Pet Health Articles
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Bringing home a new baby is a major change for everyone in the family—including your dog. It is important to prepare your dog for a new baby, particularly if the dog has not been exposed to children before. Planning ahead can help your dog adjust to the new sights, sounds, smells, and routines that come with an infant. Even the friendliest dog should be supervised when the baby is nearby.
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Preparing your pet for a blood test helps to ensure that the results are as accurate and reliable as possible. Preparation for routine and special blood tests is slightly different. Your veterinarian will give you specific instructions before your appointment. It is important that you follow these instructions exactly to ensure accurate test results.
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Winter cold weather poses several risks for our pets. This article outlines some of the key risks and how to avoid them, to keep your pet safe year-round.
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Good hygiene takes practice, but if the practice starts when your dog is a puppy, it will likely be easy to keep them clean throughout their life. You can start training shortly after your puppy arrives home. Be sure to keep a calm voice and use food rewards as positive conditioning to make it a positive experience.
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When families shelter together for extended periods, as occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, pets enjoy nearly constant companionship. As people resume an active lifestyle, pets are suddenly faced with being alone. They may experience distress related to this loss of companionship. Treatment is discussed, such as independence training and an incremental program of safe departures. If your pet shows continued signs of distress related to being alone, it is important to seek professional help to prevent escalation.
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The American Animal Hospital Association and American Veterinary Medical Association have established guidelines to standardize preventive health care for cats, helping them to live longer, healthier lives. This handout provides an overview of the recommendations within these guidelines and why they are so important.
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The American Animal Hospital Association and American Veterinary Medical Association have established guidelines to standardize preventive health care for dogs, helping them to live longer, healthier lives. This handout provides an overview of the recommendations within these guidelines and why they are so important.
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Primaquine is a drug used to treat babesiosis in cats, a condition caused by a blood parasite (Babesia felis). Primaquine has also been used to treat blood parasites in owls and raptor birds. Primaquine is not recommended for use in dogs as they are highly susceptible to its side effects.
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Understanding learning principles and canine communication can set you and your dog up for success. Positive reinforcement can be used to create desired behavioral responses. Behavior modification techniques can be used to treat behavioral concerns such as fear.
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The pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) gene, if mutated, can contribute to increased body fat and body weight and increased food motivation in affected dogs. At this time, this gene mutation has only been found in the Labrador Retriever and Flat-coated Retriever and affects the majority of those working as service dogs. This handout explains how the POMC gene mutation was discovered, how it impacts affected dogs, and how you can support your dog if affected.