Blog list

If your pet is looking a little wider to you than normal and has a hard time getting around, it may be obese. Obesity hurts an animal’s health and quality of life. Animal health experts believe pet obesity is a serious welfare problem for pets that can be disabling and cause suffering. It can affect the pet’s ability to perform normal activities, such as exercise or walking up stairs in your house. Learn more about pet obesity, its causes, consequences, and how to prevent it. 

If your dog persistently growls, bites, or is defensive against people or other pets, your pet might have a behavioral problem. Aggression/defensiveness is just one behavioral problem. Other unwanted behaviors include counter-surging, jumping on people, and chewing up shoes. If your dog is exhibiting these behaviors, it is important to intervene quickly.

Dogs can also have allergies, just like people. If you’re a dog owner, it’s important to know your pet’s most common allergies and how to handle them. Allergies are the immune system’s reaction to foreign substances. Allergens, which can be absorbed through the skin or inhaled through the respiratory or gastrointestinal tract, are what elicits this reaction. When allergens stimulate the immune system, histamine and other substances that are released cause inflammation. Common symptoms of allergies in dogs include itching, swelling, and the reddening of the skin.

The American Veterinary Medical Association encourages pet parents to practice year-round flea and tick prevention. These preventatives can help keep these parasites off your pets no matter the season. Preventatives can come in the form of collars, topical medications, and oral medications. Here are more details on why your pet needs year-round tick and flea medication.

A pet is a faithful friend that can give you unquestioning joy and love. Unfortunately, they can get poisoned or become sick like us. Poisonings can cause severe health complications that can lead to death if not quickly treated. As such, it pays to know the common causes of pet poisoning to protect your furry friend from certain dangers. Read on to learn more.

As a veterinarian, I frequently receive inquiries from pet owners about the best food for their dogs. It can be difficult to choose the right brand of dog food given the numerous options available in the market. After years of experience and research, I will tell you what I have learned. 

A vaccine is a product that prepares the body’s immune system to fight future encountered disease(s) by stimulating a protective immune response.  Vaccines trigger the immune system to produce antibodies against specific disease-agents.  Antibodies identify and destroy disease-causing agents. This prepares the immune system to recognize the actual disease in case of an infection. Then, the immune system can fight off the disease or at the very least, reduce severity of signs associated with the disease.

The timing of spaying/neutering in veterinary medicine is a controversial topic. We will briefly discuss the major pros and cons of early vs late spay/neuter and give you some general guidelines. However, each individual owner should discuss their pet’s specific circumstances with their pet’s veterinarian. 

Regular wellness exams can ensure your pet stays in excellent health. They give veterinarians regular opportunities to check pets for early symptoms and signs of disease and to monitor their overall health.

As a pet owner, the stress of leaving your dog behind can diminish the excitement of taking a trip. No matter how much you love your canine companion, there will be times when you cannot take them with you.