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!

Spring is just around the corner! With the upcoming season change, now is the perfect time to prepare your pets for warmer weather and all that accompanies it! One of the biggest complaints we hear from pet owners as the weather starts to warm up is: the fleas are back! We recommend keeping your pet on a year round flea preventative which helps prevent fleas from ever entering your home- it’s important to make sure your pet is up to date on their flea prevention as warm weather makes them more susceptible to becoming a host for those pesky bugs. Warmer weather also often means spending more time outside for your pets, and specifically more trips to parks or other pet friendly venues for dogs. Make sure your pet is up to date on their vaccines before allowing them to visit areas frequented by other animals to help give them the best chance of being protected from catching a virus from a “carrier” or another sick animal. Not sure what treatments or vaccines are best for your pet based on your lifestyle? Has it been longer than a year since your pet’s last check-up with a veterinarian? Vet care for your furry family member isn’t one size fits all, contact our clinic for information on the best options for your pet! (530) 343-7917.