Many communities and municipalities require cleaning up after your dog. While this might be obvious in parks and public spaces with posted signs telling you to clean up after your pup, it’s not uncommon for neighborhood homeowners’ associations and neighborhood covenants to require picking up poo even in your own yard. Even if you live in an area without posted signs or a homeowners association enforcing the rules, your city or county might have laws and regulations in place requiring you to clean up after your pet in public spaces. Dog Poop Is Not Fertilizer People often believe that leaving ..read more

At our hospital, we employ several unique therapies designed to help a pet’s immune system as well as reduce toxins (detoxification) to promote health and healing. Autosanguis Therapy is a very holistic therapy using small amounts of your pet’s own blood to assist in healing. Blood therapies have been in existence since ancient times. The use of one’s own blood therapeutically has basis back in antiquity, as it was once thought that blood was the carrier of the soul, the source of all life and energy (called “Qi” in Oriental Medicine.) Autosanguis therapy utilizes tiny amounts of your pet’s b ..read more

As you know, an annual veterinary visit is extremely important to maintain your pet’s health and to detect hidden diseases in your pet. Our annual visit includes a physical examination, answering your questions, urinalysis, microscopic fecal examination, heart worm test (dogs,) blood titer testing (which replaces unnecessary vaccines,) and a blood profile to check for organ function as well as inflammatory markers and vitamin D levels. (The exact blood panel depends upon your pet’s age and health status.) Equally important is a biannual examination done 6 months from the time of your pet’s mo ..read more

Bladder stones typically form when the urine becomes super saturated with crystals (usually magnesium, ammoniums, and phosphate) that clump together and form a stone. Especially in dogs, an underlining bladder infection is usually present which encourages stone formation from the crystals. A common mistake veterinarians and pet parents make is to assume that simply because a pet has crystals in their urine, that it is abnormal and will cause a stone. While this is often the case, many pets with stones do not have crystals in their urine in a urinalysis, nor do crystals in the urine necessaril ..read more

Many pets are prone to ear infections. Either, due to breed (spaniels and retrievers) ear confirmation (floppy eared dogs,) or chronic diseases such as allergies and thyroid disease (other undiagnosed for months or years.) Regular use (daily or several times a week, and always after bathing or swimming) Dr.’s Herbal Ear Wash can help prevent or reduce the need for ear treatments at our hospital. Ear disease is a common problem we see quite often in our patients. This is a photo of a dog taken under sedation for diagnostic testing and treatment. This pet’s ears were oozing a dark foul-smelling ..read more

The summer months bring warmer weather and a host of flowers and plants that can be toxic to pets. The most dangerous summertime plants for cats and dogs during June through August include: Autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale) Azalea/rhododendron (Rhododendron species) Castor bean (Ricinus communis) Foxglove (Digitalis species) Lilies (Lililum species) – cats only Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis) Oleander (Nerium oleander) Sago palms (Cycads, Macrozamia, and Zamias) Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow (Brunfelsia species) Yew (Taxus species) With more states legalizing marijuana, there have ..read more

Introducing: Flea Destroyer Safe, All-Natural Flea Killer for Dogs & Cats Flea Destroyer: Safe for Cats & Dogs It’s just the beginning of summer and already pests are making many of our patients miserable. This powder created by Erica’s Health Pet will kill fleas and work as a repellent. Sprinkle directly on your pet’s coat and brush in. It can also be sprinkled in your yard, bedding, couches, or across door thresholds to keep the pests out of your home! Win the battle against fleas and ticks this summer and come pick up a bottle of Flea Destroyer today! All-natural ingredients: food ..read more

Chances are your medicine cabinet contain common OTC medications like Advil, Tylenol, or Benadryl. We often reach for these drugs when we have a headache or joint pain, or our allergies are flaring up. But is it okay to give them to your dog or cat? Unless he’s under veterinary supervision, the answer is no. While these human medications have their place, they can harm your animal companion if not used properly. Aspirin and NSAIDs Aspirin is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug originally isolated from the bark of the white willow tree. It’s been around for a long time and is still use ..read more

Although dental problems are the most common cause of bad breath in pets, in some instances it can also be a symptom of a serious underlying health condition. There are several different diseases that cause bad breath, including diabetes, kidney disease and liver problems. ‘Dog-breath’ is a term that many of us are familiar with, but when our precious pooch’s start to produce a mouth odor that is beyond tolerable, what exactly is causing it? Your pet may not be healthy Although dental problems are the most common cause of bad breath in pets, in some instances it can also be a symptom of a ser ..read more

Just like people, pets often have problems with gum disease and plaque and tartar build-up on their teeth. In fact, by three years of age a majority of dogs and cats will have mild-to-moderate dental disease that would benefit from a comprehensive oral examination and treatment performed under general anesthesia. Left untreated, dental disease can lead to more serious health complications, some of which may extend far beyond your pet’s teeth. For many reasons, it truly is important to include dental care as part of your pet’s overall preventive health care program. The benefits of routine den ..read more