Your other Family Doctor
Dr. Gill and our team are committed to bringing you and your pets better health by practicing the science of Veterinary Medicine. Northridge based Porter Pet Hospital was founded in 1982. Since then our staff has been performing veterinarian medicine and compassionate animal care in the Northridge area. Porter Pet Hospital is a full-service Animal Hospital with Boarding and Grooming Facilities whose mission is to provide the highest standard of quality and compassion in veterinary care for our patients and welcoming, informative, and supportive service for our clients, while maintaining a superior working environment for our employees.
Porter Pet Hospital offers the Northridge animal community standard medical, surgical, and dental veterinary care. We have an in-house pharmacy, lab, radiology facilities, and Intensive Care Unit, our facility enables you to make one stop for your pet's medical care. We are open for appointments during our normal business hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00 am - 6:00 pm and Saturday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm. We also have Vaccine Clinics daily.
Visit the "Specials" tab to learn about nifty tricks to keep your pet healthy as well as some money-saving deals!
5 Ways to Help Your Pet Live Longer
1. Feed a High Quality Diet
Pets fed a high quality diet have a shiny hair coat, healthy skin, and bright eyes. A good diet can help strengthen your pet's immune system, help maintain his or her intestinal health, help increase his or her mental acuity, help keep joints and muscles healthy, and much more.
2. Keep Your Pet Lean
Pets that are overweight are at risk for a myriad of health issues. Obesity is the number one nutritional disease seen in pets currently, and studies have shown that being overweight or obese can shorten a dog or cat's life span by as much as two years. Why? Being overweight or obese puts your pet at risk for joint disease, heart disease and diabetes, among other things.
3. Take Your Pet to the Vet Regularly
All pets, including both dogs and cats, require regular veterinary care. However, veterinary care goes far beyond routine vaccinations, even though those are important. A routine examination by your veterinarian can uncover health issues of which you are unaware. In many cases, an early diagnosis improves the chances of successful treatment. Early diagnosis is also likely to be less costly for you than waiting until your pet's illness has become advanced and serious before attempting treatment.
4. Keep Your Pet's Mouth Clean
A common problem among dogs and cats, dental disease and oral health issues can cause your pet pain, making it difficult for him or her to eat. If left untreated, oral health issues may even lead to heart and kidney disease. In addition to regular dental checkups, the most effective means of caring for your pet's mouth at home is to brush his or her teeth at home. If your pet isn't a big fan of toothbrushes, there are other alternatives, including dental diets, treats, and toys. Ask our veterinarian for some recommendations.
5. Do Not Allow Your Pet to Roam Unsupervised
Allowing your dog or cat to roam free may seem like you're doing your pet a favor. However, pets that roam are susceptible to a number of dangers, including automobile accidents, predation, exposure to contagious diseases, exposure to poisons, and more. Additionally, allowing your pet to roam unsupervised may alienate your neighbors should your pet ever "relieve" him- or herself in their lawn or dig up their garden.
6. Prevent Against Parasites
Parasites can cause a variety of health concerns for your pet - and even death. One of the biggest concerns is the potential for them to spread to people. Veterinarians divide parasites into two main categories - ectoparasites (such as fleas, ticks, and mites) and endoparasites (such as heartworms, roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms). Our practice offers both preventative and curative treatments for parasites. Of course, we prefer to prevent parasites to save your pet the discomfort of parasite infection and minimize your family's risk.
*Information courtesy of petMD.com/Lorie Huston, DVM
PET DISASTER KIT CHECKLIST
Emergencies come in many forms, and they may require anything from a briefabsence from your home to permanent evacuation.Leaving pets out of evacuation plans can put pets, pet owners, and firstresponders in danger. Even if you try to create a safe place for them, petsleft behind during a disaster are likely to be injured, lost, or worse.Before a disaster strikes, find out what type of shelters and assistanceare available in your area to accommodate pets and include pets in yourfamily disaster plan to keep them safe during an emergency.Each type of disaster requires different measures to keep your pets safe,so the best thing you can do for yourself and your pets is to be prepared.Use this handy checklist from FEMA to get you started!
