It can be surprisingly hard to tell whether a pet is at a healthy weight just by looking at the number on the scale. A 10-pound cat may be overweight, underweight, or just right depending on their frame. The same is true for dogs, where breed, build, age, and muscle all change what a healthy weight looks like.
Leptospirosis is a dangerous infection that can spread from dogs to humans. This disease is caused by the Leptospira bacterial species. It is found worldwide and is considered zoonotic, which means it can spread from animals to humans. According to the CDC, each year, there are around 1 million confirmed cases of leptospirosis j...
Adding a pet to the family can be a wonderful experience for children, but the best choice is not always the cutest or the easiest pet to buy. For families with younger kids, the right pet is usually one that fits the householdâs space, schedule, budget, and supervision level. Temperament matters, but so do handling needs, enric...
Bee and wasp stings are common warm-weather problems for pets, especially curious dogs and cats that chase, swat, or investigate flying insects. A dog stung by a bee may yelp, paw at the face, or suddenly start limping if the sting happened on a paw. A cat bee sting can look similar, although cats are often harder to read and ma...
Lyme Disease Prevention Month: Lyme Risk Is Growing in Ohio Pets
As temperatures rise and pets spend more time outdoors, tick exposure becomes a serious concern across Ohio. The Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC)Â reports that Lyme disease risk in dogs continues to expand westward and southward beyond historically high-ri...
Chewing gum, mints, peanut butter, candy, cough drops, ice cream, and baked treats...all things commonly found in our homes. These are not usually on a list of deadly items for your dog unless one ingredient swap occurs. Did you know these products, among many others, sometimes contain a sugar substitute? Xylitol, also known as ...
Periodontal disease is one of the most common health issues seen in both dogs and cats. In fact, studies show that up to 80â90% of dogs over the age of three and a majority of cats over four years old have some level of dental disease. Even more surprising is that many pets show little to no obvious signs in the early stages.
When your veterinarian recommends bloodwork or a urine test, it is natural to wonder if it is really necessary, especially if your pet seems healthy. The reality is that these tests provide valuable insight into your petâs health that cannot be seen during a physical exam alone.
Digestive upset is one of the most common reasons dogs and cats come in for veterinary care, so it is not surprising that many pet owners ask about probiotics for dogs and probiotics for cats. These supplements are often marketed as an easy way to support the gut, but the real answer to what they do and how they affect pets is a...
Separation anxiety in dogs is more than âbad behaviorâ or acting out while you're away. A dog with separation anxiety is showing distress when left alone, and that distress can show up as barking, pacing, destructive chewing, house-soiling, drooling, or frantic attempts to escape. For many families, it is frustrating and heartbr...