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At Webster Veterinary Clinic we believe in giving our clients as much information as possible. Read on to get information on how to best care for your pet.

Info regarding grain free diets:

https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/outbreaks-and-advisories/fda-investigation-potential-link-between-certain-diets-and-canine-dilated-cardiomyopathy?fbclid=IwAR3F4Ymynse-6vavkDJarGPTgC7SYzcLImvrY_PNSxMFcCqQA5NsAlfx0WU

Info regarding declawing cats:

https://www.pethealthnetwork.com/cat-health/cat-surgery-a-z/declawing-medical-facts

Spaying your female pet

  • Removal of the ovaries and uterus:  Ideal age is 4 to 6 mos.

  • If spayed before the first heat cycle, your pet has a less than 1 % chance of developing mammary cancer.

  • If spayed after one heat cycle, your pet has an 8% chance of developing mammary cancer.

  • If spayed after two heat cycles, the risk increases to 26% and there is no protective benefit in spaying after two heat cycles.

  • Eliminates the risk of ovarian and uterine cancer.

  • Eliminates unwanted pregnancies.

  • Eliminates the chance of pyometra: a life-threatening uterine infection common in older intact females.

Neutering your male pet

  • Removal of the testicles and spermatic cord.  Ideal age is 4 to 6 mos.

  • Eliminates the risk of testicular cancer which is the second most common tumor in male dogs.

  • Greatly reduces the risk of prostatitis and some prostatic cancers.

  • Reduces the risk of perianal tumors.

  • Reduces roaming and fighting.

  • Eliminates or reduces spraying or marking in males neutered before 6 months of age or before the onset of these behaviors.

  • Eliminates the risk and spread of sexually transmitted diseases.

  • Eliminates unwanted litters.

There are recent concerns with certain brands of dog foods being related to development of a heart disease called nutritional dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). For the safety of your pet, we strongly encourage pet owners to feed diets made by companies who meet the World Small Animal Veterinary Association’s criteria and avoid any grain free diets.

We recommend the following pet food brands:

 

  • Purina ProPlan

  • Purina One

  • Purina Dog Chow

  • Hills Science Diet

  • Royal Canin

  • Iams

  • Eukanuba

 

The following brands are most frequently reported to the FDA in dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy. Please AVOID these brands.

  • Acana

  • Zignature

  • Taste of the Wild

  • 4 Health

  • Earthborn Holistic

  • Blue Buffalo

  • Nature’s Domain

  • Fromm

  • Merrick

  • California Natural

  • Natural Balance

  • Orijen

  • Nature’s Valley

  • NutriSource

  • Nutro

  • Rachael Ray Nutrish

 

*When changing your pet’s diet, please do so slowly over 7 days. Each day add a little bit more of the new food and use a little bit less of the old food.*

*Always remember it is important to keep your pet at a healthy body weight!*

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