While the amount of fur your pet sheds cannot be changed, the best way to prevent pet hair from accumulating in your home and on your clothes is to brush your pet daily. Ask your AAHA-accredited veterinarian to recommend a brush or comb that will work best for your pet’s coat, then get your pet used to regular brushing sessions.
Losing a loved one is never easy. Knowing your pet is nearing the end is bittersweet, because the grieving process often begins with a poor prognosis, but that also gives you time to create a special goodbye for your beloved companion. Celebrate a lifetime of love by treasuring your pet’s final moments and filling them with comfort and peace.
Pancreatitis is a painful inflammation of the pancreas that can make pets extremely ill. The pancreas is an abdominal organ located just below the stomach that produces digestive enzymes to break down dietary fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. The pancreas also produces insulin, which helps move glucose from the blood into cells for energy production. Pancreatitis can lead to dehydration, organ damage, diabetes, and insufficient enzyme production, and, in severe cases, can cause death.
You probably understand that routine dental care is crucial to your furry pal’s health, but did you know that anesthesia needs to be used during pet dental procedures? Anesthetizing your pet allows the veterinary team to perform a thorough oral health assessment, treat any dental issues they find, and prevent stress and discomfort for your pet. Although you may be concerned about anesthesia, your veterinarian takes specific precautions to minimize your pet’s risks and ensure their safety.
Visiting the veterinarian regularly is an important part of maintaining your pet’s health. Although your pet may look healthy, diseases often cause no obvious signs in their early stages. Wellness exams and screening tests allow your veterinary team to detect diseases before they progress and begin treatments that will extend your pet’s healthy years by your side.
Have you ever skipped your pet’s veterinary visit because they don’t like going to the veterinarian? A veterinary hospital’s unfamiliar sights, sounds, and smells can cause some pets to become anxious. Unfortunately, pets don’t understand that poking them with needles, checking their temperature, touching their toes, or sticking instruments in their ears is beneficial to their health, and they can become stressed. In response to a stressful scenario, your pet’s brain enters fight-or-flight mode, and remembering previous visits can trigger repeated and worsening anxiety during future veterinary visits.
Veterinary technicians are educated professionals who help veterinarians care for pets by providing nursing support, acting as patient advocates, performing diagnostic procedures, and assisting in anesthesia and surgery. While they may have the opportunity to cuddle the occasional puppy or kitten, a vet tech’s job is much more than playing with cute dogs and cats.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) is a 24-hour helpline staffed by veterinary toxicologists and other veterinary professionals experienced in pet poisonings. Each year, the ASPCA APCC receives thousands of calls and compiles a list of the top 10 pet poisons, which most often are everyday household items. Here are the poisons currently topping the list and how you can keep your furry pal safe.
Vaccination is a crucial and cost-effective method to protect your pet’s and the public’s health. Many diseases that affect our pets can spread via wildlife or unvaccinated pets, and several can also affect people. AAHA recommends all pets receive core vaccines—those deemed medically or legally necessary to meet minimum health standards—along with additional vaccines based on lifestyle.
Is anything sadder than your dog losing their wag? If your normally excitable pup fails to greet you with a whirling tail of excitement when you come home, that’s a sure sign something is wrong. The problem may be a condition called acute caudal myopathy, which goes by many other names, including: Limber tail Swimmer's tail Cold water tail Limp tail Rudder tail Broken wag Flaccid tail syndrome Sprained tail
