not vocalize their pain. If you notice a change in their behavior, loss of appetite, or they are not able to do things like they used to, it may mean that they are in pain and need to be treated. A treatment plan can be made to help your pet be comfortable and happy. September is Animal Pain Awareness Month and we at Stewartstown Vet Services want to help make your pet as pain free as possible by offering 50% off of a pain consultation.

Lyme Disease

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 06:37:42 GMT

Lyme Disease

May is Lyme disease awareness month. Lyme is a tick borne disease that can only be transmitted by the deer tick. It takes 48 hours of tick attachment to transmit the disease. There is no cure for Lyme disease but it can go into a latent or inactive state in the body. Active Lyme disease can be treated with medications if your pet is showing symptoms. The most commonly exhibited symptoms of Lyme Disease are multiple leg lameness, fever and swelling of the joints.

In some severe cases of Lyme disease, kidney disease can develop (most common in chocolate labs.) Though there is not a vaccine for Lyme disease in humans there is one for dogs. The Lyme vaccine for dogs is relatively very affective and even more effective when dogs are on a regular tick prevention. Other tick borne diseases to be concerned about are Ehrlichia and Anaplasmosis.

Ehrlichia is a type of bacteria that infects and lives within the white blood cells. It is spread by the bite of a brown dog tick and it is unknown how long the tick must be attached before transmission, this particular tick can also cause other diseases such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Babesiosis. Ehrlichia can wipe out white blood cells in a dog and cause death if not treated. Anaplasmosis is transmitted by a tick commonly called the deer tick, black legged tick or bear tick. With Anaplasmosis there are two different types of infections that can occur that either affect white blood cells or affects platelets. It takes a minimum of 24 hours of attachment for the tick to transmit the disease.

If you have any additional questions regarding ticks and the disease they transmit please call/talk to your local veterinarian.

stewartstownvetservi151087

Pet Massage

Pet Massage ﻿

Halloween Safety For Our Pets

Halloween Safety For Our Pets ﻿

Keep Your Pets Healthy During the Hot Summer Weather

Keep Your Pets Healthy During the Hot Summer Weather

Pain Awareness

Pain Awareness

Lyme Disease

Lyme Disease

Pet Massage

Halloween Safety For Our Pets