Whether it be humans or pets we all know that immunizing against diseases is the best tool for preventive medicine. Based on the information that you share with our veterinarians they will determine which vaccines are needed based on your pet’s potential exposure and lifestyle. Once your pet is examined, we can develop an individual vaccine protocol depending on your pet’s needs. We recommend annual visits as a preventive measure. Pets age more quickly than humans and they may not always show signs of discomfort to you. The examination can help detect and prevent early signs of diseases such a ..read more

Stools samples brought in with your pet’s yearly checkup are used to help us determine if your pet has any intestinal parasites that need to be treated. It is important to treat these parasites as some parasites can be transmitted to humans. The most common parasites we look for are roundworms, tapeworms and hookworms. They are found in your pet’s intestinal tract, where you can’t see them. Your pet’s stool sample must be examined under a microscope so we can determine if parasites are present. We require a fresh sample, preferably one that has not been sitting outside or in the litter bo ..read more

Did you know that even dogs and cats can have arthritis? What is arthritis specifically, you may ask? It is the loss of joint cartilage and the thickening and scarring of tissues around the joint. It’s degenerative, progressive, and irreversible. On average, 25% of dogs are diagnosed with arthritis in their lifetime. Arthritis is just as common in cats as it is in dogs but often show different signs and symptoms. Though it’s not possible to cure arthritis, there are a few things we can do to help them be more comfortable and to help prevent further damage. Multiple treatments are the best way ..read more

When your cat has trouble urinating, owners need to intervene as soon as possible. It needs to be treated as a life-threatening emergency. It is more so an issue with male cats due to their urethra being so narrow. The following signs can be observed at home: straining in the litter box, going in and out of the litter box on repeated occasions urinating outside the litter box. crying/vocalizing. licking at genitalia refusing to eat +/- vomiting When your cat is examined, and the bladder is completely plugged, our primary objective is to open the urethra again. It will relieve the accumulated ..read more

Exercise is a very important part of our health for us, and our dog’s, hiking with your adventure partner makes getting outside much more fun too! They encourage us to try new things, go to new places that we wouldn’t do alone and to meet new friends along the way! It is important when going on hiking adventures to be mindful of precautions to take to ensure you and your dog have a safe, but wonderful time! This time of year, there are a lot of bugs such as ticks, fleas, mosquitoes and blackflies in the area that love to bite our furry friends and us. Make sure that your dog has been well prot ..read more

“I am not comfortable putting or giving my pet (insert veterinary parasite prevention product here). It’s toxic! I want to use natural products.” It is one of the most common concerns/responses we get when discussing parasite prevention with our pet parents. Did you know that some natural products that are safe for us humans are not for our pets? Essential oils and their use has made an enormous return for use in people for healthier alternatives in preventive health care and healing. These same products, although safe for us, are not for our pets. I make my own DIY bug repellent at home in a ..read more

Have you ever had that feeling that something is not right, but you can’t quite put your finger on it? At one time or another, we all have. These are called instincts. Do we listen to them? Not usually. We tend to question our feelings and doubt ourselves when it comes to our pets or even life in general. I learned a few years ago to stop ignoring them and start paying attention. It has helped me on many occasions with my pets and their health. Surprising they haven’t steered me wrong yet although a couple of times I wish they had been. Since our pets can’t talk to us and let us know that some ..read more

Picking up that new furry addition to your family is a beautiful and fun-filled experience. But receiving a fur bundle can be extremely upsetting if you weren’t expecting it. Gifting a living being to someone without their knowledge can be traumatizing for both the fur baby and the new ‘parent.’ They may have had plans of travel, coming and going as they pleased (especially with empty nesters!), saving for an item they need or want, or welcoming the feeling of no responsibility for anyone other than themselves. Finally, after 20+ years they can pick up their lives and do what they want to do ..read more

What is Trazadone? Trazadone is a medication that is used to help manage canine and feline anxiety. After administration, most dogs will experience anxiety relief within 2 hours. However, the time of which it takes the Trazadone to take effect can vary and so does the duration of action. This is why it is important to test the medication with your pet before the anticipated event happens. What can I use it for? Trazadone has multiple different uses which vary from pet to pet. Trazadone can be used in pet’s who have had orthopedic surgeries or other surgeries where we would want to keep them q ..read more