Heartworm disease is a devastating and potentially fatal disease of dogs, cats, ferrets and other mammals.  Of all our pets, dogs are the most susceptible to heartworm disease. 

Vet Tech Rhea's Copper and Dr. Belfiore's Charlie Paying Attention!

Heartworm disease is completely preventable.

We recommend every dog and every cat in Omaha be on Heartgard or Revolution monthly year round and that every dog be tested for heartworm yearly.

What is your heartworm prevention plan for your pets?

Do your pets like their heartworm preventative medication?

What has been your experience with heartworm disease?

Link to American Heartworm Society Website for More Information on Heartworm Disease and Prevention

More Information on Heartworm Disease and Prevention from Dr. Finch - When Was the Last Time You Saved a Life?

From the kitty medical records –

“Keeps going to litter box and producing nothing.  Seems to be in deep thought when in the box then looks behind himself and nothing there.”

Among the most common concerns we deal with at Gentle Doctor Animal Hospitals are urinary issues of cats.  Sometimes healthy cats miss the litter box now and then, sometimes healthy cats miss the litter box MORE than now and then and sometimes a litter box issue is a red flag for a serious health concern.

If your cat is not using the litter box 100% of the time, let’s get him or her in for a medical consultation and examination.  Most urinary conditions of cats, though frustrating, are treatable, and some urinary conditions of cats are even curable.

Possible Causes of Abnormal Urination in Cats

• Non-Obstructive Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease - By far the most common urinary condition of otherwise seemingly healthy cats who urinate inappropriately is feline lower urinary tract disease or idiopathic cystitis.  This is a condition that causes urinary bladder inflammation and discomfort, bleeding of the lower urinary tract and an extreme urgency to urinate.  This is a medical condition with treatment options.  It can become frustrating because signs tend to come and go and respond to some treatments but not others.  Recently, stress has been implicated as a large contributor to signs of feline lower urinary tract disease.
• Obstructive Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease – This is a medical emergency!  If your cat is unable to urinate or straining to urinate, he needs to be brought in to Gentle Doctor Animal Hospital or the Animal Emergency Clinic right away.
• Urinary Stones – Like dogs, cats can develop stones in their urinary tract.  They can be painful and cause inflammation and infection, and at their worst can cause a urinary tract obstruction, which is a medical emergency.
• Urinary Tract Infection – Urinary tract infections are uncommon in young, otherwise healthy cats, but they do occur.  They are more common in older cats and cats with other medical issues such as diabetes.
• Urinary Tract Cancer – Thankfully, cancer of the urinary tract is very uncommon in cats, though it does sometimes occur.
• Diseases that Cause Excessive Urination – Diseases that cause excessive urination can cause urinary issues in cats, as they need to urinate so often and at such a large volume, that they are not always able to reach the litter box in time!  Excessive urination and excessive drinking always warrant a trip to the veterinarian!  Many diseases can cause these signs, and most of them are treatable.  Among the most common diseases that cause excessive urination and excessive drinking in cats are kidney disease, diabetes and hyperthyroidism.

Remember, when your cats urinate outside of their litter box or show other urinary abnormalities, they are NEVER being naughty, they SOMETIMES have an underlying medical issue and the situation should ALWAYS be discussed with your Gentle Doctor Animal Hospitals medical team!

Nicole and Harley, Photo by Arnold Clark Photography

Meet another of our great team members, Nicole Dawson!

Nicole with Dr. Finch's Noodle the Poodle

Name:  Nicole Dawson

Position:  Veterinary Assistant

When did you join the Gentle Doctor team? July 2012

Nicole with Dr. Stokes's Minerva - She is Grateful for the Bath Deep, Deep Inside!

Tell us about the people and pets in your family.

I have a cat, Roxy. She thinks she is a dog. I also have 2 dogs, a 2 year old Great Dane, Harley and a 3 year old Puggle, Chloe, both of which have separation anxiety, but we are working on getting better.

Harley the Great Dane and Chloe the Puggle

What do you like to do when you are not restoring and maintaining the health of pets?

I love to be outside, only if it's at least 70 degrees though. I spend a lot of my free time reading and spending time with friends and family and of course my fur - babies.

What do you like most about your career? 

What I love most about working at Gentle Doctor is the clients and patients. They essentially become a part of your family. You build a relationship with them, and when they come in excited to see us, it's a positive experience for all of us.

What is one of the more difficult aspects of your career? 

When it is time to say goodbye, whether I am really close with the patient/client or not, it is extremely difficult, and I struggle with that.

As an expert in your field, what advice would you give people about maintaining the health of their pets? 

Preventative health care. Use the supplements your veterinarian recommends, and bring them in for their annual visits. It will help your pet in the long run.

Nicole with Receptionist Jacquie's Lenny

What advice would you give someone looking into a career in veterinary medicine? 

Job shadow at a clinic!  Before you even go to school, you want to be sure this is a field you want to work in the rest of your life.  It's not all sunshine and rainbows all the time, and while you do get to see puppies and kittens, you see a lot of hard things too.

Tell us about one of your favorite patients. 

Nicole and Kelly with Great Dane Sloan

One of my favorite patients is Sloan, a Great Dane that comes into the 120th and Blondo location. She was one of the first patients I cared for at this location, and is the perfect example of a "gentle giant." She's always so happy to come in and is just a mellow girl. :] 

Sloan Says Giants Can Be Princesses Too!

Chloe and Nicole

Nicole and Roxy

Gentle Doctor Animal Hospitals’ Breed of the Month for October 2014 is…

The Pit Bull!

Every month at Gentle Doctor Animal Hospitals we choose a breed to highlight online.  Sometimes we choose the breed of the month based on rescue groups we love, sometimes we choose the breed of the month based on the pets we have in our own families and sometimes we choose the breed of the month because, in our professional opinions, the breed we have chosen to celebrate is just a great breed! 

Pit Bulls

The breed we have chosen to celebrate during October 2014 is the Pit Bull.  We will spend the rest of the month celebrating this breed with you! 

Joining the Gentle Doctor Animal Hospitals Breed of the Month Online Conversation:

Make sure to join us on whatever online forum you like best –

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

or right here on our blog in the comment section of this post.  What questions do you have about Pit Bulls?  What do YOU love about Pit Bulls?  Let us know why YOUR Pit Bull or Pit Bull mix is great!  Send us your pictures, your health questions and your stories.  We are looking forward to this month with you!