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Leptospirosis. The threat is real. Is your pet protected? There has been a recent  troubling spike in cases of a potentially fatal bacterial infection among dogs — which can be spread to humans. The disease, leptospirosis, can infect dogs, possums, raccoons, rodents, cattle, pigs, and horses. What is especially alarming is that leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can also be spread to…

Living in Florida has numerous benefits- especially the tropical climate which makes for an abundance of year-round outdoor activities. As all Florida residents know, one of the downsides to our tropical climate is the threat of tropical storms and hurricanes from June until November. Although we have been very fortunate not to have had a major storm threaten our area in several years, we can…

May 10, 2019 Although the ‘official’ start of summer is still weeks away (June 21, in case you were wondering), it already feels like the season is upon us here in Florida. Warmer temperatures and our increasingly-frequent afternoon showers bring back many unwelcome pests in larger numbers. These include fleas, bufo toads mosquitoes and more.…

In the not-too-distant past, when your dog or cat ran away, you were facing tough odds in ever getting them back again.  Today, with microchipping, the odds are heavily in your favor. Most intake organizations – vet clinics, animal shelters, rescue organizations, and police departments – have the technology available that can instantly read a stray animals microchip and reunite it with its owner. Microchipping is so…

Planning is a great tool for success.  From sports and business to personal growth and goal-setting, planning provides the roadmap to get you from point A to your end result goals.  Our pets ask for little from us, but they need a plan, too.  And it’s up to us to devise it and put it into practice. In…

“Do you really need to do bloodwork on him/her?” I hear this question a lot. We may recommend bloodwork for your pets for a wide variety of reasons. Your pet’s blood can tell us a lot about what’s going on with their health. Sure, we have digital x-ray and ultrasound, and they can help, too-…

One of the reasons I moved to Florida close to 20 years ago is I love spending time outdoors (and I was tired of the snow!). Although I spend a lot of time inside working, I still love getting outside as much as I can.  That goes for my pets, too. They love running around at the dog park or even just playing in the backyard…

If you have both dogs and cats in your household, you may have already read my blog on heartworms for dogs. But you don’t know the whole story. Heartworms also can affect cats- but it affects them differently. So, don’t skip reading this just because you read what you need to know about heartworm disease in dogs. Your cat (and I) thank you. It’s important…

What is the number one reason that people visit their doctor?  The answer may surprise you.  According to a recent survey done by the Mayo Clinic, it’s not back pain (that’s #3) or respiratory issues (#5 on the list). It’s for skin conditions- whether it be a rash, acne or other skin disorders. I find this interesting because skin disorders/itching is also the #1 reason pet owners schedule appointments…

Just imagine if you never brushed your teeth- I shudder at the thought. Of course, so does your dentist! Our dental health is vital, which is why we brush our teeth, floss (or at least tell our dentist we do) and schedule regular visits and cleanings with our dentist.  The same should apply for your pets. Pets are susceptible to pretty much the same dental diseases that…