• Our Hospital
    • About
      Wilkinson Vet
    • Meet Our Team
    • Payment
      Solutions
    • New Client Special
    • Why Choose
      Us?
    • Employment
    • Our Videos
  • Our Services
    • Preventive Care
    • Wellness Exams
    • Vaccinations
    • Puppy/Kitten
      And Senior Pet Care
    • Early Disease
      Detection Testing
    • Parasite Prevention
      And Control
    • Nutritional Counseling
      & Pet Weight Loss
    • Pharmacy
    • Microchipping
    • General Medicine
    • Pet Allergies And Dermatology
    • Dental Care
    • Laboratory
      and Diagnostics
    • Pain Management
    • Surgery
    • Pet Emergency Services
    • Internal Medicine
    • Radiology/X-Rays
    • Ultrasound
    • Specialty Vet
      Services
    • Laser Therapy
    • Exotic Animals
    • Doggie Day Care
    • Bathing & Grooming
    • Boarding
  • Client Forms
  • Resources
    • Reviews
    • Blogs
    • News &
      Promotions
    • Pet
      Resources
    • FAQs
  • Special Offers
  • Home Delivery
  • Contact
  • 704-457-7600
Wilkinson Animal Hospital
Wilkinson Animal Hospital
Schedule Your Appointment
704-457-7600
{{custom-field business-name}} Logo
Schedule Your Appointment
704-457-7600
    Wilkinson Animal Hospital Logo
  • Our Hospital
    • About
      Wilkinson Vet
    • Meet Our Team
    • Payment
      Solutions
    • New Client Special
    • Why Choose
      Us?
    • Employment
    • Our Videos
  • Our Services
    • Preventive Care
    • Wellness Exams
    • Vaccinations
    • Puppy/Kitten
      And Senior Pet Care
    • Early Disease
      Detection Testing
    • Parasite Prevention
      And Control
    • Nutritional Counseling
      & Pet Weight Loss
    • Pharmacy
    • Microchipping
    • General Medicine
    • Pet Allergies And Dermatology
    • Dental Care
    • Laboratory
      and Diagnostics
    • Pain Management
    • Surgery
    • Pet Emergency Services
    • Internal Medicine
    • Radiology/X-Rays
    • Ultrasound
    • Specialty Vet
      Services
    • Laser Therapy
    • Exotic Animals
    • Doggie Day Care
    • Bathing & Grooming
    • Boarding
  • Client Forms
  • Resources
    • Reviews
    • Blogs
    • News &
      Promotions
    • Pet
      Resources
    • FAQs
  • Special Offers
  • Home Delivery
  • Contact

"Where Pets & Their People Are Special"

"Helping Pets Live Longer, Healthier & Happier Lives"

"Where Pets & Their People Are Special"

Seasonal Care

Seasonal Care

Not everyone is lucky enough to live in a State with relatively consistent weather and temperatures. Just as humans change their behavior and diet with fluctuations in temperature, so do most animals. Here are our guidelines for seasonal care for your pets.


Winter

If temperatures plummet and your pet usually likes to spend most of its time outdoors try and persuade them to stay indoors in the warm instead. If circumstances mean that your pet has to be kept outdoors then take steps to ensure that they are as warm and comfortable as possible. This means providing them with a dry and draft-free shelter with plenty of extra blankets. You should also regularly check their water supply to ensure that it hasn’t frozen.

If the ground is covered with snow, ice or just extremely cold then you may want to consider animal booties. These are widely available from most pet stores.

Be prepared to see a change in your pet's eating habits. Outdoor pets tend to require extra food. They burn this extra food to help keep them warm. Indoor pets are likely to eat far less as they conserve energy by sleeping more.

Keep your pets away from antifreeze. Unfortunately, it smells and tastes delicious to dogs and cats, but even the smallest sip can be deadly. Keep pets out of garages and outbuildings and clean up any spillages as soon as they happen. Speak to your neighbors about the dangers and ask them to ensure that any antifreeze they have is securely stored and that they too clean up any spillages that may occur. If your pet acts as if they are drunk or begins to convulse then take them to a vet immediately.

Check under the hood of your car before starting the engine. Many cats like to sneak under the hood of a vehicle once you have gone inside so that they can curl up against the warm engine. If you are unable to open the hood then a firm tap on it should be sufficient to wake any sleeping cat.

Ensure that rabbit hutches are brought inside. If this isn’t possible then ensure that you put extra newspaper in for insulation. Again, check their water source to ensure that it isn’t frozen.

Seasonal Care

Spring

Spring is a great time of year for the whole family and with certain holidays, there can be an increase in the amount of chocolate in the environment. And while chocolate is a great treat for your human family, chocolate can be toxic and even deadly for animals, with dogs being the most commonly affected as they are known for having a ‘sweet tooth’.

The most common symptoms of chocolate ingestion are seen within the first 12 hours and can include:

  • Diarrhea and/or vomiting

  • Excitement or trembling that may be perceived as nervousness

  • Excessive thirst and occasionally excessive urination

  • Muscle spasms

  • Seizures

  • Coma (rare)

  • Death (rare but if death occurs it is usually as a result of heart rhythm abnormalities).
     

Chocolate is toxic to dogs and other animals because they are unable to effectively break down a chemical component in chocolate known as theobromine. If you suspect that your pet has ingested chocolate, you should immediately contact your veterinarian for advice.


Summer

  • Unlike humans, animals do not have the ability to sweat. Instead, they release excess heat through their paw pads and by panting. Unfortunately, animals with brachycephalic (flat) faces, such as pugs and persian cats, are unable to pant as effectively due to their shortened nasal passages which makes them more vulnerable to heatstroke and dehydration.

 

  • Dehydration is a major concern for all animals during the summer. Be sure that your pet always has access to plenty of cool water with somewhere shady to rest and remember to keep them indoors during the hottest part of the day.

 

  • If you cannot place the back of your hand on to the sidewalk and hold it there for more than 5 seconds without it becoming painful, then it is too hot for your pet's paws and you should avoid letting them outside until it has cooled.

 

  • It is not uncommon for antifreeze to leak out of overheating cars, so please see our advice on antifreeze in the ‘winter’ section above.

 

  • Don’t forget sunscreen! Pet sunscreen is available at your local pet supply store and will help to protect your pet from the summer sun which is especially important for pets with short, fine hair and pink skin. Never use sunscreen that is not designed specifically for animals. Be sure to speak to your veterinarian about what sunscreen is right for your pet.
  • If you take your dog to a river, lake, pool or the beach to cool off, stay aware of where they are to ensure their safety in the water.
Meet the team
Our Services
Testimonials
Contact Us

Pet Health Articles

  • Dogs
    • Canine Distemper
    • Canine Parvovirus
    • Picking Your Perfect Puppy
  • Cats
    • Feline Distemper
    • Picking Your Perfect Cat
  • Exotics
    • Avian Vet Care
    • Basic Pet Bird Care
    • Exotic Animal Medicine
  • Health
    • Dental Hygiene and Oral Care
    • Euthanasia
    • Feeding Your Pet
    • Flea Prevention and Care
    • General Pet Safety
    • Heartworm
    • Heat Stroke Awareness
    • Pet Grooming
    • Pet Obesity
    • Recognizing An Ill Pet
    • Seasonal Care
    • Ticks
    • Vaccinations and Examinations
  • General
    • Bringing Your Pet Home
    • Pets and Kids
    • How to Adopt
    • Traveling with Your Pet
    • Training Your Pet
    • Finding A Reputable Breeder
Wilkinson Animal Hospital Pharmacy

Enjoy your visit? Review us here!

Request Appointment

Thank you
You are missing required fields.
Dynamic Error Description
There was an error processing this form.

Main

  • About Us
  • Meet Our Team
  • Veterinary Care
  • News & Promotions
  • Home Delivery
  • Reviews
  • Contact
  • Boarding
  • Grooming
  • Sitemap

Contact Information

  • Address
    513 Ledwell Street Gastonia, NC 28056
  • Phone
    704-457-7600
  • Email
    Send Email
Wilkinson Animal Hospital

Animal Hospital Hours

  • Monday:
    7:30am - 5:30pm
  • Tuesday:
    7:30am - 5:30pm
  • Wednesday:
    7:30am - 5:30pm
  • Thursday:
    7:30am - 5:30pm
  • Friday:
    7:30am - 5:30pm
  • Saturday:
    8:00am - 12:00pm
  • Sunday:
    Closed
Wilkinson Animal Hospital
Veterinary Websites by Roya
Denton Veterinary Clinic Logo
Wilkinson Animal Hospital Logo
Southern Veterinary Partners ©

Send Us A Message

Form submitted successfully!
You are missing required fields.
Dynamic Error Description
There was an error processing this form.

Request Appointment

Complete the form below and We will get back to you to confirm your schedule.
Your Informations is SAFE with us
Form submitted successfully!
You are missing required fields.
Dynamic Error Description
There was an error processing this form.
Save 20%

Dental Health Month

Learn More and Book Your Appointment
Now Offering

Pet Grooming

Request an Appointment

Closed Today

Due to Weather

Login


Forgot Password?

OR

Sign in with Facebook Sign in with Google


Looking to create an account ?
Already have an account? Login

Save Search


Saved Searches

Update Profile