When it comes to indoor plants, did you know, some are hazardous to your beloved cats and dogs? While many plants are perfectly safe, others can range from mildly irritating to downright lethal. Here’s a list to get you started on the path to keeping your furry friends safe. Additional Tips Make sure to know the botanical name as well as common names of plants, as some go by the same common name. Keep contact information for your regular veterinarian and local emergency vet clinic handy. When possible, take a picture or bring a sample of the suspected poisonous plant to your veterinarian for positive identification, which will assist in […]

As winter brings on colder, shorter days and we transition from spending time outdoors to indoors, you may be thinking of adding cheerful houseplants to your indoor spaces. If you have dogs or cats, the following list of non-toxic houseplants will enhance your living space and keep your pets safe.

The Simple Way for Knowing When It’s Too Hot For Your Dog With such unprecedented hot weather this summer, following are a few simple guidelines to keep your dog safe. When Is It Too Hot to Take Your Dog In the Car? When it comes to deciding whether to leave your dog in a hot car, the rule couldn’t be simpler: do not do it—even for a few minutes, even on a mild day. The Simple Way for Knowing When It’s Too Hot to Walk Your Dog The Five Second Rule: Place the back of your hand on the sidewalk, pavement, or whatever outdoor surface your dog would walk on. If […]

Many pet owners don’t realize just how terrifying fireworks can be to a dog or cat. The safest and best bet for celebrating this Fourth of July with your pets is to exclude them from holiday festivities. Instead, find a safe, secure spot in the home for your pets while you go out and enjoy the loud bangs, bright lights and spectator fun. Your pets will appreciate the quiet a lot more than you’ll enjoy the noise. Here are ten excellent tips on how to keep your pets safe this 4th of July. If this will be your first Independence Day with a new puppy or kitten, please don’t leave […]

Behavioral changes are a good indication your pet is stressed by something. Sometimes the changes you notice are caused by a medical problem, but just like us, pets can experience purely mental or emotional stress following a change in routine or exposure to loud or new noises, among other causes. Instead of simply relying on medication to mask symptoms, why not try a few natural remedies to calm your pet’s anxiety? It may take time to figure out which one(s) your pet responds to the best, but is worth trying, for their comfort. TIP: If you know your dog will be placed in a situation that might feel stressful, such […]

A friendly reminder: if I won’t do it to my own dogs, I’m not going to do it to yours. If your pet is experiencing symptoms of illness, or they have suffered an injury, and the vet has not diagnosed them, please keep them home. Can you imagine sitting in the salon chair getting your hair done, while your tummy was upset? Or being forced to stand up if your leg hurt? When dogs come here, sometimes that in itself causes stress and tension in their body, so a sore leg is going to hurt more just by simply coming in the door. If we do not know what the […]

So many things can go wrong on-leash. I can say from experience it’s always my fault if there’s an on-leash incident with one of my dogs. The leash causes tension, can get tangled and creates an unsafe space if there is an issue. Don’t even get me started on flexi leads. If you want to properly introduce your dog to another it should be done in a secure area where they can be free to walk away if they choose. I also want to note, my dogs are under no obligation to meet every person or dog they come in contact with. Just yesterday on the ferry a family insisted […]

This might sting a little. A dog’s nose can smell a Q-tip from across the room. You don’t have to force yourself on any dog, it’s actually rude. They are not obligated to be friends with every human or dog they meet. This is good information. The sniff test – Stop doing this! The sniff test is a badly engrained habit that society has been taught, without a clear understanding of what they’re actually doing. When you reach out towards a dog, you are using body pressure at them, giving them no time to assess whether you are safe and whether they require further investigation to pick up your information. […]

by Carol Bryant Want a client for life? Start expressing their dog’s anal sacs. That’s the exact piece of advice a veterinary technician shared with me while having my first Cocker Spaniel’s anal glands expressed during a routine visit. There is definitely a time and a place for anal sacs to be expressed and have all that fishy-smelling material removed from a dog’s scent glands. The problem is there are: Too many people expressing a dog’s anal glands too often Too many unqualified people manipulating a dog’s anal glands Too many dogs experiencing too much discomfort and undue trauma from improper and sometimes needless emptying of anal glands It’s a […]

Sometimes I have to make a judgment call for your pets and their grooming. Sometimes it is in conflict with the information your vets give you. I see most of my clients every 4-6 weeks. I know every square inch of their bodies. I know every like, dislike. I see things on my grooming table you or the vet will never see. When I am determining the best course of action for your pets grooming I always consider, if it were one of my dogs, would I do the grooming? Quite often that means you, as the pet parent, don’t get what you want. While I want you to be […]