While it’s easy to budget for routine pet care expenses like food, kitty litter, and trips to the groomer, a serious pet injury or illness can lead to thousands of dollars of unexpected veterinary expenses. One recent FACE case, a pug named Sophie, is a...
What are the dog and cat injuries that are most frequently seen by veterinarians? Here’s a list of the top 10 pet accidents as compiled by WebMD. Is your pet well-protected from these common mishaps that lead to unexpected trips to the vet? Foreign body ingestion....
With the increasing popularity of edible cannabis products like cookies and brownies, pet poison hotlines are seeing an increase in calls about marijuana intoxication in dogs and cats. The Pet Poison Helpline has seen a fourfold increase in cases over the past 3 years. In...
The list of plants that can be harmful to cats is a long one. The effects of plant toxins in cats can range from moderate gastrointestinal upset to life-threatening cardiovascular and nervous system poisoning. Prevention is the best way to avoid accidental plant poisoning in cats....
Do you have a first aid kit prepared for your dog or cat? Of course, it’s important to take your pet to the vet for any serious illnesses or injuries. But for minor health issues or to provide emergency care at home before you can...
We’ve all seen the human fatality numbers and the terrible destruction caused by the earthquake in Nepal. Often overlooked is the suffering of animals when a natural disaster hits. According to National Geographic, domestic animals are often kept under houses in Nepal, which means that...
The American Animal Hospital Association’s excellent PetsMatter blog recently posted an article by veterinarian Dr. Anna Coffin about the dangers of common household items to pets. Take a look at this list of the different kinds of pet toxins to see if you need to...
A news story out of Russia is getting a lot of attention lately. A homeless cat in the city of Obninsk, known to locals as Masha and described as very calm and friendly, saved a 12 week old baby boy from freezing to death. The...
Being prepared for a veterinary emergency is more than having a pet first aid kit in the house. Few pet owners know what to do if their dog or cat begins choking on food or falls unconscious. Did you know that you can perform the...
Veterinarians are warning pet owners that the sago palm plant is highly poisonous to dogs and cats. This is an outdoor ornamental plant in warm climates like here in San Diego, but also poses a health risk to pets when planted indoors in pots in...
This time of year is always fun, with lots of shopping, decorating, baking and party-hopping to keep us busy. But it’s also a good time to remember that the Christmas season poses some extra hazards to our pets. Here are a few useful pet safety...
Have you ever seen pictures like these on the Internet with funny “Sad” or “Time Out” captions? On first glance, these images are cute, but they may depict a serious medical warning sign in your pet. It’s called “head pressing” and could indicate a dangerous...
[caption id="attachment_1109" align="alignnone" width="225"] FACE Executive Director Brooke Haggerty with Success Story Loki[/caption] FACE Executive Director Brooke Haggerty was recently a guest on Animals Today Radio with Dr. Lori Kirshner. Animals Today, a project of Advancing the Interests of Animals, is broadcast in major cities such...
Cats falling from high places—over two stories, often from apartment windows or balconies—is so common that there is a name for the types of injuries sustained in these falls: Feline High-Rise Syndrome. The most frequently-occurring injuries from falls are trauma to the chest, face/mouth, limbs,...
Rattlesnakes are common here in Southern California, particularly the western diamondback. While much is known about rattlesnake bites in humans and dogs, less research has been done on the effects of, and treatment for, rattlesnake bites in cats. Recently, a study of cats bitten by rattlesnakes...
One of the most common reasons for an emergency trip to the vet for cats (especially males and neutered males) is urinary obstruction. Feline urinary obstruction is a life-threatening veterinary emergency. What do cat owners need to know about urinary/litter box problems in cats to...
A 14 week old puppy from the U.K. named Ivy recently died after eating a nicotine capsule from an electronic cigarette. Despite receiving quick emergency veterinary treatment, Ivy did not survive the toxic effects of the nicotine. This sad story serves as a reminder that both...
With the continuing drought in California and other parts of the West, it’s important for pet owners to have a wildfire preparedness plan in place that includes pets and livestock. Here are a few simple tips from FEMA on emergency planning for pet owners. Prepare a...
Preparing for a future emergency may seem unimportant, but disaster can strike at any minute, and it's important to be prepared. If you have pets, it can be even harder to plan. Here are a few things to check off your list when preparing your family and...
Meet Luna! This precious "Pomsky" got into some trouble and broke her leg. Her owner, a single woman working full time as an EMT, was devastated when she found out she couldn't afford the entire cost of the complicated surgery that Luna needed. Luna's "dad"...
Meet Tiny! When her owners were walking this sweet girl, she took off running and was suddenly hit by a car. After they rushed her to the emergency room, they found out that she was suffering from severe head trauma and needed much supportive care...