Show me a smile

It seems like a bum deal for their birthday, but, by the time they're 3 years old, most pets have some degree of periodontal disease.
Periodontal disease is a progressive disease of the supporting tissues surrounding teeth and is the main cause of early tooth loss. It is also one of the most common health problems in dogs and cats.
Bad breath in pets may be a sign of periodontal disease that could lead to other health problems.
Periodontal disease begins when bacteria combine with food particles to form plaque/tartar on the teeth. The bacteria get under the gums and cause gingivitis, or inflammation of the gums.
The bacteria can also travel through the bloodstream to infect the heart, kidneys and liver.
Signs of periodontal disease include sensitivity around the mouth; loss of appetite; yellow or brown deposits on teeth; bleeding, inflamed and withdrawn gums; loose or missing teeth; pawing at the mouth or face; difficulty chewing and drooling.
A professional veterinary dental cleaning is the best way to remove tartar to protect your pet's health.
With a professional dental cleaning and follow-up care, gingivitis is reversible. Periodontal disease, however, is not.
So, how do we clean your pet's teeth when they won't rinse and spit and they won't say "Ahhh"?
While under anesthesia, a full oral exam is done along with full mouth dental radiographs, and the teeth are scaled and polished. Any diseased teeth are treated or extracted, depending on their condition.
If your pet is experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above please call us at (973) 728-2233 to schedule an appointment with one of our veterinarians.

Food ≠ Love

Contrary to what many of us believe, food does not always equal love. Dogs’ caloric needs vary from individual to individual and feeding them more than their breed and activity level requires is a recipe for extra pounds.
With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and several snowstorms already under our belt, a solid case of cabin fever may have collectively set in. Not only set in, but gelled.
A recent study showed that dog owners are about four times more likely than other people to meet today’s physical activity guidelines, but what to do if your routine has become too routine? When exercise boredom sets in, here are some ways to put the spring back in your step.

• Follow the dog, instead of having the dog follow you. Wherever your pet goes, you go. Think of it as following a fuzzy GPS, where you don’t know where the final destination will be.
• Run, don’t walk. Running with your dog is an exercise in multitasking, as you get to enjoy the great outdoors while increasing stamina and strengthening muscles.
• Dancing With the Stars fans could try dancing with your dog. Based on obedience training, but with more elaborate footwork, movements are choreographed to music as you and your dog go through an original "dance" routine.

Have a heart, not a worm

As 40 and 50 degree days tease us with the promise of warmer weather, Greenwood Lake Animal Hospital would like to remind pet parents of the importance of heartworm prevention.
Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal disease in pets that is caused by foot-long worms (heartworms) that live in the heart, lungs and associated blood vessels of affected pets, causing severe lung disease, heart failure and damage to other organs in the body.
Signs of heartworm disease may include a mild persistent cough, reluctance to exercise, fatigue after moderate activity, decreased appetite and weight loss. As heartworm disease progresses, pets may develop heart failure and the appearance of a swollen belly due to excess fluid in the abdomen.
Heartworm disease is spread by mosquitoes and can be prevented by giving a monthly chewable medication.
While there are several different products on the market, the two that GWLAH recommends are Interceptor Plus and Heartgard Plus.
In addition to preventing heartworm disease, giving heartworm prevention year-round has the added benefit of deworming your pet of intestinal parasites, such as roundworms, hookworms, whipworms and tapeworms.
If there has been a lapse in giving heartworm prevention, doing a heartworm (blood) test is recommended to ensure there is no infection before giving the preventive again.
This spring, take care of your best furry friend’s heart like they’ve always taken care of yours: schedule an appointment for a heartworm test today!

A pinch of catnip a day keeps the ‘skeeters away

When it comes to mosquitos, catnip, and silver vine, are the cat’s meow.
New research published in Science Advances suggests that cats love the plants because the most potent active ingredient in both – Nepetalactol – protects them from mosquitoes.
As any cat owner who’s given their pet a pinch of catnip can tell you, cats go crazy for the stuff, rubbing themselves against the plants, rolling on the ground and generally giving the impression of euphoria.
The high lasts anywhere from five to 15 minutes and is followed by a crash phase, in which cats do what they do best: lounge.
Only time will tell if the discovery will translate into a new type of mosquito repellent for their human family members, but, in the meantime, we can rest assured that our cats can enjoy their high pest-free.