Paddock Paws Veterinary Services

"Don't ignore a bite or puncture. Small wound, big infection risk."

Every wound deserves a closer look. Even small cuts, punctures, and scratches can become infected because bacteria are common in the environment. Dog and cat bites are especially concerning because their mouths contain many types of bacteria, and their teeth can drive those bacteria deep into tissue, increasing the risk of infection.

Call us or send a picture if you ever have any concerns about a wound your pet has

Cytology is one of the most important diagnostic tools in small animal medicine because it allows veterinarians to examine cells from tissues or body fluids quickly, minimally invasively, and at relatively low cost. In both dogs and cats, cytology helps diagnose a wide range of diseases, guide treatment decisions, and determine whether more advanced testing is needed.

Importance of Cytology in Dogs and Cats
-Rapid Diagnosis 💨
-Minimally Invasive Procedure

Samples are commonly collected using fine-needle aspiration (FNA), impression smears, or swabs.

Most procedures require little or no sedation and cause minimal discomfort.

Diagnosis of Tumors: Cytology helps differentiate between benign and malignant masses.

Detection of Infections: Cytology identifies bacteria, fungi, yeast (e.g., Malassezia), and occasionally parasites. 🦠

Cytology distinguishes among:
-Suppurative (neutrophilic) inflammation
-Eosinophilic inflammation
-Granulomatous inflammation
-Mixed inflammatory responses

Assessment of Body Fluids
Examination of pleural, peritoneal, pericardial, cerebrospinal, synovial, and urine sediments helps diagnose:
-Effusions
-Hemorrhage
-Septic processes
-Neoplasia
-Joint diseases

Evaluation of Skin and Ear Diseases
-Skin scrapings, tape preparations, and ear swabs are routinely examined cytologically.

Cytology identifies:
-Bacteria🦠
-Yeast
-Inflammatory cells
-Parasites in some cases 🐜🐜
-It guides appropriate antimicrobial or antifungal treatment.

Monitoring Treatment Response
Repeated cytologic examinations help assess whether infections or inflammatory conditions are responding to therapy.

Cytology is an essential diagnostic technique in canine and feline practice. It offers rapid, minimally invasive, and cost-effective evaluation of masses, skin lesions, body fluids, and inflammatory or infectious diseases. While it has limitations, cytology is often the first diagnostic step and complements histopathology and other laboratory tests, enabling veterinarians to make timely and informed clinical decisions.

"Watch the eyes. Catch the signs."

Healthy eyes should be:
Bright and clear.
Free of redness.
Have minimal discharge.

Watch for:
Cloudiness: Cataracts, corneal disease, glaucoma, or aging changes.
Red eyes: Infection, allergies, irritation, or glaucoma.
Yellow or green discharge: Infection.
Excessive tearing: Irritation, blocked tear ducts, allergies, or eye injury.
Squinting or pawing at the eye: Pain from a scratch, ulcer, or foreign object.
Unequal pupils or sudden vision loss: Requires urgent veterinary care.

A cat's ear is often notched (or "ear tipped") to show that the cat has already been through a Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program.

In TNR:
A free-roaming or feral cat is humanely trapped.
The cat is spayed or neutered.
It may also receive vaccinations (commonly against rabies) and sometimes other basic care.
While the cat is still under anesthesia, a small portion of the tip of one ear—usually the left ear in the U.S., though practices vary—is surgically removed.
The cat is then returned to its outdoor home.
The ear tip serves as a permanent, visible marker that lets animal control officers, veterinarians, and caregivers know the cat has already been sterilized. This helps prevent the cat from being trapped and undergoing anesthesia or surgery again unnecessarily.

It's important to distinguish ear tipping from accidental damage:

Ear tipping is a clean, straight cut across the tip of the ear.
Torn or ragged notches can result from fights, injuries, frostbite, or other trauma and don't necessarily indicate the cat has been spayed or neutered.
If you see a friendly pet cat with an ear tip, it may have been adopted after going through a TNR program, so the ear tip can remain even though the cat now has a home.

Happy Fourth of July to all our clients and their furry family members! 🇺🇸🐾
We hope you have a safe, fun-filled holiday celebrating with family, friends, and pets. Wishing everyone a wonderful Independence Day! ❤️🤍💙🐶🐱

🦟 Fleas, Ticks, and Mosquitoes Don't Take Summer Vacations—Neither Should Prevention!

“Fireworks for us, fear for them.”

“Loud skies, scared pets—plan ahead.”

call us to discuss any plans or concerns to keep your pets safe this July 4th
561-444-8119

Happy Joke Day! 😄
Why did the dog sit in the shade?

Because he didn't want to be a hot dog! 🌭🐶

Wishing you and your pets plenty of smiles and tail wags today! 🐾

LARGE DOGS 88 POUNDS AND MORE AND SMALL DOGS UNDER 20 POUNDS WE ARE RUNNING A SPECIAL ON HEART WORM MEDICATION
CALL TODAY TO INQUIRE
561-444-8119

Send a message to learn more

“Seas the day with your pup.”

🌊🐳🐠🐱🐱🐩🐱