Day & Evening Pet Hospital

Veterinarian Palm Harbor

Call: 727-785-7200
511 Magnolia Ave
Palm Harbor, FL 34683

*June Specials*

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Hey everyone!

We have some specials going on at the Day and Evening Pet Hospital and we wanted to let you know a little bit about them.

Because fleas and ticks are more prevalent in the summer time, (your dogs and cats are surely outside more than they are in the winter time) we wanted to tell you a bit about some products.  Certain products are 10% off this month!  Here is a list of the specials we have going on this month with details for you:

Activyl®
This is a treatment used to kill both fleas and/or ticks.  You apply it to a small area of skin which allows it to spread throughout the entire coat of your dog or cat.  Click here and here for pictures of how it works.

Certifect®
This is a treatment used to kill both fleas and ticks.  It is for dogs only.  You can get the discounted price for all sizes.  Click here for a video of how it works.

Resultix™
This is a spray-on treatment to detach and kill ticks.  It can be used on both cats and dogs.  You spray it directly on the ticks and they are expected to be dead within 3 hours.  It is now 10% off this month.  Click here for a short video on how it works.

We care about you and your pet.  These products will help you and your pet live a healthier and happier life.  Come on in and see us so we can recommend which product is best for you and your pet’s needs.

Some Florida Pet Laws You Need to Know

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It’s summertime in Florida and it’s hot.  It’s going to get hotter and we all know it.  For the safety of you and your pet, there are Florida laws any pet owner should be aware of.  Here are some:

One law which may not be widely known and of interest is you cannot leave your dog or cat in a parked car without proper ventilation.  

Let’s say you are running into a store quickly and will be right out, but forget to roll down the windows.  On an 85 degree day, the temperature in your car can easily get well above 100 degrees in less than 15 minutes.  Your pet can have a heatstroke just from that alone.  If your pet is left in the car even longer than that, your pet can suffer from other complications and can even die from the heat.  If a police officer sees a pet in your car without proper ventilation, you can be cited and fined for well over $300.  (As a note, even if the windows are rolled down or cracked, your pet can still suffer from a heatstroke and is therefore highly recommended that you don’t do this.)

Another law is your dog or cat is not allowed to run at large within the Pinellas County.

Per the Pinella’s County law, “at large” is defined as “any dog or cat on the owner’s premises which is not within the unobstructed sight and in the control of the owner, or any dog or cat not confined by sufficient means to assure that it is maintained on the property of the owner; or any dog or cat off the owner’s premises which is not controlled by an adequate leash or tether, or otherwise under the owner’s physical control.”  You can be cited and fined for this as well, so keep close to your pet!  With the heat and all, it’s best that you keep a close watch on your pet anyways.

Another law states that you cannot tether, fasten, chain, tie, or restrain a dog to any stationary object.

If you have your pet fastened to a dog house, tree, fence, etc. this is considered unlawful.  However, there are some exceptions and you can review them here.

Additional pet laws that may be of interest to you for Pinellas County and can be found here.

Everyone have a safe summer!  Love, Day and Evening Pet Hospital

Micro-chipping–Prepare for the Hurricane Season!

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According to the American Humane Association, only about seventeen percent of lost dogs and two percent of cats ever find their way back from shelters to their original owners. Almost 9.6 million pets are euthanized every year because their owners can’t be found.

Additionally with the hurricane season upon us, we can help you prepare you and your pet if a separation were to occur.

There are ways to beat these odds though, and they involve using name-tags, collars, and micro-chips.  Out of these three forms of identification, only micro-chipping is permanent. Tags and collars can become loose and fall off, but a micro-chip will stay in place for the lifetime of your pet!

A micro-chip is a tiny computer chip, about the size of a grain of rice, that is inserted under the pet’s skin (using a needle) between the shoulder blades.  It is a non-surgical procedure and takes a matter of seconds to do.  The chip carries a number with it and that number can be picked up by a scanner.  This number is entered into a database with contact information so your pet can be returned to you!  The pain for your pet will be as little as it is to get blood drawn; however, if you are worried about your pet, it can be inserted while getting a dental cleaning, a spay or neuter.

At the Day and Evening Pet Hospital, we use 24 PetWatch Microchips. As soon as the chip is implanted in your pet, we register that number here at the clinic. That number goes in to their national database, where your information is linked to your pet.

Micro-chipping is an inexpensive form of identification that provides owners with peace of mind. Call us today to schedule an appointment!

X-Rays for Your Pet

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Your dog or cat may have dental problems that are only seen with X-Rays.

Firstly, statistics have proven that dogs or cats as early as the age of 2 already have some forming dental disease.  It is easy to catch with X-Rays, as everything is more visible than just viewing it by the naked eye.

What can be seen without X-Rays is the obvious tartar build-up.  After meals, your dog or cat will have tartar build-up.  Tartar is made up of food particles, bacteria and saliva.  After a while, the tartar will harden and turn into plaque.  This can be harmful to your dog, just as it is to us parents!  The bacteria in the plaque causes gum infections and other painful mouth infections for your pet.

However, getting your dog or cat dental X-Rays allows Dr. Adney to detect any other deeper problems that aren’t seen up front.  He will be able to see any other bacteria or infections that may be occurring which aren’t on the surface.  This is very important as it can prevent major health issues and expenses later.  Also, getting X-Rays after treatment lets the vet know what is helping and progressing and more closely monitors your dog’s or cat’s health.

Signs of a dental problem can include:
Bleeding
Weight loss
Bad breath
Extreme tiredness
Pain while chewing food
Dark brown coverings of his/her teeth

To help prevent these situations, you can get your pet treats that are “dental chews” and assist in cleaning, the recommended prescription diet and regular teeth brushing.  However, none are a substitute for a dental cleaning at the Pet Hospital.

If Dr. Adney recommends X-Rays, this is why.  We want to get to the root of the problem (no pun intended!) so your pet has a long and healthy life.

DIY Dog Nail Trimming…If You Dare!

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Thinking about what would happen if you trimmed your dog’s nails might be like thinking about asking a monkey to sit still while waving a banana in front of him.  There might not be much hope.  However, if you are up for it and you can get your dog to sit still long enough, you can do it yourself.

It is important to get your dog’s nails trimmed whether it’s done by yourself or Dr. Adney.  Long nails are painful for dogs to walk on and can actually create infections if they break.  It should be a part of your dog’s regular grooming routine.

Here’s how:

Firstly, supplies.  You will need specific clippers for dogs to trim the nails.  Most pet stores carry them.  A recommended type is the “guillotine clipper.”  This type of clipper has a hole for you to put the nail through and has two ends (like pliers) that you squeeze and the end of the nail trims off.  Next you will want to get a dog nail-file.

Just like all things, there is a way to do it and there are plenty of ways that it shouldn’t be done.  When you are using the guillotine clipper, cut from the top to the bottom, not side to side.  It’s important that you cut straight down and don’t actually twist the nail if your dog moves.

As a warning, if you cut too far down on the nail, you can actually cause bleeding that can last for quite a while.  It’s important that you simply trim and then file the nail.

If your dog has clear nails you can see where the quick of the nail is.  If you cut that, this is actually was causes the bleeding.  So, trim before that part!  If your dog has black or dark nails, you will not be able to see the quick so just trim a bit off and file it down.

If your dog gets anxious while you are doing this (which will probably happen…most don’t like their paws messed with!) give him or her a treat, reward your pet and take it slow.

If all else fails, you have your favorite vets and staff at Day and Evening Pet Hospital who would be more than happy to help you and your dog.  Have fun!