Petland Pet Store

While out shopping I found a new pet store. I decided to go in and check it out. This was the best pet store I have ever been in. It's a smaller store but they have tons of stuff packed in there. Their food aisle was amazing. They had dog and cat food from floor to ceiling. And every food they carried was high quality food. As a vet tech who is passionate about recommending a good food for your pet I feel confident sending you into Petland and telling you to pick any of their foods. All of their treats were very high quality as well. They also sold lots of toys and products for dogs and cats. They also had stuff for birds, rodents and fish. They even sold a few pets. I would highly recommend this store and wish it was closer to my house!

Petland Jacksonville
13740 Beach Blvd. Unit #415
Jacksonville, FL 32224
904-330-0152
facebook.com/jaxpetland
www.jaxpetland.com

Your Pet's Poop- What You Should Know About It

As a vet tech, a lot of my time is spent on poop — looking at it, talking about it, thinking about it, cleaning it up — all in the service of assessing the health of the pet from which it came. Poop provides a wealth of information, which is why it may seem that veterinarians ask you about your pet’s poop — and request samples of it — pretty much every time you come into the office. Of course, pet owners also pay a good deal of attention to their animals' poop — I've found that the majority of pets being brought into the clinic are because they are having some issue with diarrhea.  Some cases of abnormal stools are absolutely an emergency; others just feel like one, especially if you’re the one tasked with cleaning the carpet. One of the more common questions we answer over the phone is “Do I need to bring my pet in? “ It's always worth asking. Most of the time the answer is “Yes,” If  you’re concerned, then we’re concerned.  But every case is different. When we talk about poop, here’s what we’re looking for. 

The Four C’s of Poop

I read an article that compared a veterinarian and a jeweler. Stick with me it will make sense… A jeweler evaluates the quality of a stone based on size, color and abnormalities, using a specific set of criteria. Veterinarians do something similar with your pet’s poop. Unfortunately, we often use food analogies to describe the different elements of pet stool. Sorry about that but it lets us know what we need to know. 

Color: A happy, healthy body produces chocolate brown stool. This color comes from bile, a fluid released from the gallbladder to help digest food, and bilirubin, a pigment in the bile. Though some variation in color is normal, certain color changes always catch our attention. Bright red streaks may indicate bleeding low in the GI tract, while tarry black or maroon stools can be caused by bleeding in the stomach or small intestines. Clay-colored or pale yellow stools can be caused by problems with the liver, gallbladder or pancreas. Any significant deviation from the chocolate brown color that persists for more than one or two stools is cause for concern. An exception would be color changes that reflect the pet’s diet, such as kibble containing food coloring that results in flecks of color.

Consistency: You may be surprised to know that some veterinarians use a numerical system to score the consistency of a pet’s stool. The fecal scoring system assigns a value to the stool from 1 to 7, where 1 represents very hard pellets and 7 is a puddle. The ideal stool is a 2: a firm segmented piece, caterpillar shaped, that feels like Play-Dough when pressed. Some pets naturally have squishier poops than others do, but all stool should hold its form. A single cow pie is rarely a cause for concern, aside from the question of how to pick it up off the grass, but call us for formless stool lasting more than a day.

Coating: Stool shouldn't have any coating; you should be able to pick up the perfect poop without leaving any residue on the ground. A coating of mucous often accompanies disorders of the colon. Bright red blood may also be present in a pet's stool, which is always alarming for owners. Though a single streak of red on a stool can happen for a variety of reasons and is often not a cause for concern, bleeding that persists for more than one stool raises a red flag.

Contents:  Rice-shaped flecks of white or long, wriggly spaghetti-like strands mean your pet may have worms. Excessive grass can accompany GI upset. Clumps of hair can indicate over grooming due to allergies, stress, or a list of other medical conditions. Sometimes the stool will provide obvious clues to what your pet has been up to while you’re away, like chewing up your underwear or eating crayons. But if you don’t want to play CSI with your pet’s poop, I understand I get paid to do that for you.

In general, you don't have to rush to the vet after one abnormal stool unless the stool contains a large amount of blood. Many mild cases of stomach or intestinal upset resolve on their own, and thank goodness for that. But any changes that persist for more than two stools or 24 hours do warrant a call to the vet, as does any change accompanied by a decrease in activity or altered eating behavior. When in doubt, give your vet a call. Also, remember that we need a sample of your pet's poop to examine. If at all possible bring in a fresh (preferably 1-2 hours old or at least from that day) sample of your pet's feces. It's easier on us and your pet if we don't have to try and get some from them (especially if they have a sore bottom).

Non-Anesthetic Dental Care for Dogs – Worth It or a Waste?

As time goes on, pet owners are becoming more and more aware of how to maintain their pet’s optimal health. Dental health awareness has increased greatly, and rightfully so. Keeping your pet’s mouth clean can decrease a huge number of ailments, including cancers. But not everyone wants to put their pets under anesthesia every year to keep their teeth in good shape – not only because of the risks associated with surgery, but because of the rising cost as well.

Many animal hospitals and groomers now offer non-anesthetic dental cleanings for both cats and dogs. In these cases, technicians are able to keep pets calm while they clean their teeth by carefully restraining them and keeping them comfortable. Some animals will still need to go under no matter what, but the majority are able to sit through a dental cleaning surprisingly well. Not only are they seemingly safer, without the risk of anesthesia, they’re considerably cheaper, too.

But is it really worth the money? Are non-anesthetic dentals really as good as a full anesthetic dental? Most veterinary professionals don’t think so. In fact, many feel that they’re actually detrimental to the overall health of our pets. This is for a number of reasons, but the main one being that they simply do not provide the full cleaning that is necessary for our pets; yet they leave pet owners thinking that they've done a full dental that’s taken care of any possible problem.

When you have your pet go under anesthesia for a dental, your veterinarian and veterinary technicians are able to clean inside the mouth and underneath the gums better than they can when your pet is awake. Think about when you go to the dentist…that hour with your dental assistant can be pretty painful! Even if you go once a year, it can be fairly uncomfortable. But you and the dental assistant are able to communicate effectively, and you probably won’t become overly stressed and try to bite her. But your dog doesn't have the same understanding. When things become too painful, the non-anesthetic technicians can’t push it the way your dental assistant can push you. Our dogs don’t understand this pain and why it’s happening.

Another thing your veterinarian might do while your pet is anesthetized is take dental radiographs. Just like for your dentist, dental x-rays can help your veterinarian find any dental fractures, tumors, or other ailments that are hidden from plain view. In fact, the tartar accumulation that we can see is the least of your pet’s worries when it comes to his dental health. This can easily be scraped off in non-anesthetic dentals (or by the correct chew toys, knuckle bones, etc.) It’s what is under the gum line that’s important, and that’s exactly what non-anesthetic dentals don’t address. Periodontal disease, or gum disease, will still thrive if the sub-gingival area is not treated. Most fractures, tumors, gingival hyperplasia, and tooth resorption are diagnosed only by dental radiographs.

The risk of anesthesia is very real, and many veterinarians understand owners’ concerns. However, veterinary medicine has come a long way, and general anesthesia is considered very safe. Assuming your pet has gone through all of the necessary pre-surgical screening to make sure there are no underlying problems that could jeopardize him while in surgery; your pet will get better care and results. Remember, the full anesthetic dental is more expensive, but you sometimes get what you pay for. In this case, it’s probably the better option to spend the extra buck and make sure your dog is really getting the care and treatment he needs. After all, even if they do get dentals once a year, they probably have a lot more tartar built up than your average human. Keep in mind that each pet is different, and it’s also important to talk with your veterinarian about the options best suited for your dog. In the end, that’s what we want most; healthy, happy pets.

This is what it looks like when your dog has their teeth cleaned

The before and after of a dental cleaning

Teeth brushing/ non- anesthetic dental cleaning

Your Pet's Point Inspection

When are you supposed to take your pet to the vet? Healthy pet's should be seen by a vet twice a year, every 6 months, for a general health check up, to update vaccines, and to refill heartworm and flea/tick prevention. But how do you know if your pet is sick? What signs do you need to watch for so you know if your pet is actually sick or if your just being a worried parent? I came across these great articles in the 2012 edition of "USA Today's Pet Guide". These are the points of your animal that you should constantly monitor. If any of these signs are seen you should contact your vet immediately. In the magazine they had lots more information on birds, cats, fish, and dogs. They also had information on horses, reptiles, and rodents. They did not, however, have a point inspection for them. If you have the opportunity you should buy a copy of the magazine and read the full articles. Here is a link so you can purchase the magazine. 2012 Pet Guide As always if you have any further questions just ask! :)

  
 
 
 

Why I Created This Blog

I am a vet tech. In my work I have come across a lot of pet parents who are un-informed. It’s not that they don’t care (most pet parents are super loving and caring and want the best for their pets), it’s that they just don’t know. So, I created this blog to help educate you about your pet's health and welfare. I will add information about cool products I've found, great places to take your pets, how to keep your pets healthy, and anything else you should know about pets! This blog is all about education! If you have any specific questions you want answered don’t hesitate to ask. If I don’t know the answer, I will find it out for you.  Also, once a week one pet will be featured so please email me the following information: Name, Breed, Date of Birth, Gender, A little about your pet, Proud Parents, Siblings, and 1-3 pictures,so your pet can be featured! I will try to post an informative article once a month. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog and educate yourself about your pets! Happy reading!