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  • An E-collar or cone may be needed after your dog has surgery or if he has a wound. It can prevent your dog from licking their wound or scratching a wound on their head. Your dog should wear the E-collar following the directions provided by your veterinarian. You may need to make a few adjustments in your home to ensure your dog does not get stuck in confined spaces. Also, you may need to adjust his feeding station to assist with eating. It is not recommended to let your dog outdoors unsupervised while wearing the cone. If your dog will not tolerate the E-collar, discuss other options with your veterinarian.

  • Many liquid potpourri products and essential oils, including oil of cinnamon, citrus, pennyroyal, peppermint, pine, sweet birch, tea tree (melaleuca), wintergreen, and ylang ylang, are poisonous to dogs. Both ingestion and skin exposure can be toxic.

  • Open and honest communication with your veterinarian and veterinary healthcare team throughout your cat's life lays the foundation for effective communication when that cat's life begins drawing to a close. Discussion with your veterinarian will clarify any specific medical implications of your cat's disease that can serve as benchmarks to suggest that euthanasia should be considered. Most often, euthanasia is provided at the veterinary practice or in your home. The veterinary healthcare team will be an important partner as you negotiate the difficult days and decisions leading up to your cat's peaceful passing.

  • To be classified as a fever of unknown origin (FUO), the body temperature must be above 103.5°F (39.7°C) for longer than a few days, with no obvious underlying cause based on history and physical examination. A fever is beneficial to the body, but if a fever remains above 106°F (41.1°C) for more than a few days several consequences occur within the body and can be life threatening. If your pet has a fever, your veterinarian will perform a thorough physical examination, perform diagnostic blood tests, urine culture, and possibly other diagnostic tests. Antibiotics are often prescribed. Cats that have persistent fever or a fever that waxes and wanes must undergo a thorough work-up so that the cause of fever can be discovered and treated before irreversible damage occurs.

  • Genetic (DNA) testing is readily available, whether you are using it for fun to find out what breeds your pet is made up of or if you are looking into possible medical conditions. DNA samples can be collected either from a cheek swab or a blood draw. Knowing which breeds your pet is made up of can help you and your veterinarian prevent or prepare for health issues in the future.

  • While a favorite and healthy snack for people, grapes, raisins and currants can cause kidney failure in dogs. Raisins can commonly be found in combination with other foods, potentially increasing the risk of exposure as compared with grapes and currants. The toxicity concern is the same. 

  • Dogs, in general, are amazing creatures. But service dogs like guide dogs, are true stand outs. In addition to traditional canine companionship, they play an integral role in the lives of the visually impaired.

  • There are many potential hazards that pets face during the holidays. With common sense and planning, exposure to these hazards can be avoided, preventing injury or illness. Hazards include tinsel, electrical cords, string from meat, ribbons, Christmas tree water, holiday plants, and foods such as chocolate and bread dough. Some dogs do better if given a safe space to stay, away from company, and may require calming remedies to help minimize anxiety and stress during the holidays.

  • Purebred dogs from a breeder have a documented family history and known background. For families who have opted for this way to add a dog to their family (if a shelter or rescue dog isn't in the cards), make sure you and the breeder take time to get to know each other to make sure that the family and dog are the right fit together. 

  • Grief is the normal and natural response to the loss of someone or something. It is a full body experience that includes physical, emotional, cognitive, social, and spiritual responses. The best way to manage your grief is to be reassured that these reactions are normal and to let them run their natural course. Grieving takes time. Usually it gradually lessens in intensity over time, but if it doesn’t, then professional counseling may help.