The first thing I look for in a treat is the number of calories it contains. A couple of years ago, I called some of the major manufacturers of commercial dog and cat treats to find out how many calories were in their treats. I was shocked by some of what I found. One treat had over 1,000 calories! That number of calories is almost the entire daily energy requirement for an average dog weighing 60 pounds. I have a list of all the information I obtained from these calls on our website at http://woodridgeanimalhospital.com/Main/DogTreatCalories.html for dog treats or http://woodridgeanimalhospital.com/Main/CaloriesinCatTreats.html for cat treats. Click here for the rest of the story from Dr. Amy- Woodridge Patch 
Showing posts with label Ask A Vet- Amy Van Tassel DVM. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ask A Vet- Amy Van Tassel DVM. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Ask a Vet: What Kind of Treats Do You Recommend? -Amy Van Tassel, DVM
The first thing I look for in a treat is the number of calories it contains. A couple of years ago, I called some of the major manufacturers of commercial dog and cat treats to find out how many calories were in their treats. I was shocked by some of what I found. One treat had over 1,000 calories! That number of calories is almost the entire daily energy requirement for an average dog weighing 60 pounds. I have a list of all the information I obtained from these calls on our website at http://woodridgeanimalhospital.com/Main/DogTreatCalories.html for dog treats or http://woodridgeanimalhospital.com/Main/CaloriesinCatTreats.html for cat treats. Click here for the rest of the story from Dr. Amy- Woodridge Patch 
Friday, June 29, 2012
Ask A Vet: Fireworks and Thunderstorms- Loud Noise Phobias in Pets - Woodridge, IL Patch
Dr. Amy Van Tassel has been practicing in the Chicago suburbs
since graduating from the University of Illinois in 2000. Dr. Amy Blogs on the PATCH in Woodridge. We are indeed Proud to Have her as a part of our Blog aslo. You will find a link to her website and how to ASK a Question or contact her below.
Credits : Dr. Amy Van Tassel, DMV- Woodridge Animal Hospital
Spring and summer in the Midwest can be a rough time for pets scared of loud noises. Not only do we have the 4th of July, a day (sometimes week) that centers around fireworks, but we also have regular thunderstorms.
Even though it's a normal instinct for animals to fear loud noises, many pets experience excessive anxiety, particularly when it comes to fireworks and thunderstorms. Pets show anxiety in many different ways, the more significant include panting, pacing, whining, howling, trembling, digging, drooling, or even destroying things.
The most important thing you can do to help a pet cope with anxiety is to ignore them. Most people who have a pet showing signs of anxiety will try to calm them by petting and speaking reassuringly to them in a quiet, calm voice. While intentions are good, unfortunately this is the worst thing for an anxious pet. The reality is that the pet has no idea what is being said. Instead, they only know that by behaving the way they are (fearful and anxious), they receive all sorts of wonderful attention and praise. This only serves to reenforce the behavior and often will make the reactions more intense. Some pets will start to react to lightning instead of just the thunder, to light rain showers, or even to barametric pressure changes.
What you should do: Limit your pet's exposure to the noise. Let her have access to the area she feels most safe. This is often in a room without windows like the bathroom, a closet, or under a bed. Close curtains to prevent visibility of the conditions outside and have some background noise, like music or the television to dull the sounds of thunder or fireworks. And most importantly, do not give your pet any attention, this includes eye contact, touch, or talking to her. She can follow you or lay near you, just don't give her any attention unless she's calm.
If the things mentioned above alone don't help, talk to your veterinarian about other options available including pheromones, thundershirts, medications, and instructions on ways to teach your pet to relax.
If you have a question or would like me to cover a topic in this blog, please e-mail me at dr.amy@woodridgeanimalhospital.com.
Click Here to Learn More About Dr Amy
Credits : Dr. Amy Van Tassel, DMV- Woodridge Animal Hospital
Spring and summer in the Midwest can be a rough time for pets scared of loud noises. Not only do we have the 4th of July, a day (sometimes week) that centers around fireworks, but we also have regular thunderstorms. Even though it's a normal instinct for animals to fear loud noises, many pets experience excessive anxiety, particularly when it comes to fireworks and thunderstorms. Pets show anxiety in many different ways, the more significant include panting, pacing, whining, howling, trembling, digging, drooling, or even destroying things.
The most important thing you can do to help a pet cope with anxiety is to ignore them. Most people who have a pet showing signs of anxiety will try to calm them by petting and speaking reassuringly to them in a quiet, calm voice. While intentions are good, unfortunately this is the worst thing for an anxious pet. The reality is that the pet has no idea what is being said. Instead, they only know that by behaving the way they are (fearful and anxious), they receive all sorts of wonderful attention and praise. This only serves to reenforce the behavior and often will make the reactions more intense. Some pets will start to react to lightning instead of just the thunder, to light rain showers, or even to barametric pressure changes.
What you should do: Limit your pet's exposure to the noise. Let her have access to the area she feels most safe. This is often in a room without windows like the bathroom, a closet, or under a bed. Close curtains to prevent visibility of the conditions outside and have some background noise, like music or the television to dull the sounds of thunder or fireworks. And most importantly, do not give your pet any attention, this includes eye contact, touch, or talking to her. She can follow you or lay near you, just don't give her any attention unless she's calm.
If the things mentioned above alone don't help, talk to your veterinarian about other options available including pheromones, thundershirts, medications, and instructions on ways to teach your pet to relax.
If you have a question or would like me to cover a topic in this blog, please e-mail me at dr.amy@woodridgeanimalhospital.com.
Click Here to Learn More About Dr Amy
Friday, May 4, 2012
Why Does My Dog . . . Like to Stick His Head Out the Car Window? - Vetstreet
By Linda Fiorella | April 26, 2012
Anyone who's been in a convertible with the top down can relate to the look of happiness on a dog who's peering out a car window, his ears rippling in the wind.
Despite the obvious dangers involved, it can be hard to deny such joy to your pet. But what makes car windsurfing so appealing to dogs in the first place? And just how dangerous is it?
Canines Who Love Car Windows
Dr. Kelly Moffat, a board-certified veterinary behaviorist and medical director of the VCA Mesa Animal Hospital, offers a few theories on why some dogs relish sticking their heads out of vehicle windows.
“First and foremost, they like it! Simple as that,” Dr. Moffat says, adding that “putting their head out the window gets them closer to all the exciting happenings outside of the car.”
According to Dr. Moffat, things like a wider view of the passing scenery and increased accessibility to enticing scents outside the moving vehicle can be irresistible to an animal whose sense of smell is so much more sensitive than ours.
Dr. Moffat adds that, contrary to popular belief, not all dogs enjoy riding in cars with their heads out the window. “These dogs may have motion sickness," she says. "Or they may be fearful of the car and the motions and sounds associated with the drive.”
The Dangers to Your Dog
If your dog is one of those pups who can't wait for you to roll down the window, Dr. Moffat offers this stern warning: “The dangers can include a dog jumping out the window or rolling the window up on himself, as well as eye injuries from flying debris, such as stones and dirt.”
Dr. Moffat stresses that dogs should always be properly restrained, either in a crate or with a pet seat-belt harness, whenever they're in a moving vehicle — even if the windows are up. “The driver doesn't need to have a pet crawling in their lap, nor should the pet be launching itself from the back to the front, running back and forth on the back seat, getting under the gas pedal or accidentally rolling that window down,” she says.
If you can’t resist allowing your dog some of the thrill of a breezy drive, Dr. Moffat suggests having someone sit with a seat belt-restrained dog in the back seat, while you drive the car slowly through the neighborhood. “But once you're on major streets and driving over 25 mph, the dog should be in a seat belt for safety,” she says.
Article Courtesy of Linda Fiorella and Vetstreet
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Ask a Vet: What Kind of Treats Do You Recommend? -Amy Van Tassel, DVM
The first thing I look for in a treat is the number of calories it contains.
A couple of years ago, I called some of the major manufacturers of commercial dog and cat treats to find out how many calories were in their treats. I was shocked by some of what I found. One treat had over 1,000 calories!
That number of calories is almost the entire daily energy requirement for an average dog weighing 60 pounds.
I have a list of all the information I obtained from these calls on our website at http://woodridgeanimalhospital.com/Main/DogTreatCalories.html for dog treats or http://woodridgeanimalhospital.com/Main/CaloriesinCatTreats.html for cat treats.
Click here for the rest of the story from Dr. Amy- Woodridge Patch
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