When was your pet’s last dental examination? If it’s been more than a year since the veterinarian has taken a good look in her mouth, it’s time to make an appointment. This year, begin a healthy routine for your furry friend and make February her annual dental check-up month. Here are five reasons regular dental [...]
It’s 2019, and you may have made some resolutions as the sparkling ball dropped and you toasted to a year of new possibilities. After weeks of holiday stress and overeating, it’s a good bet that your resolutions include diet and exercise. This year, why not take a different approach and include your pet in your [...]
Just like humans, many pets experience the aches and pains of arthritis. Although arthritis typically affects older animals, it can develop at any age, especially if a degenerative disease or an injury causes joint damage. What is arthritis? Arthritis, also called osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease, is inflammation involving one or more of the [...]
What is canine influenza? Canine influenza, or the dog flu, is a highly contagious respiratory infection that is caused by two known strains of an influenza virus. The first, H3N8, appeared in the U.S. in 2004. The H3N2 strain quickly spread from the Chicago outbreak in 2015, and thousands of dogs have tested positive for [...]
Can’t imagine celebrating the holidays without your furry friend by your side? Traveling with a pet can be an overwhelming experience. Even if you’re a seasoned pro, rules and regulations change all the time. Use the checklist below to make traveling with your four-legged companion a cinch. Up-to-date vaccinations—While it’s wonderful preventive care to keep [...]
Getting old is tough. After pets reach about 6 years old, we consider them to be “seniors,” and their care and annual wellness visits change a little in an effort to keep them in the best possible health. Arthritis, cancer, diabetes, and organ dysfunction are commonly seen in elderly pets, so it’s important to keep [...]
Virtually any medical condition can present with behavioral symptoms. Changes in behavior are often the first sign a pet will exhibit when she is ill. Signs such as irritability, decreased appetite, anxiety, aggression, lethargy, and house-soiling could all be attributed to medical conditions. Despite what it may seem, our pets do not have the mental [...]
(The snake pictured above is a non-venomous Banded Water Snake, often mistaken for the venomous Cottonmouth.) Venomous snakes are a common problem for dogs. Dogs are naturally curious, and like to put their face and nose very close to what they are inspecting. As one could imagine, this can easily cause a nasty bite on [...]
Imagine: Your beloved furry companion suddenly darts in front of a moving car. You rush her broken body to the emergency veterinarian. If you have saved for unexpected pet health care costs, good for you! Many people, however, fail to factor pet health care costs into their monthly budget and can be caught unprepared for [...]
Ever noticed your pet scratching or biting excessively at her skin? Shaking her head more often? Rubbing against furniture? She could have an external parasite problem. Just like a human, if a pet has the creepy crawly sensation of a bug moving around on her skin, she’ll go to great lengths to remove it. And, [...]
