Categories
Cats Dogs Fears & Anxieties Life at Home Other

When Pets Seek Our Help: What to Look For

Article

Reading Time: 3 minutes We probably all remember Aesop’s fable about Androcles removing a thorn from a lion’s paw and being rewarded later on when the lion saves his life. But do animals really come to us when they’re hurting? The answer is often yes, although we don’t always realize it. I have to admit, I was blind to […]

Categories
Cats Dogs Life at Home Other Senior Pets

Senior Pet Nutrition: What to Know

Article

Reading Time: 3 minutes A nutritionally balanced diet is one of the keys to good health and longevity for our pets. A good diet is important at every stage of life, including the senior years. Issues plaguing aging senior pets mirror the same issues that plague humans: both physically and mentally, things just don’t work like they used to! […]

Categories
Dogs Life at Home Veterinary Care

The Itchy Dog, Part 5: Tips to Reduce the Stress Associated with Your Dog’s Itch

Article

Itchy dog licking paw

Reading Time: 5 minutes You are not alone if your dog is itchy with skin or ear problems!  It is the number one reason pet owners like you seek help from a veterinarian.1 In fact, 7.5 million dogs were treated by veterinarians last year for skin and ear problems.2 Did you know that August was Itchy Pet Awareness Month? […]

Categories
Dogs Life at Home Veterinary Care

The Itchy Dog, Part 4: How Dermatology Diagnostic Tests Help Your Veterinarian Help Your Pet and Reduce Anxiety and Stress

Article

Veterinarian with Boston Terrier

Reading Time: 6 minutes In the previous post in this series we talked about two big tips for helping reduce the anxiety and stress that patients with skin disease may experience. The first was stopping the itch by visiting your veterinarian and committing to therapies that are effective, work fast and get the pet back to normal again. The […]

Categories
Dogs Life at Home Veterinary Care

The Itchy Dog, Part 3: Taking the Stress Out of Fall Allergies

Article

Papillon Dog Rubbing Face in fall field

Reading Time: 6 minutes The joy of fall! he sun rises a little later and sets a little earlier, temperatures start to drop, and the ragweed pollen counts skyrocket. As people and pets spend time outdoors together, dogs are exposed to environmental allergens. Fall allergies to environmental allergens lead to itchy skin, a condition called atopic dermatitis. The uncomfortable […]

Categories
Cats Dogs Fears & Anxieties Other Veterinary Care

What’s a PVP? An Expert Explains

Article

Reading Time: 3 minutes If you have a dog or cat who is fearful, anxious, or stressed during veterinary visits, the veterinary team may have recommended that you give your pet a PVP, or pre-visit pharmaceutical. These are medications that may be used in addition to training or behavior or environmental modifications to treat fear, anxiety, or stress associated […]

Categories
Dogs Life at Home Veterinary Care

The Itchy Dog, Part 2: The Roller Coaster of Emotion

Article

Reading Time: 4 minutes Itch can erode the bond between you and your dog. Itchy dogs are often up at night scratching and preventing others in the house from sleeping, or are banished to separate rooms of the house because their skin smells bad. This can make you desperate to try anything for relief from the itch and skin […]

Categories
Cats Dogs Life at Home New Pets

6 Reasons to Microchip Your Pet

Article

Reading Time: 3 minutes My childhood cat, Pretzel Popcorn Reeder, once disappeared after a massive earthquake shook Southern California. Happily, a few days later, she reappeared in our backyard. Because of that experience with Pretzel, I always microchip my pets for “just in case” scenarios. As you probably know, a microchip is a tiny device – about the size […]

Categories
Dogs Life at Home Veterinary Care

The Itchy Dog, Part 1: Your Questions Answered

Article

Reading Time: 5 minutes You are not alone if your dog is itchy with skin or ear problems. Itch is the number one reason pet owners seek help from a veterinarian.1 In fact, 7.5 million dogs were treated by veterinarians last year for skin and ear problems.2 We know skin disease can decrease quality of life for a pet […]

Categories
Cats Dogs Life at Home Other

Keeping Pets With Seniors Who Love Them

Article

Reading Time: 3 minutes New Mexico resident Theresa Kline is active and independent at age 81. But after her beloved Westie, Abby, passed away last year, she wondered if she should get another dog. Would having a dog tie her down? And what would happen to her pet if she became ill? Still, Kline missed canine companionship and voiced […]