Parasites Center - Heartworm

How to Keep Your Hamster Healthy and Active With Mentally Stimulating Toys

By Dr. Laurie Hess, DVM, Diplomate ABVP (Avian Practice) Hamsters are very popular pets that must be handled often to become socialized. Proper hamster care also includes exercise, which means they should be given the opportunity to run...

Do Small Pets Need Outdoor Time?

By Dr. Laurie Hess, DVM, Diplomate ABVP (Avian Practice) Small animal pets, such as rabbits, guinea pigs and hamsters, are very popular companions for families and individuals who live in smaller homes, as these animals don’t typically...

Hazards to Avoid While Baking Homemade Dog Treats

By Paula Fitzsimmons Buying manufactured dog treats is a hit-or-miss proposition. “Most of them are loaded with salt, sugar, preservatives, flavorings and colors. Dog treats are made with a wide variation in quality and nutrient...

K9 Natural Ltd Voluntarily Recalls Frozen Chicken Feast Raw Pet Food Because of Possible Listeria

On April 13,K9 Natural Ltd announced a voluntary recall of four batches ofK9 Natural Frozen Chicken Feast 2.2lb and 11lb bags that were imported into the US market in June 2017 because they have the potential to be contaminated withlisteria. "Listeria...

How Secure and Clean Is the Facility?

The last thing you want is to take your dog to a daycare where there’s a chance of them getting hurt, sick or lost. “I’ve seen doggie daycares [with] fences [that] didn’t look secure,” says Morden-Moore....

How Does the Staff Manage Dog Fights?

In general, the daycare facility should screen all of the dogs it has that day and assign playgroups based on preventing any skirmishes from breaking out, but if a tense situation does arise, you need to ask how the staff reacts to it. “You...

How Does the Staff Treat the Customers?

This is the quickest, easiest indicator for whether a daycare is run well or not. “From the minute you get there, you should be treated well if you expect your dog to be treated well,” says Lincoln. The staff should...

What Training Does the Staff Have?

Although it would be ideal for all of the daycare staff to have positive training and socialization certifications, it is not always the case. However, you should make sure that there’s at least one supervisor or head of the daycare who...

How Many Dogs Will Be with My Dog?

The general rule of thumb is that small groups are better than large ones. “I think it’s best to have no less than one supervisor or handler per every four dogs,” says Foote. “Avoid the big mosh pit doggie daycare....

How Can I Tell If My Dog Is Suited for Daycare?

Unsurprisingly, the dogs that do best at daycare are those that play well with other dogs and are typically pretty active. “Even if they’re not physically active but you can tell they’re still mentally active, it gives...

Which Vaccinations Does My Dog Need?

Regardless of where you take your dog for daycare, there are certain vaccines the daycare should always require: rabies, parvo, distemper, adenovirus, parainfluenza, canine influenza and bordetella, which dogs in daycare facilities have a heightened...

7 Questions to Ask Before Signing Your Dog up for Daycare

By Brielle Gregory These days, the number of doggie daycare facilities—and amenities—seem endless. Pet owners can now choose from doggie daycares that boast swimming pools, memory foam mattresses, home-cooked treats and even...

7 Questions to Ask Before Signing Your Dog up for Daycare

Don't Medicate Your Dog

According to Osborne, giving your dog a sedative or medication before flying is not recommended. “They cause a drop in blood pressure and heart rate and make the pet unsteady,” she says. “Ask your vet to recommend holistic...

Pack Supplies

Supplies are key to a happy, healthy trip. Here’s what Ellis recommends bringing: Your dog’s food Treats Collapsible food and water bowls. An extra leash Plastic bags and...

Get Your Dog Acclimated

Once you select the crate or carrier you’ll be transporting your dog in, work on making him comfortable getting in and out of it ahead of time. “Teach the dog to go into the carrier, then slide it under a coffee table and...

Select the Right Pet Carrier

Airlines have specific rules about what pet carriers can and can’t be used on a flight. Check with your airline for specifics. Remember that your dog should be able to lie down, sit, stand up and turn around in the carrier, says Osborne. If...

Prepare the Paperwork

Always carry your dog’s recently-issued health certificate, says Osborne, as some airlines require a health certificate dated within ten days of travel. Also, check to see if the state or country you visit requires special vaccinations,...

Choose Cabin Versus Cargo Wisely

Some airlines only allow large dogs, often those in excess of 70 pounds, into cargo. Placing a dog into cargo is controversial, but Forbes says that, in general, flying with a dog in cargo is usually not a problem. Osborne, however, does...

Determine If Your Dog Should Travel

Before you book a ticket, talk to your veterinarian to determine if your dog can fly. Dogs that are very young, old, in heat, pregnant or have chronic illnesses or poor temperaments should not fly, says Dr. Carol Osborne of Chagrin Falls Veterinary...

7 Ways to Comfort Your Dog While Flying

By Nancy Dunham Flying with a dog may seem simple, but you need plenty of prep to ensure a calm, safe flight. Putting the work in ahead of time will also make you less nervous, which will in turn help keep your pup calm in the air. “We...

7 Ways to Comfort Your Dog While Flying

Shelter Cat Cares for Kittens While Their Mother Recovers from Surgery

Wonder Woman. Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Betty the Cat. There areall sorts of superheroes, and sometimes you just happen to find one at theMSPCA-Angell Adoption Center in Boston, Massachusetts. On March 22, a cat named Churchwho...

Protect Your Dog from the Elements

Dogs can get sunburns, especially breeds with thinner hair and lightly pigmented noses, Sawchuk says. Ideally, choose a picnic spot in the shade, but if you’re in the sun, apply veterinarian-approved sunblock to the dog’s ear tips...

Keep Your Dog Busy

Pasekoff recommends bringing treat-filled toys to keep your dog occupied. And if your dog has tons of energy, it can help to give him exercise before the picnic to tire him out, “especially if you want to have some peace and quiet,”...