Category Archives: Pets Care

Combatting Pet Obesity

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Obesity is a big problem among our dogs and cats. Nearly half of all domesticated animals are overweight! Here are some tips from your veterinarian Marietta, GA to help combat pet obesity in your household.

Serving Size

Overfeeding is one of the leading causes of obesity among cats and dogs. That’s why feeding your pet in a proper portion size is so effective! Ask your vet about a measured portion size for your companion’s needs, and stick to that during every meal. Remove uneaten food after about 20 minutes or so.

Diet Type

Is your pet eating a “budget” food with lots of filler material? That means she’s only getting a lot of empty calories and packing on extra weight. It’s time to upgrade your pet’s diet! Consult your vet for a recommendation on a high-quality food for your pet.

Exercise Tips

Exercising your pet daily is the other major way that you’ll combat pet obesity; there’s just no way around it! Get your pet moving with brisk walks around the block or fun play sessions indoors.

Does your pet need a veterinary exam? Want more advice on slimming down your animal companion? Call your veterinary clinic Marietta, GA today.

Three Pet Toxins at Home Right Now

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We know you’re very conscientious when it comes to pet safety. However, even the most careful pet owners probably have a few potential pet toxins in their homes! The trick is knowing what to look out for so that your companion stays safe. Learn more here from a vet Tampa, FL.

Toxic Foods

Many human foods aren’t safe for pets. The list includes garlic, onions, chives, leeks, scallions, shallots, grapes and raisins, chocolate, gum, candy, alcoholic beverages, salty items, fatty foods, and much more. Don’t leave harmful foods on tables or countertops where pets can reach!

Human Medicines

Did you know that plenty of medicines made for humans can hurt a pet? Aspirin, cough syrup, prescription pills, antidepressants… the list goes on and on. To be safe, keep your medicine cabinet shut tightly at all times so that pets can’t reach the products inside. A child-proof plastic cap might be no match for your pet’s jaws!

Cleaning Supplies

Pets aren’t likely to seek out cleaning supplies to ingest, but it’s not worth risking. Move pets elsewhere when cleaning, and keep the supply closet shut and locked.

To learn more about pet safety at home, contact your animal hospital Tampa, FL.

Keeping Pets Safe and Happy in Cold Weather

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When the temperatures outside dip, it’s important to keep your animal friend’s health and happiness in mind. Most of our pets aren’t well-equipped to handle winter weather! Use these tips from a veterinarian Washington DC to keep your pet safe:

Indoor Time

The easiest way to make sure your pet stays safe, happy, and warm in the wintertime is to allow them plenty of indoor time. Inside, they’ll be happy relaxing with you and your family. Only take your pet outdoors for short walks and bathroom breaks.

Outdoor Hazards

When your pet does venture outdoors in the cold, do your best to avoid ice patches. Not only can your pet slip, ice might contain melting salt or chemicals that you don’t want your pet tracking indoors on the paws. Antifreeze is another common winter pet hazard; its sweet smell and taste may attract pets, but it’s extremely toxic!

Clothing

Clothing may be helpful for some pets, especially those with short or thin coats of fur. Check out parkas, jackets, booties, sweaters, and more at your local pet supply store.

Would you like to know more about winter pet care? We’re here to help. Contact your animal hospital Washington DC today!

Destroying Pet Odors at Home

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Let’s face it—after a while, our beloved animal companions can start to smell up our homes a bit. Wouldn’t you like to destroy those odors and return your home to its former freshness? Learn how below from veterinarians Westminster, MD.

Grooming

Groom your pet on a daily basis; it’ll do wonders for their odor. Brushing regularly removes grime from the coat and keeps hair from falling all over your home. The occasional bath—always using a canine- or feline-formulated shampoo—can help your pet smell great for weeks on end.

Odor Neutralizers

Air fresheners just mask over smells, letting them return in short order. An odor neutralizer, though, combats enzymes that cause odors at the root. There are products to combat stains and odors from vomit, feces, urine, and more. Check out the selection at your local pet supply store.

See the Vet

Does your pet smell particularly strong? Has an odor seemingly developed out of nowhere? Set up an appointment to have your pet examined. Various health issues—infection, parasites, rotting teeth, and more—could be the cause of the stench!

Talk to your vet Westminster, MD to learn more about combating pet odors in your home.

Halloween Pet Hazards

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Halloween is a particularly dangerous time of year for our cats and dogs. The trick is knowing what to watch out for so that this holiday doesn’t turn into a real-life nightmare! Learn more here from a veterinarian Crown Point, IN.

Chocolate and Candy

There’s a lot of chocolate and candy floating around during Halloween and trick-or-treat night, none of which is good for pets. Chocolate of all types contains theobromine and caffeine, harmful chemicals for pets, and many candies and gums are sweetened with an artificial sugar called xylitol that can poison animals. Keep pets away from the sweet treats!

Escape

Trick-or-treat night presents an escape hazard, as the doorbell rings frequently and the front door opens like clockwork. If your pet is the type to dart out of an open door, secure them in another room. Make sure all pets in the house are properly identified with a microchip, ID tags on the collar, or both.

Costume Dangers

Dressing your pet up in a costume? Make sure it doesn’t contain small parts that could be choked on or swallowed, and make sure it fits just right.

For more Halloween safety tips, contact your animal hospital Crown Point, IN.

Three Benefits of Spaying or Neutering Your Dog or Cat

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Ask any veterinarian, and they’ll tell you that having your pet spayed or neutered early on in life is one of the best things you can ever do for them. There are many reasons for this! Learn about three benefits of the procedure from a veterinarian North Dallas, TX:

Health Benefits

When a pet is spayed or neutered, the risk of genital cancers is virtually eliminated, and the chance of other cancers (breast, prostate, etc.) occurring is greatly reduced. Additionally, common ailments like UTIs are far less likely to be diagnosed in pets who have had the procedure performed. What does your pet have to lose?

Behavior Improvements

Pets who have been spayed or neutered tend to behave far better than those who haven’t. While the procedure doesn’t fix all your pet’s behavior issues, you can eliminate or greatly reduce things like aggression, escape attempts, chewing, digging, scratching, loud vocalizations, house soiling, and more.

Animal Welfare

Spaying and neutering means that pets can’t breed in an uncontrolled manner, ultimately reducing the number of pets that go homeless or must be euthanized. It benefits the greater good!

Learn more by contacting your vet clinic North Dallas, TX. We’re here for you!

Pet Care Tips for Hot Weather

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Most of our cats and dogs aren’t well-equipped for hot weather. After all, they’re covered in fur! Use these quick tips from a veterinarian Roanoke, VA to make sure your pet stays safe and sound when summer weather hits.

Indoor Time

The easiest way to ensure that your pet is happy and healthy this summer is to bring them indoors frequently. That way, they’ll be comfortable in the air conditioning and safe from the risk of heatstroke. Try exercising your companion in the early morning or evening hours, when the sun isn’t directly overhead and temperatures are lower.

Hydration

Providing your pet with a steady supply of cool, fresh water is the best way to prevent dehydration and heat exhaustion. Whether your pet is spending time indoors or outside, give them a large dish of water to enjoy. Your pet will thank you!

Paw Pad Care

If your pet lingers on hot asphalt surfaces, they can experience painful burns on the paw pads. Do your best to avoid driveways, parking lots, and other asphalt surfaces while walking your animal friend.

Would you like even more tips for keeping pets safe in hot weather? Contact your veterinary clinic Roanoke, VA today!

The Basics of Guinea Pig Care

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Are you adopting a guinea pig soon? Trying to decide whether or not a guinea pig is the right pet for you and your family? Read on as your veterinarian Chattanooga, TN goes over the basics of guinea pig care.

Diet

Guinea pigs eat a commercial pellet food, widely available at pet supply stores and certain retail outlets, as well as timothy hay. Additionally, they’ll require a daily helping of fresh fruits and vegetables, like spinach, romaine lettuce, carrots, kiwi, and others. Talk to your vet for specifics on guinea pigs’ nutritional needs.

Cage and Accessories

Your pig will need a cage large enough to accommodate a water bottle, food dish, hiding huts, and a play area. Make sure the bottom of the cage is solid rather than wire, as your pig will require a wood-shaving bedding material. This material should be changed out for fresh bedding on a weekly basis.

Handling Tips

Many guinea pigs will enjoy time out of their cage, closely supervised by their owner. Also, guinea pigs are often skittish—be patient, as it may take some time for your pet to warm up to human contact.

For more information, call your animal hospital Chattanooga, TN.

Preventative Care for Your Pet

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When it comes to your pet, it simply makes sense to avoid health problems before they strike. Not only does that keep your animal companion happy, it’s less expensive! Here, your vet Tampa, FL tells you about the preventative care essentials that your pet needs.

Vaccination

All pets need the core vaccinations against dangerous and/or contagious diseases, such as distemper, parvovirus, rabies, hepatitis, and calicivirus. Other vaccines, like those that protect against Lyme disease and the Bordetella virus, may also be necessary. Talk to your vet to find out what vaccinations your pet might require.

Pest Control

Fleas, ticks, and worms present a real health hazard to your animal companion. It’s far easier to protect your pet with preventative medicine than treat infestations and infections after the fact. Call your vet if your pet isn’t already set up with flea-and-tick and heartworm medications.

Spay and Neuter

Spaying and neutering eliminates various cancer risks, and it even makes common issues like UTIs less likely to occur. Of course, it also improves your pet’s behavior and eliminates the chance of an unplanned litter!

Does your pet need spayed or neutered? Is it time for vaccinations? Call your vet clinic Tampa, FL today!

Hot Weather Care Tips for Cats and Dogs

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When the weather heats up, our dogs and cats are at risk. It’s up to you to make sure your pet stays healthy and happy this summer! Use these tips from vets Fort Collins, CO to do just that:

Indoor Time

Don’t leave your pet outside for long stretches of time. That’s only inviting deadly heatstroke and dehydration! Instead, make sure your pet is allowed to relax indoors for most of the day, and provide a dish of cool, fresh water for him to drink from at all times.

Pest Control

Warm weather means more likelihood of infestations and infections from pests like fleas, ticks, and worms. By keeping your pet on proper preventatives—a heartworm medication and a flea-and-tick preventative will do the trick for most pets—you’re preventing the problem entirely! Talk to your vet if your pet needs these medications.

Grooming

Did you know that grooming your pet in the summer can help keep them cool? That’s because you’re removing loose and dead fur that’s clogging up the coat, getting rid of an unnecessary layer of hair that only makes your pet hotter.

For more summertime pet care tips, call your veterinarians Fort Collins, CO.