Fear Free Happy Homes
Reading Time: 2 minutes One of the reasons many people love having dogs is because they are built-in exercise buddies. Most dogs are never going to tell you that they’d rather skip the walk, run, or hike today; in fact, they are usually the ones who insist on going and get us off our behinds and out doing something. […]
Reading Time: 2 minutes It’s hard to think about, especially if your dog is currently healthy, but one day he—and you—will be facing the end of his life. Or maybe your dog is dealing with a disease right now that will ultimately take his life. In some cases, medical treatment can help for a time, but if that is […]
Reading Time: 3 minutes Sharing living space with our dog friends is a natural extension of pets being an integral part of the family. But what doesn’t feel natural is walking across the carpet and feeling your feet squishing into a pile of poo or your socks soaking up moisture from a puddle of urine on the floor. Likewise, […]
Reading Time: 3 minutes Humans and animals share many things, including unpleasantness such as acute and chronic pain. As anyone who has experienced pain knows, life can be pretty miserable if the pain isn’t controlled. Normal activities such as sleeping, eating, and moving can be difficult for people and animals in pain. Pain also affects health and can cause […]
Reading Time: 2 minutes Independence Day is an exciting holiday for humans, but it can be a stressful one for dogs. The loud noises and bright flashes from fireworks can frighten them so severely that they run away, ending up lost or in shelters. Fortunately, you can take precautions to help your dog be less fearful as well as […]
Reading Time: 3 minutes Can fear, anxiety, and stress be stealing precious heartbeats from your beloved pet at home? That’s the theory being studied by Dr. Robert Hamlin, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVIM. His work is examining the idea that stress, especially when it triggers the body’s fight or flee “sympathetic storm” mechanism, not only affects the quality of your […]
Reading Time: < 1 minutes Dogs and cats aren’t capable of multitasking; they live in the moment. So if pets are busily and happily eating, it’s impossible for them to worry about anything else. In this case, I am certain Ethel had no idea that she was pricked with a syringe containing a vaccine. She never saw the needle. She […]
Reading Time: 2 minutes Preparing for a veterinary visit—especially a first one—involves more than just calling to make an appointment. We want to share some tips to help ensure that you provide your veterinarian with everything needed to give your kitten the best care and that you get the information you need about caring for her yourself. When does […]
Reading Time: 3 minutes Have you ever felt you are about to die? I mean that literally, like you’ve been held up at gunpoint or held out a window by your suspenders 30 stories up? I’ve suggested for years that too many of our pets at the veterinary clinic feel like they are being held up at gunpoint or are […]
Reading Time: 2 minutes When your dog meets you at the door, head low with ears slicked back and eyes averted, is that a canine apology? Does your dog look guilty? The behaviors certainly mimic what humans associate with feeling shame or apology. Whether or not this accurately reflects the dog’s true feelings is open to debate. Not all […]