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  • About
    • About Us - Doctors
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    • About Fear Free
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Obesity in Springfield Dogs and Cats

11/29/2017

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Obesity in Pets
Over half of today’s pets are overweight.  It is a trend that we are seeing more often at the vet clinic as the years go by.  Weight can be an awkward conversation to have with pet people.  Chunkiness in dogs and cats is often seen as an endearing look and we all tend to love our pets by giving them treats and good things to eat.  We, as veterinarians, are not trying to offend anyone by bringing awareness to weight but are trying to be your pet’s advocate for the future in order to prevent the myriad of diseases that are linked with obesity.  Recently we posted the top ten conditions related to obesity in both cats and dogs on our facebook page.  The most commonly diagnosed diseases secondary to being overweight are osteoarthritis, diabetes, urinary tract disease/cystitis, hepatitis/liver disease, heart failure, asthma, and kidney disease.  Many of these illnesses are preventable with weight management. 
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​How do you know if your pet is overweight?
Most veterinarians will do a body condition score of your pet at each visit.  These assessments will put your pet into a category of under-weight, ideal weight, over-weight, and obese.  See the chart below.  Based on the body condition score, your veterinarian will make a recommendation regarding exercise and diet.
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How do you get your pet to lose weight?
It is best to consult with your veterinarian about what methods will work best for your pet’s weight loss journey.  Certain health conditions may restrict exercise or diet changes that can aid in weight loss.  Weight loss techniques that we typically discuss with our clients are measuring the amount of food that is given daily, reducing the quantity of treats that are fed, increasing the amount of exercise that your pet gets, and sometimes switching to a lower calorie food or prescription diet.  Again, it is necessary to speak with your veterinarian because they will be able to best guide your journey based on your pet’s specific needs.  

Our mission is to provide high quality, compassionate veterinary care with a personal touch.  We strive to maintain a friendly and comfortable environment for pets and owners and are committed to building strong, respectful, and honest relationships with our clients.  Through teamwork, we are dedicated to ensuring the best care possible and treating pets as if they were our own.  Call us today if your pet needs a weight loss intervention, 217-529-4499! 

 

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Don't Shop, Adopt a Pet!

11/20/2017

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When searching for a new pet, you should ask yourself why should I shop for a pet when I can adopt?
There are hundreds of sweet, loving, and friendly companions who are stuck in shelters all around the United States.  They are eager to please and just hoping to find a good, loving home.

Within 50 miles of Springifled, IL there are at least 865 animals available for adoption today, according to petfinder.com.  Many of these animals don’t even understand what home is and now they face uncertainty, massive amounts of stress, and for the unlucky few, even death. 
​Here is an excellent resource for more information on Pet Adoption.
So what’s stopping you from saving a life today?  Don’t shop, adopt!


Written by Steve S, West Lake Animal Hospital Veterinary Assistant

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Inappropriate Urination in Cats in Springfield, IL

10/30/2017

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Litter box problems are the number one issue that we see cats for at West Lake Animal Hospital in Springfield Illinois.  Typically when we examine at cat that has urine issues we hear from the client that the frustrating feline has been urinating and sometimes defecating outside of the litterbox.  Some cats will go to the same spot repeatedly, others have certain objects they are going on like clothing, towels, and rugs, and a small percentage are going in random spots. 

The first step is to have your veterinarian do a full exam to be sure your furry friend is otherwise in good shape and healthy.  At West Lake Animal Hospital in Springfield we then collect a urine sample to run a urinalysis.  How does one “catch a urine sample” on a cat?  It’s not easy!  Frequently we let them hang out at the clinic for a while with some special non-absorbable litter.  A cystocentesis can be performed if necessary, and will be performed if a sterile sample is needed. ​
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The urinalysis checks for infection, pH, specific gravity, crystals, blood, and a few other parameters that indicate the overall bladder health.  If we find abnormal results that indicate infection, we will treat with antibiotics.  Other treatments for diseases that involve inflammation or crystals may include prescription diets.  If your cat has frequent cystitis (inflammation of the bladder) or urinary tract infections, there are some environmental changes that you can make to help prevent symptoms.  It is advised to have one extra litter box than you have cats in your household.  Encourage your cat to drink water by providing a water fountain and offering canned food as part of the diet which provides more moisture in the diet.  We recommend rechecking urine samples two weeks after antibiotics to be sure the issue has been resolved. 
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If you have a cat that suffers from urine issues at home, it’s best to talk to your veterinarian about it.  There are definite medical conditions that cause this in cats or sometimes it can be behavioral which your veterinarian can also discuss with you.  Please call us if you have any questions regarding your cat’s health, 217-529-4499.  

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My Dog’s Ear Is Red and Full of Goo, Oh No! What Do I Do?

10/18/2017

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Ear infections in dogs are very common, especially this time of year because of allergies.  Environmental or food allergens cause inflammation within the ear canal in allergic pets.  The inflammation causes changes within the canal that promote bacterial and yeast overgrowth and infection.  Signs of an ear infection include inflammation, itching, pain, swelling, odor, and brown or yellow discharge.  Pets usually come into the clinic because they are shaking their heads and scratching at their ears.   
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If you notice any of these signs, please schedule an exam for your pet.  We will examine the ears by looking down into the ear canals and assessing the ear drum.  If necessary, a sample of the ear discharge will be taken and stained so we can look at it under the microscope to check for bacterial and yeast infections.  Once an infection is diagnosed, the proper topical treatment will be prescribed.  This only treats the secondary infection, so for dogs experiencing chronic ear infections, strategies to address the underlying allergy or other primary disease will be discussed.  Even though allergies are the most common cause of ear infections, ear conformation (long, pendulous ears, narrow canals, or large amount of hair), water in the ear from grooming or swimming, and thyroid problems can cause ear infections too.  We always keep these in mind when evaluating your pet!  

So how do we treat ear infections?  Ear drops, systemic medications, hypoallergenic food, therapeutic laser, ear flush/wipes for ear canal health, and addressing underlying causes are among some of the treatment options available for ear infections. Treatment is customized for each individual pet!

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Aggressive Barking at the Door

9/13/2017

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We frequently answer a lot of behavior questions from our clients who are frustrated about particular things their pets do.  Our technician, Josh, is interested in behavior and has a lot of helpful hints for you in different situations.  Josh has learned a lot by following Cesar Millan and the advice that he gives.  Keep reading to learn where this behavior comes from and how to prevent it.
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Dogs who aggressively bark at the doorbell could be caused by you! If you yell, grab or scream at your dog, you might be making the situation worse. Try to understand it from your dog’s point of view. When the doorbell rings they are thinking, “my human will attack me (verbally or by grabbing me) when the doorbell rings,” and that is not the idea you want them to have. 

Use the doorbell as a practice tool with other family members or friends, but you want to associate it with something calm and pleasant for your dog. If your dogs are already trained to sit calmly before receiving treats from you, you’re halfway there.

What you need to do is get them to sit calmly for a treat first, and then ring the doorbell. If they do not react to it, they get the treat. If they do react, redirect them with the smell of the treat (but don’t give it to them yet), get them to sit calmly and wait, then repeat the process. In this way, you will teach them that the doorbell equals treat, but only if they sit calmly. You’ll also want everyone in the house to have treats on them at first, so that when the doorbell rings at random they can reward the dogs that comply right away. When you are unable to control this situation when people are coming over, then don’t allow them to practice failure and just simply put them in another room or outside. Remember consistency is the key!

Eventually, you’ll be able to do away with the treats. Finally, if you have more than one dog; focus on the most dominant one in the training; this will help you in training more than one dog at once.
 
Information adapted from Cesar’s Way (www.cesarsway.com)
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Therapy Dogs in Central Illinois

4/26/2017

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Jack’s view as to how and why he became a Therapy Dog
Jack is owned by Carol, one of our fabulous West Lake receptionists.  She helped him write this article!
 
From the day I was adopted from the Sangamon County Animal Control Unit, I knew I was destined to become a therapy dog because I loved all people and other fury friends.  I just had to convince my new mom. 
 
Together as a team, we started obedience classes.   Wow, I needed those classes!!  During our classes we could hear other people talking about their training to become therapy dogs.  It sounded like a great adventure and such a rewarding experience because who doesn’t want to make people laugh and smile.   During our training, we met a lady named Rose who has a group of people who take their dogs to visit nursing homes in Springfield.  We joined up with the group so we could determine if this was something I could do.   After a few test runs, my mom was convinced that I could become a therapy dog because she saw how I loved to visit people and she saw how happy it made the residents.   From there, I finished my obedience classes, passed my Canine Good Citizen test and then I was in class learning how to become a certified therapy dog.  The training took time (because I’m not the most focused guy).  After training, we took our test to become a certified therapy dog with Therapy Dogs International (www.tdi-dog.org).   The test was challenging but we did it.
 
Our first visit was to St. Joseph’s home in Springfield.  I was so excited I could hardly contain myself.   Everyone was reaching out to pet me and hug on me and WOW you should have seen all of the smiles.   It was a great day!!  Now I visit other nursing homes in Springfield and throughout central Illinois.   I even get to travel to Decatur and visit patients at Decatur Memorial Hospital.   Plus, as you may have seen recently in the State Journal Register, I also get to have children read books to me at the library.   That is so fun because the kids laugh and giggle and after reading they get to play with me for a little bit.  I love my job being a Therapy Dog.   It is very rewarding and the joy it brings to people cannot be measured.  I am happy to say that I have received my Active Outstanding Volunteer Certificate from Therapy Dogs International because I have completed over 150 therapy dog visits.   That is a lot of awesome hugs, kisses and tail wagging great times!!!  
 
Jack 


http://www.sj-r.com/article/20150103/News/150109900  
Read about another one of our patient's, Gabbie, who also loves books!
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Kidney Disease in Cats

4/6/2017

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Kwyji is one of our feline fighters! He was diagnosed in January 2017 with kidney failure.
The early indications of failing kidneys (chronic renal or kidney failure) include a marked increase in water consumption and in urination, weight loss, decreased appetite, and in some cases, occasional vomiting. If these signs are observed, the owner should have the cat seen by their veterinarian immediately.  Typically these signs are seen in an older patient (greater than 10 years of age). 

When you take your cat into the veterinarian, the doctor will perform a physical exam and a blood test to diagnose kidney disease.  Depending on the results, a treatment plan will be formed.  Kidneys remove toxins from the body, and when kidneys are not functioning properly, your cat will start to show the above the clinical signs. 
There is no cure for kidney disease, but there are several treatments that can be done to help control clinical signs and improve the quality of life.  We often treat our kidney failure cats with fluids under the skin, appetite stimulants, and a low protein diet.  Sometimes gastroprotectants will be used to help with nausea caused by the increased toxins in the body.  Each cat will respond differently to treatment depending on the stage of disease they are in at diagnosis and what is causing the disease.
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If you think your cat is showing signs of kidney disease, please call your veterinarian today to make an appointment.  The earlier treatment is started, the better your cat will feel and more can be done to suppress the disease into earlier stages.  Our mission is to provide high quality, compassionate veterinary care with a personal touch.  We strive to maintain a friendly and comfortable environment for pets and owners and are committed to building strong, respectful, and honest relationships with our clients.  Through teamwork, we are dedicated to ensuring the best care possible and treating pets as if they were our own. 

 
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Pet Health during the Mild Midwest Winter in Springfield, IL

3/1/2017

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This has been an abnormal winter as far as weather goes in Central Illinois.  We are definitely seeing the effects of this at West Lake Animal Hospital as well.  Typically, our case load declines a little during the months of November through March, but boy have we been busy!  We have seen a high number of skin and allergy cases this winter compared to most.  The warm winter months have also been perfect for fleas to continue their life cycle.  It is extremely rare to see fleas on patients during December, January, and February, but we have been seeing fleas weekly this winter. 

What does this mean for the rest of the year?  We expect an exceptionally high number of allergy and skin disease cases this year.  Plants are growing now that normally do not, which is causing dogs to react when they never have before.  This will get worse once spring is officially here.  Fleas will likely be out in full force much earlier in the year as well. 

The most common causes of itchy pets are environmental allergens (grass, pollens, weeds, trees), food allergies, and external parasites (fleas).  Problems with skin can be very frustrating and complicated to diagnose and treat, but once the patient is doing better, they are some of the most rewarding cases because the animal feels so much better!  If you notice your pet has been itching more than normal, contact your veterinarian or calls us at 217-529-4499 to discuss what is going on and how to correct it. 

​Our mission is to provide high quality, compassionate veterinary care with a personal touch.  We strive to maintain a friendly and comfortable environment for pets and owners and are committed to building strong, respectful, and honest relationships with our clients.  Through teamwork, we are dedicated to ensuring the best care possible and treating pets as if they were our own.  
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Weight Loss in Dogs and Cats in Springfield, IL

1/14/2017

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Copy has lost 5 lbs over the past 5 months on Metabolic food. He is thrilled to be our spokesmodel!
We are having a Biggest Loser Contest for our patients this spring!  Since many humans are on a health and fitness journey early in the year, we thought it’d be good for our pets to join us!  Cats and dogs are welcome to sign up; the deadline to enter is January 16.  The contest will fun from February 1 through April 30.  First prize is a year’s supply of free prescription pet food, and 2nd and 3rd place winners will receive a gift basket.  All participants will be eating Hill’s Prescription Metabolic food throughout the contest.   If you’d like to enter your pet, hurry and call the clinic and get them signed up today!  
Check out this article from JAVMA, about how diets actually make cats more affectionate!   https://www.avma.org/News/JAVMANews/Pages/160401f.aspx

And here are some awesome before and after pictures of pet’s who went on a 6 month weight loss journey (as reported by CBS news).  http://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/pet-weight-loss-contest-before-and-after/

Please contact us in Springfield at 217-529-4499 to get your pet signed up for our Biggest Loser Challenge.  Our mission is to provide high quality, compassionate veterinary care with a personal touch.  We strive to maintain a friendly and comfortable environment for pets and owners and are committed to building strong, respectful, and honest relationships with our clients.  Through teamwork, we are dedicated to ensuring the best care possible and treating pets as if they were our own. 
 

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Senior Pet Adoption in Springfield and Rochester Illinois

12/15/2016

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What exactly constitutes a “senior” pet?  In the veterinarian world in Springfield, we consider a dog or cat a senior when they reach the age of 8.  For large breed dogs, their senior years begin at a younger age, closer to 6 years. 

Many people shy away from adopting a senior pet because they think their time with them is short.  However, these pets are such loyal companions and have so much love to give because they are grateful to have a wonderful family and home.  The life expectancy of many dogs and cats can be 12-15 years or longer, and giving them a loving environment for the remainder of their lives is very rewarding.  Senior pets often are more laid-back and have less energy than a young dog, which is a desirable trait for many pet owners.  
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Randy, 10 years old
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Charlie, 12 years old
With age comes more health concerns of course, but many of the senior pet diseases can be managed with changes to diet, environment, and/or medication.  It is a good idea to have a senior pet examined by your veterinarian prior to finalizing the adoption.  The most common health issues that we see in senior animals are arthritis, liver or kidney disease, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.  Don’t let this list scare you away from adopting a sweet senior and giving them the best loving home they’ve ever had.  With well managed care, they can maintain a great quality of life for years as a member of your family.     

Often, rescues and shelters will have Senior Pet Programs where discounts are offered for the adoption of a senior pet.  If this is something you are interested in, be sure to ask the staff when you go to find your new forever friend! 

If we can answer any questions for you regarding senior pet health or where to find a senior pet to adopt, please contact us in Springfield at 217-529-4499.  Our mission is to provide high quality, compassionate veterinary care with a personal touch.  We strive to maintain a friendly and comfortable environment for pets and owners and are committed to building strong, respectful, and honest relationships with our clients.  Through teamwork, we are dedicated to ensuring the best care possible and treating pets as if they were our own. 

Below are some links of local shelters who adopt out senior pets:
http://www.illinoishumane.org/
http://www.apl-shelter.org/
http://www.felineranch.org/ 
http://www.scdph.org/animal-control-pet-adoption/
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