5 Ways to Destress Your Pet this Holiday Season

The Holidays are upon us and many of us are scurrying hither and thither in preparation for all the celebration.  Do you have relatives coming?  Are you traveling?  Planning a party?  Shopping ’till you drop?  The Holidays can be a stressful along with all that good cheer – especially for our furry or feathered companions [...]

How to Recognize and Treat Dog Skin Infections

Your dog’s skin is actually a protective organ – the largest organ in the body.  When this barrier is compromised, the stage is set for infection.  There are three types of organisms that can cause skin infections – bacteria, fungus and yeast.  Often there will be an underlying health issue that sets the stage for [...]

Dogs with Itchy Skin – Why They Itch and How to Help

Incessant itching and scratching is one of the top reasons guardians take their dogs to the veterinarian.  Many complain the itching is so bad, the dog is keeping them up at night.  So if your pup’s itching is driving you nuts – think about what it must doing to her.  Time to figure out the [...]

Puppy Care Basics

Falling in Love

Nothing seems to pull at the heart strings as powerfully as a fluffy little puppy .  That adorable little bundle of fur, however, comes with a BIG bundle of responsibilities.  Though the first six months are the most intense, the responsibility of guardianship lasts for the lifetime of your dog – 12- [...]

How to Tell if Your Pet’s Teeth Need Cleaning

Healthy Teeth and Gums

Did you know your pet is five times more likely to have periodontal disease (also called gum disease), than you are?

Over 80% of dogs over 3 years of age have periodontal disease.

Periodontal disease can be painful and has been shown to contribute to the development of other disease [...]

5 Steps to a Healthy Immune System for Dogs and Cats

Immune System Basics

The immune system is an intricate network of specialized tissues, organs, cells, and hormones.  The lymph system and lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow, and thymus gland all play a role, as do lymphocytes (specialized white blood cells), antibodies, and specialized proteins.

There are two main types of immunity; innate and acquired.  [...]

Halloween Fun – Pets and Costumes

Half the fun of Halloween for grown-ups is dressing up our kids, or – our pets!  Some dogs love the fun and attention, some not so much.  Pugs are just designed for dressing up; and most seem to have the sense of humor to go with the costumes.  Cats, well… we humbly apologize in advance [...]