July 2020

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Cats' bodies are extremely flexible; the cat skeleton contains more than 230 bones (a human has about 206), and the pelvis and shoulders loosely attach to the spine. This adds to their flexibility and allows them to fit through very small spaces.

Using their swiveling ears like radar dishes, experiments have shown that dogs can locate the source of a sound in 6/100ths of a second.

​The term “dog days” has nothing to do with dogs. It dates back to Roman times, when it was believed that Sirius, the Dog Star, added its heat to that of the sun from July 3 to August 11, creating very high temperatures.

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Buy 12 doses of Heartgard and 6 doses of NexGard, get a $35 rebate
 
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Learn more.
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Welcome Dr. Nicole Santabarbara!

​My name is Dr. Nicole Santabarbara and I am beyond excited to be joining the ACOC team in June 2020. I grew up in Seven Hills, Ohio with a family full of crazy cat people (myself included.) Despite taking a career assessment in middle school that told me I’d make a great construction worker, I never wavered in my desire to help animals and people through veterinary medicine. I completed my undergraduate work at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio where I studied zoology and community-based leadership. I went on to complete my veterinary degree at The Ohio State University. Go Bucks! My interests within the field include feline medicine, dentistry, behavior, and dermatology. Outside of work you can catch me biking, at the rock climbing gym, or checking out a local art show with my boyfriend. Every day I am grateful that I get to be a part of the wonderful field of veterinary medicine and I couldn’t image doing anything else! 

Dr. Nicole Santabarbara will be joining ACOC on Monday, July 6th. We are ecstatic to have her join our team! 

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Summer Cat and Dog Safety Tips

​Keep your pets comfy, cool and safe when the weather gets warm!

Summer’s here, and that means there are some important things to think about when it comes to your pets. Warm weather can be dangerous for our pets. It’s hard for pets to keep cool when the sun is beating down, and that’s because animals don’t sweat like people do. You probably knew that dogs cool themselves through panting, but did you know that they sweat through their paws too? When there is only hot air for a dog to breathe, it’s a lot harder for that dog to keep cool.

While cats tend tolerate the heat a little better than dogs, and even prefer it (we’ve all seen a cat stretched out on a sunny windowsill), that doesn’t mean that you should forget about your cat this summer! Read on to learn some important summer safety tips for dogs and cats.

1. Never, ever, EVER leave your pet in a hot car. It can take minutes – yes, MINUTES –for a pet to develop heat stroke and suffocate in a car. Most people don’t realize how hot it gets in parked cars. On a 78 degree day, for instance, temperatures in a car can reach 90 degrees in the shade and top 160 degrees if parked directly in the sun! Your best bet is to leave your pet home on warm days. If you’re driving around with your dog or cat in the car, bring water and a water dish and take your pet with you when you leave the car.
2. Keep the paws in mind. When the sun is cooking, surfaces like asphalt or metal can get really hot! Try to keep your pet off of hot asphalt; not only can it burn paws, but it can also increase body temperature and lead to overheating. Also, it’s not a good idea to drive around with your dog in the bed of a truck – the hot metal can burn paws quickly (and they can fall out or be injured or killed in an accident).
3. Water and shade. Do your best to keep your furry friend cool and comfortable when you’re out and about. If you and your pet are out in the sun for an extended period of time, make sure there’s plenty of water available to avoid dehydration. Also, get your pet into the shade as much as possible. 
4. Haircuts. If you have a pet with a thick coat, consider a haircut! One inch is a good length to avoid sunburn (yes, pets can get sunburns too!) and also keep your pet cool.
5. This one’s for the cats: keep your windows screened! We all know cats love windowsills. You may want your house to be ventilated, but you definitely do not want your kitty to fall out!
6. Stay safe at barbecues. Backyard barbecues are a lot of fun, but the food and drinks offered can be bad for pets. Keep your pets away from alcohol and foods like grapes,onions, and chocolate.
7. Keep your pets away from fireworks. The dangers are obvious – pets are at risk for fatal injuries and painful burns if they are allowed to run around freely when fireworks are being used. Some fireworks also contain chemicals toxic to pets like potassium nitrate and arsenic. Not to mention, the loud noises can be frightening and disturbing to pets (remember, their hearing is many times better than ours).

And perhaps most important, pay attention to your dog and cat – you’ll know when they seem uncomfortable or like they might be in some trouble. Summer can be a great time to spend with your dog or cat, but it’s important to keep these tips in mind as the days grow longer!

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Petriage - Telemedicine & More!

The Animal Clinic of Chardon is proud to offer our clients a telemedicine option for their pets. Petriage allows you to check your pet’s symptoms online and book a virtual vet appointment if necessary.  You’ll still have all the exceptional knowledge and care from our doctors, just in a virtual format. It also allows you to reach the doctor on-call, so it's beneficial to create an account now in case of future emergencies.
 
Petriage can be accessed via our website, through our Vet2Pet app, or you can download the app for your smartphone or tablet.

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Dog Days of Summer

​Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the annual Dog Days of Summer event on Chardon Square has been postponed. The new date is September 19th.  Please visit the Facebook event page for up-to-date information. 

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Curbside Service

At this time, we are continuing our curbside service for appointments. When you arrive in our parking lot, you can now check-in via our app.  

Just click the chat button in our app to let us know you are here. We will then contact you with further instructions. 

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