February is National Pet Dental Health Month! This month is dedicated to educating pet owners on the importance of dental care for their furry companions. Just as a dentist stresses the importance of brushing our teeth daily, it is equally as important for our pets to maintain good oral health. A wide range of factors affect an animal’s dental health such as diet, age and breed. Proper dental care plays an essential role in our pet’s overall health and taking the necessary steps to prevent additional health issues is crucial. Impact of Poor Pet Dental Health Dental disease is one of the most ..read more

Did you bring home a new furry family member this holiday season? Whether your new furbaby is young or old, they will need a few things to help get them acclimated to their fur-ever home. Help make the transition easier for them and you with this essential supply checklist: For Both Puppies and Kittens: Food and Water Bowls: Ensure appropriately sized bowls Opt for stainless steel or ceramic Nutritious Pet Food: Select high-quality food based on age and breed Speak with your pet’s veterinarian to decide what the best food may be Collar, ID Tag and Microchipping: Include contact informa ..read more

Dogs, like humans, can suffer from allergies, which can manifest in various ways, most commonly as skin and ear infections. If you notice your dog itching excessively or shaking their head frequently, it’s crucial to inspect their ears for any abnormalities. If an infection is present, consult your veterinarian for proper diagnosis and treatment. Common Signs of Dog Allergies Itching: Excessive scratching, rubbing or licking of the skin is a telltale sign of allergies. Ear Infections: Frequent head shaking, ear redness or a foul odor from the ears may indicate an ear infection caused by all ..read more

Dr. Frione Gives Petmd her Opinion on Bengal Cats as Pets PetMD by Chewy wrote an article weighing the advantages and disadvantages of having a Bengal cat as a pet and enlisted Plantation veterinarian Dr. Jennifer Frione and owner of Lakeside Animal Hospital to help consider the risks. Dr. Frione says that Bengal cats can make great pets. However, their owner must know how to properly take care of them. She recommends that owners consider high-generation Bengals because low-generation ones are most like their wild leopard cat ancestors. Dr. Frione warns that Bengals do not behave traditionally ..read more

The holiday season is a time for joy and celebration, but it can also be a time of danger for pets. With all the extra food, decorations and guests around, it’s important to take some extra precautions to keep your furry friends safe. Here are some holiday safety tips to keep your fur babies out of harm’s way: Food Many holiday foods are dangerous for pets, including chocolate, grapes, raisins, macadamia nuts and onions. Keep these foods out of reach of your pets and be sure to clean up any spills immediately. Don’t give your pet cooked seasoned meats either as they are high in fat and can c ..read more

Meet Benny, the adorable pup we’re focusing on today. One of the essential aspects of pet care is ear cleaning. Let’s explore the best methods for keeping your furry friend’s ears healthy and infection-free. There are two primary techniques we recommend for this task, and we’ll walk you through the steps and some essential tips. Method 1: Direct Application Our first method involves directly applying a cleaning solution into your dog’s ear canal. This approach works best if your dog is comfortable with the process. However, some dogs may be a little apprehensive due to the noise when squeezi ..read more

Tips To Keep Your Pet Safe from Fleas, Ticks and Heartworm this Summer and Beyond As the summer sizzles on, it’s just as important to keep your pet healthy as it is to take care of yourself. Record heat and consistent rain continues to torch and saturate South Florida this summer, creating the perfect environment for fleas and ticks and posing an increasing risk for our pets. It’s important as a pet owner to stay vigilant and monitor your pet’s health and behavior. Check your pet for tick and flea bites regularly and monitor their behavior for any indication that they may be feeling under the ..read more

New York Magazine’s The Strategist interviewed Plantation veterinarian Dr. Jennifer Frione from Lakeside Animal Hospital to discuss the most effective ways to keep up with your dog’s dental hygiene. According to Dr. Frione, the most effective way to keep your dog’s teeth clean and healthy is to brush them every day, but if that becomes too big of a challenge, there are alternatives. “While brushing your pet’s teeth daily is ideal, sometimes that’s easier said than done,” Dr. Frione said. “There are multiple alternatives to help control dental disease.” Alternatives to brushing your dog’s tee ..read more

Whether on a cross-country summer road trip with the whole family or getting out the zoomies at the local dog park, unexpected medical situations with a pet can arise just as quickly as they can with a human. Pet owners should be prepared for anything from a minor incident like a scrape to a broken leg to ingesting something that’s potentially poisonous.   We highly recommend pet owners keep a first aid kit at home and in their car in case of a problem. A pet’s first aid kit should contain essential items that can be used to provide initial care and assistance to your pet in the ev ..read more

Rover interviewed Plantation veterinarian Dr. Jennifer Frione to discuss cat urine, and how to determine whether or not your cat is healthy based on the color of its urine.   According to Dr. Frione, one serious condition that cats can develop that will affect the color of their urine is hematuria (bloody urine), which Dr. Frione says is never normal. She also provides further symptoms of cats with hematuria. Those symptoms include visiting the litter box frequently, urinating outside of the litter box, crying out when urinating and/or drinking a lot of water.  Dr. Frione went ..read more