Puppy Biting: Why They Do It and How to Curb It
Have you ever held a dog toy in front of a puppy and let him “mouth” it? As you have probably noticed, puppies will put their mouth on most anything, and it is completely normal since they use their teeth to explore the world around them and play with one another.
In fact, if you have watched puppies in a litter with their littermates, you will see that they climb all over one another and nip each other in an ongoing bout of exploration. When they are a few weeks old, this can seem harmless, maybe even cute -- until one of those sharp teeth nips your hand a little too hard!
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Why Microchip Your Dog?
If your dog went missing, how would you try to find him? Post “lost” notices on electrical poles and on Facebook? Comb the neighborhood calling for your dog and looking at your phone every three seconds in case someone found him? Call your shelter to ask if anyone had found him and taken him to the shelter?
While all of these are viable -- and common -- practices, there are a few ways you can increase the odds that you will be reunited with your pooch should the unthinkable happen.
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Laser Therapy and Your Cat: What You Need to Know
If there were a safe and pain-free way to treat your cat, wouldn’t you want to know about it? Of course, you would!
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Lumps and Bumps? Get Them Checked!
Are you seeing lumps, bumps or growths on your pet? No matter what you call them, masses of all kinds, from harmless skin growths to malignant tumors, are actually fairly common in our furry friends.
How Does Your Veterinarian Examine Lumps and Bumps?
While most masses are benign, we recommend examinations and fine needle aspirates for all new growths. This simple procedure allows the veterinarian to determine the nature of the growth by collecting a sample of cells and viewing them under a microscope.
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Dog Bite Prevention: 3 Things You Should Know
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, more than 4.5 million dog bites occur in the U.S every single year. The majority of dog bite victims are children. In addition, children are most often bitten during everyday interaction with dogs that they know. As responsible pet owners, and to those who are parents to small children, it is important to take every preventative measure possible to avoid anyone from being harmed.
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How to Create a Cat-Friendly Home
Creating a cat-friendly home requires an understanding of normal cat behavior and how humans may inadvertently create stress for feline companions. This is important not only because it is nice to keep our pets happy, but also because multiple studies now show that stress can lead to a variety of chronic medical conditions. Ensuring that our pets are well adapted to an indoor environment is a vital part of preventative medicine.
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New Recommendation: Physical Examinations for Puppies at 6 Months of Age
At most veterinary hospitals, puppy visits generally end around 4 months of age, and for many dogs this means that we will not be examining them or reviewing their health care needs until they are 12-16 months old. Dogs that come from shelters or rescue groups often have been surgically altered before they are adopted.
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CBD Oil for Dogs: Is It Safe and Effective?
There is quite a bit of buzz about the therapeutic use of CBD (or cannabidiol) products for pets these days. With the rise of marijuana derivative products for humans, a slew of pet products has since exploded onto the market - but are they safe and effective? Let's look at the current state of this controversial topic for pet owners.
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