As the weather warms up and we transition from spring to summer (it happens so fast!) you may notice you are suffering from allergies. Do sneezing, watery eyes, and itchy skin sound familiar? You may not be the only one in your house that is suffering seasonal allergies, your pet’s can suffer too! Allergies occur because of irritating substances in your pet’s environment. Common allergens are dust, grass and pollen. Pollen is the most common airborne allergy and can travel up to 100 miles! Common signs that your pet may be suffering from allergies are red or itchy skin or paws, hair loss, hot spots, itchy ears or redness and irritation of the ears or face, or licking or chewing their paws. For mild cases, there are things you can do at home to minimize your pet’s suffering during allergy season like bathing your pet regularly with a natural, moisturizing shampoo to wash away allergens and minimize dry skin, wiping their paws thoroughly after they go outside, washing their bedding frequently, and limiting the time they spend outside in contact with potential allergens. If your pet seems to have a more severe case or their allergies aren’t improving with the steps above, it’s time for a trip to the veterinarian! The doctor will get information on the symptoms your pet is experiencing, asses their coat, skin, eyes, ear and mouth and then determine the best course of action to help your furry family member out of their allergy fog and get them back to their happy, healthy self! Do you have a pet that suffers from seasonal allergies that you aren’t able to control? Would you like to learn what you can do to help your pet during an allergy episode? Schedule an exam with our veterinarian today to learn about what options your pet has to beat the allergy blues! Call for an appointment at 530.343.7917 x 202.

Your pet’s dental care doesn’t have to be scary! Did you know that just like people, our dogs and cats get plaque, gingivitis, and ultimately dental disease? Regular dental care is key to keeping your pet happy and healthy for life. The Butte Humane Society Clinic offers affordable dental care for your pets including cleanings and extractions and can provide education on how to care for your pet’s teeth at home! Some facts: By Age 3, 70% of cats and 80% of dogs will have a form of dental disease; “Doggy Breath” is not normal and is a sign of dental disease; Regular dental care can help your pet live up to 20% longer; If left untreated, dental disease can effect your pet’s vital organs. We recommend dental exams for all cats and dogs two years and older, and in-home brushing is recommended 2-3 times a week starting at five months old. If treatment is needed, our veterinarian will create a treatment plan that is customized to fit your pet’s needs. Is your pet over 2 year old and never had a dental exam? Now is the perfect time to get on track with managing your pet’s dental health! Call us to schedule your appointment today at 530-343-7917 x 202.

The Butte Humane Society Veterinary Clinic is excited to announce new hours of operation starting August 16th! The clinic will be open to the public from 9:00am to 12pm and 1:30pm to 5:00pm Tuesday through Friday. Our clinic provides high quality, low cost veterinary care including preventative and wellness exams, spay and neuter, vaccines, dental cleanings, heartworm prevention, and MUCH MORE! Have you put off a high dollar procedure for your pet because of the cost? The Butte Humane Society Veterinary Clinic now offers ScratchPay financing for any procedures totaling over $200.00! Applying for ScratchPay is easy, and they offer a variety of payment plans for qualifying clients. Call today to schedule your pet’s examination to make sure they are on track with their preventatives and have the best shot at a long, happy, and healthy life! 530.343.7917 x 202.

May is National Pet Allergy Awareness month! According to a recent survey, more than half of pet owners aren’t aware their dog or cat can also be miserable with seasonal allergies in the spring and summer months as well as suffer from environmental or food allergies year round! Symptoms of allergies can be as simple as sneezing, watery eyes, or itchy skin all the way up to intestinal distress, ear issues, and respiratory problems. The are a couple of precautionary steps pet owner’s can take to prevent things like food and environmental allergies such as keeping your pet on a grain free food (most dogs have some type of grain sensitivity or allergy), using all-natural cleaners in your home, and keeping plants that are toxic to pets out of your home and yard. Seasonal allergies are often hard to prevent, but knowing the signs and symptoms of allergies can help save your pet from seasonal allergy suffering.

April is Heartworm Awareness Month! The Butte Humane Society Clinic is a proud member of the American Heartworm Association and we are committed to keeping our clients informed and educated to best protect their pets. Did you know that both cats and dogs have been diagnosed with heartworm in all 50 states? While heartworm is more common in dogs, cats are at risk for contracting heartworms as well.

The best offense is a good defense when it comes to preventing heartworm infections! Because of the large mosquito population in Northern California, there are as few as 6 and as many as 25 confirmed heartworm infections per veterinary clinic in our region! Monthly heartworm prevention should be given for the life of your pet; we recommend that your pet starts on monthly heartworm prevention by the time they are 6 months old and have a heartworm test every year to make sure everything is working as it should.

Unfortunately, if left untreated, heartworm disease can be fatal. Heartworm disease affects the heart, lungs and pulmonary blood vessels of pets and can be fatal to both dogs and cats. Annual testing and monitoring is important- even if they are on heartworm prevention, because prevention (as with human flu vaccines, etc.) are not 100% effective, and infected dogs can be successfully treated. The earlier the infection is caught- the easier it is to treat! There are no approved treatments for cats, but supportive care can help manage complications.

Has it been over a year since your pet’s last heartworm test? Give our clinic a call today to schedule your exam and heartworm test with our vet and pick up your pet’s heartworm prevention prescription today!