Broad Ripple Animal Clinic Blog

If you’ve got four spare minutes in your day, you can help take the stress out of nail trims for your dog! Just four minutes, three to four times a week and your dog will soon be on his or her way. If you continue with these steps, your dog will become more comfortable with this process and won’t run or hide when you clip nails at home or go to the veterinarian or groomer. Read the rest of this entry »

Does your barking dog drive you crazy? Does it seem like the more you try to get him to stop, the worse it becomes? Don’t worry…you’re not alone! This is one of the most common behavior complaints made by dog owners.

Why does your dog bark?

*Dogs bark to warn other dogs of their territory.

*Dogs may bark when separated from their family.

*Dogs sometimes bark when anxious, afraid or frustrated.

*Medical problems, especially as your dog ages could also contribute to barking.

In many cases, we inadvertently make our barking dog problem worse, by yelling or constantly telling them to be quiet when this happens. There are several ways to prevent a barking problem, as well as methods to correct unwanted barking. Read the rest of this entry »

by Elizabeth Murphy, DVM

Everyone knows that doing a crossword puzzle every day helps keep our brains sharp as we get older. But what about our pets? Well, taking your older dogs for a walk every day is the canine equivalent of getting them to do a daily crossword puzzle. Dogs “read” the environment on their walks by sniffing the ground or the closest lamppost for information on the other dogs that have passed by, such as their age, their gender, their health and even the amount of adrenaline coursing through their veins! Dogs have 200,000 olfactory, or smell, receptors, in comparison to the human number of 20,000, so they get a great deal of information from their environment, which their minds must then process and interpret.

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Dr. Elizabeth Murphy

by Dr. Elizabeth Murphy

When your dog or cat was very young, it probably seemed as if there were huge changes in size and development every day or every week.  Once adulthood arrived, you may have even breathed a sigh of relief that life with your pet was more peaceful and predictable.  The “senior” years and their changes may have arrived so gradually that you didn’t even notice, but changes can begin to occur in the later stages of life at the same fast pace that you noticed at the beginning. Watching for these changes can help you not only to understand what is going on with your pet, but also to be proactive about medical problems that commonly occur as pets age.  Please keep an eye on this blog in the coming weeks – several articles will be posted that will help you anticipate the good things that come with age as well as plan for the some of the inevitable difficulties. Read the rest of this entry »

Did you know: Dental care has saved the lives of more pets than any other advance in the field of veterinary medicine in the last 25 years?

• Smaller dogs and cats live 15-20% longer if they receive dental care as needed throughout their life.
• Larger dogs live 10-15% longer if they receive dental care as needed throughout their life.
• Bad teeth and gum disease can trigger serious, even life-threatening health problems including heart, kidney, liver and joint disease.
• In human medicine, a link between gum disease and heart conditions has been well established. Research shows the same thing happens in pets. A recent study by Dr. Larry Glickman of Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine (JAVMA, Feb. 2009) showed that dogs with gum disease had more heart problems (study included 59,296 dogs).

If you’re not currently brushing your pet’s teeth, or you’ve had bad luck trying to brush in the past, we want to help get your pet’s dental care back on track! Give us a call at 317-257-5334 or 317-726-2711 to schedule a complete oral examination and we’ll teach you some stress-free ways to care for your pet’s teeth and gums.

Recent policy changes with most airlines has led to a certain amount of confusion when traveling with pets. Today, most airlines are not asking for a health certificate from people who are carrying their pets on board.

This change is probably part of a plan to make the boarding process more efficient. The fact of the matter is that if you are crossing state lines with your pet, within the continental United States, you must carry proper documentation. The legal requirement for documentation when traveling from one state to another is a valid health certificate and a certificate of rabies vaccination. Both certificates must be signed by a veterinarian. Read the rest of this entry »

The northeast was just hit by a blast of stormy winter weather this weekend, which reminds us that we always need to be prepared for emergencies when it comes to cold weather and our pets. It’s a very good idea to have a winter emergency kit prepared before getting snowed in. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s early December and the cold weather is about to hit the Midwest with a vengeance. Are you and your pet prepared for freezing temperatures, snow and ice?

Unless your dog is a Husky, Samoyed or Malamute, he’s probably not all that thrilled with winter weather and being outdoors for too long. Going on walks will be more challenging, but with a few precautions, you and your dog can continue to enjoy exercising outdoors.

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Dr. Christine Heinz has been chosen as the 2010 Nestle Purina PetCare Award! We are so proud of Dr. Heinz’s accomplishment, as it is a well-deserved recognition for her hard work as a veterinarian.

One American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) member veterinarian is chosen each year in recognition for their outstanding efforts to positively influence the lives of animals and people. This year, Dr. Heinz was nominated by one of her clients. This nomination was supported by two more client essays, telling the stories of their relationships with Dr. Heinz over the past few years.

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Broad Ripple Animal Clinic and Wellness Center is pleased to announce a new level of client service for our loyal BRACpet clients! We now offer a text messaging service for members of the BRACpet Club. What are the benefits to joining?

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