VSSF

YouTube:

One cat video, leads to another, and before you know it 15 minutes have passed and tears have begun to well in your eyes as laughter fills the room.  It’s a chain reaction that can be addicting. Some videos even have more than 40 million views, which undoubtedly shows the influence of cats across the Internet. Here are a few of our favorites: 

Cute kitten  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Bmhjf0rKe8

Funny cat: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02sPA9fTom4

Wild cat:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVNTdWbVBgc

LOLCats

This is the best place to get a daily laugh from a cat. Here you can see what others have uploaded, or upload your own funny cat picture and add a unique caption. There is even an iPhone app for the times you find yourself waiting at the DMV or standing in a line.  

When we cough, it is usually due to a tickle in the throat or an easily cured common cold. However, if you start noticing a cough escaping your feline’s tiny mouth, this can be reason to worry. Coughing is extremely rare in cats, and can be a clear indication of asthma and respiratory distress.

Causes of Asthma

Asthma is the result of hyper-responsive airways, and your cat will react to a range of irritants.

1. Inhaled debris: this includes items mostly found around the house such as cat litter, cigarette smoke, perfume, even laundry detergent, and air fresheners. 
2. Others are commonly found outdoors such as pollens or mold.
3. Viruses and bacteria are also common irritants.
4. Parasites such as heartworms or lungworms

Treatments

1. Avoid the common irritants listed above
2. Bronchodilators are drugs used to open airways, allowing air to move freely.
3. Steroids may be administered to decrease inflammation and mucus production.

Asthma is something your cat will most likely live with for the entirety of his or her life, however this is a manageable problem. Between medical treatments, and awareness in your home, your cat can li 

We know how much we love spending time at the beach, so imagine how much your dog loves it too! Running in the sand, chasing after the tennis ball, swimming in the ocean, and just relaxing in the sun can be one of the most memorable days spent with your pal. The following beaches are some of the few in the South Florida area that will allow your furry best friend to come along.

Virginia Key Beach – South

South of Rickenbacker Cswy. (East of Biscayne Bay)

Key Biscayne, FL

(305) 361-2833

This is a very private beach with shady areas and nature trails. Virginia Key Beach is the only beach in the Miami-Dade County where dogs are allowed permitting they are on a leash.

 Jupiter Beaches

All of the non-guarded beaches from Jupiter to Juno Beach allow dogs (South of Carlin Park and North of Marcinksi). However, even though they are allowed there are a few rules that one must adhere to when bringing a dog:

• Must be kept on a leash or in voice command the whole time you are there.
• Discourage your dog(s) from shaking water on and invading the space of others.
• ALWAYS clean up after your dog. If you forget your own plastic bags, special Dog Kiosks are there to provide you with bags.
• Make sure you are aware of where your dog is and what they’re doing at all times (keep them by your side or in front of you)
• Try to have your dog “use the restroom” before you get to the beach, if you cannot, please DO NOT bury feces in the sand or throw them in the dunes or water.
• Make sure to find an isolated area, away from lots of people, for your dog to run so that no one will have reason to make a complaint
• Strive to plan on bringing your dog to the beach at less crowded hours (early morning or late afternoon).Not only will you avoid the large crowds of beach bums, but your dog will be more comfortable during those cooler hours.

Canine Beach

From the center line of Sunrise Blvd at A1A north to Lifeguard Stand #5 (100-yard section)

Fort Lauderdale, FL

(954) 828-7275

Canine Beach is open year-round on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays only. During the winter season hours are 3pm to 7pm and in the summer they are from 5pm to 9pm. If you need an extra pooper scooper there is a Park Ranger on duty who will provide them. Also, dogs must be on a leash at all times. In order to access the beach, you must purchase one of the permits listed below:  

• Annual Permit (Expires Dec 31) $30 per dog, tax included (Fort Lauderdale Residents) $45 per dog, tax included (Non-Residents)
• Annual permit must be purchased in person at 1350 West Broward Boulevard (9 am – 4 pm, Monday – Friday). Future renewals can be handled by mail.
• Temporary Passes
• One-Weekend Permit (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) - $7 per dog
• One-Weekend Permits may be purchased from the Park Ranger on duty at Canine Beach.

The Dog Beach of Hollywood Florida

 Between Pershing and Custer St. (approximately ½ mile north of Sheridan St.)

Hollywood, FL

This dog beach is also open year-round on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only. Between the months of November and March the beach is open from 3pm-7pm and 4pm-8pm between April and October. There is a pass (2 dogs per pass) you must purchase in order to bring your dog on the beach; the different options are listed below:

Daily
Hollywood Resident with ID --- $5.00
Non Resident ----------------------- $10.00

Six Months
Hollywood Resident with ID --- $30.00
Non Resident ----------------------- $60.00

You must bring your driver’s license if you are a Hollywood resident, if not you will be charged the nonresident fee. Passes can be purchased with a check or cash from the Park Ranger on duty or at:

The Department of Recreation and Cultural Arts

1405 S. 28^th Avenue

Hollywood, FL 33022

(954) 921-3404

Hours: M-F 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.

The Bufo Toad is an exotic animal that was introduced to Florida in order to control insects. Since its introduction, it has managed to quickly reproduce and become a native in South Florida.  The Bufo Toad is considered extremely toxic due to the parotid glands located behind the head. These toxins contain high concentrations of hormones including adrenalin. This will attack the cardiovascular system, consisting of the heart, and the nervous system, which is in the brain. 

Signs of Toxicity

Dogs will commonly attack these toads due to their slow movements. Once attacked, the toad will release toxins, which will quickly affect your dog. These are the signs you should be aware of when determining whether your dog was affected.

1. Foaming from the mouth.
2. Drooling
3. Pawing at the mouth
4. Vomiting
5. Stumbling
6. Falling
7. Tremors
8. Rigid legs
9. Seizures

Treatment

If you see the above signs displayed by your dog, but he or she has not experienced a seizure, follow these steps: 

1. Rinse your dog’s mouth with running water: place a garden hose or faucet along the side of the dog’s mouth.
2. DO NOT force water down your dog’s mouth or try to make them swallow
3. DO NOT feed the dog oil, milk or other substances besides water.
4. Rinse his or her mouth 3 times for 3 to 5 minutes each.

 A wet nose rubs against your cheek as you roll over in bed, followed by a quiet little sniffle. You begin to wonder, is this a cold or is it allergies? If you are unsure, our veterinarians can help to determine this by reviewing your pet’s symptoms, history and test results. You know how much allergies can ruin your mood or summer fun, so why would you want your dog or cat go through the same annoyance?

Curing the Sniffle

There are many ways that you can help your pet decrease his or her allergy pains.

A great first step is to, start controlling your pet’s environment. Make sure that your air conditioning and air filtration systems are up-to-par and are working to remove allergens in your home.

Living in South Florida, we know that the humidity is out control. The use of a dehumidifier can help to eliminate any growth of mold, mites, or other household allergens.

Of course avoiding allergens such as pollens, molds, and mites may be impossible; however, minimizing the amount of contact is manageable. Purchasing a flea collar or flea medication is also extremely helpful in making sure your pet conquers those allergies. 

What to Avoid

If you already know that your pet has allergies, some of the following products used around the house may increase the irritation:

• Insect sprays
• Carpet fresheners
• Potpourri
• Plastic food bowls
• Strong chemicals
• Cigarette smoke

How We Can Help

When you bring in your cat or dog into our office, we can determine whether we should take a short or long term approach in helping your pet.  The severity of their allergies is what will help us reach a proper diagnosis. Some short-term approaches may include prescribing antihistamines, fatty acids or steroids. If we decide on a long-term approach, we may utilize a safe treatment called immunotherapy or hyposensitization.

Do not let your dog’s or cat’s allergies continue without treatment, for this could lead to unwanted skin problems. Dogs and cats rely on your help, and you rely on your veterinarian’s help. The Veterinary Specialists of South Florida are here to make caring for your pet easy and convenient. 

Seeing a leash may be the most exciting part of a dog’s day. Going on a stroll around the neighborhood, smelling new and familiar scents. The sun beats down on his back and his nose lifts up to smell the air around him. Panting ensues as he begins winding the streets on the hunt for new plants and animals to sniff and meet. He’s joyfully pulling the leash, rounding the corner and taking in every moment of his walk for the day, when suddenly it’s over and he unwillingly walks back inside to the water bowl. 

Dogs need to be socialized and experience more than the back yard. Finding a dog-friendly place can be difficult to come by. The beaches are practically all off limits, and a leash is necessary when in public. Dog parks offer the perfect solution for these obstacles.  These parks allow dogs to run freely with others, big and small, in a contained and safe environment. Before you know it, your dog will be tiredly dragging his tail back after a few hours of playtime with his new friends.

South Florida has clean, inviting, and socially engaging dog parks in each county. The Sun-Sentinel offers a great resource to learn the most about each park before heading to the one that is perfect for your pooch.  It’s time to take advantage of the gorgeous weather South Florida offers and connect with other dog lovers in your community. Who knows, it may even become a weekly ritual you and your pup can equally enjoy.

To learn more about dog parks in your area check out: http://www.southflorida.com/visitor/sfe-dogparks,0,7844721.story  

“Please mommy, please, please, can we get a puppy….I promise I’ll take care of it!” How many times have kids used that to convince their parents to get a family dog? If you do choose to welcome a new family member, make sure that you are prepared for the changes and responsibilities. There are a few things that you need to keep in mind before adding a puppy to the family and we are here to help you prepare for the arrival and care of your new puppy.

Delegating amongst the home
As you know, although the kids may claim to care for the puppy before it’s arrival, this initiative tends to fade once the puppy sets paw inside the home. Make sure to divide the work evenly among the family members. There are a few daily chores that need to be taken care of, such as walking, feeding, training, cleaning the yard, and the multiple middle of the night/early morning potty breaks! If you have children who are a little bit older they could probably help out more in the walking and training area. On the other hand, if you have younger ones they can be helpful when feeding and keeping the puppy’s toys picked up and organized. An easy way to keep track of who is completing the puppy chores is to create a chore chart. You can even offer rewards for your children if they carry out their responsibilities.

Prior to purchasing your fluffy mate, find out information on local trainers and see who would work best with your family, and who could successfully train your new puppy.  You want your puppy to grow into a confident and socially welcoming member of your family. While you are in the process of finding the perfect trainer for your puppy, you should also be proactive and begin looking for other pet care professionals like groomers, boarding kennels or pet sitters.

Also consider puppy-proofing your house in order to keep your puppy and your belongings safe. Dogs spend a lot of time outside so remember to keep your yard as puppy safe as possible.

There is much more that goes into the purchasing of a new puppy. So before you make the decision, consider the many factors that need to be taken care of adding that fluffy family member. Make sure to learn all you can about the care of your puppy, before he or she sets paw in a new home. 

It is the middle of July and the afternoon’s temperature reaches upwards of 100 degrees. While walking across the steaming blacktop you swear the soles of your shoes are beginning to melt. Now imagine having a fur coat in this summer heat and you’ll realize that attempting to cool down can be nearly impossible. Our Vet Specialists see an excess of Hyperthermia, commonly referred to as heat stroke, cases throughout the summer months.  Here are some things to keep an eye on and be aware of during these sweltering months.   

Ways Heat Stroke May Occur

1. Leaving your pet in a car with little or no access to air. Even with the windows down, the car becomes increasingly hotter than the outside temperature.
2. Leaving your dog outside for too long, with little or no shade.
3. Pushing exercise upon your pet in extremely hot weather.

Important things TO DO 

If you notice Sparky losing his spark, panting more than usual, drooling, and a wet dripping nose, then it may be time to consider doing some of the following to help cool your pet down:

1. Quickly move your dog to a cooler environment.
2. Place a direct fan on your pet, if possible.
3. Place a cool towel on key parts of the dog’s body: back of the neck, armpits, and groin region.
4. Head to the veterinarian as quickly as possible.

Important things NOT TO DO

1. Do not use ice to cool your pet. This will only make their situation worse.
2. Do not force water into your pet’s mouth, but rather make it available for them to drink when they need it.
3. Do not leave your pet’s side; the condition may take a dangerous turn at any minute.
4. Do not try to bring your pet’s temperature below 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. Instead allow your vet to care for and control this.

Follow these steps and you’ll be sure to keep your pet safe throughout the summer and beat the heat. 

If you are anything like me, then you have found yourself staring at someone’s iPad wondering why in the world he or she spent $499 - $799 on an oversized iPhone-that can’t even make phone calls. Just so happens that yesterday I discovered a use for this otherwise silly device. There is now an App for your cat to play on the iPad… What, you think that’s silly? Yes, a game has been created specifically for your feline friend to pass the hours. However, there is more to it than just that. 

Scientific Kittens

The truly intriguing part is the science behind the development of this App. It was created by Friskies and based on research related to the cats’ senses along with their reactions to other stimuli. Like I said, serious science went into this, not just some random fish thrown on a screen attempting to taunt a cat. 

I’ll admit it, trying to get my cat to play with anything for longer than a day is a challenge.  Catnip is about the only thing she’ll devout an extended amount of time to throughout the day.  However, I have the feeling this App might do the trick. This isn’t the only one available either. Check out these Apps your feisty feline can explore and start catching fish or multiplying treats.

How do you entertain your cat?  

“Ahhh-chooo”… an adorable and sometimes unwelcome sound from your furry feline. She sneezes once and you think nothing of it, but then throughout the day the little sneezes continue, and that’s when you begin to wonder: Is my kitty sick? Should I bring her to the vet? You decide to set up an appointment with the vet and figure out what is going on. A few days pass and your sniffling kitten is now sneezing every two seconds with watering eyes. Once you explain to the vet what has been going on, she is prescribed a pill everyday for the next week. Don’t let anxiety set in as soon as you consider how to administer the pill. 

Although giving your pets medicine, especially pills is very difficult, we have some tips on how to make it a little easier.

First, make sure that your cat is relaxed before administering the pill.  If she is hyper or stressed it will become much more difficult.

Once you determine that she is relaxed, approach her slowly and quietly from behind so that you do not startle her. Approaching her from behind will be more effective by eliminating the risk of escape.

 Once she is in your hands, wrap your dominant hand around her body so that her tail is facing you and have the pill in your non-dominant hand.

Then, with your dominant hand hold your cat by her cheeks lifting her nose to the ceiling so that her mouth will involuntarily form a little opening.

Now, use one of your fingers on your non-dominant hand to open her jaw wider and place the pill in the back of the mouth as far as possible. Make sure that when you let go and your cat comes out of your grip that she begins to lick her lips. This will indicate that she has swallowed it.  

Just to be safe, since some cats are sneaky, check her mouth and make sure that she isn’t tricking you and actually swallowed the pill. Follow up with a tasty treat to make sure your cat has completely consumed the pill.

Next time giving your kitten a pill is part of her health routine, leave the stress behind. Do yourself a favor and make it less complicated with these simple steps.