Tuesday, April 3, 2012 at 05:43PM Say congratulations to Miss Bailey Heinrich, our April 2012 Pet of the Month! She will receive a free spa day including a bath, nail trim, tooth brushing, and expression. If you would like your pet entered into our monthly contest, send your pictures to us at valleyranchvets@aol.com or post them to our facebook!
Tuesday, April 3, 2012 at 05:17PM 
Just like people, dogs can show allergic symptoms when their immune systems begin to recognize certain everyday substances—or allergens— as dangerous. Even though these allergens are common in most environments and harmless to most animals, a dog with allergies will have an extreme reaction to them. Allergens can be problematic when inhaled, ingested or contact a dog’s skin. As his body tries to rid itself of these substances, a variety of skin, digestive and respiratory symptoms may appear.
Allergic dogs may also suffer from secondary bacterial or yeast skin infections, which may cause hair loss, scabs or crusts on the skin.
Any dog can develop allergies at any time during his life, but allergic reactions seem to be especially common in terriers, setters, retrievers, and flat-faced breeds such as pugs, bulldogs and Boston terriers.
A few common allergens include:
Yes, but it often takes some detective work to find out what substance is causing the allergic reaction. Dogs with a food allergy will commonly have itchy skin, breathing difficulties or gastrointestinal problems like diarrhea and vomiting, and an elimination diet will most probably be used to determine what food he is allergic to. If your dog is specifically allergic to chicken, for example, you should avoid feeding him any products containing chicken protein or fat.
Please note that food allergies may show up in dogs at any age.
Visit your veterinarian. After taking a complete history and conducting a physical examination, he or she may be able to determine the source of your dog’s allergic reaction. If not, your vet will most probably recommend skin or blood tests, or a special elimination diet, to find out what's causing the allergic reaction.
If your dog’s itchy, red or irritated skin persists beyond initial treatment by a veterinarian, allergy testing, most often performed by a veterinary dermatologist, is likely warranted. The diagnostic test of choice is an intradermal skin test similar to the one performed on humans.
The only way to diagnose a food allergy is to feed your dog a prescription or hydrolyzed protein diet exclusively for 12 weeks. The importance of not feeding your dog anything but the diet cannot be emphasized enough—that means no treats, table food or flavored medication. This diet will be free of potential allergy-causing ingredients and will ideally have ingredients your dog has never been exposed to. He’ll remain on the diet until his symptoms go away, at which time you’ll begin to reintroduce old foods to see which ones might be causing the allergic reaction.
Please note, many dogs diagnosed with a food allergy will require home-cooked meals—but this must be done in conjunction with your veterinarian, as it requires careful food balancing.
The best way to treat allergies is to remove the offending allergens from the environment.
Since certain substances cannot be removed from the environment, your vet may recommend medications to control the allergic reaction:
Chronic exposure to inhaled irritants (including cigarette smoke) may be a cause of bronchitis in the dog. Bronchitis is characterized by a persistent cough due to inflammation of the airway and excessive mucus production. Treatment may include medication to open breathing passages, antibiotics and anti-inflammatory agents. Please remember, your pets should not be exposed to cigarette smoke.
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 11:06AM 
Did you know that regularly brushing your dog’s teeth and providing her with a healthy diet and plenty of chew toys can go a long way toward keeping her mouth healthy? Many pooches show signs of gum disease by the time they’re four years old because they aren’t provided with proper mouth care—and bad breath is often the first sign of a problem. Give your dog regular home checks and follow the tips below, and you’ll have a very contented pooch with a dazzling smile.
Sniff your dog’s breath. Not a field of lilies? That’s okay—normal doggie-breath isn’t particularly fresh-smelling. However, if his breath is especially offensive and is accompanied by a loss of appetite, vomiting or excessive drinking or urinating, it’s a good idea to take your pooch to the vet.
Once a week, with your dog facing you, lift his lips and examine his gums and teeth. The gums should be pink, not white or red, and should show no signs of swelling. His teeth should be clean, without any brownish tartar.
The following are signs that your dog may have a problem in his mouth or gastrointestinal system and should be checked by a veterinarian:
Bacteria and plaque-forming foods can cause build-up on a dog’s teeth. This can harden into tartar, possibly causing gingivitis, receding gums and tooth loss. One solution? Regular teeth cleanings, of course.
Get yourself a toothbrush made especially for canines or a clean piece of soft gauze to wrap around your finger. Ask your vet for a toothpaste made especially for canines or make a paste out of baking soda and water. Never use fluoride with dogs under six months of age—it can interfere with their enamel formation. And please do not use human toothpaste, which can irritate a dog’s stomach. Special mouthwash for dogs is also available—ask your vet.
Taking these steps will make brushing a lot easier for the both of you:
Yes, there is actually a technique! Place the brush or your gauze-wrapped finger at a 45-degree angle to the teeth and clean in small, circular motions. Work on one area of your dog’s mouth at a time, lifting her lip as necessary. The side of the tooth that touches the cheek usually has the most tartar, and giving a final downward stroke can help to remove it. If your dog resists having the inner surfaces of her teeth cleaned, don’t fight it—only a small amount of tartar accumulates there. Once you get the technique down, go for a brushing two or three times a week.
Getting familiar with the possible mouth problems your dog may encounter will help you determine when it’s time to see a vet about treatment:
chew toys can satisfy your dog’s natural desire to chomp, while making his teeth strong. Gnawing on a chew toy can also help massage his gums and help keep his teeth clean by scraping away soft tartar. Ask your vet to recommend toxin-free rawhide, nylon and rubber chew toys.
P.S.: Gnawing also reduces your dog’s overall stress level, prevents boredom and gives him an appropriate outlet for his natural need to chew.
Ask your vet about a specially formulated dry food that can slow down the formation of plaque and tartar. Also, avoid feeding your dog table scraps, instead giving him treats that are specially formulated to keep canine teeth healthy.
Saturday, December 31, 2011 at 03:25PM 
Author Diana L. Guerrero encourages pet safety during celebrations such as New Years Eve. Pets who suffer from noise phobia have a hard time during this noisy holiday.
As New Years Eve approaches, it is important to encourage pet owners to prepare for their pets' sake--and safety. The loud noises during this holiday traumatize many animals during the holiday celebrations. Fireworks, aircraft, and other related racket may turn pets into a quivering mass of jelly, or have them bolt as a result of their fright; they may also be destructive to the home, or even worse, to themselves.
There are ways to desensitize a pet to fireworks and related noise, but it takes time and preplanning. If this holiday is right around the corner, there are a couple of things owners can do to assist their pets through this short period of potential trauma.
Author and animal behaviorist, Diana L. Guerrero said, "First people have to understand that 'comforting' their pet, although done with good intentions, can actually reinforce the fear and panic. You could call it 'training by accident' so it is best to refrain from that activity."
She clarified, "Reassuring your pet is different from the cuddling, petting, holding, and trying to physically relieve the stress. It is best to soothe your pet by your tone of voice and by remaining calm. My students are taught to use key phrases to alert the pet to inappropriate behavior first, then they encourage calm acceptable behavior from the pet." The age of your pet, socialization, experience, and breed can also influence their reactions.
The best preparations, that you can use at such short notice, is to make sure that your pet has ID tags with current information on them, and that they are safely secured both before and through the holiday period.
Guerrero suggests a few other quick temporary options:
Ideally your home environment is the best holding area for your pet. It is suggested that you put your animal in a quiet room or into a crate. Guerrero said, "Confinement or crates serve as a 'den' for your pet and will help them to feel more secure--if this is trained right and done gradually there is a good association with the confinement. Even without advance preparation they can be good tools for emergencies."
Long periods alone in a crate should be avoided. Some dogs will not like being confined if you do this too quickly and many will protest by howling, whining, barking, and pitching a fit.
If you have the time, it is best to gradually train pets to "crate." Put food or a treat in the kennel with the door secured in an open position.
Later, work at closing the door for a few seconds and praising them for staying in confinement quietly. Gradually lengthen the time spent in the crate with you there, and then with you leaving
the room. Guerrero suggests, "Crates that contain solid sidings with air vents work better than the wire ones. Wire crates tend to be more open and feel less secure and your pet could damage their teeth on them more easily."
If you are using a room in the home, the best one to restrain an animal in is the bathroom, laundry room, or secure garage. The room to choose is one where there are no windows to jump through, or where they can be blocked off, and are too high and narrow to access.
Guerrero said, "Also try to darken the room and crate. Be sure to play soothing music at a level that helps drown out the firework noise. It is ideal if a family member can be at home with the animal through this time. These are the types of things that will help most pets feel more secure and calm."
Before the holiday, be aware that fireworks may be set off before dark. Keep your dog on a leash when toileting, and make sure that your pets have on a secure collar with the name and phone number of the veterinarian, and owners. Put your pets "to bed" early before celebrations and the fireworks start.
Always check with your veterinarian and behavior specialist before using any drugs or tranquilizers, and don't forget to watch out for guests opening doors up which can provide an opportunity for animals to bolt outdoors.
From all of us here at Valley Ranch Animal Hospital, we would like to thank you for allowing us the pleasure of caring for your valued possessions over the past year. We wish you and your pets a very happy new year filled with health and happiness.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011 at 03:07PM
For this reason, we are lowering our fees for spays and neuters in an effort to promote the new laws in effect for the Henderson and Las Vegas regarding sterility. If you have any questions or wish to make an appointment, please call our office at (702) 434-2090.
New Prices:*
*All fees include pre-anesthetic exam, IV catheter, anesthetic monitoring, pre and post operative pain medication, and nail trim. Bloodwork and additional pre-medication agents are available for a fee.
Other services available during surgery:
****There may be additional charges based on medical conditions. All services must be paid in full. We accept major credit cards, check, cash, and debit cards for these services.
Additonal charges:
Male dogs weighing over 100 pounds incure an additonal $20 for every 10 pounds.
***Faster acting anti-inflammatories and additional pre-anesthetic agents are available for a fee, but not included in these base prices. Ask your doctor about these addional medications and their benefit for your animal when dropping your pet off for his/her procedure.***
Have questions? Feel free to give us a call at (702) 434-2090.