Monday, April 22, 2019



SEIZURES IN PETS

Dr. Stephanie Waters


What to do if you pet has a seizure:

Some of the common signs that your animal is having a seizure include twitching of the eyelids/lips/body, abnormal leg movements (often can be stiff but can be flaccid), chatter of the teeth and decreased consciousness. Other common signs may include your pet may defecate, urinate, salivate (drooling), vomit or have diarrhea. Seizures may feel like they last forever, but in reality they commonly last a few second to minutes. If your pet is having a seizure lasting more than a few minutes, they should immediately be taken to the veterinary emergency clinic for further care and treatment.

What to do during a seizure?

Make sure you stay calm. Seizures can be very scary for both owners and their loving pets. This is not a time to panic but instead be proactive by making sure your pet is in a safe place. You can use towels or pillows to protect or move your pets’ head and also to keep him/her steady without falling off the couch or stairs. During a seizure, owners can lower the lights or cover your pets eyes with a small towel or blanket. The decrease in stimulation can be calming to your pet as they come out of the seizure. If possible, record a video to show your veterinarian.

What NOT to do during a seizure?

While in a disoriented and confused state, your pet can accidentally act aggressively and bite. It is important to not pick up or put your hands/face, other family pets or young children near your pet while they are have a seizure. Safety for everyone is the main goal of getting through a seizure successfully.

What to do after a seizure?

After a seizure it is important to continue to monitor your pet. They may have a post seizure phase that can involve them being very sleepy, confused and/or show signs that lead into another seizure. Another task would be to think back and record any triggers or clinical signs that may have occurred before your pet had the seizure. It is also a good idea to record; the date, time, clinical signs, how long the seizure lasted and how many seizures occurred. Lastly, please contact your veterinarian to discuss details/questions and schedule a vet visit. It is important to discuss these details with a medical professional in order to help figure out the cause of the seizure and ultimately to avoid any future seizures. Your veterinarian may recommend diagnostic testing to try to find a cause for the seizure and medication to help prevent future seizures.

Thursday, April 4, 2019

Is your Pet Afraid?

One of our greatest challenges in the office is dealing with fearful pets.  It makes it harder to do a complete and thorough examination, can change lab values for blood tests, and is a horrible stress on the pet and the owner.

As many of you know, Dr. Stephanie Waters has been certified as a Fear Free Veterinarian. She has taken post graduate education to help her help your pets have better experiences both at home and in the office.  We have seen many pets show great progress with some of the techniques that she has brought to our office.

There is an upcoming event that she will be attending and as a public service, wants to share with pet owners. While we are not presenting or sponsoring this event, she will be attending and hopes to see owners with fearful pets there.  So, if  you are available and the subject matter will help you, please consider attending.  Look for her and say hello.  Hopefully, she won't be dressed like this.









Do you have or know a fearful, shy or aggressive dog? Please read below for an overview of an upcoming event that may be life changing for you and your family! Dr. Waters will also be attending this event because she knows learning new techniques and ideas can be very helpful with her fearful dog Revit Waters.
Helping FEARFUL, SHY OR AGGRESSIVE dogs
With Debbie Jacobs, CPDT-KA, CAP2
Saturday, June 22nd 2019 -- 9:00am - 4:00pm
Hilton Garden Inn, Roslyn, NY 11050
Author of A Guide To Living With & Training a Fearful Dog and Does My Dog Need Prozac? and creator of https://fearfuldogs.com/ and the Fearful Dog Facebook group
Description:
This seminar will feature information about why dogs behave the way they do and the most effective and humane ways to change problem behaviors in dogs. Pet owners, shelter and kennel staff, groomers, veterinarians and technician, dog trainers, pet sitters, day care staff, and anyone else interested in dogs will find this an informative and enlightening seminar on dog behavior!
Seminar Outline:
The content in this presentation is based on the scientific study and research of animal behavior and how dogs learn. This information is the foundation for further and continuing learning about working with fearful dogs.
    Topics include:
-         Why dogs are afraid
-         What fear/stress looks like and its impact on behavior
-         How to interact with feral or unsocialized dogs
-         How to work with fear based behaviors
-         The use of play in the rehabilitation of fearful dogs
-         Understanding the effects of reinforcement & punishment on fearful dogs
-         What is learned helplessness?
-         Myth of reinforcing fear
-         Equipment
-         Medication
-         Other resources
-         Gradual exposure and counterconditioning
-         Managing environments for fearful dogs
-         Skill building exercises for fearful dogs
-         Question and Answer session

“Many of the problem Behaviors we see in dogs, including aggression, have their own roots in fear,” Jacob explains, “When people learn how to respond appropriately to their dog’s behavior we can see significant and long lasting improvements.”

Organizer Description:

This event is hosted by Dana Seyfriend & Next Generation Dog Training, Long Island NY. Dana is a Pat Miller Level 1 Academy graduate and a Pat Miller Affiliate trainer. Two of her household of five dogs are fearful dogs. They inspire and motivate her as a trainer, and are her teachers of empathy and compassion towards all who live and work with fearful dogs.
*refreshments and light snacks
* This is a people only event, no dogs please.
Early Bird Special $99.00
Regular Admission $119.00