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Animal Health Care of Marlboro (AHC)

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Pet Resources

HOLIDAY PET SAFETY

This holiday season, your home is sure to be filled with fun and holiday cheer. It’s important to consider your pets’ safety when decorating and preparing holiday meals. Here is a list of holiday cautions for dogs and cats to keep in mind.

Click here to view our Holiday Pet Safety Information.

THANKSGIVING PET SAFETY

Thanksgiving is a time to say thanks for all that we love and have. This includes our faithful animal companions. While we enjoy gathering with our friends and family for a feast, we need to keep in mind the safety of our furry friends. Here are some Thanksgiving pet safety tips to keep in mind this holiday season.

Click here to view our Thanksgiving Pet Safety Information.

SUN, SAND & SURF – PET SAFETY

Summer is in full swing and so is beach season! If your dog loves a trip to the beach just as much as you do, we have some important safety tips to keep in mind.

Click here to access our sun, sand, and surf safety handout.

PARASITE PREVALENCE MAPS

The Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) is an independent, non-profit organization that is dedicated to increasing awareness of the threat parasites present to pets and family members. Use the link below to view their parasite prevalence maps. Using the filter options, you may see the cases of heartworm, intestinal parasites, tick-borne disease agents, and viral diseases in your state and/or county.

Click here to access the CAPC parasite prevalence maps.

COVID-19 INFORMATION FOR PET OWNERS

At AHC, the health and well-being of your pet and family are our top priority. In accordance with CDC recommendations to practice social distancing, AHC is taking steps to slow virus spread and protect the health of our families and yours.

Click here to read more about our updated hospital protocols and find additional resources from the CDC and AVMA.

PET SAFETY: POISONOUS PLANTS

Did you know that a large portion of household and garden plants are toxic to pets? We have compiled a list to keep on hand at home for easy referencing. 

Click here to access our handout: Plants Poisonous to Pets.

WAITING ROOM ACTIVITIES

While we’re practicing social distancing at our hospital with curbside check-in, we’ve added some of our waiting room activities to our website so that you can download and print activity pages at home! Check out the links below for our AHC coloring pages and word search.

Click here to download our AHC coloring pages.

Click here to download our pet word search.

APHIS INTERNATIONAL PET TRAVEL

Our veterinarians at Animal Health Care of Marlboro are some of the few veterinarians in New Jersey who can provide APHIS travel certificates. Please contact us for details about traveling with your pet. When traveling internationally, please note that the preparation for certification can take several months. When traveling with your pet(s), there may be animal health requirements specific for that destination. As soon as you know your travel details, please contact us to assist with the pet travel process. Factors to consider may include meeting time frames for obtaining a health certificate, updating vaccinations, diagnostic testing, or administration of medications/ treatments.

Click here to read more about APHIS International Pet Travel.

PET HEALTH INSURANCE

Confused about pet health insurance options? Talk to our team and let us help. We can share our knowledge about which plans might be best for you and your pets. Once insured, insurance companies require you to pay your veterinary bill upfront and then submit documentation for reimbursement.

Bring your forms with you to your next veterinary visit and we will fill out our portion. Provided that, we want to work together to bring the best veterinary care to your pet. Pet health insurance is one of the ways that pet owners can save money on veterinary care.

We embrace pet health insurance plans for the companion in your life.

These are just some of the companies and insurance plans that are offered nationwide. We want to find you the one that works the best for your needs.

Trupanion, Embrace, and Petplan

PROTECTING YOUR PETS: LYME DISEASE IN DOGS

Lyme disease is a growing concern both to dog owners and their veterinary teams. The disease is increasing in numbers and spreading in New Jersey. When spring arrives, with the trees budding, flowers blooming, warmer weather, longer days – we see an increase in TICKS! With our warm winters, there just are many more deer and mice to transmit ticks and the diseases they carry.

These tiny disease carriers are most active during spring and summer, transmitting the bacteria that causes Lyme disease as well as about 20 other diseases putting our pets (and us) at risk. Infected ticks, which can be as small as the head of a pin, may inhabit lawns, gardens, fields, and forests. Lyme disease can be confused with other diseases and sometimes the tick can carry more than one disease, leading to what is called co-infection, making diagnosis sometimes challenging.

Symptoms of tick-borne illnesses in pets:

  • Joint pain

  • Loss of appetite

  • Swelling

  • Lethargy

  • Fever

Steps for tick prevention:

  • Consult with your veterinarian about what tick–prevention products are best for your pets.

  • Speak with your veterinarian to decide whether to vaccinate your pets against Lyme disease.

  • When possible, avoid areas where ticks may be found. Tall grasses, marshes, and wooded areas are a few examples.

  • Check for ticks on your pets once they return from time spent outdoors. Yes, even if they are just in your own backyard! The quicker you remove a tick, the better. Be sure to check in and around ears, around the eyes, under collars/harnesses, under and between legs, and between toes.

  • Keep your yard clear of wet leaves, compost, or old trees that may house ticks, fleas, and other insects.

No single form of tick control works for every dog, every time. A strategy that combines checking your dogs for ticks, using repellents, and topical protection is fundamental for control. Having your dog avoid riskier areas is a good strategy but difficult to put into practice. Have your canine tested to detect early stage disease even before clinical signs show up.

Vaccinations Are The Number One Way Veterinarians Can Help

We often don’t know all the places your dog roams and can’t control that activity. But we know there are safe and effective Lyme vaccination programs for dogs. The vaccination series starts at 12 weeks of age in puppies and consists of an initial 2-vaccination protocol. Then given between 3-4 weeks apart and that vaccination is bolstered every year.

We also have some very safe and effective tick control products that work well. We currently advocate for the use of monthly NexGard oral prevention for dogs, or the very effective Seresto collar by Bayer which lists 8 months of flea and tick protection for both dogs and cats. At Animal Health Care of Marlboro, we tailor our recommendations to you and your pet’s lifestyle. Give us a call today to learn more!

END OF LIFE CARE FOR PETS

Saying goodbye to a family member is never easy. Once our heart becomes covered in paw prints, that love lives on forever. Our care team understands the grief associated with the end of life care for pets. It’s not a topic we want to think about when our pets are strong and healthy. We will be here to help guide you and provide comfort when the time comes.

We are professionals at giving you all the options to help your pet respond to medical treatment. We will only recommend hospice care when the time is right to help your pet peacefully cross over the Rainbow Bridge. You can count on us to be there with you. We will also share aftercare options to assist you in memorializing your pet in the most meaningful way.