 We are thrilled to announce the addition of Dr. Sophia Upton to the CSAH team! She joins Dr. McCullough, Dr. Saglimbeni (back from maturity leave in early 2026), Dr. Fagan, and our dedicated and compassionate team of Veterinary Technicians, Receptionists, and Groomer to care for your pets. A proud graduate of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Dr. Upton went on to earn her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. Her curiosity and dedication have shaped a career focused on three of her favorite areas: animal behavior, surgery, and dentistry. Whether she’s performing a delicate procedure or helping a nervous pup feel comfortable, Dr. Upton’s calm, caring approach shines through in everything she does. When she’s not in the hospital, Dr. Upton’s life is delightfully full of fur and fun. She shares her home with her husband, their adventurous Husky mix, Pooka, and a regal Persian cat named Remy, who (naturally) runs the household. Outside of veterinary life, you’ll find Dr. Upton tending to her garden, experimenting with watercolor paints, or getting lost in a great book. Book an appointment with Dr. Upton or one of our other amazing doctors!
 We are thrilled to announce the addition of Dr. Mark Fagan to our team! Dr. Fagan joins Drs. McCullough and Saglimbeni and the rest of the CSAH team to care for your beloved, furry family members.
Dr. Fagan brings over a decade of veterinary experience, a calm and compassionate approach, and a lifelong love of animals to every patient visit. Originally from Queens, New York, Dr. Fagan moved to Boston to attend Tufts University for his undergraduate studies and never quite left. (Meeting his future wife there may have had something to do with it!) He went on to earn his veterinary degree from Cornell University and has been practicing since 2013, including several years as the owner of his own clinic. As a dedicated general practitioner, Dr. Fagan is known for his gentle demeanor, clear communication, and commitment to providing high-quality, personalized care. Whether he’s treating a routine case or helping a family navigate a more complex diagnosis, he always takes the time to listen, explain, and connect. Outside the clinic, Dr. Fagan enjoys traveling, running, and spending time with his busy household, which includes his children and two energetic dogs. He’s also a big fan of classic 80s and 90s movies. Dr. Fagan looks forward to partnering with you to keep your pets happy and healthy for years to come. Book an appointment with him or another CSAH veterinarian today!  For this blog we are only using pictures of our own pets who have passed but have not been forgotten. Euthanasia vs Natural Passing: What’s right for my pet? Every pet owner wants what’s best for their pet. This is true from the moment a pet joins your family, but it’s especially true as a pet grows older and as difficult questions about their care begin to surface. In the past we’ve discussed one of the most daunting questions pet owners eventually face1; How do I know when it’s time? But with evolving attitudes around end of life care, and with increasing options for veterinary palliative care, pet owners are more and more frequently asking another question: How do I know euthanasia is right for my pet, period? Each pet, each family, and each situation is different. As such, these questions don’t have a universal answer. That said, understanding the options in detail is the best way to make a decision that accounts for the needs of both your family and your pet. These topics are hard, but not talking about them only makes them harder. Let’s talk about them together. Defining Terms Before we go further, we have a few terms to define. You may already be familiar with some of these terms, but having common definitions will be helpful for our discussion:
 Euthanasia and Palliative Care: Tools in the Same Kit There exists a historical view of euthanasia and palliative care as being opposites: palliative care is viewed as “doing everything for your pet” while euthanasia is viewed as “ending their suffering quickly.” Fortunately, especially with the constant advances of veterinary medicine, these options aren’t mutually exclusive. Rather than euthanizing at the first sign of a terminal illness, palliative care techniques allow us to keep a pet comfortable for as long as possible, only turning to euthanasia when the time is right. A pet suffering from kidney disease may receive medications and subcutaneous fluids to assist with kidney function; this is an example of palliative care. When the pet stops responding to these treatments, or when intensive treatments become too taxing to a pet’s quality of life, it may be time for a conversation around euthanasia. You can still “do everything for your pet,” including sparing them from further suffering when the time comes. The Process of Natural Passing While pet owners hope that a natural death can be a quiet, peaceful passing in the familiar comfort of an animal’s own home, this isn’t always the case. If pet owners don’t have an idea of what to expect, the realities can be deeply traumatic. As a pet starts to decline, body systems gradually shut down due to lack of blood flow and oxygen. Pets may start breathing heavily and you may hear a “death rattle” as mucus builds up in the throat. Pets will stop eating and drinking, may vomit, and may soil themselves as they lose the ability to control their bathroom habits. Pets may experience pain or discomfort for days as their bodies gradually decline, and they may experience abrupt episodes of thrashing, respiratory distress, and vocalization. If pursuing natural death for a pet, it’s advised to have pain medications and a backup plan, such as an at-home euthanasia service or 24 hour facility, in case a pet goes into crisis.  The Process of Euthanasia Euthanasa can still be difficult, especially for those who have never experienced the process. If you decide euthanasia is right for your pet, here is an overview of what you can expect. Modern veterinary euthanasia is typically carried out through a combination of injectable medications. Your pet’s veterinarian may first administer a sedative to ensure the procedure can be carried out safely and successfully. Next, they will place an intravenous catheter to ensure easy access to a vein. Once the catheter has been placed, the veterinarian will administer a combination of anesthetic and anticonvulsant drugs; these induce muscle relaxation, stop signals to the brain, and ease your pet into unconsciousness and death. You may observe a few breaths, muscle spasms, or vocalizations, and your pet may empty their bladder or bowels, but these are all results of the body’s relaxation rather than signs of pain or distress. Finally, your veterinarian will listen to confirm that both breathing and the heartbeat have stopped. If you would like to spend additional time saying goodbye to your pet at this point, the veterinarian can leave the room and allow you to do so. Closing Thoughts Saying goodbye to a beloved pet is always hard, and it can feel even harder because of the responsibility we owe them. A human facing terminal illness can decide how aggressive a treatment they want to pursue and can make the choice to decline treatment when their quality of life worsens or when the cons of treatment outweigh the pros. Pets can’t make these choices for themselves; instead, they depend on us to make decisions in their best interest. Whether you elect for euthanasia or natural passing, it’s good to consider the options and how you’ll feel about each ahead of time; nobody wants to make the choice under duress. If the options are a little too heavy to weigh on your own, we’re only a phone call away - we’d be happy to help you figure out what’s right for your family.  A Word on Grief
It’s normal and expected to feel grief after the loss of a pet, just as you would after the passing of any other family member. Indeed, grief is a healthy response and an important part of the healing process. Talking about grief is one of the best ways to work through it, especially if others in your household feel similarly; some family members may even be thankful someone else broached the topic. Of course, friends and family can only do so much. If you’re struggling with grief and need additional support, there are resources available. Tufts University operates a Pet Loss Support Hotline, and Ohio State University’s Honoring the Bond Program has compiled numerous readings, videos, support groups, and other resources to help pet owners dealing with grief. Grief is normal, and showing these emotions or asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness. If you’re struggling after the loss of a pet, please don’t hesitate to reach out or utilize the resources above - we know it’s what your pet would want for you.  Hearts are miraculous little things! We’ve all got one, people and pets alike, and they all work hard to keep our blood pumping and our bodies healthy. We’re all familiar with the steady, rhythmic, comforting sound of a heart beat, but what about a heart murmur? What is this unusual sound, what causes it, and is it something to be concerned about? Let’s tackle these cardiac questions one at a time!  What is a heart murmur? A heart murmur describes a type of abnormal sound that may be heard when listening to a heartbeat. A normal, healthy heartbeat has two distinct parts (ba-bump, ba-bump, ba-bump), which you hear as the heart contracts and expands to circulate blood. A heart murmur is an additional sound, typically heard in between these two parts (ba-woosh-bump, ba-woosh-bump). In a healthy heart, blood flows in a motion known as laminar flow- Have you ever held a spoon upside down under the sink, and watched as the water runs off in a curtain so smooth, it looks like it’s not moving at all? This is laminar flow, and it is the opposite of turbulent flow, where the water is splashing and spraying every which way. Turbulent flow is louder, in both your sink and your heart, so turbulent blood flow produces a heart murmur. Heart murmurs are graded on a scale of I - VI, with a Grade I being the most mild and a Grade VI being the most severe.  What causes a heart murmur? A heart murmur can occur any time the regular flow of blood is interrupted, which can happen for a number of reasons. Dogs, cats, and humans all have similarly structured hearts: four distinct chambers, separated by valves meant to keep blood flowing in a single direction. A heart murmur is often caused by a structural issue, such as a leaky valve, an irregularly-sized blood vessel, or a hole between two chambers. These structural defects, like heart murmurs themselves, can be congenital or acquired- congenital meaning they’ve been there since birth, and acquired meaning they appeared later in life. It’s not always about the structure of the heart, though. Heart murmurs can result from a number of other causes including fever, infection, obesity, pregnancy, or low levels of protein or red blood cells. Temporary heart murmurs are also common in growing puppies, often appearing by six weeks and resolving by five months.  Is a heart murmur serious? Heart murmurs are a symptom rather than a disease, and as such the severity can depend heavily on the underlying cause. As mentioned above, some heart murmurs are benign and resolve with time, while others are an indication of heart disease or other more serious concerns. If treatment is indicated, it is to treat any underlying disease rather than the heart murmur itself. Monitoring the progression of a heart murmur is important, and to this end your veterinarian may recommend annual or semi-annual echocardiograms (a non-sedated and non-invasive procedure that can produce high-quality images of the heart), alongside blood work or other lab tests. Based on these results, your veterinarian may recommend treatments including cardiac medication, prescription diets, or surgical correction. While the prognosis of a pet diagnosed with a heart murmur can vary greatly depending on the severity and underlying cause, early detection will always give a pet the best chance at a long, comfortable life.  Should I be very worried about my pet now?
It’s hard to talk about these things without them feeling scary. Fortunately, if your pet is currently happy and healthy, there’s no reason to panic! Annual checkups, as well as sick visits whenever something doesn’t feel right, allow your veterinarian to listen to your pet’s heart and catch any changes in their health early. Weight also plays an important role in preventing and managing heart disease, so talk to your veterinarian about whether your pet is at a healthy weight and, if not, what steps you can take to get them there. If your pet exhibits abdominal swelling, difficulties with breathing or sleeping, rear limb weakness, or bouts of fainting, schedule an appointment promptly, as these can all be signs of heart disease. Got questions we didn’t answer here? Or maybe it’s time to book a sick or well visit? Whatever the reason, drop us a line! We’re always happy to chat, answer any questions you may have, and schedule a visit if necessary.  Meet Roscoe! Roscoe is my imaginary Bernese Mountain Dog (I -author Alex - don’t have enough space for a real one), and for 100 lbs of dog, he’s an awfully big scaredy cat! Roscoe hates nail trims- any time he sees a clipper come near him, he’s suddenly howling and hollering and hiding under the couch. I don’t want to take Roscoe to the vet every time he needs a simple trim, and I don’t think my poor buddy enjoys being so scared all the time, either. So what can I do to help him? Desensitization and counter conditioning are two behavioral techniques that can help even the most reactive pets face their fears in a safe, controlled, productive environment. Today we’re going to learn more about these principles, and use them to come up with a plan to help my friend Roscoe courageously conquer his phobia of nail trims! (Of course, unlike your pets, Roscoe isn’t real. That’s why the method we talk about here can be applied universally, to help your own pet face whatever fears they may have. As we go along, think about how you can adapt Roscoe’s plan for your own use!)  Step 1: Identifying Stimuli First things first, it’s important to identify exactly what causes Roscoe to react; this is called a stimulus or a trigger. A lot of scary situations consist of multiple stimuli blurred together. Instead of listing “nail trims” as Roscoe’s stimulus, let’s try to get more specific- Does the sight of the nail clippers frighten Roscoe? What about their clicky-clacky sound? Is Roscoe always afraid of the nail clippers, or only when a person is actively holding them? Try to get specific, and pay close attention to which stimuli produce the strongest responses, as we’ll need this info in our next step! Step 2: Ordering Stimuli Through our work in Step 1, we’ve discovered that Roscoe doesn’t react to all stimuli equally! He starts to get nervous if a person approaches him while holding the nail clippers, but if they’re left on the table in the same room as him he’ll simply ignore them. However, we also discovered that Roscoe hates the clicking sound of the clippers, and will jump from zero to one-hundred as soon as he hears it. Ranking Roscoe’s stimuli from least to most likely to produce a reaction, we would say:
Step 3: Desensitization Desensitization refers to the process of carefully and gradually exposing a pet to a stimulus that produces an unwanted response, until your pet no longer produces this response in the presence of the stimuli. In Step 2 we identified the different stimuli that produce a reaction in Roscoe, such as the sight and sound of our nail clippers. Now it’s time for Roscoe to start facing them! To be most effective, desensitization should start with a low intensity of the most well-tolerated stimulus, then gradually work upward. In our example, “Sight of nail clippers” is our starting stimulus, and we know Roscoe already tolerates this well! Roscoe is used to seeing the nail clippers from a distance (for instance, left on a living room table fifteen feet from his favorite napping spot), so we can increase the intensity of this stimulus by leaving the nail clippers on an end table ten feet away, or on the opposite side of the couch five feet away. We should avoid picking the nail clippers up and carrying them towards Roscoe, as this overlaps with our second stimulus; in order to control the intensity of Stimulus 1 only, the nail clippers should be moved to a new location when Roscoe is not present to see. Once Roscoe can see and be close to the nail clippers without exhibiting fear, discomfort, or anxiety, we can move onto our next stimulus! We’ll repeat the process from the top, beginning our next stimulus at a low intensity and working upward again.  Step 4: Counterconditioning Sometimes, desensitization alone isn’t enough. In these situations, we can rely on a second tool called counterconditioning: the process of pairing a negative stimulus with a positive stimulus (like getting a treat or playing with a favorite toy), to gradually form an association between something scary and something pleasurable. Roscoe is very food-motivated, so we’ll use treats as our reward. We want a very high-value treat to offset the negative stimulus, and since we’ll be giving these treats frequently, they should be small enough to leave Roscoe wanting more. We’ll use very small cubes of cheddar cheese. It’s important that whatever negative stimulus Roscoe is experiencing is still mild enough that a cube of cheese can outweigh it; if I run at Roscoe with cheddar in one hand and clippers in the other, he’ll be too freaked out to enjoy his supposed reward. Instead, we’ll start when Roscoe is simply in the same room as the nail clippers, at a distance where he’s exhibiting little to no reaction. From here we can gradually increase the intensity of the stimulus the same way we did in Step 3. The goal of counterconditioning is that, when exposed to a stimulus (nail clippers), Roscoe’s existing response (fear) will eventually change to a new response (excitement over treat). We can observe this in Roscoe’s reactions; not only will Roscoe gradually stop showing a fear response, but eventually he’ll even look towards us expectantly whenever he sees the nail clippers. This indicates that the old association (nail clippers > fear) has been replaced with a new association (nail clippers > excitement over treat), and Roscoe is ready to move up to the next intensity or stimulus!  Step 5: Relax and Repeat!
Behavioral modification is a slow and steady process. Depending on the severity of your pet’s emotional response, and the length of time that response has existed, a desensitization and counterconditioning plan can take anywhere from a few hours to a few months. It can be tempting to rush the process, but don’t give in! Forcing a pet to continue a session when they are already uncomfortable can set your progress backwards, leaving your pet more sensitive to a stimulus than they originally were. If your pet begins showing signs of stress or discomfort, give them a break or end your session early, and always try to end a session on a positive note. Desensitization and counterconditioning sessions are most effective if done daily, so you’ll have another chance soon! It’s also worth acknowledging that desensitization and counterconditioning routines are just one tool in the larger behavioral puzzle. Your pet might additionally benefit from professional training, consultations with a behaviorist, or behavioral medications. These steps are a normal part of many pets’ care routines, and aren’t an indication that your pet is “poorly-trained,” or that the above methods weren’t used properly. If your pet experiences negative emotional reactions that you think might benefit from a professional eye, give us a call! We’ll be happy to help you put a plan in motion. Now if you’ll excuse me, Roscoe has some nails that need trimming. Where’d I leave the cheese?  February has been a busy month! Between Valentine’s Day, school vacation week, and the Super Bowl, you might have missed our favorite happening - its National Pet Dental Health Month, all month long!  Dental Disease - What is it, who’s got it? Over 80% of dogs over the age of three have some form of dental disease, as do over 50% of cats over the age of four. Sounds scary… But what does that actually mean? While humans mainly worry about cavities and tooth decay, animals suffer from a different host of dental problems. Cats and dogs alike are prone to periodontal disease; that is, infection and inflammation of the tissues surrounding the tooth, referred to as the periodontium. Periodontal disease is primarily caused by plaque, a slimy film that is “laid down by bacteria on the surface of the tooth, above and below the gum line.” From here the infection spreads into the tooth socket, and can damage bone and cause the loss of teeth. Between 20% and 60% of cats also experience some degree of tooth resorption, a condition in which one or several teeth gradually and spontaneously break down. We’d love to talk more about why this very bizarre thing happens, but we actually don’t know! Vets have a few theories, but none are confirmed. Cats are full of mystery, and their teeth are no exception. Brushing Off Concerns Dental disease sounds scary, and it’s a simple reality that nearly every pet will experience some degree of dental disease at some point in their life. Fortunately, there’s a lot you can do at home to help prevent dental disease, too! You can begin taking care of your pet’s teeth the same way you take care of your own: brushing those pearly whites. Dogs and cats alike benefit from having their teeth brushed, and with a proper routine you can help pets tolerate or even enjoy daily brushings. Start by getting your pet used to having their teeth and gums touched, and then introduce a toothbrush and toothpaste, gradually working up to longer brushing sessions. Be sure to use veterinary-approved brushes and toothpaste, as many human toothpastes in particular have ingredients that are toxic to pets! In addition to brushing, or if your pet makes brushing a challenge, there are other commercially available products that can help prevent or slow the buildup of plaque. Water additives, dental wipes, and dental chews or diets may all have a place in your pet’s complete dental care picture; as a guideline, the Veterinary Oral Health Council seal of approval can help you identify reputable products. It’s also important to ensure any toys you give are safe for your pet’s teeth. Our friends at Veterinary Dental Services in Boxborough discourage giving any toy or treat that can’t be bent or indented with your fingernail, as these are hard enough to potentially break teeth. In fact, Vet Dental has put together an entire helpful handout, outlining which toys are tooth-safe and which are a dental no-go. Check it out!  Diagnosing Doggy Breath While dental disease often requires a veterinary exam to detect or confirm, there are other symptoms you may notice at home. Terrible doggy breath might feel normal at times, but it shouldn’t! Alongside bad breath, dental disease also presents as loose or discolored teeth, decreased appetite, difficulty chewing or eating, and swelling, bleeding, or sensitivity around the mouth. At annual exams your veterinarian will also assess your pet’s teeth for signs or symptoms of dental disease, but there’s a limit to how much can be detected this way. For that reason, if dental disease is suspected, your veterinarian may recommend an anesthetic dental cleaning. Dental Cleanings and Extractions Humans have dental cleanings once or twice a year, and even get extractions without the need for general anesthesia. So why do pets need to be put under, just for a scale and polish? The main answer is that, unlike your pet, you understand why the dentist is poking around and pulling teeth. You may not be enthusiastic about the process, but you cooperate and allow it to happen. The same can’t be said for our pets, who are often already distressed or in pain at the time of a dental procedure. Putting a pet under anesthesia allows the attending veterinarian to more thoroughly examine and clean the entire mouth, including areas under the gum line, which can’t be checked on a standard physical exam. At the time of a dental procedure, our veterinarians will also take radiographs (x-rays) to get a more complete picture of your pet’s dental health. These radiographs can help to detect problems that are difficult or impossible to detect with the naked eye, and can provide more information as to where and when these dental extractions might be necessary. Pets need to be very still for this process, so it is once again difficult or impossible without anesthesia. After a dental procedure, your pet may be a little wobbly from anesthesia, and should be monitored for the next 24 hours to the extent possible. You may see a small amount of blood in your pet’s food or water dish, but this is a normal part of recovery and is nothing to be concerned about. If your pet had any dental extractions, you should feed wet food or softened kibble and restrict access to hard toys for 14 days. Owners sometimes worry that their pets will have difficulty eating after dental extractions, but the opposite is true: with those wiggly, painful teeth out of the way, your pet will eat better than ever!  Let’s Talk Teeth!
If there’s one thing to take away from this article, it’s that your pet will experience dental disease at some point in their life. Fortunately, you’re now well-equipped to face those problems as they come! Hopefully learning about dental disease will make it less scary when you do have to deal with it, and practicing the preventative measures outlined above can help you ensure that day doesn’t come any time soon, either. Of course, there are only so many questions we can answer in a blog. If you have questions we haven’t answered here, are worried your pet is showing signs of dental disease, or want to schedule a dental cleaning, reach out! We’d love to help you see your pet’s best smile.  Can you believe it’s already 2025? It feels like just yesterday we were ringing in the new millennium, and now we’re nearly a quarter-century in. With how fast the world changes, it can be hard to keep up with the latest trends and developments in pet care. That’s why we’re taking this chance to look forward to 2025: what sorts of pet care trends are we expecting to see in the new year, and do these trends live up to their own hype? If you’ve heard the buzz around raw diets, fitness wearables, alternative preventatives, or anything else trendy and new, read on!  New Year, New Meal Carefully regulating what we eat has long been understood as an important piece of our own health, so it makes sense that pet owners are turning a more critical eye towards their pets’ nutrition as well. With so many pet foods on the market, and more and more discussion around whether store bought foods are even best for our pets, it can be hard to know if you’re making the right choice. Raw diets have seen a recent surge in popularity; these diets focus on ingredients such as muscle and organ meats, bones, fruits, vegetables, and raw eggs, thought to be more in line with how dogs dined before they were domesticated. Advocates for the raw diet tout benefits such as shinier coats, cleaner teeth, and higher energy levels, but the experts aren’t so sure. An FDA study found raw pet food is more likely to be contaminated with potentially harmful bacteria compared to other pet foods, while the American Veterinary Medical Association bluntly “discourages feeding any raw or undercooked animal-sourced protein to dogs and cats because of their risk to human and animal health.” Even as we were writing this article, an Oregon-based raw food manufacturer issued a recall after contaminated food was confirmed to have resulted in a cat contracting H5N1 and dying. Grain-free diets have also gained popularity, for many of the same reasons as raw diets. Marketing would have pet owners believe grain-free diets are “more natural” and more in line with dogs’ evolutionary diets, and that this translates to health benefits over standard foods, but once again the jury is out. The FDA has an ongoing investigation into the link between grain-free diets and Dilated Cardiomyopathy, particularly in breeds not genetically predisposed to this condition. The initial promise behind grain-free diets may also be faulty; while many of these diets seek to eliminate nutritional “fillers” (ingredients designed to bulk out food without adding nutritional value), many fillers actually contain necessary fiber to maintain intestinal health. Diets seeking to remove these fillers without compensation won’t be nutritionally balanced. Concord Animal Hospital has long pointed our clients towards veterinarian formulated brands such as Royal Canin, Purina Pro Plan, and Hill’s Science Diet, as these brands invest heavily into research and development, and formulate foods to address specific health concerns, breed or age issues, dietary sensitivities, and so forth. Alternative diets can have a place in managing a pet’s health, but the one-size-fits-all approach touted by the manufacturers of raw, grain-free, and other boutique diets is often driven by the marketing machine, rather than an authentic concern for pet wellbeing. Finding the correct diet for your pet can take time, effort, and uncertainty, and it would be so much easier for pet owners if someone invented a miracle food fit for any pet. Food manufacturers know this- it’s why they’re all so eager to convince you they have.  Too Fit To Quit Dogs need exercise. Some breeds more than others, but any Border Collie or Australian Shepherd owner will tell you their dog doesn’t let them skip leg day. For a long time our view of canine fitness has been limited to walking, running, and the vigorous game of fetch. But in recent years, our whole concept of getting fit with your pet has expanded! Perhaps the biggest change has come in viewing pet fitness not as an extra chore to fit into our schedules, but as a part of our own fitness journeys. According to Colorado State University, this link goes both ways; your own physical activity can impact the activity and fitness of those around you (pets included!), while working out with a pet also makes owners more likely to stick with their own fitness goals and routines. Nearly any exercise you can imagine can be tailored to include your pet, from swimming and circuit training to dog yoga or canine crossfit! If having a structured routine helps you stay consistent, as it does for many, you may even be able to find hybrid canine-human fitness classes in your area. Just like with our own workouts, it’s important to pick activities that are a proper match for your pet and your fitness goals. Healthy adult dogs with decent stamina may enjoy long hikes in the woods, while more energetic dogs might prefer the frenetic bursts of action you find in circuit or agility training. Fitness wearables like fitbits and smart watches are another trend that have exploded for human use over the past decade, so it’s no surprise they’re picking up steam in the pet sphere as well. These devices boast a whole suite of data and monitoring tools, from step tracking and calorie burn to heart rate, body temperature, and behavioral irregularities that could indicate a health concern. Sounds pretty great! …Right? The promise of having this information at your fingertips can be enticing, especially for anxious pet parents, but it’s worth asking if all these data points are actually necessary. In our research we found plenty of tech journalists and gadget reviewers debating the reliability and performance of these devices, but we didn’t find a single veterinarian advocating for why you should own one in the first place. Wearable devices could have a place in monitoring specific metrics for pets with certain health conditions (and they already do, if you count devices like glucose monitors!), but if you’re simply worried about monitoring your pet’s activity levels, diet, or general health, the good, old fashioned methods should serve you just fine.  Alternative Medicine
Alternative medicine is a broad phrase; it can be hard to define what counts as medicine, and which of those medicines are then alternative. Some treatments we offer here at Concord Animal Hospital are considered to be alternative medicine, such as acupuncture, while other times alternative medicine is used to describe products or treatments that haven’t been adequately tested or researched, and haven’t undergone FDA or EPA approval. Flea, tick, and heartworm preventatives have been at the forefront of the alternative veterinary medicine trend, thanks to their cost, frequency of use, and complex ingredient lists. By comparison, inexpensive all-natural remedies such as garlic, tea tree oil, or boric acid can sound appealing… But do they actually work? In short, no. Store-bought “all natural” preventatives are typically a blend of alleged home remedies that can be harmful or outright toxic to dogs, and even the ones that won’t harm your pet are unlikely to offer real benefit. While some of these remedies can be successful in controlling sections of parasite populations, many only work against specific life stages such as larva or adults, meaning they won’t thoroughly eradicate a population. The prognosis is even worse for natural heartworm preventatives- because according to the American Heartworm Society (AHS), there are none. The AHS states that, while there are natural means of reducing exposure, “there’s no such thing as a ‘natural’ heartworm preventative.” The safest and most effective flea, tick, and heartworm preventions are, as is the case with most treatments, specially formulated prescription medications, designed for their exact purpose. These medications are carefully developed to ensure efficacy without adverse findings, and are tested at quantities higher than the recommended dosage to ensure safety. Additionally, use of prescription medications allows a veterinarian familiar with your pet to ensure a given medication is right for a given patient, factoring in histories and side effects in a way that can’t be monitored with over-the-counter medications or home remedies. Behind the Trends Being a pet owner is hard. New information comes out every day on what’s best for our pets, and it can feel impossible to sort through what’s reputable and what’s not. In researching trends for this blog we found all sorts of reports, analytics, and projections from marketing firms who generally cared about two things: where you spent your money last year, and where you’ll spend it this year. These “trends” are supported by sales figures and dollar signs rather than medical research, and they start from the conclusion that you should spend more money, before working backwards to justify this. Many of these trends capitalize on the anxieties of caring, well-meaning pet parents (Is my dog getting enough exercise? Are the foods I’m feeding them healthy? Are these medications safe?), because an anxious pet parent is more likely to buy something than a reassured pet parent. So let us take a moment to say… You’re doing amazing. Your pet loves you, you love them, and that love isn’t measured in the money you spend. You’ve taken care of them every day since they’ve joined your family, and you’ll continue to do so, this year and for many more to come. Listen to the advice of veterinarians and the slow-and-steady pace of veterinary research, but don’t let anyone frighten you into buying their solution to a manufactured problem. Hopefully this blog can give you some peace of mind in 2025, but if you do have worries, give us a call! At the end of the day, no new trend compares to speaking with an expert who knows your pet’s unique health and history. Have faith in your own pet-parenting ability this year, and to pets and people everywhere… Happy New Year!  If you’ve turned on the news recently, chances are you’ve heard talk about bird flu. Also known as avian flu (and sometimes referred to by the strain H5N1), bird flu is a strain of the influenza virus found primarily in birds. Human cases are rare, but present as fever, difficulty breathing, gastrointestinal upset, and conjunctivitis. At this time, cases in domestic animals are extremely limited.  The Current State The H5N1 virus has existed for several decades now, but has come and gone from relevance based on the number of observed cases and the concern for cross-species transmission. The CDC is monitoring the spread of bird flu in the United States, and classifies the current public health risk as “low.” The vast majority of human cases have come from agricultural employees working in close proximity to infected cattle or poultry, while the CDC reports no known person-to-person spread at this time. At present there have been two confirmed cases of bird flu in cats in the United States. There are no known cases of bird flu in dogs at the time of writing. Concerns for Progression While the CDC reports a low current public health risk, a major point of concern comes from the ability of viruses to mutate rapidly, giving rise to new strains with new characteristics. While bird flu poses minimal threat to humans and pets in its current form, the American Veterinary Medical Association cites concerns that “H5N1 will eventually mutate into a lethal strain capable of human-to-human transmission.” Because of the rapid pace of developments, it’s good to frequently update yourself through a reliable source such as the CDC’s Bird Flu Situation Summary. Concerned about your own outdoor bird or pet that's been in contact with a wild or outdoor bird?  What You Can Do
At present the risk to you and your pets is low, but especially with concerns around mutation, there are common-sense steps you can take to reduce this risk further. Bird flu has only been found in two domestic animals thus far; both were cats who were fed raw diets in opposition to the advice of veterinarians and public health officials. The CDC advises avoiding direct contact with living or dead wild birds, bird feces, or potentially infected stagnant water such as ponds, puddles, and bird baths. If you visit any especially high-risk locations such as farms (relevant in our area!), the AVMA also recommends cleaning and disinfecting clothes, shoes, and hands before interacting with your pets. In summary… Practice common sense. Don’t touch wild or dead birds, and don’t let your pet eat them. Don’t feed your pets unpasteurized animal proteins. If you believe you’ve been in contact with any surface that may be infected, thoroughly wash your hands and disinfect any affected clothing. It’s natural to worry about your pets, and after 2020 it’s hard not to brace for the worst any time we hear about a new virus or a new strain. Right now the risk of you or your pets contracting bird flu is very low, and our team is closely monitoring the updates to know if and when that may change.  Mark your calendars! Thanksgiving gatherings, holiday parties, New Year celebrations, and more are on the horizon; if you tend to play host, you’ll soon have guests galore to help warm your home in these colder months. Hopefully you’re excited about that, although we all know hosting can be stressful- and doubly so if you have pets in the house! Fortunately we’re here with the holiday cheer, as well as some advice for managing guests and gatherings in a way that’s safe and festive for all. Read on to learn about toxic foods, managing pet stress around guests, safely decorating your home for the holidays, and more!  Common Food Toxins A tasty dinner or hearty spread is the key to any good party, but pet owners also know how chaotic mealtimes can get. Many holiday foods contain ingredients that are harmful or toxic to pets, such as turkey trimmings, garlic, raisins, and chocolate. These dangers may be old news to pet owners themselves, but a lot of your guests won’t know the rules as well as you do. Make it explicit to all guests that they shouldn’t feed pets any human foods or table scraps, and consider leaving pet-safe treats or kibble out so your guests have an approved way to feed the animals. Note that doing so will probably mean your pet gets fed a lot more than usual during the party; while they’re sure to be thrilled, you might consider feeding a smaller breakfast or dinner before or after the party to balance this. Human Guests Hopefully you’re excited to see your guests, though we all know how family can be. One way or another, even the most sociable pets may be put off by all these strangers in their home. Consider setting up a safe room inside your house, filled with all your pet’s favorite toys, blankets, and their bed, and make this room off-limits to party guests. Your pet can hide here when they get overwhelmed, and you can also confine your pet here as guests arrive or leave, to prevent anxious pets from making a break for the open front door. If you want your dog to be a social butterfly at parties, you can start training them early to get them used to strangers in their home. Additionally, be aware that even dogs who usually do well with strangers may be especially territorial or reactive when inside their own home - they have to keep you safe from these intruders, after all! Similarly, even dogs who usually love attention may become overwhelmed if they’re the center of it for too long, so keep a close eye on your pet to watch for signs of stress or discomfort. If they look like they need a break, take them to their safe room and let them have one!  Animal Guests If you’re hosting a party that will include any four-legged RSVPs, you’ll want to take extra steps to make sure your own pets get along with these newcomers. If you’re trying to introduce two dogs, an ideal method involves walking the two dogs in neutral areas such as parks or streets, keeping them parallel and separated at a distance of about thirty feet; this process may need to be repeated multiple times to form a positive relationship. Similar to above, these introductions can be good preparation to do ahead of time, so your dogs are already eager and excited to see each other when the party rolls around! If these early introductions aren’t possible, maybe because a friend or family member is traveling with their dog from out of town, you can also use a similar method to introduce two dogs outside on a lawn or driveway. Get them acquainted outside the house, then keep them on-leash when you bring them inside, and be ready to separate them if the need arises. Doggy Décor Any good party has to have the perfect atmosphere, and decorations go a long way towards this. But if you have pets in your home, or will around the holidays, all your favorite decorations can quickly turn into a messy, four-legged playground. A simple rule to prevent this is to keep decorations out of reach; hang all your leaves, garlands, lights, and other holiday trappings high enough that pets won’t be able to swat, pounce, or chew. Run wires along high up areas, or run them through PVC or fish tank tubing to protect them against nibbly teeth. When it comes to more natural decorations like garlands and Christmas trees, artificial versions can be preferable, as they lack that outdoorsy smell that can confuse or entice pets. Many plants commonly used to decorate, such as mistletoe, holly, and poinsettias, are harmful or poisonous to pets if ingested, making them equally great candidates for synthetic lookalikes.  Pet Costumes
If you’ve decorated your whole house and all your guests are bringing their ugliest sweaters, you may want to dress your pet up for the occasion as well! Pet costumes can be a great way to make your pet the star of the show, but they can also be a source of stress or harm. If you’re planning on dressing up your pet, simple is often better. The less bits and pieces, the less likely the costume is to restrict movement or breathing, cause overheating, or end up torn and chewed on. Always be sure your pet can move and breathe freely once in their costume, and watch carefully for signs of stress or discomfort. If your pet really isn’t having it, downgrade the ugly Christmas sweater to an equally-tacky festive collar. Conclusion The holidays are a stressful time of year, and doubly so if you’re playing host. You should enjoy your party, not spend the whole time worrying your pet got into this or that. Fortunately these precautions are designed to cut out as much of that seasonal stress as possible, so you can focus on your most important host responsibility: spending time with your guests! So give yourself the gift of peace of mind now by running through these steps and precautions ahead of any upcoming gatherings. Of course, even the most perfectly planned parties still have mishaps. If you’re gearing up before a large gathering, you might also be interested in our friends at Concord Animal Hospital's blog on home remedies or our resources page for a list of nearby, 24-hour hospitals. In case your pet does get into something they shouldn’t, starts to act a little odd around a party, or if you just have questions we haven’t answered here, give us a call! And if you’re already calling anyway… Maybe you could invite us in?  Did you know? October 7th-13th is World Pet Obesity Week. According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, 59% of dogs and 61% of cats in the United States are estimated to be overweight or have obesity. Meanwhile, only 17% of dog owners and 28% of cat owners recognize their pets as overweight. This discrepancy is alarming, especially since obesity is entirely preventable once you know it’s there! To learn more about pet obesity, whether or not your pet is in this statistical majority, and what you can do if they are, read on!  Pet Obesity Risks The obvious question many pet owners may ask is… What’s the big deal with pet obesity? Does it really matter if your pup is packing a few extra pounds? Unfortunately, yes. While it is possible for pets to be healthy at different weights, there are well-documented links between obesity and a number of other health conditions. VCA Animal Hospitals reports that dogs with obesity are at higher risk of diabetes, heart disease, cancer, osteoarthritis, and high blood pressure, and that obesity can reduce a dog’s life expectancy by nearly two years. The science hasn’t been studied quite as in-depth with cats, but we still have every reason to believe the effects are similar. Causes of Obesity What causes obesity? You may already be jumping up to answer: too much food, too little exercise! While these are the major contributing factors, there are other risk factors you may not be aware of. Metabolism is another big component; that is, how quickly and efficiently a pet’s body breaks down the food they’re given. Older dogs, female dogs, and neutered male dogs all tend to have lower metabolisms, which puts them at a higher risk for obesity. Certain breeds are also at a higher risk, such as many terrier breeds, spaniels, dachshunds, beagles, and labrador retrievers. Dogs with mobility issues such as osteoarthritis are also predisposed, since they’re likely to be less active in their day to day lives.  Recognizing Obesity Your veterinarian can always help you assess whether your pet is overweight or has obesity, but there are simple ways to check at home as well. For dogs, you can estimate their body fat by feeling along their ribs just behind their front legs. Compare this to the back of your hand; if they feel about the same, your dog has a good body condition! If it feels more like the palm of your hand, your dog may be overweight. Conversely, if your dog’s ribs feel or stick out like knuckles, they may be underweight. You can perform a similar test with cats by attempting to feel their ribs or backbone. For a more visual representation, you can also compare your pet against the Body Condition System chart, designed by Purina and used widely across the veterinary world. Managing Obesity So you’ve discovered your pet is in the over 50% of pets who have obesity. What do you do next? Losing weight is the first step, and dietary changes are a major component of this. However, reducing the quantity you feed your pet with no other adjustments can lead to nutritional deficiencies. It’s important to consult with your veterinarian when making these changes, as it may be best to add supplements or change your pet’s food to a weight-loss focused diet. Snacks and treats are also a big dietary culprit, and should make up no more than 10% of your pet’s total food intake. This is easier to manage in large dogs, but in especially tiny dogs a single treat can take up that whole allotment! Exercise can be another major component of weight loss, though dogs with severe obesity may need to shed weight through dietary management first before they can safely manage the increased activity necessary for weight loss. To increase activity, increasing the duration and intensity of walks is a good starting point. According to VCA Animal Hospitals, “Walking for weight loss is very different than walking for pleasure. You should aim for a daily, brisk, 30-minute walk. With this sort of walking, you should break into a slight sweat within a few minutes.” Once the desired weight has been lost, maintaining weight becomes the important second step. Portion control is key to this step; as tempting as it may be to reward progress with an extra treat or two, or to ease dietary restrictions once your pet is in a healthy weight range, this can end up undoing all your and your pet’s hard work.  Preventing Obesity
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Even if your pet is at a healthy weight now, there are simple steps you can take to maintain this healthy weight and stop obesity before it starts. Measuring food portions allows better control than simply eyeballing them, and allows you to ensure you’re not unknowingly overfeeding your pet. Adhering to strict, specific meal times will help your pet stick to a routine and will minimize begging, which reduces the temptation for humans to help them cheat on their diet. Routine weigh-ins can also help with accountability, and will allow you to catch any changes in weight early. Get Fit Together! We can all think of a few ways we could be healthier in our own lives, but starting and sticking to a routine is hard. Fortunately, having a buddy makes it easier! A lot of our tips for helping your pet lose weight- regular meal times, vigorous walks, decreased snacking- are good tips for humans as well. Weight-loss walks can be a great chance to work exercise into our own routines, and solidarity with a dieting pet can be just the thing we need to resist cheating on our own diets (you’re not really going to eat that cookie when Luna can’t have one, are you?). A recent study even suggests that combined dog-human weight loss plans are more effective than either plan individually! Of course, as your veterinarian, we want to be a part of your pet’s health journey as well! If you’re worried about your pet’s weight, need advice on exercise or nutrition, or just want a weigh-in, give us a call! We want to see your pet happy and healthy, and we’re always happy to chat. |
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Contact Information:
Cambridge Street Animal Hospital 156 Cambridge St #1B Burlington,MA 01803 (339)234-6007 [email protected] Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 8am-5pm |
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