How to tell if your pet has Arthritis: Arthritis in dogs and cats is not a single disease, it’s actually an informal way of referring to joint pain or joint disease. Just as in humans, arthritis in pets can be painful and limit their ability to walk and even exercise. Your pet’s joints take a [...]
Pet owners may remember a time when their veterinarian regularly vaccinated their dogs and puppies for coronavirus. Seeing the chart notation “CV”, for coronavirus vaccination, next to “BV” and “RV” (Bordatella and Rabies, respectively) was once ubiquitous inpatient charts at our clinic. But as concerns increased regarding adverse reactions to vaccination, veterinarians reduced the number [...]
What are coronaviruses? Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that typically affect the respiratory tracts of birds and mammals, including humans. They cause a wide range of symptoms, including a runny nose, cough, sore throat, and fever. Researchers first isolated a coronavirus in 1937 when a coronavirus was found responsible for avian infectious bronchitis [...]
At Animal Care Clinic, one of the ways we address pain and inflammation is through the use of cold laser therapy. Cold laser therapy can relieve pain, improve nerve function, stop muscle spasms, speed tissue repair, increase the development of muscle tissue/collagen, and reduce inflammation throughout the body. Still a relatively new technology in veterinary [...]
According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, more than 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats develop periodontal (gum) disease by the age of three years. This is a serious concern because the dental disease affects more than just the mouth. Left unchecked, the tartar slowly building up on your pet's teeth can [...]
In dogs, the ability to cope with new situations is both learned and inherited. Introducing and familiarizing your dog to new experiences – including people, places, and other animals – is called socialization. Positive socialization teaches your dog to respond and interact appropriately to new and unfamiliar experiences. Socialization is just as important to your [...]
With seasonal changes in weather, it can be common for elderly dogs and cats to suffer some discomfort from old joints and sore muscles. Pain in animals, however, can sometimes be difficult to notice. It’s in the nature of both the feline and the canine species to hide pain until it can no longer be [...]
A key component of any wellness plan for an older pet should be annual, and even better, biannual bloodwork and laboratory screening tests. These tests typically include several components. A complete blood count (CBC), which can detect anemia, infection, chronic inflammatory conditions, blood clotting problems, and even some cancers. A serum chemistry panel screens for [...]
After the caloric landslide and stress carousel of the holidays, we wake up on January 1st with renewed good intentions for weight loss and healthy lifestyle changes. This January might be a good one to make a resolution that will benefit both you and your pet. Get out there and WALK YOUR DOG! You know [...]
Four for Friday: Four Ways to Exercise your Cat It's true that cats are natural loungers...that's evolutionary. Just look at lions, for goodness sake! Most photos taken of these cats, king of all beasts, show them lying around squinting in the sun. Even without a lot of exercise, cats have high metabolisms - which means [...]