If you have visited our practice you have probably met Parker and Maddox, our clinic kitties. They are as much a part of our team as any of the staff. Since we have been open 15 years the cats, who are original inhabitants, have grown into senior citizens. We know they are jumping less because of arthritis and they sleep more. They are still known to snatch one of our discarded treat filled syringe covers to scarf the yummy leftovers if we are not careful. And burrowing into the freshy dried laundry is still a favorite thing. The team monitors
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Holiday Pet Hazards
I was discussing holiday hazards with a veterinary friend in preparation for writing this blog. She shared this story, “Early in my veterinary career I remember vividly the day one of our clients came rushing into the practice with her two dogs. She had been running errands in preparation for her annual Christmas party and had the dogs with her in the car. Heidi and Ho were two standard dachshunds each weighing in at around 18 pounds. Like most dachshunds they were excellent beggars and loved food. As their owner made her way from errand to errand the dogs chilled
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Halloween Pet Safety Reminders from Your Vet in Matthews
Don’t take your pet’s safety for granted this fall and Halloween. All kinds of hazards are lurking around, waiting to cause trouble for your pet–from creepy crawly parasites to toxic candy and dangerous decor. Read on for important fall and Halloween safety tips to keep the season a healthy and happy one for your best friend, and don’t forget to contact our animal hospital directly if you have any questions! Parasite Prevention Just because summer is over, doesn’t mean that parasites have burrowed away for the season. Fleas and ticks are resilient pests and will hang around as long as
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On the Road with Pets
One of our friends spends lots of time on airplanes traveling across the country for her work. She recently remarked on how the frequency of people taking pets along on trips seems to have increased significantly. She is correct. People travel with pets all the time. Our dogs certainly enjoy our vacations at the beach, and we wouldn’t have half the fun if they weren’t along. But all this travel can have pet health risks of which you may not be aware. The first and most common is anxiety. Many pets suffer anxiety when experiencing a new place with strange
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Grain-free Does Not Mean “Healthy”
By: Dr. Lauren Birch There has been some frightening news and evidence released recently about a link between heart disease and grain-free or exotic ingredient food blends for dogs. The FDA recently released a statement about a link between certain ingredients in dog food, especially when they are one of the main ingredients, leading to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). The food items of concern were peas, lentils, legume seeds, or potatoes. These often serve as the carbohydrate source in grain-free foods. The FDA generally does not police pet foods. Pet foods do not have to be inspected or approved by the
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