Cool, crisp weather brings the potential for new toxins for your pets to encounter. Let’s briefly review some of the seasonal risks you need to be aware of in order to keep your pets safe. Rodenticides As the weather cools down, vegetation dies off and crops are harvested, mice and rats will often come inside…

Halloween is here, and though you might get a kick out of the adorable witches and ghosts who come trick-or-treating to your door, your dog or cat may not be as thrilled. Don’t let October 31 become you and your pet’s worst nightmare. No one wants to spend Halloween night looking for an escape artist…

Giardiasis is a diarrheal disease that can affect many species: dogs, cats, and even humans. It’s caused by Giardia, a single-celled parasite that attacks the gastrointestinal tract of infected animals. Among experts, there is some question about the number of Giardia subtypes that can cause disease in animals and the potential of these subtypes to…

Why Microchip? It is recommended that you identify your pet even if you don’t plan to let him or her go outside. Even “indoor” pets can get out by accident, and many lost pets are never returned to their owners because they have no identification. Collars and tags are popular, effective methods of identification, but…

  Hosting Thanksgiving dinner as a pet owner can come with its own unique set of concerns: How do I keep the dog from swiping the turkey off the counter before it’s served? Luckily, here are 5 Thanksgiving dinner tips for dogs and cats below. After all, Thanksgiving should be a day to safely enjoy…

What Are Feline Leukemia Virus and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus? Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is contagious among cats. Unlike many other viruses that enter specific cells in the body and destroy them, FeLV enters certain cells in a cat’s body and changes the cells’ genetic characteristics. This permits FeLV to continue reproducing within the cat each…

Sedation or Agitation The most common side effects of marijuana intoxication are “drunkenness” (with pets appearing impaired and uncoordinated), sedation and urinary incontinence. THC and other cannabinoids affect the central nervous system, causing disruption of normal movement and behavior. However, about 25 percent of pets who ingest THCbecome stimulated instead — with agitation, vocalization and high heart rates…

Leptospirosis is a potentially serious disease caused by the bacterium Leptospira interrogans. It affects dogs but can also infect a wide variety of domestic and wild animals as well as humans. The organism is usually spread through infected urine, but contaminated water or soil, reproductive secretions, and even consumption of infected tissues can also transmit…

Dogs and cats alike can be affected by conjunctivitis, an inflammation of the tissues surrounding the inner eyelids and white part of the eyes that sometimes accompanies a respiratory infection or eye injury. It can also be brought on by airborne irritants, dry eye, or a more serious illness such as canine distemper or feline…

Heatstroke is a life-threatening condition suffered when a pet is unable to lower its body temperature. Cells in the body become damaged when the core body temperature reaches anywhere between 41°C and 43°C. Heatstroke is most common in dogs but can also occur in cats and can happen whenever a pet gets severely overheated. Among…