What to Do About Hairballs
Hairballs seem to be the bane of a cat’s existence. They are considered normal. But are they normal? Hairballs come from shedding. Shedding is believed to be normal. But is it? First, the origin of the hairball. Cats who shed frequently or excessively, also groom...
When the Poop Won’t Come Out
Constipation is not a pleasant experience – it’s something pet owners want to prevent their pets from experiencing. What’s interesting is constipation is not the only reason dogs and cats strain to go to the bathroom. Straining can be due to constipation, but also...
It’s Easy to Blame it All on the Food
80% of what we do for our pets is to feed them. And realistically, eating is a large part of what we do as humans. Therefore it’s easy to blame ill health on diet. It certainly has been my focus for the last eight years - 80% of what walked in the door of my clinic...
Is “Powdered Cellulose” in your Pet’s Food?
Conscientious pet owners read the ingredients on the back of the pet food bag. When the words read like they are English, it’s reassuring. Powdered cellulose. That sounds logical. “Powdered” - derived from powder, finely ground. “Cellulose” - anyone who remembers high...
How to Hold Your Pee
As we discussed last week, this week, we are discussing how urine control works, but more importantly: how it works, explains how to fix it! First, just a little scientific nuts and bolts: Urine control occurs at the bladder, in the middle of the back, and at the...
Healthy Options for Urine Leakage
There’s not much more concerning than waking up in the morning and finding that your dog peed the bed. It’s embarrassing for dogs too. More than embarrassing, it’s important to discover the underlying cause and figure out what needs to be done - some causes of urine...
Is Your Pet in Pain?
Because they can’t tell us, somehow we have to figure out when our pets are in pain. This quest for clear indications of pain is applicable for any animal species, not only dogs and cats, but also reptiles, birds, horses, and any other species with which we share our...
Healthy Approaches to Arthritis in Dogs & Cats
It is estimated that 70 percent of older dogs and cats are affected by arthritis. It is common to think of arthritis in dogs, less so in cats; but changes such as reluctance to jump and loss of muscle over the hips maybe an indicator of an arthritic condition in...
My Veterinarian Says my Dog has a Lot of Build-up on his Teeth. Is There Something I Can Do at Home to Start Correcting This?
I love frequently asked questions that take me back to my favorite thing – good food. First, if the buildup has started, you need to get them professionally cleaned to start fresh. But, moving forward, no more dry food. (It is a common fallacy that dry keeps the teeth...
Should I Have my Cat Declawed? What are the Pros & Cons?
Another controversy alert!! I have a colleague, Bret Glass, who is the king of helping people and their “fully armored” (i.e. fully clawed) cats co-exist. Bret is working on 100 suggestions to help kitties keep their claws. From banana peels to his wonderful...