Blogs

Loud noises can give anyone anxiety, now add the fact your pet has no context or idea what the Fourth of July means. Anxiety is an elevated response of nervous system which is exhausting when experiencing it for long periods of time. It can also be very harmful for pets with existing cardiovascular disease. “If you know your pet has noise phobias it is better to retreat then try to recover from the anxiety. Animals with heart disease have less ability to compensate for high stress conditions.” Says Dr. Andrew Cruikshank at Metropolitan Animal Specialty Hospital in Los Angeles. Here...

EAT! Digestion is the key to health. We often gage one’s physical or mental health based on one’s appetite. Several factors can influence one’s digestion, and the majority of the ones we experience our pet’s also experience. The ability to break down food into usable nutrients and excrete the rest is believed to be the foundation of health according to many traditional medicine scholars. We know we need enzymes that are stored in the pancreas, acid that is released from the stomach, bile that is created in the liver and stored in the gall bladder, and a healthy balance of...

Does Cats or Dogs have more Blatter issues? Why? First you should know, boy cats and dogs can get bladder infections, not just the ladies! There are several reasons they can get them, and if you’re a pet owner, you should know what to look for and possibly expect.  When it comes to whether dogs or cats have more bladder infections, size matters, which is why cats have a propensity for bladder infections. The size of a cat’s ureter is small, much smaller than a dog. This allows for more congestion, which can generate a bacterial imbalance. We also know bladder...

Allergies or Fungus?  Itching is often the first symptom a pet owner is trying to resolve, but it’s important to distinguish between itching from an allergy or itching from a fungal/yeast infection. When expecting the skin, if it is dry, flaky, and has a bad odor, it is probably a fungal/yeast infection.  It is often in the ears, paws, or parts of the body where the skin folds as the fungus thrives in damp environments.  Often fungal/yeast infections are systemic, meaning its internal and not just on the outside skin where you can see it. Another very important diagnostic tool...

No one likes how they feel when they’re constipated, including your pets!  Cat’s can tend to have more problems with constipation than dogs, but the dangers are the same.  If your pet hasn’t gone #2 after 2 days, they are constipated.   Constipation can have a gradual onset. Slowing down in bowel movements, circling or frequent squatting without stool, and lack of appetite can start to show up indicating you may want to make some changes.  You should also check the stool once it has passed. Was it hard and dry? This may indicate possible dehydration so make sure they...

and can I get it from my pets? Pet owners have been asking their veterinarians if they can get COVID-19 from their cat or dog.  Since we now know they CAN get COVID-19 (more so in cats than dogs) it’s a valid question.  Usually the next question is from the vet. “Has anyone in your family been exposed/diagnosed with COVID-19?” It’s highly unlikely your pet is hanging out with a bunch of other pets that they don’t know, indoors especially, or going to super spreader events. Is it possible? Yes. The likelihood? No. In fact there are no current documented cases...