Cato Nichols (aka, Dr. Nichols' dog) would like to wish everyone Happy Spring! Photos curtesy of Saavy Sits.
Keep fleas out of your fur-ever home!
🚫 Don't let these tiny pests make themselves at home in your house. Keep your indoor and outdoor pets protected with year-round preventives, and show fleas the door with a tidy home and basic routine.
Vacuum regularly, wash bedding and toys in hot water, and declutter to create an unwelcoming environment for fleas. Keep your pets and home flea-free all year round! #FleaFreeHome #PetProtection #HealthyPets
🌳 Keep your furry friend's outdoor space pest-free with these easy steps! 🐾
Ticks and other parasites love a natural landscape, but with a few changes, you can make your yard less appealing to them.
Here's what you can do:
- Cut the grass
- Trim weeds and overgrowth
- Relocate wood piles
- Remove wildlife feeding stations
- Clean up pet food left outdoors
By doing these simple things, you'll create a yard that pests won't want to visit! Keep your pet happy, healthy, and free from parasites! 💪
Paws up, pet parents! Keeping our furry friends healthy and parasite-free is a top priority. Don't wait until it's too late, start performing regular nose-to-tail inspections to keep your pet protected.
Whether it's once a week or after outdoor activity, take the time to check their tail base, ears, eyes, armpits, abdomen, and under the tail for any unwanted visitors.
Basic grooming, such as brushing and combing your pet's coat, can also help you catch any fleas or ticks and give you an opportunity to assess your pet's overall health. If you do find any, remove the tick with tweezers and dispose of it right away.
Make sure to keep up with your pet's preventive doses and contact a Veterinarian if you have any concerns. Let's keep our fur-buddies happy and healthy 🐾 #PetHealth #ParasitePrevention
Fleas and ticks are a year-round threat, and while completely eradicating them may not be possible, you can minimize their impact on your pet.
The key to success is a multi-pronged approach that includes veterinary-approved preventives, environmental management, and year-round pet health vigilance.
Keep your pet on year-round flea and tick prevention. These preventatives work by either repelling fleas and ticks or killing them when they bite your pet.
It's important to note that fleas and ticks don't have an off-season, so administering these preventatives year-round is crucial.
Do you have a pet that is willing to play dress up? 🦸♂️ Share a pic of your pet in their favorite costume! 😻🐶
Cruciate ligament injuries are another common orthopedic issue in pets.
These injuries occur when the ligaments that stabilize the knee joint are torn or damaged. Symptoms include lameness, swelling, and difficulty putting weight on the affected leg.
Treatment options include surgery, physical therapy, and medications.
Is your pet the ultimate foodie? Share their favorite treats and meals in the comments!
Did you know that one of the most common orthopedic issues in pets is arthritis?
Arthritis can be caused by a variety of factors including age, obesity, and joint injuries.
Symptoms include stiffness, difficulty walking, and difficulty climbing stairs.
If you notice any of these signs in your pet, it's important to speak with your veterinarian about treatment options.
Poll! Does your pet like the snow? Answer in the comments with the corresponding emoji!
❄️ = Yes!
🥶 = No!
🧐 = Never seen it!
We all know the adage "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" and we're here to tell you that this is far from true!
When you first got your pet, you more than likely spent a lot of time training them and teaching them basic commands. Now that your pet is older, training might be far from the first thing on your mind.
Pets, particularly dogs, are happier when they are mentally and physically active! One-on-one training provides exactly that in addition to getting the attention they may be craving. Specifically when using positive reinforcement methods!
Positive reinforcement is when rewards come when you do something correctly, even though you may not know what you’re supposed to do. No punishments are ever handed out.
There are many benefits of using positive reinforcement training methods for pets, including:
❤️ Reduction in fear and stress of pets
🧡 A strengthened bond between pet and owner
💛 Faster learning of new behaviors
💚 Ability to teach unnatural behaviors
💙 Ability to teach complex behaviors
💜 Children can safely use this method (training involving punishment can be dangerous)
Do you make New Year's Resolutions? This year, we want to take more time to "paws", take deep breaths, and appreciate all the little moments in life.
What's your resolution this year?
You may already know that overweight pets are more likely to live shorter lives. But excess weight can cause a variety of health issues with your pet in the meantime.
➡️ Cancer - Overweight pets are more susceptible to certain cancers. To treat your pet for cancer, Petplan estimates the average cost will be $2,033
➡️ Joint Injuries - Even just a few extra pounds can add significant stress to your pet's joints (knees are the most commonly affected) costing an average of $3,480 to treat.
➡️ Urinary Tract Infections - Overweight female pets have more trouble cleaning hard-to-reach places or folds of fat may trap bacteria, leading to a UTI. Petplan estimates the cost for treatment for a UTI is $590.
➡️ Heart Disease - In overweight pets, the heart and circulatory system are working overtime which can lead to heart disease and high blood pressure. Treating cardiac conditions can cost approximately $1, 232.
➡️ Back Problems - Overweight pets with short legs and long bodies are prone to intervertebral disc diseases which can cost an average of $2,033 to treat.
Be sure that you measure out portions each day appropriate for your pet, choose the appropriate diet, show love without treats if needed, exercise regularly, and visit the vet routinely!
Petting, scratching, and cuddling your pet could be as soothing to the mind and heart as deep as mediation! Today is #nationalcuddleupday ! Share your cuddly photos with us! 🥰
Don't be surprised!
You may be planning a night out with family and friends which means that your pet might be left home alone with lots of confusing noises coming from outside.
Before you head out, double-check the house to make sure all the exits are secure and do what you can to ensure that your pet feels comfortable and safe.
Remember to remove any harmful plants, foods, or medications that your pet could get into.
🥳🤩 Happy celebrating and Happy New Year! 🥳🤩
Gastroenteritis may seem like a simple case of vomiting and diarrhea, but medical treatment is warranted to correct dehydration and electrolyte imbalances and to determine the underlying cause.
If your pet is suffering from gastroenteritis, make a veterinary appointment and have the answers to these questions on hand during your appointment:
➡️ Has your pet had any new foods or treats recently?
➡️ When was the last time your pet ate and drank normally?
➡️ What is your pet currently eating, and how much?
➡️ Has your pet been exposed to any new people, pets, animals, or places recently?
➡️ Could your pet have ingested any cleaning products, pesticides, or other chemicals?
➡️ Has your pet had other vomiting and diarrhea episodes?
➡️ What medications or supplements does your pet take?
Yes, our precious doggos do get dementia...It's formally referred to as Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD) which can present itself as involutive depression, dysthymia, hyper-aggression, or confusional syndrome.
Here are some signs of doggy dementia. And remember, always speak with a Veterinarian about any concerns you have for your pet!
🐶 Pacing back and forth or in circles (often turning consistently in one direction)
🐶 Getting lost in familiar places
🐶 Staring into space or walls
🐶 Walking into corners or other tight spaces and staying there
🐶 Appearing lost or confused
🐶 Waiting at the “hinge” side of the door to go out
🐶 Failing to get out of the way when someone opens a door
🐶 Failing to remember routines, or starting them and getting only partway through
🐶 Sundowning
The thought of holiday food makes our mouths water! Yours too? Guess what? Your pet's mouth is watering, as well! As tempting as it may be to share your amazing spread with your pets--beware of the following foods that are particularly dangerous for your fur-babies!
❗Chocolate
❗Pumpkin Pie
❗Corn Cobs
❗Gravy
❗Turkey Bones
Have you ever noticed your pup's nose turn from its usual dark color to more of a pink or brown color? Guess what that's called!?
Snow nose! aka Winter Nose ❄️
Snow nose most commonly affects Siberian Huskies, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, and Bernese Mountain Dogs.
This condition is completely cosmetic! However, if your dog's nose gets smoother and smoother or raw with sores, you should definitely make a veterinary appointment.
You already know that overweight pets are more likely to live shorter lives. 😩 But did you know that there are other health issues that extra weight can lead to like cancer, joint injury, UTIs, heart disease, and back problems?
It's tough to help our pets keep up a healthy weight, we know.
👇Here are some simple and actionable steps you can take to help your pet stay healthy👇
1. Measure our portions
2. Choose a proper diet for your pet's life stage
3. Show love without treats
4. Exercise
5. Visit the vet if your pet falls into the overweight class to check for signs of hypothyroidism, diabetes, or arthritis
