Are You and Your Pets Ready for Spring?

After such a terrible Winter, this Spring is welcomed like no other. Yet, along with Spring, come allergies, fleas, ticks and mud. We can’t do much about the mud, but we can help in other ways.

Allergies are best managed before they get out of control. So, please call Animal Hospital of Hasbrouck Heights the very moment your pet begins scratching, rubbing, rolling, licking or biting at himself. We can help reduce your pet’s discomfort and allow you all to enjoy Spring again.

Don’t forget to apply your pet’s monthly topical flea and tick preventative. Flea and tick bites not only hurt your pet and cause skin irritation, but they also carry several diseases dangerous to you and your pet. Contact us at 201-288-7800 for more information about how to protect your entire family.

 

Why Vaccinate your Pet?

Vaccines certainly protect your pet from some very serious and often untreatable diseases which are ever present in our environment. Yet, vaccinating your pet also protects you and your family. Dangerous diseases such as rabies and leptospirosis may be transmitted to humans. As a veterinarian, my patients are pets, yet I am caring for the whole family. My responsibility is to protect everyone in the hone from zoonotic diseases (diseases which can spread between animals and people). See the section on vaccinations on our website, or call us for a consultation. We will be happy to advise you to best protect your entire family and live well.

Microchips

Microchips reunite lost pets with their families. I cannot name one reason not to microchip your pet. Microchipping is a safe, affordable option to help ensure your pet, if ever lost or separated from you, may be returned to you.

The microchip is the size of a grain of rice and is placed by a simple injection on your pet’s back between his or her shoulder blades. (The location is usually 1-3 inches from your pet’s collar, depending on the size of your pet.) No sedation or anesthesia is needed.
Each microchip contains a unique numeric code which is read by a scanner passed over your pet’s neck and back. The series of numbers in the code must be registered to your address and phone number. Some pets also wear a tag on their collars indicating that they are microchipped and listing the phone number to call if found. Some tags also list the microchip code.

Microchips are not like Lo-Jack. They cannot locate your lost pet. When a good Samaritan finds your pet, he or she needs to take your pet to a veterinary hospital or shelter to be scanned. By calling the code into a microchip center, the owner’s phone number and address can be retrieved. The pet owner may then be reached, and the family can be whole again.

Mia K. Frezzo, DVM

Dr. Frezzo is the founder and owner of the Animal Hospital of Hasbrouck Heights.  Call 201-288-7800 for an appointment  today.

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