Mar 05

Paws in Bloom: Crafting a Pet Paradise in Your Garden

By Laci Frazier Uncategorized

Plenty of curious cats and playful puppies dig the outdoors, so if you’ve got pets plus a green thumb, we have strategies for creating safe, outdoor spaces for pets. Keep reading for our team’s tips on pet-friendly gardening and other ways to turn your backyard into a paradise for pets.

Choose Your Plants Carefully

Pet-friendly landscaping means using plants that are safe for pets to taste, but separating safe plants for pets from those that are off-limits requires a bit of digging up front. The ASPCA’s list of toxic plants is a great place to start for information on both ornamental plants and vegetables that can be dangerous for pets to eat.

In the meantime, here’s a short list of common garden growables to keep away from pets:

Lilies
Sago palms
Daffodils
Tulips, hyacinths, and irises
Crocuses
Onions, garlic, and chives
Tomatoes

Safe Plants for Pets

Pet-friendly gardening is purrfectly doable with careful planning, and there are plenty of safe plants for pets to choose from. We’ve put together lists of some of our favorites.

Include these colorful ornamentals in your pet-friendly landscaping:

Black-eyed Susan
Zinnia
Magnolias
Impatiens
Petunias
Pansies
Sweet potato vine
Marigolds

Grow a pet-friendly vegetable garden with these healthy edibles:

Basil
Catmint/catnip
Carrots
Zucchini
Celery
Peas and beans
Lettuces/mixed greens

Creating Outdoor Spaces for Pets

Creating outdoor spaces for pets to explore is a great way to provide them with mental and physical stimulation. When looking for dog-friendly garden ideas and cat-safe garden design, consider these additional accommodations to make your pets feel at home in the backyard:

Include natural flea repellents. Marigolds, catnip, sage, and rosemary are the perfect plants for pet-friendly landscaping because they naturally repel fleas.

Provide the perfect place to dig. Cats and dogs both have their own reasons for digging, so whether you’re looking for dog-friendly garden ideas or tips for cat-safe garden design, consider including a designated area filled with sand.

Give your pets a path. If your gardens are particularly large and lush, provide your pets with a natural path “paved” with pine or cedar mulch, or pea gravel, so they can weave their way through the garden without trampling your prized petunias.

Choose garden products wisely. Rather than hose down your garden with chemical pesticides, consider pet-safe options like diatomaceous earth and nematodes. Read fertilizer labels carefully, and opt for natural plant boosters like compost, manure, bone meal, or potash.

Barriers for Safety

Sometimes it’s necessary to include barriers to protect pets. Chicken wire, wood fencing, or using raised garden beds can prevent pets from nibbling on prized tomato plants and other people-friendly foliage that is off-limits to pets.

Pet-friendly Gardening

Practicing pet safety indoors and out should be part of any pet lover’s overall pet wellness plan. Contact us at Eastside Veterinary Associates to schedule a visit or for more information about creating safe outdoor spaces for pets.

Nov 10

Love0

Revolutionizing Pet Care: Exploring Cutting-Edge Advancements in Veterinary Surgery

By Laci Frazier Uncategorized

As pet owners, we cherish our furry companions and want the best for them. When it comes to their health and well-being, we seek out the most advanced and effective medical treatments available. Like human medicine, veterinary medicine continues to make significant strides in various fields, including surgical techniques.

At Eastside Veterinary Associates, we perform most soft tissue surgeries such as spays, neuters, mass removals, bladder stone removal, foreign body removal, splenectomies, etc. We invest in the best surgical equipment and training of our staff. Most recently, we have a vessel sealer device that is helping to reduce the surgical time, which also means less anesthetic time. If more advanced surgery is recommended for the best care for your pet, we can refer you to groundbreaking innovations available at our referral specialists who are also improving the lives of our beloved pets.

Advancements in Veterinary Surgical Technology

In recent years, there has been a remarkable surge in the development and adoption of cutting-edge veterinary surgical procedure technology. These advancements have revolutionized how we approach various surgical procedures, making them safer and more effective than ever before.

Minimally-Invasive Surgery: Just as in human medicine, minimally-invasive surgery has become increasingly popular in veterinary care. Using specialized instruments and tiny incisions, veterinarians can perform complex procedures with reduced pain, faster recovery times, and minimal scarring for our furry friends.
Laser Surgery: Laser technology has found its way into the veterinary operating room. Laser surgery offers several benefits, including precision in tissue cutting, minimized bleeding, and reduced risk of infection. It’s particularly useful in delicate surgeries and procedures involving soft tissues.
Advanced Imaging: Diagnostic imaging plays a crucial role in modern veterinary surgery. High-resolution imaging techniques, such as CT or MRI scans enable veterinarians to visualize internal structures better, which aids in accurate diagnosis and treatment planning.

Innovative Surgical Techniques in Veterinary Medicine

Alongside technological advancements, innovative surgical techniques have emerged, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in veterinary medicine. These techniques provide solutions for conditions that were once considered untreatable, giving hope to pet owners and improving the quality of life for their pets.

3D Printing for Prosthetics: Just like in humans, 3D printing has opened up new possibilities in veterinary surgery. Custom-made prosthetics and implants can now be designed and manufactured precisely to help pets with limb amputations, joint issues, and various orthopedic conditions.
Stem Cell Therapy: Stem cell therapy is another groundbreaking technique that has gained traction in veterinary medicine. By utilizing the regenerative properties of stem cells, veterinarians can promote tissue repair and regeneration, offering relief to pets with chronic joint conditions or certain degenerative diseases.
Orthopedic Advancements: Orthopedic pet surgery has seen remarkable advancements, with innovative approaches to joint replacements and repair procedures. Pets suffering from hip dysplasia, torn ligaments, and other musculoskeletal issues can now receive advanced treatments, which provides them a better quality of life.

Veterinary Surgery Advancements

Beyond specific techniques and technology, veterinary surgery, as a whole, has seen improvements that benefit our beloved animals. These advancements have led to better surgical outcomes, reduced risks, and enhanced overall care for pets needing surgical interventions.

Improved Anesthesia: Safer and more effective anesthetic agents have been developed to significantly reduce the risks associated with anesthesia during surgeries. This allows for a smoother surgical experience and better postoperative recovery for our pets.
Enhanced Monitoring: Advancements in monitoring equipment have led to better real-time assessment of a pet’s vital signs during surgery. Close monitoring ensures early detection of any potential complications, enabling immediate intervention when necessary.
Laser Therapy for Post-Operative Healing: Laser therapy isn’t just limited to surgeries. It can be used post-operatively to speed up healing, reduce inflammation, and alleviate pain in pets recovering from surgical procedures.

The field of veterinary surgery has come a long way, offering hope and solutions for pets facing various health challenges. At Eastside Veterinary Associates, we are committed to providing our patients with the latest and most effective treatments available, and we will refer you to surgical specialists should you need them.

While we will refer you to veterinary surgeons for orthopedic or very complex surgical procedures, we are here to serve your pet with exceptional wellness, preventive, and dental care. Bring your dog or cat to Eastside Veterinary Associates for leading-edge veterinary care. Call us at (425) 882-7788 (Kirkland), (425 )276-4100 (Newcastle), or book an appointment online today.

Aug 24

Love0

Keeping Senior Dogs on the Move with Arthritis Pain Management

By Laci Frazier Uncategorized

Despite our best efforts, pets age. Unfortunately, with aging comes challenges and health conditions that we cannot entirely prevent. Eastside Veterinary Associates sees many senior dogs who suffer from joint pain and decreased mobility. Just because your pet is aging, though, doesn’t mean that we are totally helpless. There are many options for pet arthritis pain management that we have to offer your older animal.

Arthritis in Senior Dogs

Arthritis can affect any animal of any age, size, or breed. Most commonly, though, we diagnose osteoarthritis (also known as degenerative joint disease) in our senior dogs and cats.

Injury and normal wear and tear result in the degradation of the cartilage and inflammation with joints. Symptoms can include:

Lameness
Decreased physical activity
Lowered interest in activities like play and going for walks
Pain
Decrease in range of motion

While arthritis is a progressive disease with no cure, it is possible to slow its progression and manage the discomfort that comes along with it.

Options for Arthritis Pain Management

When our veterinarians diagnose or suspect arthritis in a senior dog, the plan for treatment is often multi-faceted.

Arthritis pain management is based in a few basic areas:

Weight management—Carrying extra weight can add stress to already compromised joints. We may recommend a healthy weight loss plan to help your pet be more comfortable.
Physical activity—Regular, gentle physical activity is helpful to keep pets mobile and comfortable. Be sure to keep a schedule of regular activity instead of large bursts of intense activity. Therapeutic exercises and treatment with a rehabilitation specialist can also be very helpful.
Joint supplements/nutraceuticals—There are lots of options for dietary supplements that can potentially help with joint problems. These are often building blocks of normal cartilage, compounds thought to decrease the negative effects of inflammation in the joint, pain relief, and lubricant enhancers. They tend to work best early on in the course of disease. Commonly utilized examples are omega 3 fatty acids, glucosamine/chondroitin supplements, poly-sulfated glycosaminoglycans, hyaluronic acid, and, more controversially, CBD oil.
Pain medications—Pharmaceutical medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatories are often powerful tools for decreasing pain and inflammation and improving mobility for senior dogs. Other pain medications such as tramadol, gabapentin, and amantadine can also be helpful in individual situations.
Alternative therapies—There are other alternative therapies that include therapeutic laser treatments, joint injections, acupuncture, and pulse electromagnetic field treatments that may be helpful for some patients.

There is no single treatment plan that works best for every senior dog. Rather, it is best to assess the individual patient and determine a combination of therapies to achieve arthritis pain management and improve mobility. Our veterinarians will start with a thorough history, physical exam, and additional diagnostics based on the findings to tailor the treatment plan to your senior dog.

We might not be able to cure arthritis or prevent aging, but we are here for you to help keep your pet as comfortable and happy for as long as possible. Contact us with questions or to start a treatment plan for your pet.