Cats
Pet Insurance
We have seen dozens of clients use and benefit from having pet insurance. Each pet, family, and plan is unique. As with any decision, do your homework. Ask questions and stick with what works best for you. We don’t endorse or recommend any particular company or plan, but we work with several (e.g., VPI, Trupanion,…
Pet Euthanasia: What You Need to Know
One thing to remember, the word euthanasia means “good death” in Greek. Our utmost goal is to make sure there is no pain or struggle for your pet. Each vet clinic is a bit different when it comes to the pet euthanasia process. We will share with you what we do at Den Herder Veterinary Hospital….
Pet Hospice Care
For many years, pet owners have gone to great lengths to make sure their pet is comfortable in the last months, weeks, and days. Yet, the field of veterinary medicine may not always call it “hospice” nor is there a place to reside as we have in human care. Pet hospice care is similar to…
Need to Warm Up?
This is one way to keep your pet warm! In all seriousness, if you are cold outside, so is your pet. Don’t forget to protect the pads of the feet if you are out on a walk. The cold cement, snow, and salt really can do a number on their feet. Check their feet…
Confused About Your Pet’s Blood Work?
When Blood Work Makes Sense Before surgery When your pet is sick Establish a baseline “normal” for your pet’s blood work before the Golden Years Routine monitoring of health problems or long-term medication use Keep a close eye on overall health as your pet ages What Are We Checking? How are those internal organs doing?…
Urine Testing: The P in Powerful
Why Test? Urine testing is much more than checking for a bladder infection. Did you know urine tests could reveal kidney issues before some blood tests will? Urine tests provide information about kidney and liver functioning, blood pressure issues, diabetes, dehydration, and infection. We also check for crystals in the urine. Crystals can lead to…
Gizmo Gidley
What I learned about quality of life and hospice care by Jennifer Gidley, Den Herder Veterinary Hospital Very recently, I had to make the tough decision to help my five year old cat Gizmo cross the rainbow bridge. Since he was a kitten, he had never been healthy. He was a viral cat who suffered…
The Curious Case of the Eaten Homework
The dog ate my homework. But we don’t have a dog. We have a cat. With three teeth. But she does eat homework. Why Does Your Cat Only Have Three Teeth? Daphne is an outwardly healthy 4 year-old we adopted from the Waverly Pet Rescue in 2013. She was (and still is) active, friendly, and…
Saying Goodbye: End of Life Concerns
This is by far the hardest and most emotional part of being a pet owner. And we are right there with you–it is the hardest part of our jobs, too. We are all pet lovers and truly feel your pain when this time comes. The end of life can be a sad time, a confusing…
How to Survive Taking Your Cat to the Vet
I have had 6 cats in my adult life and have taken many trips to the vet over the past 20 years. I want to share a few ideas that have worked for me to offer you hope, inspiration, and encouragement when taking your cat to the vet. Follow the Tips That Work for You…
