What’s the Average Healthy Cat Weight?
Filed Under GroomingIn 2018, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) classified obesity as a disease, with 59.5% of cats being clinically overweight or obese.
Carrying excess weight makes your cat much more likely to develop diabetes, urinary...
Try a Puzzle Feeder
Filed UnderEven small changes can improve your pet’s day-to-day life. To easily engage your dog or cat, spice up mealtime with a puzzle feeder, says Jessica Gore, CPDT-KA, a certified professional trainer in the Los Angeles area. “Puzzle...
READ MOREHow to Calculate Your Dog’s Healthy Weight
Filed Under CareA wide range of body sizes and types exist among dog breeds, which makes it hard to determine the “average” dog weight. For example, the graceful Greyhound and the short-legged Basset Hound may both weigh 60 pounds, but these two...
How Much Does a Cat Teeth Cleaning Cost?
Filed Under WellnessWhether your veterinarian has told you that your cat needs a teeth cleaning or you are just being proactive about your cat’s oral health, you have probably wondered what’s involved in the procedure and how much it’s going to...
Stitches the Cat Becomes Resident Therapy Animal At Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport
Filed Under Petlanthropy
It’s no longer uncommon to see Golden Retrievers or Labradors wondering around airports providing busy travelers with a moment of calmness. Therapy dogs have become a part of airport strategies to help people cope with the chaos of...
7 Safety Tips for Your Puppy’s First Christmas
Filed Under SeasonalReviewed for accuracy on November15, 2019, by Dr. Katie Grzyb, DVM
Nothing brings on the holly jollies like sharing the celebrations with a new puppy.
However, it’s important to remember that puppies are as mischievous as...
What Is a Veterinary Compounding Pharmacy?
Filed Under General HealthVeterinarians prescribe everything from antibiotics to parasite preventatives and anti-seizure medications on a daily basis.
But what happens if none of the available drug options are appropriate for your pet’s unique condition,...
How Many Teeth Do Dogs Have, and Can They Lose Them?
Filed Under CareDo dogs have the same number of teeth as we do? Do they lose “puppy teeth” just like we lose our baby teeth?
Here’s a breakdown of how many teeth dogs have as puppies and adults, and whether it’s normal for them...
Alaska Airlines Offers Flight Training for Guide Dogs for the Blind
Filed Under PetlanthropyWhile the debate over emotional support animals (ESAs) on planes rages on, one airline is working to help service dogs get the experience they need to become expert travelers.
Alaska Airlines has partnered with Guide Dogs for the Blind...
Cinderblock the Viral, Anti-Exercise Fat Cat Uses Fame to Help Local Nonprofits
Filed Under Petlanthropy
By now, you have probably seen the viral video of Cinderblock, the overweight cat, doing the absolute least when it comes to her exercise regime.
The video hit Reddit and instantly went viral with Cinderblock showing up on...
Are Dogs’ Mouths Cleaner Than Humans’ Mouths?
Filed Under Pet LoverEveryone has heard that a dog’s mouth is cleaner than a human’s, but is that really the case? Should we actually be saying no to puppy kisses?
Here’s what you need to know about the cleanliness of your dog’s mouth.
Is...
Can Dog Training Methods Affect How a Dog Bonds With Their Owner? Study Says Yes
Filed Under Health & Science
Dog training is an important part of being a responsible pet parent. Our dogs need to be given the tools they need to adapt and respond to any circumstance they are introduced to.
While everyone can agree that dogs need to be trained,...
Is It Normal for Cats to Lose Their Teeth?
Filed Under General HealthShould you worry if your cat loses a tooth? Is it normal?
It depends on whether you’re talking about a kitten or an adult cat. Here’s a closer look at kitten and cat teeth so you’ll know when tooth loss is normal and...
The US House of Representatives Has Passed a Bill to Make Animal Cruelty a Federal Felony
Filed Under Care & SafetyBack in January of 2019, Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Fla., and Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla. proposed the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act to the US House of Representatives.
On October 22, 2019, the House unanimously passed the PACT...
Why Are More Pets Euthanized During the Holidays?
Filed Under Pet LoverIf you spend much time hanging out with veterinarians around the holidays, you’re likely to hear someone mention how they are being bombarded by euthanasia appointments.
This got me to thinking—are more pets actually euthanized...
Do Cats Love Their Owners? Study Says a Lot More Than You’d Expect
Filed Under Health & ScienceCats are typically considered to be independent creatures that will seek attention on their own terms. Most people think that cats are pretty indifferent to their caretakers and lead a pretty solitary life, however, a recent study has found...
Can Your Dog Smell When You’ve Cheated on Him?
Filed Under Pet LoverI’ve worked in both traditional clinics and house call practices throughout my career as a veterinarian, but what has remained constant is the attention I get from my own dogs when I get home.
They greet me like I’ve been...
New Study Finds That Dog Owners Live Longer and Are More Likely to Survive Heart Attacks
Filed Under Health & Science
Any dog parent can tell you that having a furry best friend has a whole slew of benefits, from providing endless cuddles to having a loyal PIC (partner in crime). Dogs have long been considered excellent companions for humans, but recent...
At What Age Are Cats Fully Grown?
Filed Under CareReviewed for accuracy on September 30, 2019, by Dr. Jennifer Coates, DVM
When a child finally turns 18 years old, they are generally considered to be an adult.
But what about our feline family members? At what age are cats fully...
ProHeart 12 Gives Dogs a Year of Heartworm Protection
Filed Under ParasitesHeartworm disease is a very serious and real concern for pet parents. With canine heartworm infections being reported in all 50 states in the US, heartworm prevention is essential.
However, despite the widespread availability of heartworm...
How Cancer-Sniffing Dogs Can Detect Lung Cancer
Filed Under Pet LoverDogs have an excellent sense of smell—at least 10,000 times stronger than that of a human. Some scent hound breeds, such as the Bloodhound and Beagle, have as many as 225 million olfactory receptors.
Due to their incredible sniffing...
At What Age Do Dogs Stop Growing?
Filed Under CareReviewed for accuracy on September 18, 2019, by Dr. Katie Grzyb, DVM
“At every new puppy appointment, people always ask how fast they will grow and when they will stop growing,” says Dr. Meghan Walker, a veterinarian at Weddington...
Scientists May Have Found Out How to Get Rid of Cat Allergies
Filed Under Pet LoverThat sneezing, wheezing, congested, itchy eye, must-escape-this-room-because-I-can’t-breathe-around-this-cat feeling can ruin even the best of days—especially if you are a cat lover.
But now, you might be able to avoid the...
Are There Signs That a Dog is Dying From Cancer?
Filed Under CareWith pets living longer than ever, cancer has become a diagnosis that we see more commonly in older dogs.
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) reports that one in four dogs will develop cancer at some time in their life...
Infographic: Use This Quality of Life Scale to Decide When to Put Your Cat Down
Filed Under
While euthanasia is the kindest thing we can do for pets that are suffering, every pet parent wants to be assured that they are doing it at the right time. And since cats are notorious for hiding their pain and discomfort, it becomes even...