Make Sure Your Christmas Tree is Cat Proof

Are your holiday decorations cat-proof?  Sparkling decorations can attract your pets attention.  Here are a few tips to help you keep your Christmas tree in tact through the holidays.

Christmas Tree Tips:

• Create a Cat Tree - Make your cat a tree of his or her own!  Make sure that it's is secured down with twine to prevent it from toppling.  Use cat-friendly decorations like catnip mice, kitty treats or soft cat toys.
• Avoid Fertilizer - If you have a live tree, don't add fertilizer or preservatives to the water at your tree base.  If your pet drinks this water, they could get sick!
• Add Citrus Scents - Scents like orange or lemon are off-putting to cats.  Vicks menthol is also a good repellent that will keep your pet away from the tree.
• Use Double-Sided Tape - Certain cat training products like Sticky Paws are available in large sheets and strips.  You can apply this tape to your carpet beneath the tree to keep your pet out of danger.

Check out this article for more tips on how to keep your pets safe through the holidays.  As always, if you have any questions about how to care for your pets, contact our office.  Our veterinarians are happy to help you with all of your pet's health needs.

Visit our blog again for more pet care tips!

Can You Feed Your Pet Thanksgiving Scraps?

While we love to share and celebrate with our pets during the holidays, it's important to remember that certain foods that are good for us can actually be dangerous to our pets.  However, if you know what you can and cannot feed your pet, certain Thanksgiving foods can be healthy for your pets in small quantities.

Just remember that abrupt changes in diet can cause an upset stomach.  Be sure to keep an eye on your pet and make sure that they don't over-indulge.

Food Scraps You CAN Feed Your Pets:

• Turkey - In small amounts, turkey can be OK.  Just be sure that the meat is lean, light meat that is bone-free.  Dark meat is too greasy for your pets and bones can get lodged in their GI track.
• Mashed Potatoes - Plain mashed potatoes (with minimal fat and salt) can be OK for your pet.  However, potatoes with butter and heavy cream can be too fattening for your pets.  Fatty foods can upset their stomach and even be life threatening.
• Green Beans - Plain, unsalted green beans can be a nutritious holiday treat for your pets.  However, avoid offering your pets green beans that are mixed with other ingredients (i.e. avoid green been casseroles).
• Loose Corn - If you are serving unbuttered corn, this can be a healthy treat for your dog.  However, avoid corn on the cob.  Small pieces can cause an obstruction in your dog's digestive system.
• Pumpkin - Pumpkin can actually have several health benefits for your pets.  If you can find unsweetened, natural pumpkin, this can be a great holiday treat for your pet.  Just be sure to avoid pumpkin pie fillings, as they are often high in sugar.

Food Scraps You CAN'T Feed Your Pets

• Turkey Gravy - Gravy is often made from stock, pepper and seasoning.  While it may be a delicious addition to your Thanksgiving turkey, it is too fatty for your pets.
• Stuffing -  Stuffing is often full of fat, butter and ingredients (like onions and garlic) that are very harmful to pets.  As a general rule of thumb, it's best not to offer your pets stuffing.
• Candied Yams - Sweet and buttery yams are too sugary and fattening for pets.
• Chocolate - Chocolate can cause high heart rates in dogs, among other problems.  Avoid feeding your pet anything your are baking with chocolate.
• Alcohol - It may seem obvious, but you should keep alcohol out of reach of your pets.  Even small amounts of alcohol can be dangerous.

If you have any questions about your pet's odd behaviors, contact our office for more information at (866) 588-4200.

How to Own a Pet Even Though You Have Allergies

Allergies are tough.  Itchy, watery eyes and congestion can be hard on any pet lover.  If you or a family member suffers from pet-related allergies, there are ways to help make breathing easy.  With a few changes to your home, you can enjoy sharing your home with your furry friend.

How to Reduce Allergens at Home:

• Vacuum Often - Dander and saliva can trigger allergic reactions.  Have tile or wood floors in your home when possible, and vacuum surfaces frequently.  This will help keep dander from coming into contact with you.
• Install An Air Purifier - Air filters help remove allergens from the air. You and your family will be able to breathe a little bit easier.
• Wash Your Pet Regularly - Give your pet a bath regularly.  If you bath your pet once a week, not only will the feel cleaner, they'll also be less prone to leaving dander around your home.  Just make sure that you use a safe shampoo that won't dry out your pet's skin.
• Use Washable Pet Bedding - Just as you wash the sheets on your own bed, you should wash your pet's bedding.  This will help keep allergens out of the cloth and help reduce allergy symptoms.

Still not sure how to reduce allergens and live happily with your pet?  Our experienced veterinarians can help you determine ways to live with your pet without putting your health at risk.  Contact our office to schedule an appointment for your pet.

How to Include Your Pet In Your Wedding

How to Include Your Pet In Your Wedding

REUNION VETERINARY HOSPITAL, PLLC

www.ReunionVetHospital.com

It's wedding season!  Are you making plans to include all of your loved ones in your celebration?  Your day wouldn't be complete without your furry friend! 

No matter what role your pet will play in your wedding, here are a few ideas to keep in mind to make sure your pet is safe and happy during your festivities.

Weddings Tips:

• Keep Your Pets Personality In Mind - Will your pet be comfortable around the guests at your wedding? Even an outgoing and friendly pet can feel overwhelmed in a crowd of guests.  Make sure that your pet has plenty of time to feel comfortable around your guests.  Consider having someone carry them or letting your pet ride in a wagon.
• Confirm with Your Venue - Not all venues are pet-friendly.  Make sure that your venue is aware that you will be bringing your pet to the ceremony.  If pets aren't allowed, consider having them included in your portraits afterwards or in your engagement photos instead!
• Don't Leave Your Pet Unattended - Have a friend, family member, or handler watch over your pet at all times during the wedding.
• Take Precautions Against Potential Hazards - You don't know what chemicals or plants will be around the wedding grounds.  Make sure that your pet stays away from toxic plants, chocolate, alcohol, and meat with bones during the reception.

Check out this article and this article for more tips on how to safely include your furry friends in your wedding festivities.  You can also contact our office with any questions you have about how to care for your pets health.

Keep Your Pets Active This Year!

A New Year is the perfect time to make new goals for you and your pets.  Here are a few tips to help your pets stay healthy throughout 2015.

Health Tips for 2015:

Provide Plenty of Exercise - Dogs and cats need exercise to stay fit.  Go on a walk with your dog or bring them to a park.  During winter months you can try alternative exercises like a dog treadmill or balance cushions.  Don't forget about your cats!  Use a laser pointer or wand toy to play with your cat and help them become active.

Know Their Calorie Requirement - Many pet owners don't realize how many calories they should be providing their pet with.  This can vary depending on your pet's age, weight and activity level.

Use a Measuring Cup - Make sure that you are staying within your pet's daily target range.  Use a measuring cup to help prevent overfeeding!

Don't Forget About Treats - We know that pet owners love to get their dogs and cats treats and table scraps.  While this is ok on occasion, make sure you adjust your regular feedings to account for the extra calories!

Read this article for more tips on how to keep your pet fit and healthy in 2015.

If you have any questions about how to care for your pets in the New Year, contact our office.  Our veterinarians are happy to help you with all of your pet's health needs.

Follow us on Facebook & Twitter for more pet care tips!

Holiday Pet Safety Tips

Holiday Pet Safety Tips from

The holiday season is here!  Are you ready to spend quality time with your family, friends, and pets?  Here are a few ways to help keep your pets safe through the holiday season!

Five Holiday Safety Tips:

1. Secure Your Christmas Tree

Whether your tree is real or fake, make sure that it is secure.  You don't want your tree to fall and injure your pet! 

2. Avoid Using Fertilizer

If you purchase a real tree this year, don't use fertilizer in your tree's water.  Your cat or dog can get an upset stomach if they accidentally drink it.

3. Keep an Eye on Burning Candles

Make sure that you keep holiday candles out of reach.  Place them high enough where your pet cannot accidentally knock them over.

4. Be Mindful of Holiday Plants

Poinsettias and mistletoe are festive decorations, but keep them out-of-reach of your pets.  These popular holiday plants are toxic to cats and dogs.

5. Don't Decorate with Tinsel

Sparkly tinsel and ribbons can be attractive to pets.  However, these colorful decorations can get stuck in your pet's digestive tract if they are ingested.  Be sure to keep them out of reach!

If you have any questions about how to celebrate a pet-friendly holiday season, contact our office!  

Have a safe and Happy Holiday season!

Are You Ready To Bring a Pet Home?

When people think about bringing an animal into their home to live with them, there is always a risk that this animal can bring sickness or disease.  Without the proper precautions animals can bring germs that can spread to humans, particularly children under the age of 5.  This is a reason to be more cautious with animals, not a reason to not have a pet!

To ensure safety, we should become familiar with the most common forms of germs and diseases that threaten us.  Streptococcus is a form of bacteria that causes strep throat and skin infections.  Your pet can carry ticks that cause Lyme disease; these ticks can hop from your pet to you and put you in risk.  Salmonella, Campylobacter  e. Coli, Giardia and Cryptosporidium can spread through anything contaminated with an infected pets stool.  

Toxoplasma is a germ found in cat stool, that can affect the brain and eyes in infants, and a pregnant mother can pass these effects to her unborn child.  Worms, which can also be spread through contact with infected stool, can cause fever, rash, allergic reactions, eye, liver and lung disease, and brain infections.  Finally rabies, which is usually found in wild animals, can also affect your pet and can be transmitted to humans through scratches and bites.  This all seems like a lot and a huge risk to take, but all these diseases can be avoided very easily.  

To prevent getting an illness from your pet, take new pets to the veterinarian as soon as possible.  Take them back to the vet regularly for checkups and shots.  You always want to wash your hands with soap after cleaning up after your pet goes to the bathroom. Clean litter boxes daily and never let your children play where your pet goes to the bathroom.  Never let your pet eat any raw meat, also drinking from the toilet is very unhealthy and unsanitary.  This all seems like a lot of work and a lot to remember, but once you get into a routine its is very simple.  

The reward is much more than the slim risk you take when adopting a pet.  Pets make wonderful playmates for children! They keep them physically active and teach them responsibility! 

The Reunion Veterinary Hospital is located in the Ovation Shopping Center in Davenport, Fl.   The veterinarians at our practice have a combined 80+ years of experience caring for pets.  Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Dog & Cat Videos

Have you seen a video of a dog or cat that has gone viral?  We keep an eye out for the best and funniest videos that are popping up around the internet.  Here are a few of our favorites-

 

Do you have one of your pet?  If so, please share it with us!  Post it to this blog, or share it on our Facebook Page!

The Reunion Veterinary Hospital is located in the Ovation Shopping Center in Davenport, Fl.   The veterinarians at our practice have a combined 80+ years of experience caring for pets.  Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Introducing our Neighbor- The IBeliv Dental Studios!

The Reunion Veterinary Hospital would like to introduce one of our neighbors and a new addition to our network- Dr. T and the iBeliv Dental Studio!

As you'll see from their website, Dr. T has a B.A. in General Sciences (Magna Cum Laude) and earned a degree in Dental Medicine Doctor in 2001.  She has 12 years of experience in private practice.  She has a full staff of hand picked professionals that excel in their field, and her practice offers Cosmetic Dentistry, Orthodontics, Periodontics, Endodontics, and more.

The iBeliv Dental Studio is located at 7700 Lake Wilson Road in the Ovation Shopping Plaza.  We're happy to refer you to their services!

The Reunion Veterinary Hospital is located at 7950/7960 Lake Wilson Road in Davenport, FL.  Be sure to stop by and see our new facility, our follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Tips to Keep Your Pet Safe Outdoors

Are you and your pet spending some time in the great outdoors this summer?  If so, you and your pet are susceptible to many types of insect bites, some of which could be dangerous.   We surfed around the internet to find some articles that will give you tips on how to prevent insect bites and what you should do if you see signs of an insect bite.

The Ionia Sentinel-Standard had this article titled “How to Identify, Respond to Allergic Reactions, Insect Bites on Pets”.  This article reminded us how important it is to check your pet for ticks, and how you should go about removing them.

The Pet Assure Newsletter posted this article that focuses on dogs, and gives you tips on removing bee stings.  It also shows a list of symptoms that can occur from insect bites.

The AVMA posted an article titled "Disease Precautions for Outdoor Enthusiasts and their Companion Animals”.  It’s a reference guide for outdoor enthusiasts that gives a list of disease precautions for you and your pets.

If you notice your pet may have been bit by an insect but are not sure what to do, feel free to reach out to us.  The Reunion Veterinary Hospital is open 7 days a week, and our staff will give you advice immediately.  For more tips on protecting your pets, follow us on Facebook or Twitter!

Protecting Your Pet During Hurricane Season

As they say, it's better to be safe than sorry, so the Reunion Veterinary Hospital would like to give you some tips on how to protect yourself and your pets in the event a hurricane is headed to our area.

We found THIS ARTICLE that gives great tips what you should do to protect your pets. Some excerpts-

This pup from Brooklyn was prepared for Hurricane Sandy

"CREATE AN EMERGENCY KIT FOR YOUR PET BEFORE A DISASTER
- Keep documentation of your pet’s vaccination history in the emergency kit.
- Have a current photograph of your pet in the kit.
- Keep a checklist in the kit of items to pull together when a storm is imminent, including Collars, a Leash, a Carrier, and Medications.
- Have an evacuation strategy"

Another great article we found came from our hometown- www.ABrooklynDogsLife.com. This article may be a few years old, but all of the information is still relevant.

The City of Davenport also has tips on what you can do to be ready for a hurricane. There are a number of Disaster Preparation Links and Important Contact Numbers.

Finally, you can check the website for the National Hurricane Center, which will provide you with the latest information.

We plan on keeping everyone informed in case of emergency by consistently updating our Social Media sites.  Make sure you're following us on Facebook and Twitter!

The Reunion Veterinary Hospital is located in the Ovation Shopping Mall next to Reunion Resort.  We offer a full suite of veterinary services.  Stop by and introduce us to your pet today!

Reunion Vet Hospital Boasts The Newest Facility & The Youngest Veterinarian In Training

Say hello to one of Reunion Vet Hospital's newest patients... Seen here with the youngest vet-in-training.

Dr. Bregman's daughter Orly helps with the morning feeding.

This cute little puppy was presented to our office last week for seizing and the inability to walk and move.

After a workup including IV fluids, x-rays, and bloodwork, he was normal the next morning.  He appeared to have ingested some sort of toxin, and the supportive care we provided got him back to normal.

The Reunion Veterinary Hospital opened for business in the Ovation Shopping Plaza last month.  We'd be happy to give our new neighbors a tour of the facility.   Stop by anythime!

Davenport, FL is on the rise!

We were surfing the internet this week, and came across this article in The Palm Beach Post.  Here's what stood out to us- "Florida areas took the seven top spots for amusement park vacation home destinations with Davenport ranking first".

We couldn't be more excited to be a new business in this growing community.  It prompted some more research about our city, and we came up some tidbits of facts about Davenport, Florida... Click through to learn more about where we found the info!

- In January, 1839 the U.S. military developed the first settlement, Fort Cummings, as a place to negotiate with the Seminoles to end the Second Seminole War says our Wikipedia page.

- According to City-Data.com, our population has increased 54.8% since the year 2000.

- Davenport, FL has a Historical Society, whose purpose is to preserve the city's history and share this heritage by contributing to the records of the state of Florida in an effort to embrace the past while working towards a brighter future.  You can learn more about the Historical Society here.

- There are things to do year round in Davenport.  All you need to do is check the Community Calendar.

- The Davenport, FL website lists all of our local attractions.

- The Davenport Police department has a Facebook Page the you can follow here.

- Finally, and in our opinion, most importantly, Davenport, FL now has a state of the art Animal Hospital which provides the best veterinary care in the country- Reunion Veterinary Hospital!  

The Reunion Vet Hospital is Open For Business!

The Reunion Veterinary Hospital is thrilled to announce we have officially begun seeing patients in June of 2014!  We are located at 7950/7960 Lake Wilson Road in the Ovation Shopping Mall next to Reunion Resort.  Our list of neighbors include Ovation Dry Cleaning, Anytime Fitness, the Hair Cuttery, Liquor at Ovation, Papa John’s, and more!

 The Reunion Veterinary Hospital is part of the Bregman Veterinary Group originally founded in Brooklyn, NY, and currently have 2 locations in Brooklyn and one in Long Island.  The Bregman Veterinary Group has over 50 years of experience caring for all types of pets, and the family of doctors combines for 75 years of veterinary experience serving their local communities together.

At the Reunion Veterinary Hospital, your pet will be offered a full suite of veterinary services including examinations, vaccinations, laboratory services, diagnostic imaging, dentistry and surgery.  We make a commitment to each and every client that your pet will treated with the best possible veterinary care.

Visit our website at www.ReunionVetHospital.com, give us a call at (863) 588-4200, stop by and check out our location, and make sure you follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+!  We are looking forward to meeting you!