Drs. Vernard Hodges and Terrence Ferguson of Nat Geo Wild’s popular “Critter Fixers: Country Vets” show have teamed up with the Hill’s pet food company on a new “End Pet Obesity” campaign. The campaign includes a simple test called “L.O.V.E.” that pet owners can perform to...
The US Food and Drug Administration has approved a new pet medication called Bexacat, which is an oral treatment for improved glycemic control in cats diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. According to an article in Veterinary Practice News, the drug works by preventing the kidneys from reabsorbing...
Veterinary cardiologists at North Carolina State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine are sharing advice on how to detect and prevent cardiac disease in our dogs and cats. While some pets are born with inherited heart problems that can be corrected with surgery and other treatments, others...
Obesity is a common problem in domestic cats, but your cat’s hanging belly doesn’t necessarily mean that she is overweight. The low hanging flap of extra fur, skin, and fat that you may notice on some cats’ undersides is called a primordial pouch. The primordial pouch...
The Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine Feline Health Center has developed a free iOS app called Purrfect Weight that lets cat owners track the progress of a feeding program designed to promote weight loss in overweight cats. An app for Android phones is in...
With summer now in full swing, pet owners need to be more aware of the heat-related dangers that can impact dogs, cats, and other pets. Did you know that some dog breeds are at higher risk for heatstroke than others? A recent article in Nature’s Scientific...
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...
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...
Diabetes is a health issue that can affect dogs and cats as well as us humans. Did you know that 1 in 300 dogs and 1 in 230 cats in the U.S. have diabetes? November is Pet Diabetes Month, the perfect time to find out if...
October 1-7 is National Walk Your Dog Week, an event designed to raise awareness about the importance of regular exercise for your dog’s health. According to the official website, many dogs (and their humans) do not get enough exercise, which can lead to health problems like...
Researchers at Canada’s Ontario Veterinary College analyzed the electronic veterinary health data of over 19 million cats and found that not only do cats tend to put on weight as they age, but they also have been getting fatter over the past few decades. The study,...
A large-scale study of dogs in the UK has identified the most common canine health disorders seen by veterinarians. The electronic health data of over 450,000 dogs under veterinary care in the UK was analyzed by researchers conducting this study. Let’s take a look at some key...
The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention has released the results of its 2018 Pet Obesity Survey. You can click HERE to read the full report. Here are a few interesting findings about our pets: 59.5% of cats and 55.8% of dogs are classified as either...
The human microbiome (the many microorganisms that live in and on our body) is a popular topic in science news these days. Researchers are especially interested in how the microbes that live in our intestines impact our health and well-being. Our pets have microbiomes too, and...
The Labrador Retriever has been the most popular dog breed in the United States for many years. We love this kind, gentle, and loving dog…but like any purebred dog, the Lab does have some inherited health issues that all owners should know about. A recent study...
The American Association of Feline Practitioners has outlined the 6 distinct cat life stages, and what cat owners can do to provide the best care for their cats at each stage of life, from kittenhood to geriatrics. Here’s a quick overview, and be sure to visit...
Obesity is a very common health problem in pets. Is your dog or cat overweight…and if so, has your veterinarian had a serious discussion with you about the health risks associated with obesity in pets? A recent study published in the journal Frontiers in Veterinary...
The scientists at the University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories are looking for a few good—and chubby—dogs! Their GOdogs Project is conducting cutting-edge genetic research on why certain dog breeds tend to become overweight (Labrador Retrievers, we’re talking to you!). They also hope that this...