Pet Health

Get your mutt some ID!

September 4th, 2008 by Dr. Donna Spector

Every owner of a mixed breed dog has wondered “What is he?” Well, now you can get an answer. There are several DNA tests available to identify what breeds make up your fabulous pooch. Most involve a painless cheek swab or blood sample and voila…two weeks later you will know if the reason Fido herds you around the house is because he is part Border Collie or the reason he swims until the brink of exhaustion is due to his Labrador Retriever DNA.

Besides the fun of knowing where some of your dog’s traits come from, pet owners can use these results to better understand their dog’s behavior and to screen for diseases that affect certain dog breeds. For more information on specific DNA tests, visit these sites:
www.dog-dna.com
www.biopetvetlab.com
www.wisdompanel.com

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House-training Your Puppy

September 2nd, 2008 by Amy Breton

Congratulations on your new puppy! I bet your new puppy is very cute, very cuddly and very messy. Training your puppy to use the “outside” bathroom is a family effort. The length of time it takes for you to house-train your puppy is directly related to how well you supervise him.

How long your puppy can “hold it” is directly related to his age in months. A puppy can resist going to the bathroom for no longer than his age in months plus one. For example, a 4-month-old puppy can “hold it” about 4-5 hours, while a 6-month-old puppy can hold it 6-7 hours. Any more than that and your puppy will likely have an accident.

You will have to plan on getting up in the middle of the night to walk your new puppy and ensure your puppy is not left home alone for too long during the daytime. There are four main “rules” you must strictly follow in order to have success with house-training your puppy. (more…)

Preventing Cat and Dog Bladder Stones Podcast

August 28th, 2008 by Erika

Bladder stones are a common ailment affecting our cats and dogs. Some breeds are predisposed to this condition, however, many pets develop it as the result of incorrect diet choices. There are several ways that we can help prevent this painful condition from occurring in our furry friends.

Listen to today’s podcast to find out how simple diet changes can help prevent bladder stones in your cat or dog. Download Preventing Cat and Dog Bladder Stones.

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Prevent ear infections in your pet!

August 22nd, 2008 by Dr. Donna Spector

Ear infections are very common in pets and can cause pain and contribute to hearing loss. Pets are prone to infection because of the shape of their ear canals and an inability to clean their ears themselves. The routine weekly use of a natural pet product such as Herbal Ear Wash is recommended to help prevent painful ear problems in pets.

Click here for more information on proper ear cleaning in pets.

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Keep your pets eyes bright and healthy — understanding the importance of proper eye care

August 21st, 2008 by Dr. Donna Spector

Your pets eyes are one of his most valuable senses….keep them healthy with weekly examinations and cleanings to prevent infection or other eye problems from occurring. The routine use of a natural pet product like Halo Herbal Eye Wash is recommended to help prevent irritating and sometimes painful eye infections in pets.

Click here for more information on proper eye care in pets.

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