Happy Holidays!!!! It's that wonderful time of year where we get together with family and friends and share joyously. One member of our family that we must also include is that furry companion that has been our companion though thick and thin. There are many things we can do for them but none greater then the gift of health. In the spirit of this and general well being, AVVC would ,like to offer 15% off of preventative send out laboratory testing. This can help you have a base line of where you let is at and what may be his or her 'normal' as well as potentionaly catch early issues like thyroid disease or diabitis. Offer is good until 01.31.16 and is a great way to get ready for dental discounts in the early part of 2016. There are many ways to keep pets safe this season, please check out our Facebook page for a great video on holiday safety tips and remember- we offer boarding so if you are having a big party or going out of town- reserve a spot early to keep you pet safe while you relax and have fun!

Happy almost 4th of July! As we get ready to celebrate with family and friends it is important to remember that while we are enjoying ourselves we must keep our four legged friends safe and happy too! Remember to keep pets well hydrated and out of the sun, human food is for humans, alcohol is dangerous for pets and please be wary of decorations and fireworks! These things can quickly put a damper on my holiday celebration! Have fun and be safe! And check out the link below for a great video clip from AAHA http://youtu.be/6eLGEV1W3SM

Disaster preparedness... Keep it simple!

As we bring in the new year we need to work on a resolution of preparedness.

This includes our pets: remember to have the necessities and keep it simple when making your list and packing :)

Please click link below to see a great video on tips for how to be prepared!

http://youtu.be/XXVLaIlgZ2g

Holiday hazards for pets!

It's a wonderful time of year to celebrate with family and friends of both the 2 and 4 legged version.  Just remember that the holidays are best celebrated with out any unplanned trips to the Veterinary clinic so keep a watch out for things that can cause havoc to your celebrations.

Be well and be safe and we at AVVC wish you a happy and healthy holiday :-)

How To Care for Your Senior Pet

This is a great video explaining the importance of senior pet care!

To help celebrate our healthy senior pets we at Alta Vista are offering a special discount package to include a full physical exam free of charge with the payment of a full senior diagnostic lab work up for routine visits.  (full panel with thyroid, urinalysis, blood pressure check) This will be good from 11/10-12/10/14)  Please email or call the office for more details :-)

Prevention is the best protection!

What’s the best way to prevent bone, muscle and joint disease in your pet?

A yearly checkup! Make an appointment for your pet today!

Musculoskeletal disease (disease that affects your pet’s bones, muscles and joints) can affect pets of all ages. They can have aches and pains just like we do. But, because of their survival instincts, they try to hide it. And in the early stages of this disease, it’s hard to spot because your pet may look and act absolutely fine “on the outside.”

But what your pet looks like “in the inside” may be very different. Arthritis, toxins, hormonal abnormalities, infections, blood and blood vessel disorders or inappropriate nutrition can all affect the way your pet walks, plays and moves.

So what’s the best way to prevent or slow down bone, muscle and joint disease in your pet? Supplements? Exercise? Massage?

Nope.

The best way to prevent disease is to schedule regular yearly checkups with us. During your pet’s annual checkup, we can talk about all the things you can do to stop the development of or slow the progression of bone, muscle and joint disease. And we’ll examine every part of your pet “inside and out,” including:

• An orthopedic exam
• An assessment of body and muscle condition
• A review of your pet’s vaccinations
• A blood test if we think something “inside” your pet needs to be looked at

Make an appointment for your pet’s yearly checkup today. We’ll make sure all of your pet’s bones, muscles and joints are in good working order. We are committed to your pet’s well-being for their whole life. Call us today!

Vaccines: Protecting your Pets

Vaccines are very important in protecting our pets.  Parvo is one of the many diseases young 'un-' or 'under' vaccinated pets can get- it can be fatal but with quick, costly treatment there is a chance they can be saved.  The core vaccines for our dogs at our clinic are dhpp (a parvo, distemper combination), rabies and bordetella (to prevent kennel cough, a common and very contagious upper respitory infection).   Lymes and Flu are given on an as need basis.  For cats, fvrcp and rabies are core vaccines while being testing and vaccinated for felv is very strongly advised.  Regardless of what you read while browsing the internet, it is very important to remember to consult your trusted animal health professional to get the real deal on what is needed for you pet to stay happy and healthy for years to come!