Did you know periodontal disease is the most frequently diagnosed health problem for pets? By the age three, 80% of dogs and 70% of cats have visible tartar and gingivitis. And proper dental care helps pets maintain more than a nice smile and fresh breath: tooth and gum disease in pets is painful and may lead to other serious health problems, such as heart and kidney disease. Preventive care is key -- brushing your pet’s teeth on a regular basis and having annual cleanings is one of the most important things you can do to help prevent dental disease and keep your pet healthy and happy. At Bishop Ranch Veterinary Center & Urgent Care, we expertly perform complete dental cleanings for approximately 1,000 pets annually. Our digital dental radiograph ('x-ray') unit has significantly improved our ability to identify fractured and abscessed teeth and the presence of tooth-root disease, thereby allowing earlier, easier (and less costly) treatments.

National Pet Dental Month
We are proud to participate in the annual National Pet Dental Awareness month each February by offering discounts on dental cleanings to our clients. In addition we provide clients with a year-round discount if they have a dental cleaning performed on their pet every 12-18 months.

Dental Care Resources
Dental Cleaning & Your Pet – Cost and Procedure Explanation
Feline Dental Care: Tartar Control Treats
Watch Dental Health Video

Each year, thousands of pets go missing, and many never find their way home. Implanting a microchip in your pet is a simple and virtually painless way to help avoid this tragedy. . A microchip is about the size and shape of a grain of rice. It is implanted beneath a pet's skin between the shoulder blades, and stays there for the pet's entire life. This procedure is as easy and as painless as a vaccination.

Each microchip emits a unique number when a hand-held scanner is brought near. This number, along with information about the owner and pet, are added to a national pet registry. Most veterinary hospitals and animal shelters have electronic scanners for detecting and reading these implanted microchips. If a lost pet is found and a microchip is detected by scanning, the registry is called and the owner can be contacted.

Talk to your veterinarian about the Bishop Ranch Veterinary Center pet identification program. And while we recommend having your pet microchipped, we still advise that your pet also wear a collar with identification tags.

National Database
When was the last time you checked the national databases to be sure the information there for you pet was current? Here are two links to get you there. Note: if your pet’s microchip was implanted by Bishop Ranch Veterinary Center & Urgent Care you should check the AVID site below (www.avidid.com):

www.public.homeagain.com

www.avidid.com

You do it every day, but how much do you know about the food you feed your pets? A healthy diet for your pet—as it is for you—is an essential part of their overall health care. And feeding your pet the proper diet is one of the easiest and most effective ways to help keep them healthy and active! Your pet’s dietary and nutritional requirements will depend on their age, weight, lifestyle, and individual health concerns.

The two most common problems pets have as a result of their diet are Obesity and Food Allergies. Obesity can contribute to the development of osteoarthritis, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease and many forms of cancer. Pets with food allergies often suffer from itchy skin (around the face, feet, ears, armpits and anus) and can develop chronic ear infections, hair loss, “hot spots” and skin infections.

At Bishop Ranch Veterinary Center & Urgent Care, our veterinarians will help you develop a nutrition plan that is right for your pet, providing Balanced Diet Consultations and Holistic Diet Consultations.

We also carry a variety of specialty and prescription pet foods at The Pet Care Depot, located next door to our hospital.

Any pet who spends time outdoors can become infested with internal or external parasites during their lifetime. If left untreated, parasites can affect your pet in a variety of ways, ranging from simple irritation to life-threatening conditions. Failing to give regular monthly preventive medications can expose your entire family to disease and subject your pets to potentially life-threatening conditions.

Important Facts about Parasites: Parasite Prevention Recommendations
We are able to run heartworm and complete parasite screenings every day of the week, and can determine if you pet has heartworm, or other parasites. If you suspect your pet is carrying intestinal parasites (due to intermittent vomiting, diarrhea, or poor appetite), we also recommend you bring in a fecal sample at the time of your visit.

Dogs
If your dog is not taking a regular monthly Parasite Preventative (Heartgard, Sentinel, Tri-Heart, Iverheart, or Interceptor) then your dog should be tested for heartworms and intestinal parasites every 12 months.

Cats
We recommend that all cats who go outdoors be screened for intestinal parasites annually.

Fleas & Ticks
In addition to monthly parasite preventive medications, we also recommend your pet be on a monthly flea and tick preventive medication. Fleas and ticks can transmit tapeworms, Lyme disease, and other infections. We suggest talking with your veterinarian about an integrated flea and tick program for your pet – we can help you decide which medications are right for your pet.

Parasite Prevention Resources
What Every Pet Owner Should Know about Roundworms & Hookworms

Bishop Ranch Veterinary Center & Urgent Care accepts and works with all pet insurance companies. We have forms available so that submitting claims is quick and easy. Pet insurance gives you that peace of mind, so in the event of an emergency, or if any other unforeseen medical conditions arise, a portion of your pet’s veterinary bill will be covered.
If you are interested in pet insurance, but are still not sure whether it is right for you, go to: www.Petinsurancereview.com to find out more.
Click here to read Jackson’s story.

On average, animals age 5 to 8 times faster than humans. But just like their human companions, aging pets have the potential of facing life-threatening diseases that may include kidney, heart, and liver disease, weight and mobility changes, arthritis, cancer, and hormonal conditions like diabetes and thyroid disease. That’s why we recommend that pets over the age of seven receive a wellness exam annually to detect, treat and prevent health problems before they become life-threatening--we believe it is far more important to screen pets for serious health problems ahead of time, rather than wait for obvious signs of illness to develop later. Regular wellness exams throughout a pet’s lifespan will help us establish a baseline so we can track health changes as your pet ages. Senior wellness exams include a complete physical exam, blood profile and urinalysis. Depending on your pet’s health and age, further testing may be recommended, such as an ultrasound or X-ray. If your senior pet is exhibiting any of the following signs, please contact our office:

Sandy Ramsey
Age: 8 years
Breed: Golden Retriever
Diagnosis: Benign Abdominal Tumor Sandy is an 8 year old golden retriever whose “job” is the important work of Search and Rescue for Contra Costa County. Although she appeared healthy, during her annual physical exam it was recommended to do blood work due to her age because she was middle-aged (it is recommended that any pet over the age of 7 years have annual blood testing performed). The blood work revealed that Sandy had elevated liver enzymes. As a result of those blood test results, an abdominal ultrasound exam was done and a cantaloupe-sized mass was discovered growing on her liver. Due to the location and size of the mass, a surgical specialist was called in to remove it.

Sandy’s surgery went well and she was discharged from the hospital the next day. Luckily the tumor turned out to be benign, but had it been left untreated it likely would have ruptured, leading to life-threatening internal bleeding. Sandy was an apparent happy, healthy dog, and without routine annual blood screening we may not have detected the tumor until it was too late. Today Sandy is back to doing what she knows and loves: search and rescue. Betsy Birch
Age: 10 years
Breed: Cocker Spaniel
Diagnosis: Benign Mass Betsy came in for an annual dental cleaning, as she had done the year before. Prior to the administering the anesthetics necessary for procedure, a comprehensive set of blood tests was run in-house to make sure she was in good health. Betsy’s blood work showed she had a low platelet count. “Platelets” are the cells that help form normal blood clots.

The dental cleaning procedure was postponed and a blood sample was sent to an outside reference laboratory, which confirmed that Betsy had an autoimmune disease called ITP (immune-mediated Thrombocytopenia), a condition where an animal’s immune system attacks and destroys its own platelets. This can lead to life-threatening internal bleeding. Betsy was immediately started on medications to prevent her immune system from destroying her own platelets.

Today Betsy’s platelet count is back to normal levels and she is doing great at home. If not for doing routine pre-anesthetic blood work, Betsy’s disease would have gone untreated, with possible life-threatening complications. To read more stories about Lives Saved, Click Here