Dogs

Ear Mites

Good news—humans can’t get these from pets. Bad news—ear mites are common especially in puppies and kittens. Back to good news—ear mites are easily treatable with a little cleaning and a one-time medication in the ear canal. What to look for You won’t see the ear mites themselves with the naked eye. But you can…

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Kennel Cough

Dog owners might know the term “Kennel Cough” particularly if they board or groom their dog. It’s not a new disease, but the growing number of cases in the Cedar Valley concerns us. We hope by educating more pet owners on this disease we can start to limit the spread. Kennel Cough has a full…

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Heat Stroke In Dogs

Signs of Heat Stroke In Dogs Heat stroke in dogs is serious and with enough change in your dog’s behavior you’ll know “something’s up.” For starters, excessive panting (not the typical stuff, this is more like gasping) and maybe not wanting to walk or even stand. Your dog, if mobile is going to be seeking…

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Noise or Storm Phobia in Dogs

No doubt, families dealing with noise or storm phobia face some true challenges. We want help by encouraging you to explore and learn as much as you can. To that end, this post has a wide variety of options (you didn’t know there would be so many options!) for helping dogs with these phobias. We…

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A Tribute To Tank

Amanda wrote to us (we have her permission to share this) and we thought it would be something our readers could connect to. She writes so beautifully about her beloved pugle, Tank. We think you’ll immediately feel that bond—that bond we all share with our pets. First, here’s what Amanda shared about her experience writing…

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Getting Rid of Fleas

Why is getting rid of fleas such a chore? The flea life cycle. You aren’t just dealing with the adult flea…you have to deal with their eggs (hundreds of them), which turn into larvae, which turn into pupae. Understanding what to do to remove each stage of the flea life cycle helps. Remember to treat…

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Microchip Your Pet

But My Pet Has A Collar.  Estimates are that 1 in 3 pets will go missing. Leashes can break. Collars can be removed. What does happen if your pet is lost? What are the odds of your pet being returned to you? As slim as 22 percent if you are a dog owner and only…

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Are You at Risk for Getting a Tickborne Disease?

Names like Lyme Disease, Anaplasmosis, Erlichiosis and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever aren’t always on the tip of the tongue.  They should be. Tickborne diseases are on the rise for both humans and pets. We are also seeing high numbers of ticks this year. We want you to be aware of the facts and to minimize…

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Mosquito 101

This magnified image (above) is of a mosquito proboscis, or nose. So much for Eskimo kisses. (Note to self: Buy bug spray.) Slightly less scary is the leg.             Mosquitos and Your Dog If a mosquito carrying babies (called microfilariae) bites your dog, these microfilariae get injected into the bloodstream….

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Pet Quality of Life Concerns

What Is Her Quality of Life? This is the biggest question. Ask it weekly. Daily. Even hourly. You know your pet the best. Trust in that. Near the end, you should talk more frequently with your vet. Even about the tough stuff. Ask questions and keep asking. This is a vulnerable time for you and…

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