Pacific Pet Hospital, Author at Pacific Pet Hospital

Could My Cat Benefit From Genetic Testing?

Just like humans, cats can be predisposed to certain health conditions due to their genetic makeup. By identifying these genetic predispositions early on, veterinarians can take proactive steps to manage or prevent potential health issues in your cat. One important aspect of cat health is Genetic Testing. Genetic testing is a powerful tool that can help pet owners identify potential health issues in their cats and take proactive steps to prevent or manage them.

What Is Genetic Testing For Cats?

Genetic testing for cats involves analyzing the DNA of a cat to identify specific genetic mutations or variations that may affect their health. These tests can be performed at any time, but they are most commonly done when a cat is young to identify any inherited conditions that may impact their health in the future.

There are many different types of genetic tests available for cats, and each one focuses on a specific condition or set of conditions. Some tests look for mutations associated with certain diseases, while others test for variations that may affect a cat’s coat color, pattern, or type. In either case, genetic testing can provide valuable insights into a cat’s health and help pet owners take steps to manage any issues that may arise.

What Are The Benefits of Genetic Testing For Cats?

There are several benefits of genetic testing for cats, including:

Early detection of potential health issues

Genetic testing can help identify potential health issues in cats before they become symptomatic. This allows pet owners to take proactive steps to prevent or manage these issues and improve their cat’s overall quality of life.

Tailored care

Genetic testing can help veterinarians develop personalized care plans for cats based on their unique genetic makeup. This can include tailored diets, exercise plans, and medications that are specific to the cat’s needs.

Peace of mind

Genetic testing can provide pet owners with peace of mind by confirming that their cat does not carry any genetic mutations associated with inherited diseases. This can be especially important for breeds that are predisposed to certain health conditions.

Could My Cat Benefit From Genetic Testing?

While not all cats will benefit from genetic testing, it can be a valuable tool for those that are at risk of developing certain health issues. Cats that are purebred or have a known history of inherited diseases may be good candidates for genetic testing.

Some of the most common conditions that genetic testing can identify in cats include:

If you are considering genetic testing for your cat, it is important to talk to your veterinarian first. They can help you determine if genetic testing is appropriate for your cat and recommend specific tests based on their breed, age, and health history.

Genetic Testing For Cats At Pacific Pet Hospital

At Pacific Pet Hospital, we understand the importance of genetic testing for cats and are dedicated to providing our clients with the latest & greatest services in feline healthcare. If you have any questions about genetic testing or would like to schedule an appointment for your cat, please contact us today for additional information!

Celebrating Your Dog’s Favorite Treat – Peanut Butter

Celebrating Your Dog's Favorite Treat – Peanut Butter

January 24th is National Peanut Butter Day, a day set aside for celebrating a staple found in just about every American’s kitchen and a favorite flavor among dogs around the world. Let’s celebrate by learning a little more about peanut butter dog treats and the nutritional benefits for dogs.

5 Nutritional Benefits of Peanut Butter for Dogs

1. High Protein

Protein should make up a primary portion of your dog’s diet, and peanut butter is 25% protein. This makes it a great choice for dogs.

2. High Fiber

Peanut butter is also high in fiber which (in moderation) can help to regulate your dog’s digestive system, promoting better gastrointestinal health.

3. Healthy Fatty Acids

Peanut butter is high in fat but in the healthy kinds: polyunsaturated fatty acids.

4. Vitamin-Rich

Peanut butter contains high amounts of vitamin E and a variety of B vitamins which are essential for the health and function of your dog’s body.

5. Mineral-Rich

Peanut butter also contains a lot of manganese, magnesium, and phosphorus which help to keep your dog’s body strong in a variety of ways such as facilitating energy production at the cellular level and supporting the health of your dog’s teeth.

Choosing the Right Peanut Butter for Your Dog

Not all kinds of peanut butter are created equal. Some contain toxic artificial sweeteners like xylitol. Others have added sugar. Some are highly processed. When choosing peanut butter for your pet, stick with an all-natural recipe and make sure it does not contain xylitol.

It’s also important to remember that, as with most treats, too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. Be sure to limit your dog’s peanut butter intake to reasonable, size-appropriate portions for your pet.

Nutritional Counseling for Pets at Pacific Pet Hospital

Your pet’s diet and nutrition create the foundation for its overall health. So, what your pet eats and how much can have a major impact on their overall wellness, energy level, happiness, and long-term health. At Pacific Pet Hospital, we provide nutritional counseling for pets of all ages and species. We tailor our nutritional plans to meet the individual needs of each of our patients, providing general recommendations and specific prescription diets designed to address particular health problems.

To learn more about your pet’s nutrition or to schedule an appointment, we welcome you to contact our office today.

Celebrating the New Year and Traveling With Your Pet

2022 is quickly coming to a close, and that means we’re getting ready to welcome 2023 with festive New Year’s Eve celebrations. While some pets are very social and love parties, others prefer quiet and sticking to their routines. Whether your pet is a party animal or not, consider the following tips to keep your pet safe during New Year’s Eve celebrations.

5 Safety Tips for Celebrating the New Year With Your Pet

1. Keep Food Out of Your Pet's Reach

Many human foods are toxic to pets, and many that aren’t toxic can still make your pet quite sick. Keep all of your party foods well out of the reach of your curious and hungry pets. For safety, make sure you have the number for Pet Poison Control available and an emergency veterinary hospital that will be available on New Year’s Eve.

2. Cover and Watch Your Drinks

Alcohol and artificial sweeteners (like xylitol) that are commonly found in New Year’s Eve libations are toxic for pets. Keep drinks covered and never leave them unattended in a place where pets can reach them.

3. Create a Safe, Quiet Space for Your Pet

If you’ll be entertaining guests at your home, create a safe and quiet retreat for your pet in a closed-off room with a white-noise machine, pet bed, food, and water to help them feel comfortable and calm.

4. Keep Your Pet Indoors

Pets can easily become frightened on New Year’s Eve as a result of the loud fireworks that go off at midnight. Even if you have a fenced yard, be sure to keep your pet inside on New Year’s Eve to prevent them from becoming frightened, escaping the yard, and running away. Plus, they’ll feel safer and happier inside with all of the loud noises.

5. Get a Pet Microchip

Microchips greatly increase the odds of being reunited with a lost pet.

Need a Place to Stay on New Year's Eve? Check Out These Pet-Friendly Hotels in Chula Vista

Whether you’ll be visiting Chula Vista or have friends and family coming to stay for the holidays, if pets will be in tow, then a pet-friendly hotel is a must. There are several hotels in Chula Vista that welcome pets, such as those included on this list. If you’ll be traveling without your pets, we welcome you to contact Pacific Pet Hospital for local pet boarding and pet sitter recommendations.

5 Tips For Potty Training Your New Puppy

Getting a new puppy is an incredibly exciting time for any pet owner. No one can prepare you for all the love, and cuddles you are about to experience. And who doesn’t love that adorable new puppy smell? But even with all of the goodness that comes along with owning a new puppy, it is extremely important to remember that a new puppy also means a-lot of responsibility. Puppy potty training is one of the most important steps you can take for a long, and happy life with your new fur baby.

When Should I Start Potty Training My New Puppy?

Puppy potty training is one of the most important things you can do for your new pet. It can be frustrating, and can also be extremely time consuming, but it is crucial you take the time and energy to start potty training your new pup as soon as possible. The best time to start is when your puppy is about 8-12 weeks old. Although puppies do not gain full control of their bladder till closer to 5 months old, it is important to start around 8-12 weeks so you can help them form good habits early on.

5 Tips for Potty Training Your New Puppy

1. Crate training is key – When potty training a new puppy, it is important to crate train them. This will help to keep them in one designated spot and make it easier for you to take them out to go.

2. Develop a schedule – Being consistent with a potty training schedule is important. This means taking your dog out to go at the same time each day. You can never take them out too much in those first few weeks of training.

3. Use a rewards system – A rewards system can be helpful in motivating your puppy to learn how to potty correctly. Rewards could include treats, praises, or toys. Give them rewards as often as you can!

4. Deal with mistakes the right way – If your puppy happens to have an accident, don’t punish them. This will only make them more anxious and difficult to train. Instead, clean up the mess calmly and firmly tell your pup “no” when they have an accident in the future.

5. Be patient and consistent with your potty training efforts – it may take a little while for your puppy to get the hang of things. Do not give up, it will be worth it!

Puppy Training With Advice From Experts At Pacific Pet Hospital!

When it comes to training your pup, it is important to do your research and seek advice from professionals whenever you can. Our doctors at Pacific Pet Hospital are here to help guide you and answer any questions you have about the health and well being of your new puppy! Get your pup off to a great start by scheduling their first Wellness Exam and Vaccinations appointment with us today.

10 Reasons Why Rescue Dogs Are the Best

At Pacific Pet Hospital, we love all dogs equally (so much!). However, we have to admit that there are some things that set dogs adopted from animal shelters apart from the rest. If you’re considering rescuing a dog from a shelter, we encourage you to keep reading to learn about 10 reasons why rescue dogs are the best.

10 Reasons Why Rescue Dogs Are the Best (Why You Should Adopt – Not Shop)

1. Save Multiple Lives

When you rescue an animal from a shelter, you not only save the life of your new pet, but you also make room for another homeless pet to live safely in the shelter.

2. Enjoy Unconditional Love

Rescue pets have experienced homelessness or lost their families one way or another. As a result, they’ll appreciate your love and love you in return, all the more.

3. Spend Less on Your New Pet

Shelters usually have adoption fees, but these are simply designed to help cover some of your pet’s veterinary costs. These fees, however, are much less than the cost of purchasing a dog and paying for all of their initial vaccinations and spay or neuter procedure.

4. Avoid Surprises

With a shelter dog, you’ll have a good idea of their veterinary needs before you make a decision.

5. You'll Have a Great Story to Tell

You can tell all your friends how you first spotted and connected with your new pet.

6. You'll Change Your New Pet's World

You’ll be giving a dog a second chance at living a wonderful life.

7. You'll Be Fighting Animal Cruelty

By adopting instead of shopping, you won’t be inadvertently supporting a puppy mill.

8. You Help Manage the Pet Population

There are animals in shelters because there are more dogs and cats than there are families to care for them. By adopting, you help to manage the population.

9. You'll Be Supporting Your Community

Animal shelters are vital organizations operating in your community, and choosing to rescue a pet from one helps them thrive.

10. It's Good for Your Healthy and Happiness

Not only do dogs help you get more exercise and improve your mood, but when you adopt from a shelter, you can feel proud of yourself too.

Establish Your New Pet's Care With Pacific Pet Hospital

If you’re planning to adopt a dog or cat, one of the first steps to being a responsible pet owner is to establish care with a nearby veterinary clinic. At Pacific Pet Hospital, we are always happy to welcome new pets to our veterinary hospital, and we’re excited to work with you to help you give your new pet the best life ever. To learn more about our comprehensive services or about adopting a pet from an animal shelter, we welcome you to contact our office today.

How to Prepare Your House for a New Kitten

When you’re planning to get a new kitten, it can be tough to resist just picking one out and bringing it home right away. To give your kitten the best possible start in your home, however, you should take some steps to prepare your house for your kitten’s arrival before coming home with your newest furbaby.

5 Tips for Preparing Your House for a New Kitten

1. Create a Safe, Personal Space

Your kitten should have a safe, secluded space where it can feel comfortable and safe in your home. Block this area off from other pets and keep small children out. This area should have your kitten’s bed, food, water, and litter box.

2. Kitten-Proof Your Home

For kittens, there are countless hazards inside of human homes. This includes poisonous plants, human foods that are toxic to pets, household chemicals, medications, electrical cords, furniture that could fall easily, and even small hiding places that could be dangerous for your kitten. Remember that kittens are experts at jumping and climbing. So, you’ll need to lock away hazards tightly.

3. Get All of the Supplies You Need

Have everything your kitten needs already available when you bring your kitten home. This includes food formulated for kittens, a water bowl, litter box, toys, cat bed, pet carrier, collar with ID tags, and scratching post.

4. Prepare Your Children

If you have children, be sure you talk with them about how they should interact with the new kitten to prevent the kitten from feeling overwhelmed, scared, or acting out aggressively. Talk with them about the appropriate ways to introduce themselves, how to talk to the kitten with a calm and gentle voice, how to pet the kitten gently, and play with the cat. With a good start, your kitten won’t be afraid and will feel comfortable with your children. Then, they can enjoy one of the best relationships ever.

5. Find a Veterinarian and Establish Care

Before adopting a kitten, you should also choose a veterinarian and contact their office to schedule an appointment for establishing your new pet’s care. Every new pet should have a checkup to ensure they are healthy and have all the preventative treatments they need.

Wellness and Preventive Care for Kittens in San Diego

To learn more about adopting a kitten or to schedule an appointment, we welcome you to contact Pacific Pet Hospital in Chula Vista today.

What to Do When Your Dog Just Won’t Listen

What to Do When Your Dog Just Won't Listen

Although some dog breeds are notoriously more stubborn than others, this does not mean that they lack in their nature, the instinct to bond with and please their owners. Dogs simply don’t know what we expect of them until we teach them, and teaching them can be difficult considering that we speak human and they speak dog. If you’re struggling to train your dog, consider the following tips.

5 Canine Behavior Tips for When Your Dog Doesn't Listen

1. Positive Reinforcement Makes Listening More Interesting

When trying to teach your dog not to chase a squirrel, dig holes, or chew your slippers, you need to offer them something more exciting than their bad behavior choices. Reward positive behaviors with high-quality treats, praise, affection, and play.

2. Help Them Speak Your Language

Over time, dogs start to recognize the words that are relevant to them and ignore the ones that are not. They learn body language, much faster. If you, pair a hand gesture with every command, they’ll learn faster.

3. Think If What You're Asking Is Realistic

Don’t ask your pet to understand complicated commands right away. For example, teaching a pet to come to you can be very difficult for your pet to learn. Be patient, keep working, and remember to reward their good behaviors.

4. Look at the Big Picture

Don’t get too frustrated and remember to consider the whole environment while training. Your dog might not be sitting because they’re distracted by another dog. This means you also need to work with them on focusing.

5. Schedule a Veterinary Exam

If your normally obedient dog suddenly stops behaving, this could be a sign that your dog has an underlying health problem. If you notice changes, schedule a veterinary appointment right away.

Behavioral Counseling for Pets in Chula Vista

At Pacific Pet Hospital in Chula Vista, we’re here to promote and encourage every aspect of your pet’s health and wellbeing, including their behavior, to help you provide them with a happy, healthy, and long life. We understand that good behavior helps pets live fuller lives because, with good manners, they can safely be a bigger part of your life, make more friends, and explore more of the world. To learn more about behavioral counseling or to schedule an appointment for your dog, we welcome you to contact us today.

Beach Safety for Pets

It’s beach season, and that means many of you will be heading to the shores along with your favorite furry friends. If your dogs are like most dogs, going to the beach is probably their favorite activity (along with everything else you do together). While playing at the beach and swimming in the ocean are great activities for you to enjoy with your dog, the beach does present a few safety risks for pets. So, following these safety tips can ensure you have a fun and safe time outdoors.

5 Safety Tips for Pets at the Beach

1. Fresh Water

Playing in the sun and heat all day puts pets at risk of dehydration and heat exhaustion. Be sure to bring plenty of fresh water for your pet to drink. Additionally, be sure to keep your pet from drinking the ocean’s salt water as this can put them at risk of salt poisoning.

2. Swimming Safety

Not all dogs can, like, or know how to swim. Before jumping in head-first with your dog, take a test swim in a calm, shallow location. You’ll get a sense pretty quickly of whether or not your dog enjoys being in the water and whether or not they can swim strongly enough to play in the ocean waves.

3. Sun Protection

Dogs are at risk of sunburn – especially those with shorter coats. If grooming your dog, be sure to keep at least an inch in length to protect their skin and apply a dog-safe sunscreen while you’re out in the sun.

4. Hot Sand

In the heat of midday, the sand at the beach can become scorchingly hot and this can burn your dog’s sensitive paw pads. Purchase a pair of dog booties to protect your pet’s paws or visit the beach in the morning or late evening.

5. Post-Beach Care

For healthy skin and coat, be sure to wash all of the sand and salt off of your pet after a day of playing at the beach.

Summer Checkups at Pacific Pet Hospital

Before heading out with your pet this summer, we recommend scheduling a checkup with a veterinarian at Pacific Pet Hospital in Chula Vista. We can ensure your pet is fit enough for an ocean swim, well protected from all sorts of parasites, and outfitted with a microchip’s permanent identification capabilities. To learn more or schedule an exam for your dog, we welcome you to contact us today.

What Is Telemedicine for Pets?

Telemedicine has been around almost as long as the telephone, but new technologies have revitalized the telemedicine space, making it more convenient than ever to access professional veterinary advice for pets. At Pacific Pet Hospital, we are pleased to provide state-of-the-art veterinary telemedicine via the Anipanion smartphone app.

What Is Telemedicine for Pets?

Telemedicine refers to the practice of getting a doctor’s advice over the phone or via email, video chat, or texting. In the case of pets, telemedicine refers to getting advice remotely from a veterinarian regarding your pet’s health and/or care.

What Kinds of Veterinary Services Are Available Via Telemedicine?

Telemedicine makes getting a quick professional veterinary opinion easy since you can access it from the comfort of your own home – or anywhere you have internet or cellular service. With telemedicine for pets, you can send videos and/or pictures of your pet to our veterinarian and talk with a veterinarian about your pet’s symptoms to receive advice from afar.

Telemedicine is especially useful for managing our existing patients’ ongoing veterinary concerns, medication refills, surgery follow-ups, consultations, and advice regarding whether or not emergency or urgent veterinary care is needed.

That being said, telemedicine does have its limitations because we cannot physically examine your pet in person during a telemedicine appointment. As a result, we can’t measure your pet’s vital signs, feel your pet’s vital organs, take x-rays, perform ultrasounds, or collect samples for laboratory testing. So, depending on the situation, achieving an actual diagnosis can be difficult with telemedicine.

However, our veterinarian can evaluate your pet, consult with you, and provide you with advice based on our remote observations and the information you provide.

Is My Pet Eligible for Telemedicine?

At Pacific Pet Hospital, we always strive to practice veterinary medicine with the utmost care and responsibility. For that reason, our telemedicine services are only available to our existing patients, and we approve telemedicine appointments for those patients on a case-by-case basis since it is sometimes still necessary to actually see a pet in person to monitor ongoing health concerns with in-person examinations and routine diagnostic testing that can only be achieved in our office.

Learn More About Telemedicine for Pets in San Diego

Our veterinarians and team at Pacific Pet Hospital welcome you to contact our office to learn more about telemedicine for pets with the Anipanion app. To learn more, please contact us today.

Signs Your Dog Might Have Heartworms

Pets become infected with heartworms when they are bitten by a mosquito that is carrying heartworm larvae. The larvae travel through the pet’s bloodstream to the heart where they live, grow, mature, and reproduce. While cats can become infected with heartworms, they are not natural hosts. Heartworm disease is much more serious and severe in dogs who are natural hosts for heartworm parasites.

What Is Heartworm Disease?

Heartworm disease is the name for the physical symptoms and damage caused by heartworm parasites when they have infected an animal.

Signs and Symptoms of Heartworm Disease in Dogs

Early on, heartworm disease often has no signs or symptoms or only very mild ones. The symptoms of heartworm disease vary, growing more severe as the case becomes more advanced.

There is no cure for heartworm disease in cats. Dogs infected with heartworms can be surgically treated to remove the parasites, but this treatment is invasive and often unreliable. As a result, heartworm disease in dogs and cats is often fatal, and the need for preventative treatments are essential to protecting your pet’s health.

How to Prevent Your Pet From Getting Heartworms

You can protect your pet from heartworms by minimizing your pet’s exposure to mosquitos. However, the best way to prevent your pet from contracting these parasites is with a heartworm preventative medication.

Heartworm preventatives are only available by prescription from your veterinarian because dogs must first be screened for heartworms before receiving a preventative. Administering a heartworm preventative to a dog that’s already infected can be fatal.

Heartworm Prevention With Our San Diego Veterinarians

At Pacific Pet Hospital, we take parasite prevention seriously. We recommend annual heartworm screening for dogs and year-round protection. When it comes to heartworm prevention, there are a variety of medications available, and our veterinarians can help you determine the one that’s best for your dog and your lifestyle.

To learn more about heartworm disease and parasite prevention or to schedule an appointment, we welcome you to contact us today.