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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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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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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Summer in the South brings lots of things we long for, long days of outdoor time, tons of sunshine (after so much rain this winter and spring) and holiday and vacation activities with family and friends.  Of course, we want to include our pet in the family fun.  But is it really that much fun for them? Here are a few tips to make sure: 1.  Be cautious on walks. Early morning or late afternoon is best for more than a quick potty break walk. The summer sun heats up concrete walks, asphalt pavement, and even car vinyl car seats
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