Have you ever experienced the helpless and terrifying feeling of frantically searching for your lost pet?  Maybe they got lost in town when they darted out the front door; or in the woods while out for a walk.  Perhaps you were on vacation and they were lost in an unfamiliar environment. 

Rabies is a very serious and fatal virus that affects the central nervous system of an animal or human.  Although any warm-blooded mammal can contract the rabies virus, it is most commonly found in wild animals such as coyotes, foxes, raccoons, skunks, and bats.  The virus is spread through…

Most people have heard the term “anemia”, either referred to in humans or animals.  Anemia is a condition that occurs when the number of red blood cells in the body falls below the normal values, or they function improperly.

Hyperthyroidism is very rare in dogs but fairly common in cats.  Also called thyrotoxicosis, hyperthyroidism is caused by an increase in production of T3 and T4 (thyroid hormones) from an enlarged thyroid gland in a cat’s neck region.  In most cases, this is caused by an adenoma, a non-cancerous tumor.

Cats can get acne too??  That’s right; we humans aren’t the only ones!  Some cats will only get acne one time in their life, while others may have a life-long struggle with it.  Feline acne doesn’t seem to have any preference for age, gender or breed either.  (Boy, it is a lot like human acne isn’t it?!)  Understanding what it is and how to treat it will make things easier on both you and your feline friend.

We all like to think of our homes as being safe havens for our pets.  We are offering them protection from the dangers of the outside world, right?  What some people are not aware of however, are the dangers that lurk INSIDE our homes.  Unfortunately, there are several products that we may use on a daily basis that are very dangerous, and sometimes even fatal, to our animals. 

For some pet owners, going out of town (even if it’s just for a short period of time) can be rather stressful.  Not only must you make your own travel plans, but you must make sure you have appropriate accommodations for your furry pal(s) also. 

If you are a pet owner, one of the first things you should have or should be considering is the spaying or neutering of your pet.  The decision to spay or neuter your pet will have a huge effect on their overall long-term health and welfare. 

The most wonderful time of the year is upon us!  Christmas trees are being decorated, lights are being hung, and goodies are being baked!  Oh, it’s just wonderful, isn’t it?  There’s just one teensy little problem…

In recognition of December being National Cat Lover’s Month, let’s talk about one of the most controversial pet topics out there, and something that has recently been banned in the province of BC:  declawing cats.  To some, the act of declawing a cat is the most horrendous form of torture possible, but in some cases, there may be a medical reason why claws need to be removed.  So…keeping the well-being of our feline friends a priority, let’s discuss the facts of this subject.

Diabetes occurs when the body cannot use glucose, the main source of energy for a body’s cells.  When there is not enough glucose transported into the cells, there is not enough energy for the cells to function normally; in turn, the tissues become starved for that energy.  A dog or cat will not be able to live long if this goes untreated. 

The word “cancer” is probably one of the most feared words in our world today; and unfortunately that doesn’t stop with humans – it affects our pets as well.  According to the National Canine Cancer Foundation, it is a diagnosis one out of every three dogs will receive in their lifetime.

The International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management has designated the month of September as Animal Pain Awareness Month.  In recognition of that we’d like to share some tidbits on how to tell if your pet is in pain. 

If you have a household with both a dog and a cat, then you have probably fought the never-ending battle of trying to keep the cat out of the dog food or the even more likely scenario of trying to keep the dog out of the cat food! 

If you have ever had a cat, then you have most likely witnessed the somewhat disturbing event of “hacking up a hairball”.

Keeping your cat both happy and healthy provides a higher quality of life and allows you to better monitor their behavior if something appears off. So, what can you do to help keep them at 100%?

Natural Disasters  can come at any time and can come in many forms. In the lower mainland we need to be aware of the potential for earthquakes…

Marijuana is a popular recreational drug used by millions of people all over the world. Its use is likely to rise due to the changes being made in legislation and that may lead to an increase in cases of intoxication of pets by this drug.

The signs of hyperthyroidism can be subtle initially but become more severe as the disease progresses.

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, no doubt you’re already starting to prepare a feast for your family friends.