It’s an itchy time of year for our furry friends. With flowers blooming and trees budding, your dog may be suffering from seasonal allergies. Their skin may also be dry and irritated from the few bouts of colder springtime weather. While these factors may cause discomfort to your dog, if you notice excessive scratching or chewing, it’s important to check…
Most dog owners are familiar with the threat of heartworm in the U.S. and give their pooches a monthly preventative “heartworm treat” to keep them from getting heartworm disease. Do you understand where heartworm comes from or the symptoms to look for if your dog is infected? During National Heartworm Awareness Month this month, take the opportunity to learn more…
After a cold, snowy winter being cooped up indoors, your pets are itching to stretch their legs and run around outside for some exercise and adventure. Similarly, young, poppy seed-sized deer ticks called nymphs that have been growing and lying dormant all winter are now active, hungry and seeking a host. Before you let your dog roam around in tall…
With Halloween right around the corner, you may have a stash of Halloween candy hidden from your kids (and yourself) around the house to hand out to trick-or-treaters! While overindulging in Halloween chocolate may bring on a sickly stomach ache in humans, these sweet treats are especially toxic for dogs. With kids eating sweets by the bowl-full and an influx…
Dogs make the best workout buddies! They never complain or cancel on you last minute, and as creatures of habit they will hold you accountable for getting outdoors and stretching your legs. And, their energy is contagious: studies show that canine owners are 34% more likely to get the recommended 150 minutes of exercise a week than folks who do…
Finally, a reason to be thankful for the bitter cold we’ve experienced this winter! Unlike previous winters that have been relatively mild (and have led to an extremely heavy tick season), those bone-chilling days should have helped to bring the tick population back to normal levels. While the biting cold does help to kill off some of the ticks, most…
Did you know that an estimated 85% of all pets have periodontal disease by the time they are 3 years of age? The dental tartar you see slowly building up on your pet’s teeth is about 80% bacteria, and that it not only damages your pet’s gums, but the bones and the ligaments that hold their teeth in place. Still,…
Congratulations on your new puppy or kitten! When they are so little, everything they do is adorable… that is until they have an accident on your clean white carpet or antique rug. Start getting your pet in the habit of going outside or in a litter box as soon as you come home from the shelter or breeder. Here are…