Vegetables for Dogs

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Are vegetables good for dogs? Even though dogs are primarily carnivores, vegetables will add some necessary nutrients to their diet. When feeding vegetables to dogs, be sure and keep their portion sizes small. It is a good idea to talk to your vet about how much regular food you should be giving your dog if you have decided to give vegetables to your dog. You should also make sure that your dog doesn’t eat too quickly and choke on the vegetables you are giving him. Less is more when it comes to vegetables. They can cause gas in your dog. Should you be giving your dog a vegetable for the… Read More Continue Reading

Dry Skin in Cats

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Cats are normally fastidious animals that take excellent care of their coats. A cat with a healthy hair coat will be free of mats, external parasites, and the coat will be glossy and have a beautiful sheen to it. Cats who have dry skin, another name for it is seborrhea or dandruff, are sending you a signal that something is wrong. So what causes dry skin in cats? Parasites and Infections Dry skin in cats can be caused by an external parasite, like mites or fleas, or a skin infection, such as ringworm or a staph (bacterial) infection. One mite, latin name Cheyletiella, actually has the nickname ‘walking dandruff’, and… Read More Continue Reading

Dog Bleeding From Rectum

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If your dog has ever had blood coming from his hind area, chances are you were immediately worried. Bleeding from the rectum is a serious condition in most any species, dogs included, but the source of the bleeding isn’t always the intestinal tract.   One of the more common causes of bleeding from the rectum is an anal gland problem. In the dog, there are two scent glands located just inside the anus at the 4 and 7 o’clock position. Normally, these scent glands excrete a small amount of material on fecal material when it passes, leaving a distinct odor that lets other dogs know who’s poo is whose.  A… Read More Continue Reading

Blood in My Dog’s Urine

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Blood in your dog’s urine can be caused by many conditions. One of the most common causes is a simple urinary tract infection with bacteria, which can cause bloody urine and straining. This condition is easily treated with a round of antibiotics, but if the infection comes back, then your veterinarian will suspect an underlying condition that is preventing the infection from being eradicated. Underlying conditions can be specific to the urinary tract or something that is affected the immune system so your dog’s body can’t fight the infection. Conditions that might cause a recurrent urinary tract infection and bloody urine in your dog include urinary stones, anatomic defects, bladder… Read More Continue Reading

Why is my Cat Throwing up Foam?

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It’s early in the morning, and you’ve stepped in it again: a little patch of clear or yellow-tinged foam, left by your cat. Vomiting bile, the foamy-stuff that your cat leaves behind after a retch-session, is very common and contrary to popular belief, is NOT normal, even if it is only infrequent. Why do cats throw up foam? There are many answers, all of which require the sleuthing skills of your local veterinarian. Before your appointment, however, there are questions you can ask yourself to try and figure out the trigger. How long has my cat been throwing up? Has your cat been throwing up foam for months, years, or… Read More Continue Reading

Cat Scratch Fever

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Cat Scratch Fever is an infection in humans that is caused by cats. Cat Scratch Fever is caused by bacteria called Bartonella henselae, and cats become infected by fleas carrying the bacteria, or fighting with other cats that are already infected. About 40% of cats will become infected in their lifetime, but most cats that are infected show no signs of disease! If an infected cat becomes sick, it shows up as inflammation of gums or other organs, or flu-like symptoms, including fever. People can become infected by Bartonella a couple of ways People can develop cat scratch fever after being bitten or scratched (breaking the skin) by an infected… Read More Continue Reading

Can’t Afford your Vet Bill? Here are some other ways to pay

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From time to time, unexpected circumstances may occur and you may have veterinary costs that exceed your ability to pay them. Taking care of a sick pet may be a difficult task if you are low on money. This is something that can happen to anyone. If you are in this situation, here are a few suggestions to help you pay that vet bill. Work With Your Veterinarian The first thing for you to do is to negotiate a payment plan with your veterinarian. They may be able to work you into a weekly or monthly payment plan, so that you won’t have to come up with the entire cost… Read More Continue Reading

Coprophagia: That’s just Nasty! When dogs eat their own poop

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Eating poop has got to be one of the most disgusting habits in which dogs engage. Eating poop, otherwise known as coprophagia, is a common natural behavior that compels dogs to consume feces, which is naturally disgusting to their human companions. If your dog engages in this behavior, you may be wondering why, and more importantly, how can you get him to stop. Coprophagia is a natural instinct Mother dogs eat their puppie’s feces to hide them from predators, and it is common for puppies to taste and try to eat it.  Not only that, at least one of the puppies will be the clean up dog, otherwise known as… Read More Continue Reading

Why Dogs Smell Butts

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Since handshakes are out of the question, dogs need a way to introduce themselves to one another. Dogs get to know each other by sniffing each other’s butts.  It is the chemical trail from a dog’s anal sacs that create a dog’s signature scent. Why is smell so important to a dog? It is because a dog’s nose is 10,000 to 100,000 times more sensitive than a humans, due to the dog’s large olfactory membrane that holds more than 225 million scent receptors. It only makes sense that their nose would play such a crucial role. Dogs that smell each other’s butts are able to gather valuable information about the… Read More Continue Reading

Worms in Cats

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There is possible nothing more disgusting then going to clean out your cat’s litterbox and finding *gasp* a spaghetti like WORM in there! Ok…well, maybe tapeworms left behind on your lap after your cat gets up takes the cake for what is grosser-than-gross. It’s a fact: cats get intestinal worms While you might think that just outdoor cats get worms, indoor cats who hunt mice or have fleas are also at risk. Cats get worms from a variety of places: they can inherit them from their mother, they can get worms from coming into contact with contaminated fecal matter, cats can get worms from the prey that they hunt, and they… Read More Continue Reading