As the holidays approach we should be aware of the possible risks to our pets that may be associated with our celebrations. Below are some of the foods to keep away from your pet during the holidays. Chocolate contains methylxanthines. The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it is Xylitol (an artificial sweeter) found in many candy and sugar free…
Osteoarthritis, also known as arthritis or degenerative joint disease, is a progressive and irreversible condition affecting the joints of dogs and cats. Arthritis is non curable and affects dogs of any size, breed, gender and age. Some of the signs you may notice your dog doing include: Lameness, being the most common sign seen, may be progressive, persistent…
Nutrition can make us or break us and that holds true for our pets as well. What they eat is up to us as their caretakers and guardians so why not offer better options. Nutrition can be broken down into simple categories. Water All pets should have access to fresh, clean water at all times. Food broken…
There are a few things that you can do at home to prepare the environment for your elderly, ill or disabled pet. A few goals to keep in mind: To maintain a safe, secure, and comfortable environment. This can be done by providing good traction for your pet to safely get around without slipping on smooth flooring. Some non-skid…
I want to share with our Nurse Your Pet visitors this story of a patient of mine, Monty, who had bone cancer. Monty had his leg amputated to reduce the painfulness of this type of cancer. Osteosarcoma, known commonly as bone cancer is very aggressive and most animals do not live very long once they are diagnosed. Amputation doesn’t slow…
Getting older is inevitable for everyone, including our beloved pets. When does a pet become “old”? That depends on whether you are a cat or a dog, and what size of dog makes a difference as well. In general, cats and small dogs are generally considered geriatric at the age of 7, whereas larger breed dogs are considered…
Palliative care and hospice care are not the same thing, though they are often used interchangeably. Palliation is defined as “relieving or soothing the symptoms of a disease or disorder at any stage of an illness”. More and more people are choosing palliative care and so in this blog article we will explore the concept of palliative care and…
Many people find that when they feed their dog food they have prepared at home, that they improve in many ways. Pets may have sensitivities to their commercial food which makes them itch or have gas or diarrhea.
Home made diets, when done correctly, are some of the best ways to feed your pet. But when they are not done according to accepted nutritional principles, they can be disastrous!
