September is Dental Month

September is Dental Month

 

THIS YEAR DURING THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY WE WILL OFFER 15% OFF DENTAL CLEANING SERVICES.

 
Dental Procedure Standards of Care

• Pre-op blood work recommended and required over 7 years of age.
• Current wellness exam.
• Estimate will be present or given prior to appointment.
• Fluids and IV catheters & anesthetic monitoring.
• Pictures and chart of any abnormalities or missing teeth. Before and after.

Dental Procedure

• Probe for pockets and abnormal wear.
• Remove excessive tarter either by hand or scaler.
• Clean teeth with ultrasonic dentalaire.
• Polish, and then rinse.
• Clean and flush out any pockets.
• Apply fluoride and oravet (plaque prevention gel).

Common Dental Concerns

• Gingival Recession-Gum line recedes back exposing root.
• Retained baby teeth-Baby tooth that has grown along side the adult tooth causing damage.
• Excessive dental disease-excessive tarter & plaque covering the teeth causing infection, tooth loss, and severe gingivitis.
• Oronasal fistulas-An oronasal fistula is a communication between the oral cavity and the caudal respiratory track. These fistulas occur in the area of the upper premolar and molar teeth

  You, the pet owner, are an integral part of our dental team.  Home care is the most important procedure you can do to maintain oral health and help decrease the frequency of dental procedures,  and increase the overall oral health of your pet. Here are some tips to use after your pets dental procedure or as preventative care care.

 

1. Bushing teeth daily and regularly

Start off slow : introduce the toothpaste first.  Only use toothpaste designed for dogs and cats. First, start by rubbing toothpaste with your finger on one tooth at a time and letting your pet get use to the taste and the feeling.  Then upgrade to a tooth brush.  There are different sizes and kinds, such as : finger toothbrushes, smaller brushes, and longer handled brushes for longer muzzled pets, and smaller bristled brushes for cats.  Be persistent but reward progress immediately with a treat or with a play period after each cleaning session. Develop a routine for your pet and you and make this a fun and enjoyable as possible.

2. Applying Sealant

Ora Vet is a sealant that was applied at the time of your pet’s dental procedure.  It is to be applied after brushing, once weekly, to help prevent and reduce the formation of plaque and calculus on the teeth. Home kits are available and strongly recommended.

3. Drinking water additives and Rinses

Aqua Dent is a water additive that is simple use. All you need to do is add it to your pets drinking water to prevent plaque from forming.  The Oral hygiene rinse is easy to use with just a squirt the rinse eliminates and helps fight against new bacteria forming.  Chlorhexadine is the active ingredient that keeps your pet’s mouth healthy.  Studies show this to be more effective than diets and chews.

4. Diet                                                                            

There are special dental diets such as Hills T/D and Purina DH  for dogs and cats . To promote oral health these diets offer everyday feeding solution that works between dental brushing and cleanings to help reduce plaque and calculus accumulation.  Dental chews are also available for dogs and cats and these are specially formulated and combine the mechanical activity of a rawhide chews.   Most chews that we carry (C.E.T. Chews and DH Chews) were developed with chlorhexadine as the activ3e ingredient that inhibits the growth of bacteria in your pets mouth. Also we carry Greenies as another dental treat option.

5. Dental Examinations with your Vet

Every 6 months to a year, we recommend dental exams please call to make the appointment!

(208) 466-4614

Wasabi is now 6 months old!

Wasabi is now 6 months old!  In the last couple of months, he has transformed from a clumsy teenager into an adult, complete with brilliant plumage.  His pastel peachy feathers around his face were the first to molt, and he quickly grew bright orangish/red replacements.  His green body feathers have also been steadily molting, littering our counters with colorful fuzz.  The last to molt are his primary (wing) and tail feathers, which are being replaced with brighter and larger feathers.

 

Although lovebirds can be one of the more difficult parrots to transferonto a formulated pellet diet, Wasabi has successfully completed this task, and is now learning in order to get his favorite treats, buckwheat and safflower seeds, he has to work for them.   He gets rewarded for doing something that we would like him to do, whether something as simple as stepping up without fuss, laying on his back, or just having some quiet time.

Overall, Wasabi still loves meeting new people, among occasionally being much too friendly with a large dog or two.  Make sure to say hello to him, next time you're in to visit the hospital!

Fourth of July safety for your Pets

 

 

The Fourth of July is fast approaching. If your pet is one to get stressed by the noise of fireworks, Idaho Veterinary Hospital recommends that you prepare early. Even if the fireworks are miles away the animal can feel and hear the loud noises that a firework display puts out.

Before the event

·         Prepare a safe haven or favorite place.

·         Provide your pet with toys, treats and plenty of water.

·         Aim to get your cat indoors before it turns dark.

·         Close off cat flaps, doggy doors and windows.  

·         Escape proof your home, make sure gates are locked and secure.

·         Walk your dog before dusk, most pets will not return outside to go to the bathroom once the fireworks have started.

·         There are products  to  help calm  your pet's anxiety such as, diffusers, sprays and medication for dogs and cats.

·         Make pets identifiable. Make sure your pet is wearing some form of easily readable identification in case they run away or get lost.

·         More pets go missing on the fourth of July than any other day. Microchips are best to get pets back home to their  owners if they do escape.   

During the event

·         Close curtains & blinds to minimize noise and light.

·         Play music  or TV at a louder volume than normal.

·         Do not yell or punish your pet for being scared.

·          Ignore any fearful behavior such as panting, shaking, and whining, this will only make your dog more distressed.

·         Try to stay home with your pet and distract them with a game or toy.

·         Keep your routine as normal as possible, do not over comfort them.

Please call our office with any question or concerns @ 208-466-4614.

Wasabi update!

Wasabi is now 14 weeks old!  He has become quite the acrobat, swinging from toys in his cage, and hanging upside down on one foot from his perches.  He has developed many different sounds, squeaks and screeches, along with giving kisses, complete with the kissing sound! 

It has seemed like a very long road, but after much fretting, Wasabi is fully weaned.  Turns out, he's a bit of a picky boy, oh, and rather spoiled, as well.  After  trying many different types of pellets, seeds, fruits veggies and other foods (thanks Parrots 'N Stuff!), we found that he is a big fan of a canary mix, full of good stuff like golden flax seed and buck wheat.  After trying this new mix for only a few days, Wasabi is completely weaned, making for a very happy lovebird, and an even happier hospital!  Now on to the next challenge, transferring him to a pelleted diet.  I will have to admit, I have never met a bird that loves vinegar, until Wasabi.  He will chase you across the house if he knows you have it, silly bird.

He still loves his baths, whether in a bath pan, or in his water dish.  He can often be found soaking the counter and its contents, or shortly after when he vaguely resembles a drowned rat.

Over all, Wasabi has turned in to a wonderful companion, and hospital resident.  He is happy to say hello to everyone, and get a little cheek-rub time in.

Wasabi is now 7 weeks old and making friends!!

Wasabi is now 7 weeks old, and nearly full grown at 59grams.  As you may recall, we decided to send a small sample of blood to a DNA lab that determines sex.  He is indeed a male! 

 

Over the last couple weeks, he has had only minor changes in his appearance.  The black coloration on his beak has begun to subside, leaving only a small patch on a bright yellow background.  His tail and wing feathers have completely grown in, leaving him fully feathered.  He has definitely learned the finer points of his wings, flying where ever he pleased in our lobby and at home; so much so, that he had to have his wings trimmed to avoid flying out the door or  into the waiting mouth of a hungry cat!

Wasabi is continuing to sample new foods all the time, with chick peas and safflower seeds being his favorite.    He will continue to need formula supplementation for the next few weeks, while he transitions to a pelleted diet.

When he is not busy meeting new people, Wasabi is now perching a lot more than being on the floor, although he does still prefer to be burrowed under something while napping.   He definitely is making bird-weary people into bird lovers.

Wasabi is now 5 weeks old!

Wasabi is now 5 weeks old!  His (or her) body feathers are now fully filled in, and his wing and tail feathers are nearly half way grown.  Although he still isn't eating on his own, he enjoys picking at crunched up dry food, and only needs to be fed formula about every 4 hours.  Because he still needs to be fed quite often, he continues to be my commute companion back and forth to work. He truly enjoys his water dish, not for drinking purposes, but rather taking baths and making soggy messes!

At 4 1/2 weeks, Wasabi has fledged!  He has become very active, wanting out of his cage more, and consistently exercising his wings.  He has been able to jump up to the edge of his open topped cage, and able to perch there while being fed, with out issue.  His balance is vastly improved and he is beginning to learn the basics of flight, such as turning and landing, in short distances.  He has graduated to an actual cage, although he still spends most of his time on the floor with toys and soft places to cuddle up.  We will watch him as he continues to learn the finer points of having wings, and builds up his muscles, until it becomes a danger to have him fully flighted in the clinic.  At that time, we will trim a few of his feathers, a few times a year, so that he isn't able to fly into the mouth of a hungry cat, or out into the snowy temperatures.

We have all become comfortable with calling Wasabi "he", but we have decided to him sexed.  DNA will be extracted from a small blood sample, and analyzed at a lab. As in people, bird gender is determined by the sex chromosomes. Females have two different sex chromosomes (called “ZW”), while males have two of the same sex chromosomes (called “ZZ”).  We should know in about 2 weeks whether our assumptions have been correct!

 

Our Love Bird is growing!

Our little lovebird is 3 weeks old!  In the last week, his colorful feathers have begun to emerge and we have been able to determine that he is a peach-faced lovebird.  His wing and back feathers were the first to appear, later in the week they were  followed by his head and tail feathers, and last his facial and chest feathers. 

We do not know what sex our companion is.  Lovebirds, as with the majority of parrots, do not have any sexual dimorphism, that is, visual differences to determine male from female.  Because of this, the only accurate way to know is either DNA testing or surgical sexing.  Without knowing, it has been a little bit of a challenge picking a name that fits, but that hasn't stopped several names being thrown into the mix; Franklin, Munchkin, Guacamole... but Stephanie came up with the one that seems to fit the most, Wasabi!  He does have a bit of a spicy personality, after all.

Wasabi is now able to climb out of his nest on his own, and is beginning to explore his surroundings. With his new feathers, he doesn't need to be in an incubator during the daytime.  Instead, he is getting to meet all kinds of new people, while residing on the front desk.   He is very curious about new objects and things placed within his reach, but still prefers to be nestled somewhere cozy for his naps. 

He is still being fed a formula that is made specifically for parrots, by syringe, every 3-4 hours during the day.  Now, at night, he is able to go a little over 6 hours in between feedings.  After eating, Wasabi thinks that it's time to play, exercising his wings and running around, usually without much grace.  Next time you're in the office, don't forget to say hello!

 

 

 

A Lovebird Update

A Lovebird Update!

 

Our lovebird is now about 2 weeks old!  There have been many exciting changes over the last several days.  He has doubled in weight, from 23 grams to 47grams.  His (or her!) eyes are open, his feet have developed coloration, he has  begun to make tiny noises, and he is able to sit up on his haunches for short periods of time.  Although his feathers are not visible yet, we are able to see the feather follicles developing under his nearly opaque skin, turning it a darker color.  His appetite has greatly improved, and he has no problem letting us know when it's feeding time. 

With out any feathers, we are unsure what type of lovebird it is.  There are 9 species of lovebirds, mostly originating from Africa.  Of all of these, only 3 are commonly kept as companions; The Peach-faced lovebird, The Fischer’s Lovebird, and the Masked Lovebird.  We're excited for his feathers to start appearing, so we can find out!

Meet Idaho Vet Hospital's Newest Member!

Meet Idaho Vet Hospital's Newest Member!

This little lovebird arrived on one of our many cold evenings, under sad circumstances.  We had received a phone call earlier in the day that it's mother had sadly, passed away.  The owner relayed that she was concerned that the 3 week old chick was not going to survive and that she was not interested in trying  to raise it by hand. She gratefully accepted my offer to do my best to continue raising it.  When he (or she!) arrived at our clinic some time later, Dr. Calhoun and I realized that our little friend was really more like 3 days old, rather than 3 weeks.  This was going to be a challenge.

His first feeding was difficult, likely because he was struggling with low blood sugar after not eating in several hours.  He was placed in a warm incubator with a full crop, and we hoped for the best.

About an hour later I went to check on him, half expecting the worst.  I was happily surprised to see him much more active, and ready for his next feeding.  At 3 days old, lovebird chick's eyes are still closed, they are fluff and featherless, and completely uncoordinated.  Talk about a bad time of year to be naked and unable to maintain body heat!  At this stage, weighing a whopping 23 grams, he needs to be fed every 2-3 hrs, and kept consistently warm.  This means he has become my daily commute companion to and from work.

So far, we've taught each other a lot about how to hand feed tiny little lovebirds, it definitely is like having an  infant in the house again! I'll update you more as he (or she!) continues to grow!  Kate

February is Dental Month

February is Dental Month

 

THIS YEAR DURING THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY WE WILL OFFER 15% OFF DENTAL CLEANING SERVICES.

 
Dental Procedure Standards of Care

• Pre-op blood work recommended and required over 7 years of age.
• Current wellness exam.
• Estimate will be present or given prior to appointment.
• Fluids and IV catheters & anesthetic monitoring.
• Pictures and chart of any abnormalities or missing teeth. Before and after.

Dental Procedure

• Probe for pockets and abnormal wear.
• Remove excessive tarter either by hand or scaler.
• Clean teeth with ultrasonic dentalaire.
• Polish, and then rinse.
• Clean and flush out any pockets.
• Apply fluoride and oravet (plaque prevention gel).

Common Dental Concerns

• Gingival Recession-Gum line recedes back exposing root.
• Retained baby teeth-Baby tooth that has grown along side the adult tooth causing damage.
• Excessive dental disease-excessive tarter & plaque covering the teeth causing infection, tooth loss, and severe gingivitis.
• Oronasal fistulas-An oronasal fistula is a communication between the oral cavity and the caudal respiratory track. These fistulas occur in the area of the upper premolar and molar teeth

  You, the pet owner, are an integral part of our dental team.  Home care is the most important procedure you can do to maintain oral health and help decrease the frequency of dental procedures,  and increase the overall oral health of your pet. Here are some tips to use after your pets dental procedure or as preventative care care.

 

1. Bushing teeth daily and regularly

Start off slow : introduce the toothpaste first.  Only use toothpaste designed for dogs and cats. First, start by rubbing toothpaste with your finger on one tooth at a time and letting your pet get use to the taste and the feeling.  Then upgrade to a tooth brush.  There are different sizes and kinds, such as : finger toothbrushes, smaller brushes, and longer handled brushes for longer muzzled pets, and smaller bristled brushes for cats.  Be persistent but reward progress immediately with a treat or with a play period after each cleaning session. Develop a routine for your pet and you and make this a fun and enjoyable as possible.

2. Applying Sealant

Ora Vet is a sealant that was applied at the time of your pet’s dental procedure.   It is to be applied after brushing, once weekly, to help prevent and reduce the formation of plaque and calculus on the teeth. Home kits are available and strongly recommended.

3. Drinking water additives and Rinses

Aqua Dent is a water additive that is simple use. All you need to do is add it to your pets drinking water to prevent plaque from forming.  The Oral hygiene rinse is easy to use with just a squirt the rinse eliminates and helps fight against new bacteria forming.  Chlorhexadine is the active ingredient that keeps your pet’s mouth healthy.  Studies show this to be more effective than diets and chews.

4. Diet                                                                            

There are special dental diets such as Hills T/D and Purina DH  for dogs and cats . To promote oral health these diets offer everyday feeding solution that works between dental brushing and cleanings to help reduce plaque and calculus accumulation.  Dental chews are also available for dogs and cats and these are specially formulated and combine the mechanical activity of a rawhide chews.   Most chews that we carry (C.E.T. Chews and DH Chews) were developed with chlorhexadine as the activ3e ingredient that inhibits the growth of bacteria in your pets mouth. Also we carry Greenies as another dental treat option.

5. Dental Examinations with your Vet

Every 6 months to a year, we recommend dental exams please call to make the appointment!

(208) 466-4614