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, [...]
Itchy skin, watery eyes, excessive sneezing… No, we aren’t talking about your allergy symptoms. We’re talking about your pet’s allergy symptoms. Yes, our pets can suffer the unpleasant effects of allergies, just like we do. But, unfortunately, they can’t tell us when they’re having an allergic reaction. The key to keeping your pet comfortable is [...]
Most pet owners don’t exactly get excited when asked to bring a stool sample to their pet’s next veterinary visit, and we aren’t all that excited to examine your pet’s poop (trust us). But, fecal exams are an important part of your pet’s regular preventive care visits and can help us determine if she is [...]
“Even cats grow lonely and anxious.” —Mason Cooley Does your cat crave the great outdoors? Does she spend her days looking longingly out the window, wishing she were out there doing what comes naturally to her: seeking, hunting, and pouncing? While many owners of indoor cats feel guilty depriving their feline friends of all [...]
