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How to Introduce a New Pet Into Your Home

Adopting a new pet is exciting, fun, and nerve-racking – especially when it comes to helping them get used to their new home.

How to Introduce a New Pet Into Your Home

Adopting a new pet is exciting, fun, and nerve-racking – especially when it comes to helping them get used to their new home.
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5 Tips for Introducing a New Pet Into Your Home

1. Have Everything You Need
Get all of your new pet supplies before you bring a new pet home so that you’ll be well prepared and not have to immediately leave and go to the store. Make sure your new pet has its own bed, food and water bowls, and toys.
2. Take Time
Be prepared to spend a good chunk of time at home with your new pet, even it means taking a couple of days off of work. Make sure your schedule will allow you to spend a few days at home while your pet gets acclimated to the new surroundings.
3. Give Them Space
It’s best not to toss your pet into the mix, giving them the full run of the house immediately – especially if you have other pets or small children. Instead, keep your new pet confined to a room or a small portion of your home. This can become a safe space for your pet where they can relax and eat their meals without feeling pressure or worry. As they get acclimated, you can slowly introduce them to the children and other animals in the house.
4. Go Slowly
Introduce new pets to your other pets slowly. First, allow them to get used to the scent of the other pet by sniffing each other under a door. Next, introduce a screen door or tall pet gate where the pets can smell and see each other but not physically interact. When you fully introduce your pets, don’t expect them to get along immediately, and don’t scold them for growling or setting boundaries with each other.
5. Use Positive Reinforcement Disease
Reward new introductions with plenty of treats.
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Establish Care With Animal Wellness Center

When you adopt a new pet, one of the first things you should do is to schedule a new pet appointment at one of Animal Wellness Center’s Wisconsin locations. We’ll thoroughly examine your new pet, help them become familiar with our office, and ensure they (and the rest of your family) are well protected with the proper vaccinations and parasite preventatives.
To learn more about Animal Wellness Center or for more advice about bringing a new pet home, we welcome you to contact any of our offices today.

Did You Know Your Pet Can Transfer These Skin Problems to You?

We love our pets, and one of the coziest ways to express the affection we feel is by snuggling up together. As much as we love them, our pets can, unfortunately, pick up contagious diseases, parasites, and infections that they can then spread to us, humans.

Did You Know Your Pet Can Transfer These Skin Problems to You?

We love our pets, and one of the coziest ways to express the affection we feel is by snuggling up together. As much as we love them, our pets can, unfortunately, pick up contagious diseases, parasites, and infections that they can then spread to us, humans.
While there are countless zoonotic diseases in the world, the following four can affect your skin.
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4 Skin Problems You Can Get From Your Pet

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1. Ringworm
Despite the name, ringworm is not actually a parasitic worm. It’s actually a type of fungus that can infect the skin of both pets and people. It causes hair loss, itchiness, dry/patchy feeling skin, lesions, and a scaly scalp. It’s typically treated with antifungal medications.
2. Scabies (Sarcoptic Mange)  
Microscopic parasitic mites called Sarcoptes cause sarcoptic mange. These mites bite into a pet’s skin and can be transferred to you through any kind of contact between your pet’s skin and yours. In humans, these mites cause a condition called scabies. In both people and pets, scabies and sarcoptic mange can be treated with medication.
3. Bacterial Skin Infections
Pets pick up a whole host of ickiness in their fur as they move about in the world and roll about in the smelly things they find outdoors. Several of these unpleasantries can cause bacterial infections in humans. One of the most common bacteria that can infect human skin is Staphylococcus.
Antibiotics can be used to treat these types of infections, and having your pet groomed professionally on a regular basis can help prevent them from occurring in the first place.
4. Creeping Eruption
Hookworm, a parasite that commonly afflicts dogs and cats, can also harm humans as it’s passed from pets to their owners’ skin, causing an infection called cutaneous larval migrans or “creeping eruption.” The infection causes blisters, a creeping rash, and itching.
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Comprehensive Veterinary Care and Pet Dermatology for a Healthier Household

If you’re concerned about contracting skin problems and other diseases from your pets, then we strongly encourage you to prioritize your pet’s wellness and preventative veterinary care. The best way to keep your entire family healthy is by preventing your pets from contracting diseases and exposing your household to them in the first place.
To learn more about the wellness and preventative care and veterinary dermatology services available at Animal Wellness Center, we welcome you to schedule an appointment at any of our Wisconsin locations today.

What Causes Pet Joint Pain?

If your dog has trouble standing up or laying down, jumping into your car, or running happily with abandon like they once did, it’s likely they’re suffering from joint pain

What Causes Pet Joint Pain?

If your dog has trouble standing up or laying down, jumping into your car, or running happily with abandon like they once did, it’s likely they’re suffering from joint pain. Joint pain, unfortunately, is fairly common in pets, and it can limit mobility, making it difficult for pets to enjoy the activities they love.
Joint pain in pets is a symptom of a variety of different ailments. While we can help relieve joint pain with a variety of treatments, it’s essential to diagnose the underlying cause of the pain to provide the safest, most effective relief while addressing the underlying cause.
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Common Causes of Pet Joint Pain

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Degenerative Diseases
Degenerative joint pain can occur as a result of age-related osteoarthritis which results in the wearing down of the cartilage that cushions your pet’s joints.
This type of joint pain and wearing down of cartilage also occurs as a result of repetitive use injuries. Joint degeneration that develops as a result of repetitive use can cause pets problems with age, as a result of being overweight, or as a result of suffering an injury.
In these cases, treatment depends on the underlying cause of the pet’s degenerative joint pain. Often a multifaceted approach to pain relief provides the most relief.
Developmental Disorders
Developmental problems are genetic in origin and occur naturally in dogs. They’re more common in some breeds than others and have a more detrimental effect on larger breeds.
Developmental disorders responsible for joint pain include issues like hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia. These disorders put extra stress and pressure on your pet’s joints, causing pain and often leading to other problems.
These types of joint problems can usually be most effectively resolved with orthopedic surgery.
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Pet Pain Management at Animal Wellness Center

At Animal Wellness Center in Wisconsin, we have a variety of treatments that can help address the underlying cause of your pet’s joint pain while relieving their painful symptoms. Pet pain can be treated in a variety of ways including pain medications, surgery, weight management, nutritional supplements and prescription diets, cold laser therapy, ultrasound, and spinal manipulation.
Depending on your pet’s needs, our veterinarians can recommend a multifaceted approach including holistic therapies and traditional veterinary treatments to safely address your pet’s pain.
To learn more or schedule a pet pain management consultation, we welcome you to contact any of our locations today.

Bloodwork: Why Even Young and Healthy Pets Benefit

Did you know, though, that healthy pets sometimes need diagnostic testing, like bloodwork, too? That’s right! Sometimes, we recommend running a blood test on healthy pets for the following reasons.

Bloodwork: Why Even Young and Healthy Pets Benefit

When you bring a sick pet to the veterinarian, you expect us to do some diagnostic testing to determine the underlying cause of their illness. Did you know, though, that healthy pets sometimes need diagnostic testing, like bloodwork, too?
That’s right! Sometimes, we recommend running a blood test on healthy pets for the following reasons.
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6 Reasons Why We Might Recommend a Blood Test for Your Healthy Pet

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1. Establish a Baseline of Health
Testing a sample of your pet’s blood when they’re healthy and normal helps us establish a baseline of what your pet’s blood counts and organ function look like when they’re healthy. As a result, we’re better able to identify slight changes that could indicate developing problems.
2. Check for Parasites
We use a blood test to screen your pets for signs of parasites like heartworms. It’s essential to test dogs for heartworm infection before administering a heartworm parasite preventative because giving a heartworm preventative to a dog that has already been infected could be fatal.
3. Check Organ Function Before Surgery
A blood test helps us determine whether a pet is healthy enough to undergo general anesthesia before surgery or a pet dental cleaning.
4. Check Organ Function Before Prescribing Medication
Certain medications can be hard on a pet’s organs, so it’s essential to ensure that they’re healthy before we write a prescription.
5. Early Detection, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Disease
Routine bloodwork for healthy pets helps us detect the earliest signs of disease. Early diagnosis leads to more effective treatment and helps us prevent your pets from getting seriously ill.
6. Ongoing Disease and Medication Management
Otherwise healthy pets that are living with chronic diseases require regular bloodwork to ensure that their medication is effective and their disease is safely managed.

Complete Wellness and Preventative Care for Pets in Wisconsin

We recommend that healthy adult pets visit the veterinarian at least once a year for a physical examination, vaccine boosters, and all the wellness and preventative care they need to stay healthy and happy. Senior pets, pets living with chronic diseases, puppies, and kittens typically need to visit the veterinary clinic a little more frequently. Our veterinarians can help you determine the schedule that’s right for your pet.
To learn more about bloodwork or to schedule your pet’s next wellness appointment, we welcome you to contact Animal Wellness Center today.

Protect Your Pets for National Pet Immunization Awareness Month

Our veterinary experts want to use the opportunity to help raise awareness about the importance of pet vaccinations while helping pet owners understand all the reasons why we immunize our pets.

Protect Your Pets for National Pet Immunization Awareness Month

August is National Pet Immunization Awareness Month, and at Animal Wellness Center, our veterinary experts want to use the opportunity to help raise awareness about the importance of pet vaccinations while helping pet owners understand all the reasons why we immunize our pets.
There’s been a lot of controversy surrounding vaccinations lately. Pet vaccinations, however, are among the safest and most effective ways to protect your pets from the most dangerous and highly contagious diseases around.
We encourage you to keep reading to find out why it’s so important to vaccinate your pets!
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Top 6 Reasons Why We Immunize Our Pets

1. It’s Safe and Effective
Immunization is the most effective way to prevent several diseases in dogs and cats. Plus, vaccinations are safe. While there’s always a risk of a pet having an adverse reaction to a vaccine, these reactions are usually minor and quite rare.
2. It’s Often Required by Law
Many vaccinations are required for pets by local laws. Failing to provide your pets with these vaccinations could result in fines and even being forced to surrender your pet.
3. It Prevents Pets From Getting Sick
Vaccination prevents your pets from suffering the ill effects of several dangerous diseases – many of which have no curative treatment. Not vaccinating your pets could result in your pet suffering painful symptoms and even facing death.
4. It Protects Humans From Zoonotic Disease
Several vaccinations prevent zoonotic diseases, infectious diseases that can be transmitted between animals and humans.
5. It’s Cost-Effective
Vaccinating pets is always less expensive than the cost treating a sick pet.
6. It Creates a Safer Community
Vaccinating pets reduces the amount of disease in the pets, wildlife, and people in your community.
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Schedule a Wellness and Preventative Care Appointment

If you’ve adopted a new pet or it’s been more than a year since your pet’s last preventative care appointment, we encourage you to schedule an appointment at one of Animal Wellness Center’s five Wisconsin locations.
Our veterinarians can talk with you about your pet’s vaccine history, infectious disease exposure risk, and recommend an appropriate vaccination schedule. We’ll also talk with you about everything else you can do to keep your pet happy and healthy like providing proper nutrition, exercise, and protecting your pet from parasites.
To learn more or schedule your pet’s next appointment, contact us today.

Safety Tips for Traveling with Pets

It’s hard to believe that we’re already well into the heart of the summer travel season. If you still have an upcoming trip scheduled and plan to take your pets, then continue reading to make sure your whole family – furry members included – can enjoy your time away.

Safety Tips for Traveling with Pets

It’s hard to believe that we’re already well into the heart of the summer travel season. If you still have an upcoming trip scheduled and plan to take your pets, then continue reading to make sure your whole family – furry members included – can enjoy your time away.

6 Travel Safety Tips for Pets

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1. Have the Right Documents
If you’ll be crossing state lines, visiting another country, or traveling on public transportation, your pet will require documents certifying his or her health. This might include vaccination records and/or a certified pet health certificate.
Take a look at local laws and airport regulations well before your departure date to be sure your pet has what they need to travel freely.
2. Make Sure Your Pet’s Protected
Depending on where you’re traveling, your pet could potentially be exposed to different contagious diseases and/or parasites than they are exposed to at home. Before leaving, talk with one of our veterinarians about whether your pet should have any additional vaccinations or parasite preventatives before traveling to a new region.
3. Schedule Travel Breaks
If you’ll be hitting the road with your dog or cat as your co-pilot, be sure to leave yourself plenty of travel time that allows you to take frequent breaks to let your pet stretch out and mark some new territory…if you know what we mean.
4. Map Out Emergency Veterinary Care
Health emergencies can happen when you least expect them. Before you leave, research the locations of emergency veterinary clinics along your travel route and at your destination so you’ll be ready in case your pet requires immediate veterinary care.
5. Pack for Your Pet
Make a checklist to ensure you pack everything your pet needs. Bring plenty of water and food (more than you think you need) for the road, medications, extra leashes, and your pet’s favorite blanket, toy, or bed to reduce anxiety.
6. Update ID Tags and Get a Microchip
In unfamiliar places, pets can easily get scared and run away, quickly becoming disoriented and lost. Make sure your pet’s collar and ID tags have current, readable information. Additionally, you should get a microchip for your pet (and register your contact information with it before you leave).

Schedule a Pre-Trip Appointment at Animal Wellness Center

To make sure your pet has all the necessary identification, vaccinations, parasite preventatives, and health certificates to stay safe and travel to your destination, we encourage you to schedule a veterinary appointment well before the date of your departure.
Our veterinarians at Animal Wellness Center will make sure your pets have everything they need before you’re ready to leave.

How to Address Seasonal Allergy Flare-Ups

Just like some people get allergies during certain times of the year, our pets can suffer from seasonal allergies, too. These environmental sensitivities can make them itchy and miserable. Thankfully, there are steps you can take to help manage your pet’s seasonal allergy flare-ups.

How to Address Seasonal Allergy Flare-Ups

Just like some people get allergies during certain times of the year, our pets can suffer from seasonal allergies, too. These environmental sensitivities can make them itchy and miserable. Thankfully, there are steps you can take to help manage your pet’s seasonal allergy flare-ups.
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6 Tips to Help Your Pet With Seasonal Allergies

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1. Change Your Walking Routine
Try not to walk your dog in the early morning or late afternoon when the pollen counts are highest. This will limit your pet’s exposure to common seasonal allergies.
2. Purify Indoor Air
Keep the air inside your house as clean and free from allergens as possible. This means keeping the windows closed, using an air purifier, and making sure the filters on your HVAC system are clean.
3. Clean Surfaces
Whether they come in through an open window or get tracked inside on your feet or your pet’s paws, allergens inside your home can irritate your pet. Keep your floors clean and wash your pet’s bedding regularly to further limit indoor exposure.
4. Add Supplements
Allergies are caused by a wonky immune response to allergens that causes excessive inflammation. Adding nutritional supplements with anti-inflammatory effects like the omega-3 or omega-6 fatty acids in fish oil can help limit your pet’s immune response to allergens.
5. Brush and Bathe
With all that fur, it’s easy for allergens like pollen and dust to get caught in your pet’s coat and continue irritating them long after you come indoors. During your pet’s allergy season, be sure to keep their skin and coat clean with regular brushing and bathing. Clearing allergens and other debris from their coats will reduce itching, help them feel more comfortable, and limit their exposure.
6. Know the Signs of Pet Allergies
You can’t help your pet with their seasonal allergies if you don’t even realize they have them. It’s important to know that allergies can cause different symptoms in pets than in humans.
The most common symptom is itching, but allergies can also lead to:
  • Head shaking
  • Frequent ear and skin infections
  • Rash
  • Hair loss and other coat problems
  • Scabbing
  • Foul-smelling skin or ears
  • Red, swollen paws and/or face
  • Gastrointestinal upset
  • Respiratory issues
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Schedule a Pet Allergy Consultation at Animal Wellness Center

If do-it-yourself allergy control is not providing your pet with enough relief, we encourage you to schedule a pet allergy appointment with one of our veterinarians at Animal Wellness Center. We’ll evaluate your pet and provide you with a variety of more powerful allergy treatment options including antihistamine medications and even immunotherapy for pets.
To learn more or schedule an appointment for your dog or cat, contact us today!

The Benefits of Walking Your Dog (Even When It’s Cold Outside)

Although the cold weather might not be ideal for walking your dog, it’s still extremely important that you head out regularly for walks.

The Benefits of Walking Your Dog (Even When It’s Cold Outside)

It’s winter in Wisconsin, which means less daylight and cold, snowy weather. Although the conditions for walking your dog might not be ideal, it’s still extremely important that you head out regularly for walks. (Pro Tip: If it’s cold, take shorter, more frequent constitutionals.)
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6 Benefits of Walking Your Dog

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1. Weight Control and Good Health
Walking equals exercise, which not only helps prevent obesity, it also helps pets avoid secondary health problems like diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Additionally, staying active promotes good joint health and digestive health.
2. Mental Stimulation
To stay happy and avoid unwanted behaviors, dogs need to stay mentally active as well as physically active. Out in the world, dogs have plenty of opportunities to exercise their minds while they encounter new sights, sounds, smells, and sometimes even tastes. (Just try to keep your dog away from an abandoned cheeseburger).
3. Bonding
While you can let your dog out in the fenced yard for a little exercise, walking is a good activity to do together. It keeps both of you healthy and helps you bond with your furry friend.
4. Socialization
Going for walks also provides great opportunities for properly socializing your dog. When they encounter strange people and pets, you’ll be able to help them learn the proper way to behave around strangers, and they’ll eventually get used to crossing paths with them.
5. Training
Going for walks involves training your dog to walk on a leash, to leave the previously mentioned discarded cheeseburger, and to behave well around strangers. Not only is this good for strengthening your bond, but it also promotes more mental activity. Additionally, you’ll find lots of opportunities to reinforce your pup’s good behavior with reward-sized treats.
6. Better Sleep
A dog getting enough exercise will sleep soundly at night, which means you’ll sleep better, too!

Schedule a Healthy Weight Consultation for Your Pet

If you’re not sure whether your pet might be overweight and facing weight-related health problems, we encourage you to schedule an appointment at one of Animal Wellness Center’s five Wisconsin locations. Our veterinarians will assess your pet, help you determine a healthy weight range based on species, breed, and age, and set your pet up on a weight management plan.

How to Make the Holidays Happy for Pets

Everyone loves the holiday season, but pets sometimes get overlooked in the midst of all the hustle, bustle, shopping, and celebrating.

How to Make the Holidays Happy for Pets

Everyone loves the holiday season, but pets sometimes get overlooked in the midst of all the hustle, bustle, shopping, and celebrating. During the winter months and holiday festivities, it’s important to pay close attention to your pets to make sure they stay healthy, happy, and away from seasonal dangers.

5 Tips to Keep Your Pets Safe and Happy This Season

1. Cold Weather Safety

Baby, it’s cold outside – even for your furry friends! If pets are outdoors, make sure they have a warm shelter with dry bedding to retreat to and be sure to change their water frequently to prevent it from freezing over.
If pets only go out with you for walks, keep an eye on their paws. The cold can chap their delicate paw pads and you might need to get a set of booties for your dog or apply a paw ointment upon returning indoors. It’s also good to wash your pet’s paws after walks outside, as they can pick up toxic antifreeze and ice melt and then ingest it when they lick it away later.

2. Travel Plans

Keep your pet in mind when you make travel plans. Will your pet travel with you? If so, what will you need to pack and how much extra time will it take you to arrive at your destination? Will you leave your pet behind? If so, will you hire a pet sitter or check your dog into a boarding facility. Either way, make sure your dog has the proper vaccinations, supplies, and health certificates ahead of time.

3. Food Dangers

Tempting treats fill the holiday season. Unfortunately, most of these are harmful to pets. Keep them out of the kitchen, away from the table, and make sure they don’t ingest any toxic substances (onions, garlic, raisins, nuts, chocolate, xylitol, and more).

4. Celebration Dangers

Twinkling lights, poinsettias, holly, tinsel, wrapping paper, strings, bows, and other trappings of the season are all dangerous for pets. Keep them away from your decorations or put up a gate around the tree to prevent them from accidentally chewing or ingesting something they shouldn’t.

5. Exercise and Attention

You’re busier than ever, but your pet still needs attention and exercise. Do your best to continue your regular routine through the hectic season.

Make an Emergency Plan for Your Pet

No matter the season and festivities, it’s always smart to have an emergency plan in place for your pet. We recommend keeping the number for the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Hotline on-hand and the number for Animal Wellness Center’s nearest location. To learn more about the holiday precautions you can take to keep your pets safe, we welcome you to schedule a checkup today.

Foods to Keep Your Pet Away From This Thanksgiving

Pets are family, and we want to include them in special family events like Thanksgiving Day. However, with plenty of tempting treats on display, our holiday celebrations aren’t always the safest environments for pets.

Foods to Keep Your Pet Away From This Thanksgiving

Pets are family, and we want to include them in special family events like Thanksgiving Day. However, with plenty of tempting treats on display, our holiday celebrations aren’t always the safest environments for pets.

7 Thanksgiving Favorites to Keep Away From Your Pets

1. Nuts

Nuts contain too much fat for pets and can cause problems like indigestion and pancreatitis. Macadamia nuts and walnuts are highly toxic to dogs and cats. Eating them can be fatal. Keep pets away from nuts and dishes that contain them.
2. Grapes and Raisins
Popular in fruit salads and stuffing, grapes and raisins are dangerous for dogs and cats. Keep pets away from these chase-able round fruits and dishes that contain them.
3. Onions and the Rest of Their Family
The entire onion (allium) family – red, white, yellow, and green onions, shallots, scallions, leeks, chives, and garlic – is extremely toxic to dogs and cats. These ingredients (including dried and powdered versions) are found in our favorite recipes for mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, and green bean casserole.
4. Dessert
Desserts often contain nuts and other potentially poisonous ingredients. For example, chocolate and xylitol (a sweetener commonly found in sugar-free desserts) are toxic to pets. Plus, plain-old sugar isn’t good for dogs or cats, either. It can cause an upset stomach. So, keep your pets away from the dessert tray.
5. Poultry
While a bite of turkey might seem harmless for a cat or dog, be careful to keep them from eating turkey skin or bones. They can choke on bones or suffer a perforated intestine if they manage to swallow one. Plus, the high-fat content in a basted turkey can lead to pancreatitis or an upset stomach. 
6. Ham
Ham is another human classic that’s not a great choice for treating pets. It’s high in fat which can upset your pet’s stomach and contribute to obesity. Even a small bite contains a huge amount of calories for a small dog or cat.
7. Alcohol
Alcohol is toxic to cats and dogs. Be sure to keep all adult beverages covered or well out of your pets’ reach.

What to Do If Your Pet Ingests a Toxic Food on Thanksgiving Day?

It’s safest to keep your pet in a quiet spot in your home during all the excitement of holiday festivities, but if your pet accidentally gets his paws on a toxic food this holiday season, be ready to take action. Contact the Animal Poison Control hotline for instructions and have the number for an emergency veterinarian on-hand at all times.
For more information about keeping pets safe on Thanksgiving Day, schedule an appointment with an Animal Wellness Center veterinarian near you.