Providing complete veterinary needs in Dutchess County & Poughkeepsie, NY and surrounding areas…

Did you know that your canine companion can get the flu? In fact, there’s an outbreak going on now. Fido’s version, canine influenza virus (CIV)–also often called the dog flu—is an influenza A virus. There are several strains, but the two that are most common in the US are H3N8 and H3N2. These strains are both extremely contagious, and are the culprits behind the current outbreak. A local vet offers some information on this below. … Read More »

As you know, your dog is susceptible to various diseases and infections. Have you ever wondered whether or not you could potentially catch any of those illnesses from your pooch? It’s a scary thought. And it’s true—it is possible for dogs to transmit certain illnesses to humans. The diseases in question are known as zoonotic diseases. Read on as your local veterinarian tells you more about zoonotic diseases and how to make sure both your … Read More »

May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month! Lyme disease is a serious disease that can afflict both people and pets. As you may know, the disease is spread through ticks, which are unfortunately spreading throughout North America. Left untreated, Lyme disease can cause some very serious—and potentially life-threatening—issues, such as kidney failure and heart trouble. A veterinarian offers some prevention tips below. Landscaping Ticks love to lurk in long grasses, leaf litter, and piles of debris, … Read More »

Did you know that our feline friends can get their own version of colds or flus? In many cases, cats just feel a bit stuffy and tired for a few days, and then recover on their own. However, kitty colds can develop into upper respiratory infections, or URIs. These can be extremely dangerous! Senior cats and kittens are especially at risk, because of their weaker immune systems. A vet discusses cat colds below. Warning Signs … Read More »

One very important part of dog ownership is making sure your dog stays up to date on his vaccinations. This is actually required by law in many places, and with good reason. Vaccinations help build your pup’s immune system, protecting him from dangerous and deadly diseases. They also help curb the spread of infectious disease. Because some diseases—such as rabies—can be transmitted to people, human safety is also a factor. In this article, a vet … Read More »

Have you ever heard that handling litterboxes is dangerous for pregnant women? It’s true that everyone, especially pregnant women and those with compromised immune systems, should take precautions against toxoplasmosis, which can be transmitted by cats. A local vet discusses toxoplasmosis below. What Is Toxoplasmosis? First, it’s important to understand that not all cats have toxoplasmosis. Cats can contract it by eating rodents, birds, or other small animals infected by the parasite Toxoplasma. The parasite … Read More »

As you may have noticed, cats are very, very good at getting comfortable. However, while Fluffy can certainly manage to sleep in some very awkward positions, she isn’t quite as good at cooling herself off. In fact, hot weather can be very dangerous to our feline buddies! Fluffy has a fur coat on, and really doesn’t have any effective ways to cool herself down if she overheats. Read on as a local vet lists some … Read More »

Hot weather tends to bring with it a few pet hazards, one of which is outdoor pests. Mosquitoes are more than just a nuisance to us humans—they can bite our canine companions as well! Read on to find out more about the dangers these pests pose and how to keep your four-legged friend safe from harm. Mosquito Bites A dog’s coat of fur does offer some protection against mosquito bites, but mosquitoes can still bite … Read More »

As I look back at the past few weeks posts, I notice a recurring theme of lyme disease and tick prevention. This topic, clearly important enough to mention over and over, is still something many people are confused about.  We have come across the attached “tick myth handout” that we hope answers many of the questions, old wives tales, and misinformation. We recommend using flea and tick prevention year round, in addition to monthly heartworm … Read More »

Last week we posted about lyme disease and our friend Abigail. This week we are talking about another disease that the heartworm/lyme blood panel tests for – heartworm disease! Many people think heartworm is not something that we need to worry about much in the Northeast and that it is rare that dogs contract it. This is a myth! We have seen a rise in heartworm positive patients in the past few years. Dr. Cannan’s … Read More »