Lake Cable Animal Hospital

Lake Cable Animal Hospital
Heidi R. Watters, DVM

5222 Fulton Drive North-West
Canton, Ohio 44718

(330) 499-9370

Contact Info

Dog / Cat

Dental care is an essential part of your pet’s health. One of the most common diseases in the world for cats and dogs is periodontal disease, which affects not the teeth themselves, but the gums and other tissues surrounding the teeth. If not attended to, it could result in other serious medical problems involving the liver, kidneys and heart. Some of the warning signs to look for in your cat or dog are bad Feline breath, red and swollen gums, pain or bleeding when you touch the gums or mouth, and yellow brown crusts of tartar around the gum line. We believe frequent dental cleanings (done in the hospital) and good home care are the only effective treatments available for this disease.

One step you can take towards the care of your pet’s teeth is brushing your pet’s teeth, daily, using a soft toothbrush or fingertip toothbrush designed to fit in your pet’s mouth and toothpaste specially designed for pets. Please don’t use human toothpaste for it can upset your pet’s stomach. Also, don’t forget to plan regular dental check-ups along with your pet’s annual physical exam, at least once a year, with us.

Pet Care Do’s and Don’ts

Don’ts

Never use human eye products on your animal unless prescribed by a veterinarian. The PH is different and can burn and cause permanent damage to the cornea and loss of vision.
Never stop the monthly heartworm preventive. Your pet will have to be tested before you can restart the medication.
Never withhold water from any animal. This can lead to dehydration, excessive water consumption and bladder control issues when water is available and could possibly cause organ damage. Call us if your pet's water consumption changes dramatically as there may be a medical problem.
Never give any over the counter human medications to any pet unless you have checked with our office or the emergency clinic. We will be happy to tell you if an OTC product is safe for your animal.
Never use scissors to trim your pet's fur. One quick move by the animal can cause the blades to slip and cut the animal.
Never allow cats or dogs to play with string, tinsel, rubber bands, etc. These types of objects can cause dangerous intestinal blockages, which may require emergency surgery.
Never give your dog pork products. Many pets do not tolerate this type of meat and even a small piece can cause pancreatitis (a dangerous inflammation) as well as vomiting or diarrhea.
Never allow your pet to eat chocolate, grapes or onions. These foods may be toxic.
Never give your animal raw meat, raw eggs or spoiled food. They can get the same bacterial infections (such as Salmonella) that we can. Don't feed it to your pet if you wouldn't eat it yourself.

Do’s

Always call our office first if you have questions, concerns or need advice about your animal. Don't get misinformation from friends, family or the internet -- they don't know your pet’s medical history like we do and could cause harm unintentionally.
Always call an emergency service if your pet is ill when Lake Cable Animal Hospital is closed. They can sometimes give you advice over the phone or tell you how serious the problem may be. Delaying treatment may create a more serious situation, which will be more costly to treat.
Always give medications as directed and complete the prescribed course of treatment or your pet may have a relapse or develop a resistant condition. If your pet appears to have a problem with a medication, please call us right away.
Always ask questions if you do not understand a diagnosis, procedure, product use or medication or other recommendation.
Always know the names of any plants that your pet may have access to and whether or not they may be toxic.
Always feed a good quality, name-brand dry pet food (such as lams, Science Diet, Eukanuba, etc.). Generic foods, canned foods and chewy bits can be factors in causing weight gain, skin and allergy problems, poor body condition and hair, coat and digestive problems such as vomiting and diarrhea.
Always make dietary changes slowly over a 10 to 14 day period. Sudden food changes can cause vomiting and / or diarrhea.
Always check with us before giving your dog a bone. Some types are safe but most are not. When in doubt, don't give it
For everyone's safety, always have your dog on a leash and your cat in a carrier when entering our office. Your pet may be well behaved and sociable but someone else's animals may be aggressive toward or frightened by other animals.
Always maintain your pet at a healthy weight. Obesity can cause arthritis, diabetes, liver disease, heart disease, shorter lifespan and grooming and mobility problems, just to name a few examples.
Always bring your pet in for an annual examination and the appropriate vaccinations. Prevention is still the best medicine.
Always leave kennels and pet sitters a phone number where you can be reached in case your pet becomes ill. We cannot treat your pet without your permission.
Always keep your pet well groomed. Matted hair is uncomfortable, unclean and can cause unhealthy skin underneath as well as making a medical examination more difficult.
When bringing a new pet into the household, always isolate the animal away from your other pets for two weeks. The new kid may be carrying parasites (such as fleas and worms) or incubating a contagious disease.
Always call us quickly if your pets housetraining habits or behavior changes, as there may be an underlying medical problem. The longer a behavior problem persists the harder it is to correct. We can give you effective solutions.
Always talk to us first for effective flea prevention options. Fleas can reproduce at a rate of several hundred a day, so it is always easier to prevent an infestation than it is to successfully treat one.