Pet-care articles from our veterinary team.

• Is Your Pet Overweight? A Vet’s Guide to Safe, Lasting Weight Loss for Dogs and Cats — According to recent studies, nearly 35% of pet dogs and cats are overweight. Many owners don’t realize that they are over feeding their pet or are feeding a diet that could cause w
• Aging Pet — As your pet gets older, there are several conditions that commonly occur. Several of these conditions have seen significant improvements in available treatments in the last five to
• Arthritis A Sore Subject — Arthritis is a condition resulting in painful joints. It is extremely common in older pets, especially the larger breeds of dogs. Any joint can be affected with arthritis. The most
• Spay or Neuter? The Health and Behavior Benefits every Pet Owner Should Know — One of the common questions I get when recommending a neuter for a family’s male pet is “Why should I do that? He cannot get pregnant, can he?” And of course, the answer is no, he
• Benefits of Spay/Neuter — There are lots of good reasons to get your pet fixed at an early age. Here are just a few:
• Should You Breed Your Dog or Cat? What to Know Before You Decide — Breeding a pet is a bigger commitment than most owners expect. Before allowing a mating, it is worth weighing the time, cost, and outcomes honestly.
• Bobcat Disease — A highly fatal disease of domestic felines has become more and more prevalent in this area over the past few summers. Cytauxzoonosis (pronounced “site a zo a no sis”) is a parasite
• Canine Influenza — With all the talk concerning human flu now, I thought it might be pertinent to discuss the canine flu virus. This disease is caused by influenza A subtype H3N8 virus, which was dis
• Is Your Pet Slowing Down? 6 Signs of Aging in Dogs and Cats and What to Do About Them — It is easy to assume your pet’s slower steps or graying muzzle are “just old age.” But many age-related conditions are treatable when caught early, and
• Choosing the Right Pet for You — Are you considering the addition of a pet to your home? If so, some forethought about your situation can prevent later problems. Falling in love with that cute puppy or kitten is e
• Crate Training 101: A Stress-Free Way to Housebreak Your Puppy — Forget everything you have ever learned about housebreaking a puppy by using a rolled up newspaper, hitting your puppy, showing him his mess then rubbing his nose in it, etc. Ask y
• Cruciate Ligament Rupture — A friend of mine recently ruptured his cruciate ligament and is having surgery on it this week. This is the second time for him; the other knee had surgery for this a few years ago
• Demodicosis — WHAT IS DEMODICOSIS? Demodicosis or demodectic mange is a noncontagious skin disease of dogs. WHAT IS THE CAUSE? The disease is caused by a tiny parasite, a mite (Demodex canis), t
• Dental Disease — Periodontal disease (problems in the area around the teeth) is one of the most common health problems in dogs and cats. It is estimated that 80% of dogs and 70% of cats over the ag
• Diarrhea in Pets — No one wants to clean up the mess of their pet having diarrhea. I am sure the pet didn’t like having diarrhea either. This is one of the most common symptoms listed for a sick pet
• Ear Infections and Ear Mites in Dogs and Cats: Signs, Causes, and Treatment. —Ear problems are one of the most common issues veterinarians see on a routine exam, and catching them early can prevent a painful, long-term condition.
• Ear Mites — WHAT ARE EAR MITES? Ear mites (Otodectes cyanotis) are tiny parasites that live on the skin in the ear canals of dogs and cats. HOW DO PETS BECOME INFESTED WITH EAR MITES? The para
• Ehrlichiosis — We are all welcoming the warmer Spring weather. The green grass and leaves, blooming dogwoods, and chirping birds are great gifts from Mother Nature. However, Mother Nature also gi
• Equine Metabolic Syndrome and Founder — Spring brings nice weather for trail riding, good fishing, and green grass. It is the latter that increases the risk of one of the most common problems of horses, “grass founder”.
• Eye Problems — One of the more common ailments appearing in small animal veterinary clinics is eye problems. Red eyes, tearing eyes, squinting eyes, and lots of other signs may be present and of
• Feline Leukemia — WHAT IS FELINE LEUKEMIA VIRUS (FeLV)? Feline leukemia virus is a contagious virus that causes many different forms of cancer in cats. HOW IS THE VIRUS TRANSMITTED? When a susceptib
• Flea Control — By far the most common problem clients ask for information on is flea control. It has been estimated that American pet owners spend 500 million dollars on flea products each year—m
• Heartworms — A topic that is relevant to the onset of warmer weather is Heartworm Disease. Heartworms (Dirofilaria immitis) are parasites, primarily of canines, that are spread by mosquitoes. T
• Heat Alert — Summertime is often thought of as “fun in the sun” or a time for swimming, boating, and vacations. However, it is also a time for an all-too-common disaster for our pets known as h
• Holiday Pets — HOLIDAY PETS AND HAZARDS The Christmas holidays are a traditional time for receiving new puppies or kittens for presents. These adorable little creatures can be one of the greatest
• Hot Spots and Your Dog — A “hot spot’ is a localized area of skin inflammation and infection. Other common names for this condition include moist dermatitis or acute moist dermatitis. These skin lesions ar
• House Soiling — According to many behavioral experts “inappropriate urination” is the number one behavioral problem in cats. In the large majority of housecats, litter box training is very easy, i