Pet Care Articles
July 8th, 2023
By Jennifer Coates, DVM
Feeding a nutritious diet is one of the most important things you can do to keep pets healthy and happy. That said, high-quality dog and cat foods are expensive. Knowing how to store pet foods properly can help you reduce waste, prevent food-borne illness, and save you money.
Check Expiration Dates
Most types of unopened wet or dry pet food remain fresh for quite a long time. Check the label of your dog or cat food. You should be able to find a best-by or best-before date printed there. While pet foods certainly don’t go bad the day after this date, you also don’t want to buy so much food at one time that you’re still reaching into the same bag months after these dates have passed. Aim to buy a new bag of food at least every four to six weeks.
Never feed your dog or cat foods that appear spoiled or contaminated. Throw out bulging cans or any food that looks or smells “off.” The ... Read more...
Feeding a nutritious diet is one of the most important things you can do to keep pets healthy and happy. That said, high-quality dog and cat foods are expensive. Knowing how to store pet foods properly can help you reduce waste, prevent food-borne illness, and save you money.
Check Expiration Dates
Most types of unopened wet or dry pet food remain fresh for quite a long time. Check the label of your dog or cat food. You should be able to find a best-by or best-before date printed there. While pet foods certainly don’t go bad the day after this date, you also don’t want to buy so much food at one time that you’re still reaching into the same bag months after these dates have passed. Aim to buy a new bag of food at least every four to six weeks.
Never feed your dog or cat foods that appear spoiled or contaminated. Throw out bulging cans or any food that looks or smells “off.” The ... Read more...
May 30th, 2023
By Animal Wellness
While cancer is increasingly common in dogs and cats, it’s not all bad news. There are plenty of things you can do to minimize the chances of your four-legged friend developing the disease. Read on for Morris Animal Foundation’s top 12 ways to help prevent cancer in your dog or cat.
1. Avoid second-hand smoke
Does your dog or cat live in a household with smokers? Evidence suggests that cancer risk is increased in animals exposed to environmental tobacco. Keep your home a smoke-free zone.
2. Monitor his weight
Research suggests that obesity is a risk factor for cancer. Feeding a poor quality or imbalanced diet may also be linked to an increased cancer risk.
3. Become an expert on your animal’s breed(s)
Did you know that certain breeds of dogs and cats are prone to different diseases, ... Read more...
While cancer is increasingly common in dogs and cats, it’s not all bad news. There are plenty of things you can do to minimize the chances of your four-legged friend developing the disease. Read on for Morris Animal Foundation’s top 12 ways to help prevent cancer in your dog or cat.
1. Avoid second-hand smoke
Does your dog or cat live in a household with smokers? Evidence suggests that cancer risk is increased in animals exposed to environmental tobacco. Keep your home a smoke-free zone.
2. Monitor his weight
Research suggests that obesity is a risk factor for cancer. Feeding a poor quality or imbalanced diet may also be linked to an increased cancer risk.
3. Become an expert on your animal’s breed(s)
Did you know that certain breeds of dogs and cats are prone to different diseases, ... Read more...
April 6th, 2023
By Jennifer Grota, DVM
Cats can be excellent hunters and predators, but not everyone realizes cats can also be considered prey by some larger animals. To protect themselves, cats have developed the ability to hide injury or illness exceedingly well. They do it so well that you may never know anything is wrong until they are in a lot of pain.
If you know what sign to look for, however, you might be able to know earlier when something is wrong.
Symptoms of a Sick Cat
Pet parents will usually notice that their cat is “acting weird,” which could refer to a lot of different type of changes in behavior or habits. Here are some of the ways your cat might be telling you they’re not feeling so well.
Suddenly Eating More, Eating Less, or Not Eating
One of the first signs you might see in a sick cat is a change in appetite.
An increase in appetite can be caused by ... Read more...
Cats can be excellent hunters and predators, but not everyone realizes cats can also be considered prey by some larger animals. To protect themselves, cats have developed the ability to hide injury or illness exceedingly well. They do it so well that you may never know anything is wrong until they are in a lot of pain.
If you know what sign to look for, however, you might be able to know earlier when something is wrong.
Symptoms of a Sick Cat
Pet parents will usually notice that their cat is “acting weird,” which could refer to a lot of different type of changes in behavior or habits. Here are some of the ways your cat might be telling you they’re not feeling so well.
Suddenly Eating More, Eating Less, or Not Eating
One of the first signs you might see in a sick cat is a change in appetite.
An increase in appetite can be caused by ... Read more...
January 15th, 2023
It’s an immense privilege to have loved my Lab mix, Rio, for over 12 years. My husband and I adopted him from an animal shelter when he was just a few months old, and we’ve enjoyed each life stage – curious puppy, athletic adult, and now, sweet senior.
But it’s concerning to watch the dog who once bounded up hiking trails with the surefootedness of a mountain goat sometimes strain to rise from his bed – or lie down on a walk due to arthritis in his hips. We want to do all we can to help Rio enjoy his golden years.
Fortunately, there are many ways to help senior dogs with mobility issues – both at veterinary practices and at home, according to Andrea Y. Tu, DVM, a Fear Free certified veterinarian who is medical director of Behavior Vets of New York and a resident of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists.
“The approach really involves multimodal pain management,” she says.
The ... Read more...
November 12th, 2022
From PetMD...
Perhaps at some point, your veterinarian has recommended Benadryl for one of your pets. Or maybe you have heard of someone using it for their cat, and you’re wondering if you can safely give it to your kitty to make her a little sleepy before her next vet trip.
Benadryl is a name-brand medication whose primary active ingredient is diphenhydramine, an antihistamine. Although it is not specifically labeled for use in pets, it is commonly recommended and used by veterinarians “off label.”
Here’s what you need to know about giving cats Benadryl.
Can You Give a Cat Benadryl?
For a healthy young cat, diphenhydramine is considered safe to use but should only be given under the direction of your veterinarian. It should not be administered without specific diagnostic and dosing advice.
Cats that should not be given diphenhydramine include:
Kittens less ... Read more...
Perhaps at some point, your veterinarian has recommended Benadryl for one of your pets. Or maybe you have heard of someone using it for their cat, and you’re wondering if you can safely give it to your kitty to make her a little sleepy before her next vet trip.
Benadryl is a name-brand medication whose primary active ingredient is diphenhydramine, an antihistamine. Although it is not specifically labeled for use in pets, it is commonly recommended and used by veterinarians “off label.”
Here’s what you need to know about giving cats Benadryl.
Can You Give a Cat Benadryl?
For a healthy young cat, diphenhydramine is considered safe to use but should only be given under the direction of your veterinarian. It should not be administered without specific diagnostic and dosing advice.
Cats that should not be given diphenhydramine include:
Kittens less ... Read more...
August 8th, 2022
Courtesy of www.studyfinds.org
by Chris Melore
BUDAPEST, Hungary — Pet owners probably wonder what’s going on inside their dog’s mind all the time. Well, a new study is helping to answer that question, revealing how man’s best friend perceives and imagines their favorite toys.
A team with the Family Dog Project at Eötvös Loránd University has discovered that dogs have a “multi-modal mental image” of the objects they’re most familiar with at home. It means dogs can imagine their favorite balls, bones, and squeak toys’ different sensory features. Basically, a dog’s brain can remember the way that toy looks and even smells before their owner brings it into the room.
Researchers assume that the senses dogs use in multi-modal mental image also reflect the way a canine’s mind represents these objects in their brain.
“If we can understand which ... Read more...
by Chris Melore
BUDAPEST, Hungary — Pet owners probably wonder what’s going on inside their dog’s mind all the time. Well, a new study is helping to answer that question, revealing how man’s best friend perceives and imagines their favorite toys.
A team with the Family Dog Project at Eötvös Loránd University has discovered that dogs have a “multi-modal mental image” of the objects they’re most familiar with at home. It means dogs can imagine their favorite balls, bones, and squeak toys’ different sensory features. Basically, a dog’s brain can remember the way that toy looks and even smells before their owner brings it into the room.
Researchers assume that the senses dogs use in multi-modal mental image also reflect the way a canine’s mind represents these objects in their brain.
“If we can understand which ... Read more...
May 29th, 2022
A new survey of 2,005 American adults found that 60% judge people based on what they name their pets. We say name your pet the name you feel fits them best, and don't worry about what others think—but the survey did provide some other interesting data on what and how pet parents name their pets.
Watch the video here ---> https://tucson.com/lifestyles/pets/survey-60-judge-people-based-on-what-they-name-their-pets/video_a098afe8-1d4a-5a08-8e97-5bc922d2e307.html
Read more...
Watch the video here ---> https://tucson.com/lifestyles/pets/survey-60-judge-people-based-on-what-they-name-their-pets/video_a098afe8-1d4a-5a08-8e97-5bc922d2e307.html
Read more...