Deshon Animal Hospital Teaches Your Dog Obedience through Behavior Counseling

Puppies are like children, except a whole lot easier to train. If you think your puppy has some bad habits, you’re not alone. It has been reported that ten to 15 percent of owners say that they have pet behavior issues. We count on our pets for companionship, love, play, exercise, and well-being, but problem behaviors can interfere with the healthy bond between dog and human, creating stressful situations. Thankfully, at Deshon Animal Hospital, we offer behavioral counseling to correct behavioral issues with training and, in some cases, medication.

Puppies are not the only ones who need training, however. Many adult dogs need to undergo behavior counseling if they have developed bad habits such as begging for food at the table, or jumping up on guests. Any time the safety or well-being of either the pet or human is in question, a professional should be brought in to determine the best course of action. Resource guarding, reactive behavior, biting awareness or other behavior issues whether learned or inherited, can be unsafe if not managed or modified.

Some behaviors are easy to resolve with awareness, education (daily training), reshaping, and relationship interaction style. Behavioral change requires a genuine commitment in how you, family, friends and visitors interact with your dog, in a variety of environmental changes.

If you have a dog that might benefit from behavior counseling, please give us a call. For questions or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Jamal Toler DVM, call 770-482-7816 or visit the Deshon Animal Hospital website, www.deshonanimal.com.

Deshon Animal Hospital Offers Microchipping Services for Animals

At Deshon Animal Hospital, our staff understands that every pet owner’s worst nightmare is having their pet run away. Fortunately, to relieve some of your fear, we offer microchipping services so that if this unfortunate event were ever to occur, you’re more likely to reunite with your furry friend. Microchips are implantable computer chips that encode a unique identification number to help locate your lost pet. Unlike collars and ID tags that can also help find your pet, microchips can never break or fall off.

Microchips are tiny transponders, about the size of a grain of rice, which can painlessly be placed behind the shoulder under your animal’s skin. Microchips have no long term side effects and each microchip has its own barcode that links to your pet’s information. If a lost pet is found by an animal control officer or animal shelter, the animal can be scanned and their owner’s address and contact information will be shown.

In order for a microchip to work, you will need to register the microchip and keep your contact information up-to-date which our staff will show you how to do. By giving your pet a microchip you are giving yourself and your pet the best chance of a speedy, happy reunion using secure, reliable, unique, and permanent identification.

If you have further questions regarding microchipping for your animal, please give us a call. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Jamal Toler DVM, call 770-482-7816 or visit the Deshon Animal Hospital website, www.deshonanimal.com.

Deshon Animal Hospital Offers Nutritional Counseling for Your Pet

As humans, we know how important a healthy diet is to our overall well-being and the same applies to your pets. Being overweight and out of shape makes us feel tired, inactive, and unhealthy, overall. In addition, we are at risk for developing physical illnesses if we don’t properly take care of our bodies. Most of us treat our animals like a member of the family, which is why it’s important to take care of them as you would yourself, if not better. Fortunately, Deshon Animal Hospital can assist through this process by providing your pet with nutritional counseling.

Pets need to be put on specific diets and workout plans to stay in good health, just like humans do. By keeping your pet on a proper diet and workout plan, it can increase their life expectancy by up to 2-3 years. On top of the extended life expectancy, you will also notice a happier pet with fewer stomach issues, less sensitive skin, and a nicer coat. This is because through proper nutritional counseling your pet is receiving the proper nutrients he or she needs.

Upon evaluating your pet’s current nutritional condition and nutritional habits, we will make specific recommendations as to the type and amount of food your pet should be eating as well as any supplements he or she might need. In addition, our staff will provide you with a workout program for your pet that will keep them active and healthy.

If you are interested in receiving nutritional counseling for your pet, please give us a call. For questions or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Jamal Toler DVM, call 770-482-7816 or visit the Deshon Animal Hospital website, www.deshonanimal.com.

Deshon Animal Hospital Stresses the Importance of Wellness and Physical Examinations Every Six Months

Unlike people, animals cannot alert us when they need medical attention. This is why it’s important to schedule a wellness examination at Deshon Animal Hospital every six months. A wellness examination is a routine medical examination of a pet that is apparently healthy, as opposed to an examination of a pet that is ill. During a routine wellness examination, Dr. Jamal O. Toler, DVM will ask you questions about your animal’s diet, exercise, thirst, breathing, behavior, habits, etc. He will also perform a physical examination. Your pet is a member of your family and when you visit our office they become a member of ours.

Many pets are masters at hiding health problems, especially felines. Because our animal friends tend to hide them, visiting Deshon Animal Hospital on a regular basis will help pick up on these problems, sometimes preventing them from worsening and becoming serious. Regardless of age, these visits help to detect and monitor diseases and can detect problems early when they are the easiest to treat.

Going to the vet is an important part of your pet’s life. Therefore, you should not only visit the vet just because your pet becomes ill. Your pet’s longevity depends on routine checkups. An exam lets us check your pet’s health status, and talk to you about how his or her care might need to change in the road ahead.

If you are concerned that your furry friend may need a physical examination, don’t wait any longer and give us a call. For questions or to schedule an appointment for your pet, call 770-482-7816 or visit the Deshon Animal Hospital website, www.deshonanimal.com.