Gate City Animal Hospital - Greensboro, NC

Mowgli wants to share some fun facts about cats on :

Siamese cats were considered Thai royalty and were considered symbols of status and wealth. The country of Thailand was known as Siam until the 1940s, and this is where these beautiful ancient cats derive their name.

According to ancient Thai writings, when a member of the royal family died, their soul went into the body of a Siamese cat. These felines would then live out the remainder of their lives in temples being pampered and cherished by monks.

Drexel had some "friends" in his 💩 at his first puppy check up!
Most puppies have roundworms (and hookworms!)

Most show no signs of infection, but some may vomit, stop eating their food, or lose weight. Heavy infections in young puppies and kittens may lead to death. These worms are often passed from a mother to her babies before the they are born and even in her milk.

Can roundworms and hookworms infect people?
Yes!!! Children are more vulnerable to infection because they play on the ground & may put dirty objects in their mouths.

Please remember to wash hands around young animals and ensure they are properly treated by veterinary staff to keep you and your family safe!

The many faces of Lucy the

Kiki came in for a super quick Treatment Team Appointment and received a heartworm test, nail trim, and a**l gland expression. Some vaccines can also be given as well during these appointments.

If your pet needs just a few things done, ask if we can do it as a quick Treatment Team Appointment next time you schedule.

Kimchee is celebrating
Show us your

What is a Chihuahua’s favorite yoga move?
The downward dog, of course. 😂

Free belly rubs,
with Exam…
(Sorry, Pets Only)

Maxx wants to share some tips about skin health for allergy pets that he learned at his appointment.

1. FLEAS: When treating any dog that is itchy, the key is to rule out external parasites first with stringent flea prevention program as even the bite of one flea can trigger a response in some dogs. They should be on prevention year round in NC.

2. Fish Oils: help support a healthy skin barrier which prevents allergens from entering and creating an allergic response. They also have anti-inflammatory properties. These take 1-3 months to see a full effect. We recommend looking for NASC Seal (National Animal Supplement Council) on the bottle which indicates they follow FDA guidelines. Anchovy and Sardine based oils are the most environmental option as a renewable resource.

3. Reducing allergen exposure:
o Bathing once weekly to remove allergens from the skin with calming shampoo (oatmeal, aloe, or prescription medicated shampoo to decrease bacteria)
o Wipe off paws with baby wipes when returning from outside
o Change air conditioner filters regularly
o Avoid the lawn when being mowed or freshly mowed
o Avoid stuffed toys
o Wash beds regularly and vacuum frequently.

📸 Alana, veterinary assistant

Lala was having some issues with coughing. Coughing can be from infection/kennel cough, allergies/bronchitis, heart disease or failure, pneumonia, cancer, and many other causes.
After x-rays ruled out infection and heart-related causes, she was treated for allergic bronchitis to help relieve her coughing through the season.

If your pet is coughing, please let us know so we can make the best treatment plan for your pet to help relieve their discomfort (and let you sleep!)

“The eyes are the window to your soul”
~ William Shakespeare

📸 featuring Elsie the , 📸 by Alana, veterinary assistant

That says everything you need to know! This little fluff named Dottie B brings immense joy to her new owners!

And remember it is so reward them for all the joy they bring us by them rotten today (and everyday!)

Samson is looking a little pink and itchy at his first appointment after busting out of Guilford County Animal Services with his new family!

After allergy medications, shampoos, and treating his double ear and skin infection he is feeling so much better!
If your pet is itching, chewing, scratching, or shaking their head this can be a sign of allergies or even an active infection. Please let us know and we will schedule your pet to get to feeling better asap!

Help us celebrate by sharing pics of your cats when they were kittens!

This came in when they were all less than a pound for their first check up!

Majority of all kittens and puppies have worms so it is very important to get them dewormed when they are young!

Happy from Bogey the
At 19weeks old he is already 30 #! He has a LOT of growing to do!

Why do cats like their butt scratched?

Cats enjoy having their butts and the base of their tail scratched because of how sensitive it is. This region has a high concentration of nerve endings that can easily stimulate your cat. When the nerve endings are stimulated, your cat can experience a pleasurable sensation. This sensation is caused by the release of endorphins, which are hormones that create a feeling of happiness.

Additionally, physical contact is an enjoyable activity for cats to bond with their humans. Butt scratches can also serve as a form of affection and strengthen your bond.

However, not all cats enjoy this kind of attention, so it’s important to be mindful of your cat’s body language and respect their boundaries. To avoid discomfort or unpleasant reactions, it’s important to start slowly and observe the cat’s response before proceeding with petting or scratching.

📸 featuring: Sophia the cat

Oz is because he got a clean bill of health, heartworm negative, and is now up to date on his vaccines!
He started on Simparica Trio to protect him from Heartworms, GI parasites, fleas AND ticks! One pill, once a month, protects him from everything!

📸Alana, veterinary assistant

If you think it is warm out there already, just imagine spending the day outside in a fur coat!
Remember to protect the four-legged family members when the weather gets .

Biscuit wants to review house training 101 with you!

1. Always Supervise:
Use crates, gates, ex-pens, and tethers to make sure your dog is never out of sight.
If you cannot directly supervise, then your dog needs to be secure in a safe place.

2. Clean, Clean, Clean:
If your dog has gone to the bathroom in the house, make sure to clean it thoroughly with an enzymatic cleaner. Dogs have a better sense of smell than humans, so even if it smells clean to you, they could be attracted back to the same spot.
Enzyme cleaners may need to be injected into the carpet pad to fully remove the smell. You can purchase an injection kit with the cleaner.
Use a black light to locate areas where your dog has urinated.

3. Schedule:
Puppies less than four months old urinate more frequently.
Put them on a schedule to take them outside regularly.
- Every hour
- Every 15 minutes when playing
- Within 20 minutes after eating
- Feed regular meals (three times a day for puppies under four months and twice a day if over four months) so that you can predict a bowel movement (usually within 20 minutes of eating) and get them outside.
- Puppies under four months old need to eliminate at least every couple of hours. Consider hiring someone to come let your dog out or make arrangements to return home at lunch.

4. Reward:
Set your dog up for success and reward them each time they urinate or have a bowel movement outside.
- Immediately reward them after elimination rather than waiting until you get back inside.
- Take them out on a leash and supervise them each time.
- You can also use a cue word such as "potty".
- Pair this cue with the act of elimination then reward when finished.

5. Avoid Punishment:
Punishment increases the likelihood that your dog will not eliminate in front of you but will not necessarily stop them from soiling other places in the house. Using punishment also causes them to see you as unpredictable.
You can gently interrupt your dog but never punish.

Brought to you by CattleDog Publishing (Home of Low Stress Handling)

Lucille wants to know why do puppies need so many vaccines?

When a puppy is born, it receives maternal antibodies from its mother when drinking colostrum/milk. Maternal antibodies protect the newborn from the diseases against which the mother was vaccinated for.

Maternal antibodies last only a few weeks!

As long as they are present, the puppy is protected; however, those antibodies also block any vaccines received by the puppy. If a puppy receives a vaccination before the maternal antibodies are gone, the vaccine’s effect is blocked, and no immunity develops.

The time when the maternal antibodies fade is variable, and once gone the puppy is NO LONGER protected from this disease.

So if a puppy received a parvo vaccine at 6 weeks, 9 weeks, and 12 weeks but had maternal antibodies... ALL the vaccines were blocked. The puppy is protected until the antibodies fade. If they fade at week 14 and the puppy is then exposed to the parvo virus on a walk. That puppy has zero protection and will get sick!

For this reason, Parvo vaccines are very important to get a full series (boosters every 3-4 weeks) with the final booster at 16 weeks old to ensure we have surpassed maternal antibodies.

ALL puppies are considered at risk until their final vaccine at 16 weeks old and should not be taken to places where other dogs gather (dog parks, dog stores, etc) until after final vaccine.


📸 Ellery, veterinary technician in training

😝 with Sally the

📸 Ellery, veterinary technician in training

What is a "Sniffari"?🐶

Sniffaris are dog-led walks! They're a fantastic enrichment activity that can be done in just about any low-traffic area. Not only will this help burn energy, but allowing our dogs to make decisions and think independently can help them build confidence in different situations. It also gives us a chance to stop and take a breath along with them AND allows our pups to do a natural, essential behavior for their mental and physical well-being.💙

12 tips to making your home comfortable for a senior cat (from Moo the cat):

1. Nonslip throw rugs or yoga mats along the cat's typical route through the house providing additional security and comfort as they walk.
2. Use baby gates to keep cats with poor mobility away from potentially dangerous areas such as stairs.
3. A p*e pad holder can help prevent cats from slipping on or dragging around p*e pads stuck in their claws.
4. Night lights or light strips on the floor or stairs can help cats navigate better.
5. Drinking out of the bathroom faucet is a favorite feline activity, but shoulder arthritis can make it difficult for them to do so comfortably. Pawprint-shaped sticky pads in the sink can help!
6. Elevated, tilted food bowls can be more comfortable for cats with shoulder arthritis
7. Walking over calaletti, PVC piping, or foam pool noodles can help stimulate neurons in the paws.
8. Lift harnesses are not just for dogs. Those with long shoulder straps can help cats move around while allowing owners to stand upright.
9. A heated orthopedic bed in a sunny spot helps them stay warm.
10. Keeping cats moving can help slow the progression of muscle loss by improving muscle strength, which is turn helps support joints and mobility.
11. Having trouble covering up waste in the litter box may indicate shoulder or elbow pain that should be evaluated by a vet.
12. Howling can signal urinary tract infection, hypertension, or cognitive dysfunction, which can exacerbate a cat's anxiety. Treatment can help reduce vocalizations.

"Mom, when will I meet the vet? And will they have cookies?"

Tara first met her technician for her first appointment, then met her veterinarian Dr. Heather. And of course, cookies were shared to help Tara feel right at home.

🤣🐶🐾

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Alice is recovering from her dental procedure with her favorite technician Kristin!

Sometimes you just need to snuggle and get a belly rub! We hope your weekend is as relaxing as Alice's day!

Dogs and sticks may seem like peanut butter and jelly, but did you know that chewing sticks can actually be dangerous to your dog? Poppy the wants to share some of the dangers of chewing on sticks:

The most common danger we see when sticks can become lodged between their upper premolars. Not only is this painful, but if not treated promptly severe erosion of the mouth and leads to irreversible damage to the teeth

A potentially more dangerous manifestation of stick chewing is when there is an attempt to swallow a sharp stick, and it punctures the back of the throat and lodges there as a foreign body.

Sticks lodged in these areas can sometimes be undetectable after the tissue heals over them. These foreign bodies can be like finding a “needle in a haystack” and can migrate through the body/chest over time causing severe damage and infection.

https://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/chewing-sticks-habit/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=rasa_io&utm_campaign=newsletter

Banksy wants to say to his on !

"I may not be a pup anymore but you have helped me through the the hardest days!
The numerous walks outside even when I didn't have to potty, but you where training me to be a .
The hours of giving me small treats repeatedly, little did I know those fun sessions were to teach me obedience.
Thank you from the bottom of my furry heart, I love you and "