What a Pet Needs
April is a month that celebrates many pet-related topics: National Heartworm Awareness Month, National Pet First Aid Awareness Month, and National Pet Day, to name a few. This month we are going to discuss something different than the usual April topics; we are going to talk about ways that you can support your pet in the best way possible to ensure a long happy life with them.
November is Adopt a Senior Pet Month!
November is Adopt a Senior Pet Month! Although new puppies and kittens are super cute and fun, they also require a lot of time, training and attention in order to help them grow into a good companion. Senior pets on the other hand often come trained, housebroken and are already fully grown. Here are some reasons to adopt an older animal companion:
Why is Preventative Care Important?
The familiar saying, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” remains true, especially when it comes to your pet’s health. In veterinary medicine, the goal of prevention is to prevent a problem from happening entirely or to at least catch the problem early enough to stop it from advancing.
2021 Holiday Hazards
Holiday Hazards By Dr. Caroline Frank As we approach the time of the year to deck the halls and spread yule tide cheer, our 4-legged friends must be watched with a close eye as to not end up on the Veterinarian’s naughty list. Not only do we need to worry about the wonderful food we humans celebrate with during this time, but also our decor. Decorations and trimmings can be hazardous to our beloved 4-legged friends too. The 3 main groups of holiday hazards are food, plants, and decor.
Otitis – Ear Infections in Dogs and Cats
by Kelly Stalpes, DVM Ever notice your dog or cat scratching or rubbing at their ears? Or shaking their head? Red, itchy ears are a common reason for our small animal companions to visit the vet, and the medical name for this condition is otitis. Otitis externa is inflammation of the external ear canal, while otitis media is inflammation of the middle ear.
Annual Exams
Why does my pet need a yearly exam? This is a great time to assess your animal. How do the teeth look- is there gingivitis, plaque or any broken teeth? Any lumps or bumps? How is the heart, do we hear any murmurs? Do the lungs sound clear? Is the Doctor able to palpate any masses in the abdomen? Are all the lymph nodes normal size? What about the pet’s weight? Weight is commonly overlooked but just like people, plays a huge role in health.
Pet Cancer Awareness Month
November is pet cancer awareness month. There is no easy way to talk about cancer, but as a pet owner, it is important to be aware of the warning signs. Just as in humans, cancer can develop suddenly in dogs and cats; and an unexpected diagnosis can be devastating to pet owners. Early recognition is a key step to intervening and improving the outcomes for our companion animals.
Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease
By Meggie Garvey, DVM Coughing dogs seem to be all around us this season! Dogs can acquire infectious respiratory disease when they are in close quarters with other dogs, such as when they go to the dog park or groomer, or are boarded at a Kennel. Respiratory disease in dogs has many causes. It can consist of a mild “tracheobronchitis”, inflammation of the trachea and airways, or a more serious pneumonia.
Pet Obesity Awareness Month
This month is pet obesity awareness, which is an extremely important topic!! Most people don’t know that their pet is overweight or the complications that it can cause in the long run.
Diabetes In Pets
Diabetes affects both dogs and cats. It is a condition where for one reason or another, the body is unable to control blood sugar levels throughout the day. With people, Diabetes is often classified as Type I or Type II diabetes. Type I diabetes happens with the body (pancreas) in unable to produce to amount of insulin needed by the body to take in glucose (sugar).