Vaccines are an important part of keeping pets healthy. They help to keep your pet free from viruses that can be harmful or even lethal. Ideally, puppies are vaccinated at 8, 12 and 16 weeks and then will require boosters every 1-3 years. All dogs need core vaccines and Rabies vaccines but may require [...]
Parasites are common in puppies and kittens and can carry deadly diseases which can be transmitted to humans. It is important that you speak to your veterinarian about a parasite prevention protocol for your puppy now and going forward. Heartworm Heartworm is a parasite that is spread through mosquitoes. A mosquito can transfer larval [...]
Along with taking care of your pet’s skin and fur, it is also important to take care of their teeth. The teeth that your puppy or kitten has now are “baby” teeth and will fall out between 4-6 months of age. They are very sharp but are not as strong as the adult teeth [...]
Choosing a Pet Insurance Company Finding the right insurance provider can sometimes be a little overwhelming. We've provided some questions to help you find the right one for your beloved pet. 1. How many years has the company been in business? 2. Are there coverage options to choose from? 3. Are the policies and information [...]
The skin of dogs is different than ours. It is thinner and has a different pH, so only shampoos created specifically for dogs should be used for bathing. You can bathe your dog at home but this should not be done more frequently than every 4-6 weeks or so. More frequent baths can cause [...]
Toxic Foods These foods should never be fed to your pets: 1. Chocolate 2. Caffeine 3. Alcohol 4. Grapes/Raisins 5. Onions 6. Garlic 7. Macadamia nuts 8. Coconut Water 9. Milk and Dairy 10. Nuts 11. Raw and Undercooked meats, eggs, and bones 12. Salt and salty snacks 13. Xylitol (found in sugar-free gum, [...]
Feeding your pets the proper food is essential for their growth and development. Purchasing foods can be confusing. There is a lot of advice on the internet on picking the perfect food and although most of it is offered with the best of intents, it is not always based on solid scientific evidence. Reading food [...]
As well as training, another thing that you can do to make my job easier is to handle your pet and get it comfortable with this. A veterinary visit can be stressful, so the better prepared your pet is, the better the visit will go, especially if they are ever ill. Play with your pet's [...]
As a veterinarian, I appreciate a well-trained dog who has manners and is well controlled by their owner. It makes my job easier. Although it is possible to train a dog yourself at home or to have a professional trainer come to the home I always recommend puppy classes. These classes can train you [...]
Please be patient with your puppy. Some puppies are very quick about house training and you may have very few accidents in your house at all. I have even had clients claim that their puppies have not had any accidents in the house. Please be aware that this is not the norm. House Training will [...]