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Dogs New Pets Shelters & Fostering Veterinary Care

Celebrating National Mutt Day: Helping Shelter Pets Find Homes & Stay Healthy

Article

Happy Dog

Reading Time: 3 minutes National Mutt Day is celebrated each December and honors the unique charm and resilience of mixed-breed dogs everywhere. It’s also a day to recognize the many adoptable mutts waiting for loving homes in shelters nationwide. While these incredible animals offer endless love, companionship, and joy, many arrive at shelters with complex health needs that often […]

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Dogs New Pets Veterinary Care

Puppy Socialization Risks and Rewards

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Puppy playing

Reading Time: 3 minutes Puppyhood is a crucial time for physical and emotional development. However, the critical socialization window, when puppies form important impressions about their surrounding world, coincides with their vaccination schedule. You may have received conflicting recommendations about keeping unvaccinated or partially vaccinated puppies away from other dogs while their immune systems develop, and providing safe socialization […]

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Cats Dogs Fears & Anxieties Life at Home Veterinary Care

Solving the Mystery: How Pheromones Work to Calm Pets

Article

Reading Time: 3 minutes Pheromones play a significant role in the social behavior of many species, including dogs, cats, and possibly humans. Although our pets cannot consciously control pheromone secretion, the chemicals can influence how they feel in certain situations and with whom they form social bonds. Dogs and cats rely heavily on pheromone communication, using their refined sense […]

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Cats Dogs Fears & Anxieties Veterinary Care

Sedation for Your Pet is Safer Than You Think

Article

Reading Time: 3 minutes Have you ever felt embarrassed or concerned about your pet’s behavior at the veterinary clinic? Many pets feel fear, anxiety, and stress (FAS) at the vet because of past stressful experiences or unfamiliarity with clinic staff and routine veterinary procedures. Although it may seem obvious to you that the veterinary staff is there to help, […]

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Training & Grooming Veterinary Care

Chin Rest Challenge: How to Use This Cooperative Care Behavior

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dog resting chin

Reading Time: 4 minutes The concept of cooperative care is a simple one: teach pets behaviors that will allow them to willingly participate in their own health and grooming care. When they do, brushing and combing, injections, pill-giving and more are easier on everyone—especially your dog. The chin rest is one such behavior and it has many applications. Here’s […]

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Cats Dogs Shelters & Fostering Veterinary Care

Innovative Shelter Program Saves Parvo Puppies and FeLV Cats – and Helps Others Do It, Too

Article

Reading Time: 3 minutes Innovative Shelter Program Saves Parvo Puppies and FeLV Cats – and Helps Others Do It, Too Jen Reeder A shelter’s groundbreaking initiative to save dogs and cats with dreaded viruses – canine parvovirus and feline leukemia – all started in a veterinarian’s bathroom. Back in 2008, Ellen Jefferson, DVM, president and CEO of the Texas […]

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Cats Dogs Shelters & Fostering Veterinary Care

Help Cats Battle Carsickness

Article

Reading Time: 4 minutes Does your cat hate riding in the car? It might be because they get carsick. I’ve never had a cat who got carsick, so I was surprised when a friend mentioned that her cat had awful carsickness, manifesting in a terrible case of diarrhea every time the cat had to ride in a vehicle. It […]

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Fears & Anxieties Veterinary Care

Why Fear Free Care Is the Right Choice for Your Pet

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Reading Time: 3 minutes Many pet owners have experienced the heart-rending sight of their beloved furry friend trembling, hiding, or acting out of character due to the fear and anxiety of a trip to the veterinarian. These reactions can be distressing for both the pet and the owner. Thankfully, there’s a revolutionary approach reshaping the veterinary landscape: Fear Free […]

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Dogs Veterinary Care

Can My Dog Catch a Cold?

Article

Reading Time: < 1 minutes One of the most common questions that we hear here at Fear Free is, “can my dog catch a cold?” This handout courtesy of Elanco will show help you learn the truth about canine colds and how a Bordetella vaccine can help protect your pup.

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Cats Dogs Veterinary Care

Why to DNA Test Your Pet

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Reading Time: < 1 minutes Have you ever wondered what breeds came together to make the unique cocktail that is your pet? What health hazards might we encounter in the future? A DNA test can answer those questions and more. Download this PDF to help you learn more about what DNA testing can do for you.