Educated companion parents leads to happy companions.
Why Does My Cat Sleep So Much?
Domestic cats can rarely be accused of overexerting themselves. Cats seem genetically programmed to sleep. In fact, cats can sleep as much as 16 hrs a day, and older cats may sleep 18-20 hrs a day! Why all this sleep? Sleeping helps cats conserve energy, but they...
Dogs and Mushrooms: Are They Poisonous?
Mushrooms to know about When it comes to mushrooms, how does a dog guardian know which ones are poisonous versus which ones are safe? There are thousands of mushrooms out there, but only about 100 types are poisonous. (Don’t worry about mushrooms sold in large-chain...
Popular Xylitol Products That Can Poison Your Companion
For some folks, the start of a new year is a catalyst to lose weight and this may mean switching from plain old sugar to lower calorie sweeteners. Xylitol is one such sugar substitute that is safe for human consumption, but is toxic for dogs and cats. In fact, it can...
Dental Health Month
February is dental month! To address the significance of oral health care for our companions, the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) sponsors National Dental Health Month every February. Dental care is an extremely important part of your companion’s...
How Do You Know If Your Cat Is In Pain?
Assessing pain is a complicated challenge, especially in cats. Pain has two primary components: the sensory aspect (intensity, location and duration) and the affective aspect (emotional toll). Because pain assessment is somewhat subjective, veterinarians constantly...
Understanding Key Veterinary Terms Can Improve Your Companion’s Next Checkup
A better conversation with your veterinarian begins with a better understanding of veterinary terms. Here is a quick veterinary vocabulary lesson to help you communicate with your veterinarian more accurately, and better understand what is going on with your...
Why Should You Take A Seemingly Healthy Companion To The Vet?
Why would you take a car that is running to a mechanic? Why would you test your swimming pool chemicals? Why would you pour drain cleaner down a drain that is flowing? We have been conditioned and realize it is best to keep things working rather than repair or replace...
Does My Cat Really Need Lab Work?
Have you ever wondered why your veterinarian recommends getting screening lab work for your cat? If you answered yes, you are not alone. Many people question whether these screening tests are necessary. If I had to guess, most of our cat patients are also wondering...
Holiday Travel Planning: Dogs Coming, Going, Or Staying
Holidays mean changes in routine. Some people have extra free time during the holidays. Others work more during holidays than at other times of the year. Whatever a holiday means for your schedule, chances are it will represent changes in your dog’s routine, too....
Cats and Cars in Cold Weather
During the cold winter months cats will often seek out any warm space they can find. One particularly irresistible lure seems to be the cozy confines of a warm car engine. Unfortunately, cats that seek shelter under the hoods of cars can then be injured or killed when...