The fetch Foundation is an Arizona-based non-profit that seeks to save the lives of family pets in fires and other emergency situations. They report that half a million pets are impacted by fire each year in the United States. 40,000 family pets die from smoke...
Teddy is an adorable Schnauzer-Poodle mix. His dad Christopher adopted him from the El Cajon Animal Shelter when he was a puppy. Recently, Teddy began to experience a swollen, painful mouth. His vets at the Bastet Veterinary Hospital told Christopher that Teddy had severe periodontal disease and required...
Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV) is a highly contagious and often fatal disease that is spreading among wild rabbits in the southwestern United States. This disease was first identified in China in 1984 and has since spread across the globe. RHDV is not known to affect...
“Slower, Shorter, Sadder” is the title of a study of English dog owners who describe how their walks have changed after a diagnosis of osteoarthritis in their dogs. The development of canine osteoarthritis can lead to big changes in dog walking routines. Most of the owners...
The ASPCA Pet Poison Helpline has seen an increase in calls from concerned pet owners since the COVID-19 crisis began. The issue? Many of us have questions about the safe use of cleaning and disinfecting products (such as bleach) around our pets. To help pet owners,...
Just like dogs, cats can also develop degenerative joint diseases like arthritis as they age. Studies suggest that 45% of all cats and 90% of cats over 10 years of age have some arthritis. Arthritis and other painful conditions in cats can go untreated because cats...
The knowledge about how pets are affected by the novel coronavirus is evolving every day. Recent news stories about a handful of dogs, cats, and big cats at a zoo testing positive for COVID-19 may have pet owners wondering about their own animals. Since humans seem...
With so much of our focus on the Coronavirus crisis, it can be easy to forget that we also must stay vigilant about natural disasters like wildfires, tornadoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes. For pet owners, this means having an emergency preparedness plan that includes our dogs,...
For many dogs and cats, the arrival of spring means that shedding season is here. The temporary closure of pet grooming businesses for public health reasons can be difficult for dog owners accustomed to handing their pups over to a professional for grooming services. We’ve gathered...
The World Health Organization has announced that it plans to examine the transmission of the novel coronavirus between humans and pets. This has been prompted by a scientific study which found that among domestic animals, cats and ferrets can become infected with the virus that causes...
Lyme disease (Lyme borreliosis) is caused by the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria, and is transmitted by the bite of infected deer ticks. Dogs are at increased risk for contracting Lyme disease in the spring and summer months. Lyme disease has been found in all 50 U.S. states,...
This fashionable little pup is 10 month old Moosh! Moosh’s “mom” had been working in the hospitality industry, but when events started being canceled due to the COVID-19 health crisis, she was laid off from her job. It’s never a good time for a pet to...
As more and more businesses are temporarily closing due to the Coronavirus outbreak, many concerned pet owners are wondering if their local veterinary practices will be open. According to an article on the Veterinary Information Network website, some—but not all—states are declaring veterinary clinics as...
Researchers in Finland conducted a survey of nearly 14,000 dog owners to determine the causes of canine anxiety. They found that over 72% of dogs experience some form of anxiety. What types of anxiety are most common, and are there certain breeds that are more anxious...
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has created a fact sheet on Coronavirus for pet owners. They address common concerns, including whether or not cats and dogs can become infected with the virus or pass it on. As of this time, there is no evidence that...
This year’s Global Pet Expo, a convention hosted by the American Pet Products Association and the Pet Industry Distributors Association, highlighted some new product trends that are driving the pet food market this year. A Switch from Grain-Free to Grain-Friendly Diets The grain-free pet food trend, which...
An important animal awareness holiday happens in March: Pet Poison Prevention Month. The ASPCA urges pet owners to be mindful of the following common pet poison hazards: Household cleaning products Pesticides (insect and rodent) Certain people foods Automotive products (like antifreeze) Medicines (human and pet, Rx...
The Royal Veterinary College recently completed a large study on elbow disease in UK dogs. Researchers examined the records of over 455,000 dogs under veterinary care to determine the risk factors for elbow disease in dogs. Here are some highlights of the study, you can read...
The new strain of coronavirus from Wuhan, China (2019-nCoV) is believed to be a virus that jumped from animals (possibly bats via another species) to humans. While its contagiousness among people is a worldwide health concern, what about our pets? Veterinarians at Texas A&M University report...
Accidental opioid poisoning is a danger for our companion animals, especially dogs, as well as for humans. A new study analyzed data from the Animal Poison Control Center for the years 2006-2014 to identify risk factors for opioid poisoning in U.S. pet dogs. Not surprisingly, there...
Taking your dog for a walk is a great way for you and your pet to enjoy quality time together and get in some healthy exercise. Seems like a simple activity, but the American Veterinary Medical Association reminds dog owners to keep their best friend’s...