An off odor could be an indication of an underlying physical problem. Here are possible root causes of your pet’s recurring reeking aromas:

1. Ears: The most easily recognizable symptom for a yeast infection in your dog’s ears is a foul scent. In many cases, the ears are not itchy, just smelly.

2. Mouth: Dental disease stinks – literally. Although doggie breath is usually very noticeable, the source of that funky fragrance is difficult to detect in cases where the pets don’t pant. If your pet hasn’t had a dental evaluation lately, that bad breath may hint that it’s time!

3. Skin: Yeast infections on your pet’s skin are also indicated by a distinctly pungent smell. Typical locations for yeast infections are around nail beds, between toes and skin folds. Look for fur or nail beds that are discolored a red brown. Bacterial infections usually create some sort of rash on the skin.

4. Anal Glands: Most dogs routinely express their own anal glands, but a fishy odor may mean that glands are blocked. Other symptoms to look for in your dog are: scooting his rear across the floor or ground or perpetually licking or biting her rear end or loose stools. When you suspect intervention is needed, call us to schedule having your pet’s anal glands expressed. (Read more about anal glands.)

If the not-so-pleasing perfume wafting upward from your pet doesn’t seem to fit into any of the above categories, give us a call and set up an appointment. We’ll help make sure your little stinker passes the smell test!

Q. How often should a dog be bathed or groomed?

A. Different breeds may vary in need from 6 weeks to 6 months, depending on the activity level and the environment. My dogs hike frequently and gravitate toward mud puddles and occasionally, anything that smells disgusting to the rest of us. They can easily require a bath a week. Bathing more frequently than once a week could dry out a dog’s skin.

For the dog with a messy streak, simply rinse the dirt off with warm water. Save the shampoo for next time, and you’ll protect your pet’s skin. A pampered toy poodle or Shih Tzu may go months between services. Town N Country also services dogs whose owners want to be sure they are fastidiously groomed every 6 weeks with an in-between “fluff” scheduled. A groomer’s work is never boring!

Q. What does the environment have to do with it?

A. Pets who live in an arid environment may need to have their baths limited to once a month while those that live in a more humid environment may need to bathe as often as once a week. That desert sun can be brutal on dogs and cats too!

Q. What about cats? How often should a cat be groomed?

A. Rarely, because most cats do a good job of taking care of themselves. However, cats with arthritis or those that are heavy may have trouble grooming themselves and consequently have problems with matting or keeping a smooth coat. If there’s any sign of matting, bring him in as soon as you can. Some long haired cats have extra hair removed every 3 to 4 months, and others only need to come in early spring when their winter coats are shedding.

Got more questions? We’d love to answer! Send us and email and we’ll answer on our website. Or you can always ask us in person – in the Hospital or the Pet Spa – and we’ll give you our best grooming hints to keep Danny Dapper and Prissy Presentable!

If you’ve not signed up the group, all isn’t lost for you! Sign up here and you’ll get a free gift, too. And did we mention that joining is free?!

Image courtesy of Flickr and cali.org.

Why is a nail trim so important? The obvious reason is so that your pet doesn’t scratch your furniture, floors- or you! But untrimmed nails can also result in other problems, too. You may not know that long nails can cause nail bed infections, or even cause “ankles” to drop, resulting in misalignment in the back. In serious cases, nails can even grow around and into the pad and cause infected paw pads.

If you need pointers on trimming your pet’s nails, ask us. Or better yet – let us do it for you. You can get a free nail trim when you join the “Best in Show” club here.

If your pets are eating these foods make sure to discard the food immediately. Contact us immediately if your pet begins showing any signs related to Salmonella poisoning as this may be life threatening.

For more information, visit Diamond Pet. They also have a list of signs of Salmonella poisoning.

Why does it matter to you? Here are 7 reasons your pet gets excellent care with digital X-rays:

1. Show me your muscle. With digital X-rays, you can actually visualize individual muscles and tendons. The detail is amazing – and can help specialists see exactly what’s wrong.

2. Lie like a dog. Or maybe stretch like a cat. Town N Country X-ray technicians’ excellent skill at positioning a pet for the camera allow images that tell vets the whole story, making a clear-cut diagnosis attainable.

3. Hold your horses. Immediate images mean you don’t waste time waiting around for the results.

4. Call in the big dogs. If a specialist’s opinion is required, these images can be easily emailed for a consultation.

5. Turn it inside-out and upside down. When needed, image manipulation sometimes provides an enlightening angle. For example, inverting images is a useful technique when evaluating lung masses.

6. Save for kibble. The efficiency of digital x-rays means that you save money.

7. Round and round. Multiple radiologists rotate to conduct monthly meetings to review every radiograph taken at TNC. These sessions allow the doctors to sharpen radiograph evaluation skills and ensure that the tiniest detail is considered.

Digital X-rays are just another reason to choose Town N Country Animal Hospital – just another thing that sets us apart to make sure your pet is offered the very best care available.

If you have any questions about digital X-rays or would like to schedule an appointment, give us a call. Let’s both get a clear look at your pet’s health!

Nature’s Variety Instinct Raw Frozen Diets are scientifically formulated with 95% meat, organs and raw ground bone, 5% fruits and vegetables and 0% grain. A “raw” diet is very similar to what your pet’s ancestors ate and what your pet would eat if she returned to her natural habitat.

What Nature Intended. A tried and true raw diet can markedly improve your pet’s overall health and immune system. Benefits of optimal nutrition include a lush, glossy coat, healthy skin, lean muscle tone, a robust immune system, strong bones and teeth, healthy heart, and increased energy and vitality. For testimonials of folks who have seen a true turn-around after feeding Instinct to their pets, click here.

Nature’s Variety Instinct Raw Frozen Diets are the first and only raw diets to be scientifically substantiated as complete and balanced for all canine life stages through AAFCO Protocol Feeding Trials.

A Trusted Commitment to Quality. Each patty, medallion or chub is individually flash frozen to preserve freshness, flavor and optimal vitamins and minerals for your pet.

In the heart of the USA, Nature’s Variety Instinct Raw Frozen Diets Raw are packaged in an EU approved and USDA Certified Organic processing facility. Instinct is a brand you can trust safely packaged in your home country. You don’t have to worry about imported problems from food made where there isn’t adequate control for safety or quality.

With RAW food, ingredients are simple and good. There are no synthetic fillers or chemical sounding words on the listing of ingredients.

The idea of feeding your pet raw meat may be a new concept for you, and you may still have questions. We’d be happy to discuss your pet’s nutritional needs with you. Give us a call to ask questions, or just drop by and let’s talk about giving your pet the RAW deal!

One way to love your pet is to make sure his heartworm prevention treatment is up to date. The best thing you can do right now is have your pet tested for heartworms. The last time we had mosquito weather was about seven months ago, which means that if an animal has been infected during that last season, she would test positively only now for heart worms.

Why Seven Months? How do Heart Worms Spread Anyway? Heart worms are introduced by mosquitoes that spread the disease from one infected pet to another. Warmer weather and standing water encourage the breeding of mosquitoes in every state of the USA. A larva takes about seven months to mature inside your pet, so you probably won’t see any symptoms right away. An infection takes about that long to detect due to the life cycle of heart worms.

In much the same way that a human can have a heart attack without typical symptoms, the same thing can happen to an animal with heart worms. Even with fully developed heart worms, your pet may not exhibit any symptoms. In extreme cases, the death of a beloved pet happens without specific symptoms.

These parasites live happily in an animal’s arteries and around his heart and lungs. Imagine the bloodstream blockage that can be caused by a 14-inch long worm in your pet’s arteries. Now think about the fact that one dog could have as many of 250 of these parasites!

Life Cycle of a Heart Worm With the prick of an infected mosquito, an untreated pet becomes victim to parasitic worms or nematodes that look like long, thin, white worms.

A mosquito becomes a carrier for heart worms when she bites an infected animal. As she draws out blood, she also draws out microfilaria or infective larvae. She’s the intermediate host that the microfilaria need and provides a place for their next maturity stage that lasts 10 to 14 days. With the mosquito’s next meal, she injects the slightly matured larvae into the next animal. The next stage of maturity will take 7 or 8 months.

Choose An Ounce of Prevention This is why now is a perfect time to test your pet, and if she’s clear, to administer preventive medicine. Treatment for heartworm disease can be both lengthy and expensive. In the best of times, prevention is better than a cure, and right now, even more so.

The medicine typically used for the treatment, Immiticide, is in such high demand nationwide that it’s backordered indefinitely. To ensure your pet is protected from heartworms, here’s a good guideline for preventive medication:

1. Proheart: Safe and effective for dogs under 7 years of age, this injection lasts for 6 months and also controls hookworm infections.

2. Trifexis: Besides preventing heartworms in your dog, this monthly tablet quickly controls fleas, making it a good choice for flea-allergic dogs. (Relief comes quickly!) Trifexis controls the majority of intestinal parasites, but it doesn’t prevent ticks.

3. Revolution: A once-a-month topical treatment for your cat, Revolution also prevents most intestinal parasites, ear mites, fleas and ticks. The treatment is usually applied to the skin between your cat’s shoulder blades.

Preventing heartworms in your pet is just one more way you love your dog or cat. Supplying you with timely information, heartfelt care, and the very best of products is what we do best – and what sets Town N Country Animal Hospital apart!

Ask us if Trifexis is right for your dog – then save with this great rebate.

Download your Trifexis rebate form here.

So we were happy to see a coupon that we can pass along to you: When you purchase any Instinct Kibble, you’ll get $3.00 off one Nature’s Variety Instinct RAW, RAW Bone, or RAW Boost product of any variety and any size (excluding trial).

The coupon is good through May 31, 2012. Click on the image, then print and save on one of our very favorite foods.