Did you know that pets like dogs and cats can benefit from acupuncture? Dr. Washington offers acupuncture services at our Downtown office for pets with varying ailments. What is acupuncture? Acupuncture, in its simplest sense, is the treatment of conditions or symptoms by the insertion of very fine needles into specific points on the body […] The post Acupuncture for Dogs and Cats appeared first on The Pet Hospitals ..read more

You’ve seen the commercials all over television…. the ones with the howling wolf that morphs into a Yorkshire terrier, claiming that all dogs are descendants from wolves, and thus deserve a raw diet like that of their “ancestors”… I’m still puzzled as to how a Boston Terrier came about from a wolf. Domestic dogs are not direct descendants from wolves, and therefore, have very distinct biological systems. As part of the domestication process, they require nutrients in different bioavailable forms. A raw food diet can be very harmful to not only dogs and cats, but pet owners as well. Raw meat-b ..read more

As a pet owner, you want to keep your dog as healthy as you can for as long as possible. Unfortunately, kidney disease is a common condition in dogs—especially older ones. Luckily, it is treatable. Your pet will only have a chance to live a long and happy life if you seek veterinary attention as soon as you notice signs of the condition. You’ll also need to make sure that you choose a vet who is experienced when it comes to treating kidney disease in dogs. Here’s what you need to know about kidney disease as a pet parent with a dog. What Are Some Signs and Symptoms of Kidney Disease in Dogs? I ..read more

You have insurance for everything. Your health, your car, your house, your boat, even the new tech device you buy comes with an option for insurance. So why don’t you have insurance on your pet? Pet insurance has been around since 1980 yet only an estimated 1-2% of pets are insured and I meet many pet owners who don’t even know pet insurance is an option.  Have a new puppy? You might want to think about signing up for pet insurance. For those who know about pet insurance, the most common question I get from pet owners is, “Do I need pet insurance?”. The short answer is, “No”. You don’t ne ..read more

While the respiratory problems are the most well-known problems of brachycephalic dogs, eye problems of brachycephalic dogs may be even more important when it comes to early diagnosis and intervention. The shape of brachycephalic dog faces causes the eye sockets to be shallow which makes the eyeballs especially prominent and vulnerable. There are 5 main problems that can occur with the eyes because of this. 1) Lagophthalmos Before and after canthoplasty, cherry eye, and stenotic nares surgery. Sometimes, the eyes are so prominent that the lids cannot close all the way over them, especially whi ..read more

Most people are not familiar with the term brachycephalic, but all are familiar with the dog breeds it refers to. Pugs, Boston Terriers, Pekingeses, Boxers, Bulldogs, Shih Tzus, or any one of the other breeds with pushed in or short faces are all “brachycephalic” breeds. The term refers to the length of their upper jaw, coming from the Greek roots brachy, meaning short, and cephalic, meaning head. Brachycephalic dogs have been bred so as to possess a normal lower jaw that is in proportion to their body size, but a compressed upper jaw. By doing this we have created a cute, almost human-like a ..read more

There are several common cat health myths that prevent cats from getting the veterinary care they need. By spreading the news about these myths we are seeing cats live longer, healthier, happier lives. Read on to learn more about cat health. 1. Indoor cats don’t get sick Indoor cats are protected from some of the dangers of the outside world such as predators, cars, and an assortment of outdoor toxins. Unfortunately,  indoor cats are still susceptible to parasites such as fleas, ticks and mosquitoes. These parasites carry illnesses that can affect multiple organs and even be life threate ..read more

Oxygen deficiency in the blood and breathing problems are the common symptoms of pneumonia in cats. This oxygen deficiency weakens the body’s immune system. Inflammation of the lungs, which can occur for various reasons, is known as pneumonia. However, it may be difficult to notice pneumonia in cats since many illnesses in cats are associated with the respiratory system. What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Pneumonia in Cats? When inflammation of the lungs takes place, breathing disorders can occur. This difficulty in breathing, in turn, causes a limited oxygen supply in the blood. We compiled a ..read more

The pancreas is one of your dog’s vital organs. It sits on the right side of the abdomen, right next to their stomach. The pancreas serves an essential role in creating the enzymes your dog needs to digest its food. It also produces insulin and other hormones that regulate your dog’s metabolism and glucose level. If your dog’s pancreas becomes inflamed, it has pancreatitis. Pancreatitis happens commonly in dogs. There is no breed, size of dog, or sex of dog that is immune. Pancreatitis can come in different forms, be it chronic or acute. What Does Pancreatic Abdominal Pain in Dogs Look Like? W ..read more

It’s about that time of year – time for gifts, Christmas trees, music and for many people, Christmas puppies! However, before you jump down this road, we strongly recommend that you do some research and know more of what you are getting yourselves into. Below we have 4 things we recommend considering before making this commitment. 1) Time Puppies are absolutely a huge time commitment, whatever size you decide to go with. It is best to do some research beforehand to know what to expect in this regard. Did you know most of them take 4-6 months before they are potty trained and can hold it all n ..read more