November is Pet Cancer Awareness Month
Cancer in pets has become more common, and this month we are going to discuss what cancer is, signs of cancer, diagnosis, and some treatment options should you be faced with a cancer diagnosis in your pet. Neoplasia is defined as the uncontrolled or abnormal growth of cells in the body that can be benign or malignant, in other words, a tumor. Benign tumors often grow slowly and don’t tend to invade neighboring tissues. Malignant tumors can be unpredictable and often grow rapidly and spread to other tissues or systems in the body.
Periodontal Disease: An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure
February is National Dental Month! Did you know that periodontal disease is one of if not the most common diseases that occur in our pets? Periodontal disease ranges from inflammation of the gums (gingivitis), to severe infection and loss of the bone surrounding the teeth (periodontitis).
Pet Dental Health Month
February is dental health month for pets! Dental health is just as important in your furry pets as it is in you. During dental month, we want to educate owners about dental disease and what they can do to improve their pet’s dental hygiene. Routine dental care is an important way to keep your pet from needing oral surgery to treat infection, but also keeps bad dog breath out of the way of cuddling with your furry friend. Your pet’s teeth should be shiny, white, and clean.
Pets and the Summer Heat
As the summer nears and the weather continues to warm up, it is important to be mindful of the impact it can have on our pets. Dogs, especially, are spending a lot more time outdoors and traveling with their owners which can be a lot of fun, but can be potentially dangerous if we (their owners) are not prepared for the heat.
American Heartworm Month
Valentine’s Day has come and gone, but February remains the American Heart Month! This month we want to focus our awareness on heart disease and prevention in dogs and cats. It is estimated that roughly 10% of our furry friends are the victims of heart disease.
Safe Summer Fun
Summer is such an amazing season to get outside and spend time with our four-legged friends. Hiking, swimming, playing ball or frisbee, or even relaxing in the sun are all great things to do with you pet. In order to ensure that you and your furry friend can continue to play and have fun safely be sure you are thinking about the activity from your pet’s perspective – they may have a difficult time letting you know when they are feeling overworked or possibly scared. Exposure to the environment can often invoke a fear response in certain animals – knowing how your
Canine Separation Anxiety
A tough, but pretty common problem, often seen in canine patients is anxiety. Some level of short term stress is healthy for an animal, and even humans, because it allows us to survive and thrive despite threats to our well-being. However, when the stress becomes long-term negative side effects may occur leading to unwanted behaviors and health risks.
Taking Care of Your Senior Pet
By Jolee Stegemoller, DVM As our pets age their needs change, just as ours do! When your pet comes to our office for a preventative care visit, we are interested in a few additional things than if your pet were a young pup! Monitoring weight and appetite are important for assessing problems with metabolism, cancer, endocrine diseases, internal organ dysfunction, and issues with dental disease. It is always helpful if you can remember the brand and amount of food your dog or cat is fed daily.
A Social Media Story
Modern society has become so integrated with the digital world that is can often be difficult to function when things go “wrong.” Power outages and internet failures can lead to a disruption of businesses and can make simple acts like paying a bill much more challenging. Along with this digitally reliant world, the social media world has also exploded in recent years. Although it has brought people across the world much “closer,” sometimes is can be challenging to remember that actions taken on social media platforms can have very rea
The Rising Threat: Why Heartworm Prevention for Pets is Now More Vital Than Ever
In recent years, the conversation around climate change has intensified, and rightfully so. The warming of our planet is not only affecting weather patterns and ecosystems but also posing unexpected risks to our furry companions. Among these risks, one particularly insidious threat is the increased prevalence of heartworm disease in pets. Surprisingly, this risk is not confined to low-lying areas but extends even to higher altitude climates.