Bone Appetit: 5 Common Pet Nutrition Questions Answered
As with people, a balanced diet is a key component of your pet’s overall health and wellness. Pets also have specific requirements to ensure their organs develop and function properly. These requirements vary among species and help ensure pets have adequate energy and maintain a healthy weight throughout their lifetime. Choosing the right diet and […]
5 Tips to Keep Your Pet Safe from a House Fire
Home emergencies like a house fire can strike at a moment’s notice, and taking time to prepare yourself and your pet will decrease stress and ensure a quick and safe response. More than 500,000 pets are affected in residential fires each year and, sadly, more than 40,000 pets die during these events, primarily from smoke […]
5 Ways to Strengthen the Bond with Your Pet
Our pets are constant companions, and a source of joy, support, and comfort. More than half of all U.S. households have at least one dog or cat and many have multiple pets. There is a growing societal awareness of the human-animal bond and pets are taking on larger roles including service animals, therapy support, and disease detection such as seizures in humans. Studies have shown that pet owners stay healthier and enjoy an overall higher quality of life than those without pets. The human-animal bond is a mutually beneficial relationship of trust and respect and the reason your pet showers you with slobbery kisses and a wagging tail whenever you return home. Our Animal Emergency Care team knows that your pets are family and we have compiled five ways to build on and strengthen the special bond you share with your four-legged companion.
Understanding and Treating Burns on Your Pet
Our pets are family, and that bond often means they are glued to their pet owner’s side during household activities. Pets will often stand guard while you complete household chores, especially those that involve cooking or cleaning up following mealtime. Cars particularly enjoy laundry chores and will often assist by curling up in the warm laundry basket of clothes that need folding. Although having your pet nearby can be comforting, their curious nature can get them into trouble or injured. Many household appliances and chemicals can injure or burn your pet, and these injuries are not always immediately obvious. Additionally, pets who have been involved in house fires or are exposed to smoke are at risk for burn injuries. Our Animal Emergency Care team wants to ensure pet owners are ready to respond if their pet is burned, and we describe burn types, signs, treatment, and prevention.
5 Pawsitive Benefits of Keeping Your Pet Active
Many pet owners enjoy couch cuddle sessions and afternoon naps with their favorite four-legged companion. In fact, spending quality time with your pet every day is a vital component of responsible pet ownership. It can be challenging to schedule daily trips to the dog park or multiple play sessions with your feline companion, especially when you have a long to-do list of household chores or work obligations. However, incorporating daily activity is an essential part of your pet’s overall health and wellness. Before beginning a daily routine, have your pet checked out by your family veterinarian to ensure they are pain free and have no exercise limitations. Keeping your pet active throughout all of their life stages offers numerous physical and mental benefits, and our Animal Emergency Care team describes these five pawsitive effects.
Something’s Fishy: Salmon Poisoning in Pets
Summer is quickly approaching and many pet owners will be enjoying outdoor hiking and fishing adventures with their favorite canine companions. Pets are family and including them on outdoor expeditions is a great way to mentally and physically stimulate your pet, as well as strengthen your bond. However, exposure to the elements can be dangerous to pets especially if they eat raw fish or other non-pet food items. Our Animal Emergency Care team wants to ensure your pets are safe while enjoying nature with you so we describe the signs, treatment, and prevention of salmon poisoning, a dangerous infection.
Pet Poison Prevention: Understanding Flea and Tick Preventive Toxicity in Cats
The warm summer months are often accompanied by an abundance of pesky insects and pests that hitchhike on you and your pet. Fleas and ticks can transmit dangerous diseases to your pets, and itching and scratching pets are also at risk for secondary skin infections—and sleepless nights for pet owners. However, choosing a flea and […]
Understanding and Treating Smoke Inhalation in Your Pet
An unexpected fire, whether a residential or an environmental wildfire, can be a devastating and stressful experience. Multiple fire-related events are dangerous for people and their pets including burns, toxic chemicals, and smoke inhalation, but many problems are not immediately obvious following fire exposure. The National Volunteer Firefighter Council estimated that more than 40,000 pets die each year in fires, and most are from smoke inhalation complications. Our Animal Emergency Care team wants to ensure pet owners can recognize the signs, and react quickly if your pet is exposed to any type of smoke.
When Water Is Dangerous: Algae Poisoning in Pets
Warmer weather often means more outdoor adventures with your favorite four-legged companion. Many pet owners enjoy summer hiking and camping trips and more time in the backyard garden, but you can easily become distracted when you are outside with your pet. Curious canines may want to investigate your favorite birdbath or may wander off in the park to chase a duck into the local pond. Many pet owners and their pets may be tempted to jump into a cool pond or take a sip from an inviting stream after an active day outside. However, standing, fresh, or brackish water can be dangerous and may contain deadly bacteria. Algae poisoning is a devastating illness in pets, and our Animal Emergency Care team wants to ensure you recognize the warning signs of dangerous water. We discuss poisoning signs, treatment, and prevention.
Let’s Get Physical: Exercise Intolerance in Pets
Many pet owners enjoy their four-legged companion’s company on long hikes or during their morning run especially as the weather improves in the spring and summer months. However, our pets are natural people pleasers and cannot always communicate to their owners that they are tired or unable to complete a long hike. Pets who are out of shape or overweight may have limited energy and be unable to exercise for prolonged periods whereas other pets who become fatigued easily may be sending a warning of an underlying illness. Our Animal Emergency Care team wants to ensure your pets are healthy enough to enjoy hikes with their favorite humans. We describe exercise intolerance causes, signs, treatment, and prevention.
