Category Archives: Cat Care
What greater gift than the love of a cat? -Charles Dickens
It’s the human-cat interactions that keep our bond strong with our feline family. And with the spring season upon us, it is important that we follow-up with their health and well-care check ups. We take care of each other. And with the spring season upon us, it is important that we follow-up with their health and well-care check ups. For outdoor cats, the threat of intestinal parasites are more prevalent in the warmer weather. If you haven’t done so already, start using flea and tick medication to prevent intestinal diseases. We offer heartworm testing and leptospirosis vaccines. Ask us the best way to keep your cats safe and healthy. Here at ABC Animal Hospital, we put your pets first. We want your family to enjoy the season — together.
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Call ABC Animal Hospital to schedule your pet’s next well care visit and don’t forget to give us a ‘like’, ‘tweet’ and ‘follow’ on social media.
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This Holiday – treat your pets to a Dr. Dan’s Shampoo Gift Set.
This holiday season we’ve got a real treat for your dogs and cats.
Announcing Dr. Dan’s Pet Shampoo Gift Boxes! Each gift box contains four packets of Dr. Dan’s All Natural Pet Shampoos.
Each $10 gift box includes Lavender and Vanilla, Lemon Spearmint, Orange Scented, and Hypoallergenic single use shampoo packets — each hand wrapped in a beautiful gift box.
Dr. Dan’s Gift Sets are sold online and at ABC Animal Hospital, part of the larger line of Dr. Dan’s pet products which include skin scrub, foot pad cream and body powder products.
At ABC, we love using these naturally scented pet shampoos for our clients whose pets have sensitive skin and coats. These products are gentle and effective cleansers that contain high quality ingredients such as essential oils and lanolin.
You can learn more about Dr. Dan’s Pet Products at www.drdanspetcare.com/ and buy them online at www.etsy.com/shop/DrDansPetProducts .
Allergy season and your itchy pets
About that itch..
Many of our clients ask during the summer how they can reduce their pet’s excessive itching. While low quality pet shampoos use harsh chemicals to mask a dog’s odors, a high quality shampoo will safely remove allergens caught in your pet’s coat. We suggest avoiding shampoos with artificial colors or artificial fragrances that may irritate your pet’s skin. If your pet is itchy during summer months, the best way to prevent a skin infection is to reduce the bacterial population resident on the skin. You should use of a high quality shampoo such as those dispensed through your veterinarian. At ABC Animal Hospital we have an assortment of high quality skin product including our own label brand – Dr. Dans. Stop by for a free sample through the month of August.
About Dr. Dan’s products:
Dr. Dan’s Pet Products follow a philosophy to create effective and natural skincare products for your pet free of harsh and artificial chemicals. Created in NYC using high quality plant based ingredients our products are dedicated to improving your pet’s quality of life. Each product we design has been formulated to address specific issues such as strong odors, itchy skin, and ear infections.
Dr. Dan’s is a family business, created as a healthy alternative to keeping pets clean. Dr. Dan’s products are simple, safe, and effective.
Currently Dr.Dan’s pet shampoos are sold at ABC Animal Hospital, located in the East Village of New York. Dr. Dan’s Shampoo can also be purchased online at their Etsy shop. ABC Animal Hospital also uses Dr.Dan’s pet products such as the skin scrub, antibacterial body powder, and lanolin foot pad cream for clients of the animal hospital.
Pet Care Tips from Your Local NYC Veterinarian
Eli the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel sits on our chair at ABC Animal Hospital in the East Village, NYC.
Pet owners sometimes overlook easy ways to improve their pet’s health and longevity. Two common issues we see at ABC Animal Hospital are obesity and dental issues. There are many pet foods on the market, but many are not focused on your pet’s health. Encouragingly, the best food for your pet is not necessarily the most expensive but will depend on your pet’s individual needs. We recommend and sell Hill’s Prescription Diet as they create a variety of food products for different ailments, which we recommend based on your pet’s individual needs.
Another critical issue is dental problems in both dogs and cats. Pets have evolved to hide symptoms of pain and owners may not know if their pets have cracked teeth or painful gums. Regular brushing, a proper diet, and dental check ups can reduce dental issues, but only a proper veterinary dental cleaning will remove plaque and tartar buildup.
Contact us at (212) 358 0785 to set up an appointment for your pet! We provide consultations for weight loss and offer dental cleanings. ( Ask us about our February dental special!).
New clients can also register your pets directly on our website. If you have any medical related questions – you can ask us for free through our website’s Ask the veterinarian page.
New Yorkers – Protect your Pets from Parasites!
Spring has finally come to NEW YORK and with it come fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes which transmit diseases to your pets. April is the time to start using heartworm medication. Flea and tick medication may be used year round depending upon where your pet travels. Tick populations and tick related illnesses will be higher this year in the New England area so preventative care is extremely important in keeping your pets safe.
Flea and tick infestations can be costly to treat and can also put your pets at risk to diseases such as lyme disease, erhlichiosis, and anaplasmosis. It’s safer for your pets and more economical to practice good preventative treatments against these parasites.
There are a number of products both topical and oral which are very effective in preventing fleas, ticks, and heartworm. You should speak to a trusted veterinarian for advice on appropriate parasite preventative medications for your pets.
In some instances your pets may need to be tested before the appropriate medication can be prescribed. At ABC we offer the Accuplex Canine PANEL which tests for heartworm, lyme disease, ehrlichia, and anaplasma. We can also help you decide which type of preventative medication would be most suitable for your pet.
We sell Iverhart Plus, Frontline Plus, topical flea and tick spray, and flea and tick shampoo and can write you a prescription for the most appropriate medication for your pet.
For more information or to make an appointment:
Call us at (212) 358 0785 ( we’re open 7 days a week)
Email us at doc@abcanimalhosp.com to have someone call you back
New clients can also register your pets directly on our website. You can also ask us a question about your pets through our website’s Ask the veterinarian page.
A Tip for Ticks
If you visit upstate New York, Long Island, or anywhere in New England with woody or grassy areas, check yourselves and your pets for ticks immediately upon returning home. Pay extra attention to the groin, armpits, toes, ears, and around the neck.
As you can see in the photo above, ticks will change in size depending on their age and time of season. Ticks need to be attached for 24 to 36 hours to transfer pathogens so it is especially important to remove ticks as soon as possible.
Ask ABC: 4 common questions about Heartworm for New Yorkers
This is our first post in our ASK ABC series – addressing real questions we get from our clients.
1. What is a heartworm?
Heartworms are worms that live in the heart, lungs, and blood vessels of infected pets. They can cause heart disease, lung failure, and damage other organs in the body.
2. How can my pet get heartworms?
Mosquitoes are carriers of heartworms and can transmit it to your cats or dogs. They can live for several years in your pet, and cause long lasting damage even after the worms are removed.
3. How at risk is my pet from getting heartworms?
This depends on where you live and where travel with your pets. To see data on heartworms and other parasites in your area you can use parasitesandpets interactive map. New York’s map is shown below.
Risks of heartworm infection are higher than usual during mosquito season. This usually begins in Spring, from April until November. Heartworm protection is especially important for pets who travel to places with mosquitoes (wooded, gassy areas, upstate etc), or to states where there are higher risks for heartworm.
Screenshot from Parasitesandpets.com – interactive map for Heartworm data in New York County. As you can see: New York county has a low risk ( 1/125 cases), but there are counties close by that have a moderate risk.
4. How can I protect my pets from heartworms?
Early detection and prevention is key to protecting your pets. At ABC Animal Hospital one recommendation we give after examining a pet is an oral medication to prevent heartworm disease. We trust and sell Iverhart – a chewable medication. (We keep our prices competitive to make it available for all our clients). We provide quick and easy heartworm tests for your pets in-house so results can be provided almost immediately.
You can contact us at (212) 358 0785 to make an appointment for an exam and a heartworm test.
New clients can also register your pets directly on our website. If you have any medical related questions – you can ask us for free through our website’s Ask the veterinarian page.
We hope that this helped clear things up about what heartworms are, and how you can protect your pets. Let us know in the comments if there are any other questions we can answer, and please share this if you found it helpful.
*Disclaimer: This blog is meant only to offer general advice to pet owners. it cannot replace advice given to you by a veterinarian. Reading our blog does not establish a client-patient relationship between you and ABC Animal Hospital. If you suspect that your pet is sick, contact a veterinarian you trust for a proper examination. We can be reached at 212 358 0785.
Enrich your pets life with this awesome DIY toy!
This is a great toy – with bonus points for using a recycled bottle. Pets need to be physically active and also mentally stimulated as boredom and excess energy can lead to behavioral problems. Plus – it just looks like a really fun game!
Bond by brushing your cats teeth!
It’s not uncommon for owners to notice a behavior change in their pets after a professional teeth cleaning because the chronic pain and infection in their mouths have been removed. Dogs act like puppies again and cats aren’t as reclusive and grouchy. Dental issues can be uncomfortable or painful for your pets and you should bring them to a trusted veterinarian if you notice any signs of dental disease. Dogs and especially cats are instinctively driven to hide symptoms of pain, and suffer in silence.
We’re relying on YOU as parents to know your pets, and when you need to bring them to a vet.
Red flags for dental disease include extremely bad breath, red swollen gums, loose or sensitive teeth.
Prevention is the best way to keep your pets healthy, and it begins by knowing your pets body – inside and out.
This post focuses on cats as they are more likely to keep this painful disease hidden from sight, and more owners need to be brushing their cats teeth.
You should brush your cats teeth both to examine the teeth and to help prevent /slow down costly and painful dental diseases.
HOW to brush a cats teeth in 3 simple steps:
- Have your cats get used to having their gums lifted and teeth examined during their daily massage. (lucky them!)
- Repeat step 1 until they trust you to touch their gums and teeth.
- When they are comfortable, use a cotton bud or an abrasive cloth and rub gently along the teeth. The goal is to remove the sticky substance on the teeth before it turns into tartar.
(You don’t have to use toothpaste, only use one that is made for cats if you do).
If you aren’t sure if your cats teeth need to be cleaned we’re here to help you.
Call us at (212) 358 0785 ( We’re open 7 days a week).
Email us at doc@abcanimalhosp.com to have someone call you back.
New clients can also register your pets directly on our website. You can also ask us a question free of charge about your pets through our website’s Ask the veterinarian page.
ABC Animal Hospital NYC Blog 