Is your dog suddenly blinking a whole lot more than usual or experiencing discharge from her eyes? She may have conjunctivitis—more commonly known as pink eye. Conjunctivitis in dogs can affect one or both eyes. If your dog is struggling with symptoms of pink eye or an eye infection, the team at Shiloh Veterinary Hospital is just a phone call away. 

What Causes Conjunctivitis in Dogs? 

Conjunctivitis simply means that your dog’s conjunctiva—the film of tissue that protects your pup’s eyelids and eyes—is inflamed. And there’s a whole host of reasons why dogs get pink eye. They include: 

• Bacterial or viral infections
• Allergies
• Smoke
• Foreign bodies like dust or dirt
• Eyeworm disease
• Eyelid or eyelash defects
• Eye or eyelid tumors
• Dry eye
• Trauma to the eye
• High eye pressure (glaucoma) or low eye pressure (uveitis)

A dog with an eye infection or pink eye can feel miserable. Many of the conditions that cause conjunctivitis can be serious. That’s why it’s important to reach out to us as soon as you notice symptoms of pink eye such as inflammation, eye redness, discharge, and excessive blinking. 

Diagnosing Canine Conjunctivitis 

When we arrive at your doorstep to treat your pet, we’ll bring our suite of diagnostic tools with us to figure out what’s causing your pup’s pink eye. Depending on what we find during a physical examination of your dog’s eye, we might: 

• Test your pup’s tear production
• Measure your dog’s eye pressure
• Do a stain test to check for damage to the cornea
• Flush your pup’s eyes
• Take a bacterial culture
• Test for allergies
• Study the eye tissues with cytology
• Conduct a biopsy

Once we know what’s driving your dog’s eye discomfort, we can put together a custom treatment plan. 

Treating a Dog with Pink Eye

Your dog’s pink eye treatment will depend on what’s causing the inflammation. For many cases, we prescribe special eye drops to target the underlying cause. The eye drops might contain antibiotics, steroids, or antivirals. If your dog has chronic dry eye, they’ll need to take eye drops that stimulate tear production. 

With our in-house and online pharmacy, we can provide whatever medication your pup needs. If the pink eye is caused by a defect in your dog’s eye or the surrounding structures, corrective surgery may be needed.  

Call us today at (818) 614-9929 to schedule a visit or talk to us about your dog’s eye symptoms.

The post Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye) in Dogs appeared first on Veterinary Blog for Los Angeles - Shiloh Veterinary Hospital.

It is absolutely reasonable to question every vaccination, medication, and preventive method recommended for your companion animal. Indeed, that’s the very essence of responsible pet ownership. Heartworm disease in dogs has the potential to cause severe lung disease, heart failure, organ damage, and can even be fatal. Together, we can ensure your dog has every possible protection against heartworm-carrying mosquitos and other parasites.

Don’t Look Away

Microscopic worms deposited in the bloodstream by an infected mosquito sounds like something from a science fiction/horror movie, but the truth is scarier than fiction. Dogs are considered ideal hosts for these parasitic worms known as Dirofilaria immitis, meaning the conditions inside a dog’s body are hospitable to the worms. This internal environment allows the worms to mature, mate, and produce offspring inside the heart, lungs, and surrounding blood vessels. 

Shocking and Terrible

Mosquitoes are incredibly stealthy and often pass unnoticed until well after they initiate a bite. Even a quick blood meal can be enough time for a mosquito to pass the microscopic worms into a dog’s bloodstream. A newly infected dog may not show symptoms of heartworm disease for several months. By then, the worms have matured, released offspring, and completed the life cycle. 

Worm Burden

Heartworms can live between 5-7 years in an ideal host. By then, they can measure between 6-12 inches in length, resembling cooked spaghetti noodles. The average “worm burden,” or number of “healthy” adult worms, is 15 worms. That said, there have been cases of a worm burden being over 200!

Heartworm Disease in Dogs

Symptoms may be harder to detect in dogs with low worm counts, but can be obvious in dogs that have a lot of worms, have been infected for a length of time, or previously enjoyed strenuous activities. Owners may start to notice the following red flags:

• Coughing
• Fatigue (even after an easy activity)
• Weak-looking appearance

These symptoms require immediate veterinary examination and diagnostic testing. If left untreated, heartworm disease in dogs will progress to the point of irreversible damage to the heart, kidneys, liver, and lungs. Heartworm disease can be fatal in dogs. 

Testing and Treatment

Blood tests can detect the presence of adult female heartworms, as well as microfilariae (immature worms), given around 6 months after a bite, to determine if adult worms are reproducing inside the host. Testing should always be completed prior to starting (or re-starting) a dog on their heartworm preventive medication. A preventive medication can actually cause anaphylactic shock or death in a heartworm-positive dog as the worms suddenly die off inside them.

Heartworm disease can be treated in dogs, but with numerous medications, X-rays, and other diagnostics, it is often an arduous and expensive process. Surgical removal of large worms is another option, but has its own set of risks. 

Prevention Is the Key

Most prescription heartworm preventive medications are given orally or topically, once a month. There is also an effective injection, administered in our office every 6-12 months. It is recommended that dogs receive permanent, year-round heartworm prevention medication to reduce the chance of contracting this terrible disease. Remember, all it takes is one small mosquito bite to rock the boat of your dog’s health and wellness.

As always, please reach out to us at (818) 614-9929 with any questions or concerns. Shiloh Mobile Veterinary Hospital is always here for you!

The post Is Heartworm Disease In Dogs Really That Dangerous? Sadly, Yes. appeared first on Veterinary Blog for Los Angeles - Shiloh Veterinary Hospital.

We have a lot in common with our dogs, but chief among them is our mutual appreciation for food. We both love to munch, and enjoying treats together is one of life’s greatest joys. What could be better than growing tasty food in your own garden with the sole purpose of sharing your healthy haul with your best pal? If you’ve been wondering how you can make this work at home, we’ve got some tips on growing fruits and vegetables for your dog. 

Tasty Goodness

Dog owners love to indulge their pups, but they don’t always beg for the healthy stuff, do they? Show your love with natural foods that boost their immunity, offer vitamins, fiber, and minerals to their daily diet, and light up their taste buds. 

We recommend growing any of the following fruits and vegetables for your dog:

• Blueberries
• Apples
• Raspberries
• Strawberries
• Watermelon
• Cucumbers
• Carrots
• Green beans
• Sweet potato
• Spinach
• Romaine lettuce
• Pumpkin
• Zucchini

Once harvested, you can process any of the above to make it easier on your dog’s digestion. Lightly steamed veggies are a home run with many hungry pups, while retaining all of their nutritional power. Always cut up raw fruits and vegetables for your dog and remove any seeds. Small bites are always best to reduce the risk of choking or obstruction.

All of the above-listed fruits and veggies can be added to DIY dog treat recipes. Freeze in order to use up over a longer period of time.

Other Vegetables for Your Dog

If your dog isn’t crazy about lettuce or spinach, try to up their green-game by offering them some dandelion greens or arugula. 

You can also grow herbs like rosemary (rich in antioxidants), parsley (great for use as a breath-freshener), basil (another great antioxidant), and thyme (famous for its antibacterial and antifungal properties). 

Design and Safety Tips

Despite the fact that you’re growing vegetables for your dog to enjoy exclusively, it’s advisable to keep your crops fenced in until you are ready to harvest the goodies. Alternatively, wall gardens or hanging containers can keep your dog from sniffing around for their snacks. Raised beds are easy on your back and deter dogs (and other hungry animals) from causing damage to your plants. 

Be sure that what you’re growing for them is 100% safe and non-toxic. This applies to fertilizer and pesticide products. Some mulches can also be risky to use around dogs. Research everything you bring home, and restrict access to anything that doesn’t pass the safety test. 

Crops like onions, garlic, tomatoes, and grapes are not safe in yards frequented by dogs. 

Planning Ahead

Now is the perfect time to start planning your spring and summer garden. Growing fruits and vegetables for your dog is an enjoyable pastime, and we can’t wait to hear how creative you get with your garden’s design and the many ways you use your crops. 

Feel free to call us at (818) 614-9929 with any questions or concerns. We’re always happy to help at Shiloh Veterinary Hospital.

The post Is It Time to Grow Fruits and Vegetables for Your Dog?  appeared first on Veterinary Blog for Los Angeles - Shiloh Veterinary Hospital.

If you are like us, adopting one pet is pretty exciting. It’s an amazing feeling to bring home a deserving fur friend who needs our love, attention, and good care for a wonderful life. So, naturally, it would seem like adopting two dogs would be even better, right? After all, they will keep each other company. The more, the merrier!

There are some great benefits to adopting two dogs at once, but there are also some challenges. The team at Shiloh Veterinary Hospital is here to explain these reasons and to help you prepare for bringing home two amazing adoptable pets (while keeping it real!).

When You Adopt Two Dogs at Once

There are a few scenarios that you might encounter when you choose to adopt two dogs together.

1. Bonded pairs. These dogs already came to the shelter as siblings or best friends who have a history of being together. In many cases, these dogs are only adopted out as a couple to ensure their best life and the familiarity of their bond. Lots of times, these pets come to shelters after an owner has died or when the family can no longer care for them. In this situation, it can be the ideal one because they have already been together for some time and have “ironed out” issues between them, including establishing alpha behaviors.
2. Shelter mates. These friends have already shared close quarters during their time at the rescue. Because of this, they are deemed to be amiable to other dogs and sometimes even enjoy the company. Dogs housed together in a shelter are usually those who are comfortable with other dogs or are puppies who require socialization.
3. Single dogs with unknown backgrounds. These shelter dogs have been housed alone for various reasons, including to ensure health and safety. It’s best to speak with an adoption counselor to get a good gauge on the dogs’ backgrounds and whether they have been around other dogs. Observe your potential adoptees together a few times, so you know they are good with one another.

Important Things to Consider When Adopting Two Dogs

There are many advantages to adopting two fur friends together. They can enjoy each other, get more play and exercise, keep each other company when you are at work, and have more snuggles. Bonded dogs are often better socialized and able to deal with new experiences, since they are more confident and comfortable with their “pack”. 

The downfall to adopting two dogs is that you have double the fees for adoption, food, veterinary care, pet supplies, and so on. You have to allot more time for exercise, attention, and training. There is a misconception that having two dogs somehow lightens up the load on your own time because they entertain each other. Not so. Their interaction, while wonderful, doesn’t mean they don’t need the usual daily walks and exercise that a solo dog needs.

If you understand the commitment and dedication required for taking on two dogs, what a great and heartfelt service you offer to two sweet pups. This incredible bond not only extends to you and your human family but can also be shared between your new dogs. It can be a heavenly match that gives both pets a greater sense of confidence, security, and love.

We are here to answer any questions you have about adopting two dogs together. We look forward to seeing you and your new furry loved ones at their first wellness exam with us.

The post Double Trouble, Double the Fun: Adopting Two Dogs at Once appeared first on Veterinary Blog for Los Angeles - Shiloh Veterinary Hospital.

Dogs, left to their own devices, will chow down on just about anything edible, whether it is good for them or not. Nuts, while seemingly healthy, can be potentially problematic for your pup. But it depends on the type of nut and the quantity. When we think something is tasty, we naturally want to give our best buddy the same thing.

There are some nuts that are fine for your pet and some that should be off limits. To give you an understanding, Shiloh Veterinary Hospital is here to answer the questions of, “Can my dog eat nuts and seeds?”

A Good Nut

Peanut butter is a popular choice for Kongs and fillable chews for our dogs. They pack a lot of calories, but they are generally a good option for giving your pet enrichment and something yummy to eat. But not all nuts are equal when it comes to pet safety. 

Here are some pet safe nuts your doggo can enjoy in moderation.

• Peanuts – Roasted or raw peanuts are a good source of protein, but make sure they aren’t salted or have any other seasoning on them if your pet is about to munch.
• Hazelnuts – These nuts can be fine for larger dogs who are not allergic to them, but small dogs are more likely to have a choking incident with them. Use caution, or opt for raw hazelnut butter (without sweetener or chocolate).
• Cashews – Cashews are fine for dogs in small quantities, or as a dollop of cashew butter that is unsweetened.

A word of caution: many of these nuts are made into spreads, such as peanut or cashew butter. Unfortunately, there has been a rise in dog poisoning due to the sugar substitute, Xylitol, being added to the ingredients. Do not use sugar-free products for your furry friend. 

Nuts that Are No-Nos

There are nuts that cause a range of symptoms if ingested by your dog. These include:

• Almonds – These popular nuts cannot be digested by your dog and can cause gastrointestinal upset and blockages in the intestinal tract.
• Macadamias – High in fat, the macadamia, while not toxic, can create pancreatitis, if eaten in moderate to large doses. Pancreatitis is a dangerous condition when the pancreas becomes inflamed.
• Pecans – This nut contains the toxin juglone and causes gastrointestinal problems in dogs.
• Walnuts – These nuts are considered one of the more toxic because they contain tremorgenic mycotoxins. In higher amounts, they can cause seizure.
• Pistachios – Like macadamia, they have a high fat content which causes gastric upset. Dogs who regularly eat pistachios can also develop pancreatitis.

The Lowdown on Whether Your Dog Can Eat Nuts

Ultimately, any nut can cause stomach issues with a Fido who eats one too many. Nuts, while considered a healthy snack, can be fattening and add pounds to your pooch. Only allow your pet to eat a few if you want to treat them with some nuts.

Would you like more information on what nuts your pup can eat, or would like to schedule an appointment? Please contact our friendly team. There is no such thing as a nutty question when it comes to keeping your pet safe and healthy. 

The post In the Know About Nuts: Can My Dog Eat Nuts? appeared first on Veterinary Blog for Los Angeles - Shiloh Veterinary Hospital.

In theory, dog parks seem like a nearly perfect place. Dogs can run off-leash while enjoying each other’s company and come home tired and happy – all while you’ve been relaxing and skipping the daily walk. Sounds like a great plan, but with so many dogs and people (most of whom are likely looking at their phones rather than watching their dogs), trouble can quickly arise.

Practicing good dog park etiquette is the key to safely enjoying the park, and making sure others do too. 

Not Right for Everybody

As much as you may love the idea of your dog joining a group of “friends” for an afternoon of free play, dog parks are not ideal for every dog. Skip the dog park and opt for a walk, hike, or playdate with a dog you know and trust if your pup meets any of the following criteria:

• They are aggressive, fearful, or overly shy
• They are a puppy
• They are unvaccinated
• They are not spayed/neutered
• They are not current on year-round flea, tick, and heartworm preventives
• They are coughing, sneezing, or showing any other signs of illness (in that case, give us a call!)

Dog Park Etiquette 101

To maintain the safety and enjoyment of everyone who uses your local dog park, keep these dog park etiquette tips in mind:

Observe – It can be tempting to check emails or become engrossed in conversation with another dog owner, but it’s important to never take your eyes off your dog. Step in to intervene if you notice your dog is being harassed, is bullying another dog, is acting fearful, or causing any type of disturbance.

Entering – Be mindful when entering the dog park gate, as other dogs tend to crowd around the appearance of a newcomer. It may be better to introduce your dog gradually by letting them smell and observe the other dogs through the fence before entering. 

Separate but equal – If you have a small dog, look for a park with a separate space for the little guys. This ensures that smaller dogs don’t get injured or harassed by their larger peers. Similarly, don’t allow your bigger dog to play rough with a smaller companion.

Scoop the poop – The importance of picking up after your dog cannot be understated. Not only does dog poop increase the risk of spreading parasites and disease, it can undermine the quality of a park. Many parks offer doggie waste bags, but always bring your own in case they’re out.

Pack your own – Allowing your dog to drink out of a communal water bowl is not ideal, as it can be a breeding ground for communicable disease. Bring plenty of fresh water and bowl to drink from, and offer it to your dog at regular intervals.

Dog Park Safety

If you know us at all here at Shiloh Veterinary Hospital, you know that the safety of our pet patients is incredibly important to us. Summer isn’t over here in L.A., and avoiding heat-related injury should still be a priority. Take your pet to the dog park in the early morning or evening hours when the weather is cooler. If you observe any signs of heat exhaustion (excessive panting, drooling, disorientation, pale or red gums), get your dog into the shade, offer water, and give us a call.

With an eye toward safety and etiquette, dog parks can be magical places of doggie freedom after all!

The post A Walk in the Park? Dog Park Etiquette and Safety Tips appeared first on Veterinary Blog for Los Angeles - Shiloh Veterinary Hospital.

No matter where we live, parasites are everywhere. These tiny facts of life can range from gross (discovering worms in your pet’s poop), to frustrating (a flea infestation in your home), to downright deadly (a pet diagnosed with heartworm). 

Because fleas, ticks, heartworm, and intestinal parasites pose a risk to dogs, cats, exotic pets, and people all year long, pet parasite prevention is a critical part of your pet’s health care plan. 

Creepy-Crawly Disasters

Fleas – It only takes one or two fleas tracked in by a pet to create a full-blown infestation (fleas thrive in the warm, humid environment inside our homes). Not only can fleas transmit tapeworm and Bartonellosis (cat scratch fever), some pets are so allergic to flea saliva that even one bite can trigger severe itching, scratching, and hot spots on their skin.

Ticks – Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, and tick-borne encephalitis are just a few of the many diseases spread to pets and people by these eight-legged parasites. 

Heartworm – Heartworm is transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito and is arguably one of the most serious threats to our pets’ health. The disease is expensive and difficult to treat in dogs, and, because no feline treatment exists, it is almost always fatal in cats.

Intestinal parasites – Whipworms, roundworms, tapeworms, and more can cause uncomfortable and sometimes serious side effects for pets. Not only that, some of these nematodes can even be passed to people. Fortunately, many popular heartworm preventive medications also include protection against intestinal parasites.

Practical Pet Parasite Prevention

Preventive care is crucial to your pet’s wellness and longevity, and parasite protection should be part of that plan. At your pet’s annual wellness appointments, your veterinarian will help you determine the appropriate parasite prevention protocol based on the type of pet you have, their lifestyle, overall health, and exposure risk. 

Exotic and pocket pets are not immune from internal and external parasites. Fleas, ear mites, lice, intestinal parasites, and more can take a toll on a small pet’s quality of life. Regular wellness care for pocket and exotic pets is a must in order to prevent and treat parasites.

Year-Round Protection

Just because the weather cools off (a little) during the winter months does not mean you can slack on your pet’s monthly protection. 

Fleas, ticks, and mosquitos do not go dormant, especially in our warmer climate. Failing to protect your pet year-round exposes them to the serious risk of vector-borne illnesses. Most flea, tick, and heartworm preventives are relatively inexpensive and easy to administer to your pet on a monthly basis.

It’s never too late to start your pet on a parasite protection plan! Contact the team at Shiloh Veterinary Hospital for more information, and to schedule an appointment for your pet.

The post Avoid a Crisis With Pet Parasite Prevention appeared first on Veterinary Blog for Los Angeles - Shiloh Veterinary Hospital.

Even people with little to no experience with dogs can recognize the qualities of a “good dog.” They rarely bark or jump up on people, stay off of the furniture, and remember when it’s time to go outside for their bathroom needs. Likewise, “good dogs” don’t run away, chase after wildlife, and do not attack people and other animals. 

We’d love to think that dogs are simply born this way, but the truth is, well-mannered dogs have been trained to behave in certain ways around very specific stimuli. Don’t worry—the keys to effective dog training and proper socialization are within reach. 

Plays Well With Others

It’s not their fault that dogs are sort of, well, clueless when it comes to the rules of humans. They have to be taught the right ways of doing things. Once they understand the expectations of their people, they can claim their rightful place in the household hierarchy (which may or may not include a spot on the couch!).

More Than Commands

Basic obedience is critical to establishing your dog’s manners. Understanding and demonstrating a mastery of basics, such as sit, stay, down, heel, come, and more, give dogs and their owners a powerful sense of safety and security.

Reward-based or positive reinforcement dog training gives dogs significant pieces of the puzzle. While older training methods relied on punishing bad or unwanted dog behavior, positive reinforcement training offers dogs valuable opportunities to learn the right ways to please their owners. When they behave well, they are given small, but very tasty, treats.

Don’t Waffle

The single most effective way to train a dog is through an unwavering, consistent approach. Owners are tasked with constant awareness and observation of their dog’s behaviors. If you want them to understand that good behaviors equal rewards/treats, it is essential to monitor what they’re doing.

Finally, dog owners must ignore “bad” dog behavior. If they pick up any reaction, including negative attention, the action that you’re not pleased with could inadvertently become reinforced.

Can You Handle It?

Dogs that are handled from a very early age have the capacity to understand various types of interactions. Thus, it’s really important to their social skills to be experienced with human touch, exposure to other animals, certain noises, and various environments (once they’re fully vaccinated, that is!).

Cool, Confident, Comfortable

Dog behavior can sometimes hinge upon how stimuli is framed. If they hear a siren, for example, it may be jarring at first, but they look to their owners for cues. If the owner is calm, they learn that the sound is okay. It may take some soothing and reassurance at first (and fear from specific stimuli may never go away entirely), but dogs have the potential to react in the ways their owners do. 

What This Means for Dog Behavior

A dog that receives regular opportunities to learn and show their skills is a happy dog. Generally speaking, dogs that have been trained and socialized are well-adjusted, calm, open, and flexible. Others may be prone to separation anxiety, stress, and discomfort in the presence of strangers.

At Shiloh Veterinary Hospital we are always happy to talk about promising or puzzling dog behavior traits. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns!

The post How Training and Socialization Lead to Good Dog Behavior appeared first on Veterinary Blog for Los Angeles - Shiloh Veterinary Hospital.