1. Top Ten Winter Hazards
2. Ten Inexpensive Things You can Do to Keep Your Dog Healthy
3. Top Ten Reasons to Own a Pet
4. Ten Inexpensive Things You can Do to Keep Your Cat Healthy
5. Top Ten Foreign Bodies Surgically Removed from the GI Tracts of Dogs
6. Top Ten Diseases in Dogs
7. Top Ten Problems in Puppies
8. Top Ten Mistakes Pet Owners Make When Trying to Control Fleas
9. Top Ten Toxic Substances
10. Top Ten Problems in Kittens
11. Top Ten Problems of Senior Dogs
12. Top Ten Diseases in Cats
13. Top Ten Lab Tests at BFVC
14. Top Ten Problems in Senior Cats
15. Top Ten Reasons to feed a Premium Pet Food
16. Top Ten Hazards & Emergencies
17. Top Ten New Advances in Veterinary Medicine
18. Ten Signs for an Emergency Visit
19. Ten Poisons

Click on one of the links to the left to take you to that "Top Ten" item.

Top Ten Winter Hazards

1. Burned paw pads from sidewalk salt 2. Hypothermia 3. Weight gain from less exercise 4. Chocolate poisoning is more likely during winter holidays 5. Ingestion of holiday decorations 6. Drinking Christmas tree water 7. Vomiting from eating holiday plants 8. Vomiting from eating holiday foods 9. Antifreeze poisoning 10. Injuries from slips and falls

Ten Inexpensive Things You can Do to Keep Your Dog Healthy

1. Feed less food - 40% of our canine patients are overweight or obese.
2. Play more- exercise is good for the mind and the body.
3. Take care of your dog's teeth-brushing or feeding a tartar control diet reduces the cost of dental care later on.
4. Do as much wellness screening as you can afford- catching problems earlier costs less in the long run.
5. Feed a good brand of food- cheap food leads to health problems that can be costly.
6. Give heartworm medication every month, on time- 40% of pet owners forget at least one dose, putting the pet at risk for both heartworms and intestinal parasites. You've paid for the medication, in many cases- don't forget to give it!
7. Use flea and tick products as recommended- ticks carry deadly diseases, and fleas cause anemia, carry tapeworms, and cost a lot to get rid of once they've infested your home.
8. Start glucosamine supplements when your pet becomes a senior, for healthier joints in old age and less need for expensive prescription joint medications down the road.
9. Buy your best friend a seatbelt and don't let him ride with his head out the car window. In an accident pets usually fly into the windshield or out the window and eye injuries are common from flying debris.
10. Pet-proof your home- half the emergency calls we receive are about pets who ate something they shouldn't have, often leading to expensive veterinary bills.

Top Ten Reasons to Own a Pet
(OK, so we list 12 - 10 wasn't enough)

1. At least someone will be happy to see you when you come home
2. Children with pets have less risk for allergies and asthma
3. Seniors with pets are healthier and have less trips to the doctor
4. Heart attack victims with pets have much higher survival rates and recover faster
5. People who own dogs exercise more often
6. Children with pets are more likely to grow up to be compassionate, caring adults
7. Women are attracted to men who like or own animals
8. Pets make us feel needed and useful
9. Pets keep us in tune with nature and the cycle of life
10. Pets lower blood pressure and stress levels
11. Pets teach us about loyalty, trust and unconditional love
12. Pets make us laugh

Ten Inexpensive Things You can Do to Keep Your Cat Healthy

1. Feed less food - 40% of our feline patients are overweight or obese.
2. Play more- exercise is good for the mind and the body.
3. Take care of your cat's teeth-brushing or feeding a tartar control diet reduces the cost of dental care later on.
4. Do as much wellness screening as you can afford- catching problems earlier costs less in the long run.
5. Feed a good brand of food- cheap food leads to health problems that can be costly.
6. Keep your cat indoors- less worry and expense for flea control and extra vaccinations, less risk of serious illness or accidents.
7. Provide high perches- cats like vertical space and having a nest at the top of a cat tree or on the refrigerator makes cats feel safe and reduces stress.
8. Provide enough litter boxes and keep them clean- one for each cat in your house plus one.
9. Don't use over-the-counter flea collars sold in stores- they can cause cancer.
10. Don't feed too much canned fish flavored cat food- they are associated with thyroid tumors.

Top Ten Foreign Bodies Surgically Removed from the GI Tracts of Dogs

1. Socks
2. Briefs
3. Pantyhose
4. Rocks
5. Balls
6. Chew toys
7. Corn cobs
8. Bones
9. Hair ties and scrunchies
10. Sticks

Top Ten Problems in Puppies

1. Intestinal parasites
2. Behavior problems
3. External parasites
4. Injuries
5. URI (upper respiratory infection)/tonsillitis
6. Gastritis/Enteritis
7. Foreign body ingestion - ate garbage
8. Retained deciduous (baby) teeth
9. Urinary tract infection (UTI)
10. Staph Pyoderma - skin infection

Top Ten Mistakes Pet Owners Make
When Trying to Control Fleas

1. Waiting until they actually see fleas
2. Treating only the pet that appears infected
3. Not using flea products at the prescribed intervals
4. Not knowing the correct source of the fleas
5. Believing a store-bought flea collar will keep fleas away
6. Incorrect application product
7. Fences and leashes do not offer protection
8. Using control products only in summer
9. Unrealistic expectations of products
10. Not getting rid of the flea source

See complete article in our Best Friends
Bulletin Winter 2008 (click here)

Top Ten Toxic Substances

1. Ibuprofen
2. Chocolate
3. Ant & roach bait
4. Rodenticides (mouse/rat poison)
5. Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
6. Cold medications containing pseudoephedrine
7. Thryroid medication
8. Bleach
9. Fertilizer
10. Hydrocarbons- paint, varnish, furniture polish, lighter fluid

Top Ten Problems in Kittens

1. Intestinal parasites
2. Ear mites
3. External parasites
4. Injuries
5. URI (upper respiratory infection)
6. Foreign body ingestion
7. Ringworm
8. FeLV or FIV infection
9. Behavior problems
10. Diarrhea

Top Ten Problems of Senior Dogs

1. Arthritis
2. Dental disease
3. Obesity
4. Dry Skin
5. Changes in vision or hearing
6. CRF - chronic renal failure
7. Cancer
8. Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
9. Canine Cognitive Dysfunction
10. Hepatitis (liver disease)

Top Ten Diseases in Cats

1. Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (bladder problems)
2. Gastritis - vomiting
3. Chronic Renal Failure (CRF)
4. Diabetes mellitus
5. Upper Respiratory infection (URI)
6. Otitis - ear infections
7. Conjunctivitis - inflammation of the lining of the eyelids
8. Hyperthyroidism
9. Abscess
10. Atopic dermatitis - inhalant allergies

Top Ten Lab Tests at BFVC

1. Fecal Float
2. Heartworm test
3. Pre-anesthetic screen
4. Urinalysis
5. Single recheck test
6. Wellness chemistry panels
7. Fecal cytology
8. Complete Blood Count (CBC)
9. Ear swab
10. Other cytologies

Top Ten Problems in Senior Cats

1. Obesity
2. Dental disease
3. CRF
4. Hyperthyroidism
5. Cancer
6. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
7. Hypertension/Heart Disease
8. Hepatitis (liver disease)
9. Diabetes
10. Allergies

Top Ten Reasons to feed a Premium Pet Food

1. Shiny hair coat, healthy skin
2. Less stool volume because more of the food is digestible
3. Decreased risk for allergies and arthritis
4. Lower risk for cancer
5. No artificial flavors or colors, less sodium and fillers
6. You can feed less, since you get more nutrition per pound of food
7. Less risk for bone and joint problems
8. Greater immune system function
9. Decreased injury rates
10. Decreased risk for FLUTD (bladder problems in cats)

Top Ten Hazards & Emergencies

1. Ate something it shouldn't have
2. Lameness or orthopedic problem
3. Allergic reaction
4. Vomiting/diarrhea
5. Urinary tract problem
6. Abscesses & wounds
7. Seizures
8. Incisions not healing properly/licking, chewing or swelling
9. Cardiac or Respiratory disease
10. Serious injuries such as being hit by a car

Top Ten New Advances
in Veterinary Medicine

1. CT and MRI
2. Physical Therapy
3. Laser surgery
4. Ultrasound
5. Oncology
6. Pain management
7. Specialty and referral practices
8. Tablet computers
9. Acupuncture and alternative medicine
10. The Human-Animal Bond

Ten Signs for an Emergency Visit

1. Persistent Vomiting
2. Ovbious hemorrhage or bleeding
3. Change in color of the gums- pale, yellow, dark red, or bruising
4. Sudden obvious lameness
5. Breathing difficulty
6. Seizures
7. Sudden blindness, head tilt or inability to walk
8. Difficulty or inability to urinate
9. Abdominal or back pain
10. Depression and lethargy

Ten Poisons
(Ten wasn't enough here, either)

1. Sweet Snacks and Gum
2. Grapes and raisins
3. Moldy food
4. Paint balls
5. Glue, uncluding gorilla glue
6. Bread dough
7. Chocolate
8. Mouse or rat poison
9. Antifreeze
10. Ant traps
11. Alcohol and recreational drugs