Posts Tagged: pet wellness

This time of year, most of us begin focusing on the upcoming holidays. Who will host? What dishes will we make? Is it too early to begin decorating (of course not!)? However, while our to-do lists may be long, holiday pet safety should remain a top priority.

No Feasting for Fido

Keeping pets out of all the delicious food is one of the chief concerns around Thanksgiving and other meal-centric holidays. It’s also important for owners to resist sneaking their fur pals a bite of turkey or gravy at the table. Not only do these habits pose a risk for poisoning, they also increase the possibility of gastrointestinal injuries/obstructions and pancreatitis, a potentially dangerous and painful condition.

If you are like most pet owners, you’re always on the lookout for new and interesting items for your pet. It is crucial to encourage play and problem solving at home, but that doesn’t mean all toys and games are fun or satisfying to your pet. In fact, many commercially available products have become sort of humdrum or lackluster, in part because you’ve already bought them for your pet. The pet industry continues to evolve and we’ve got the skinny on this year’s trending pet toys.

It’s easy to ignore something that we can’t see. Case in point: your pet’s anal glands. Located on the right and left sides of the anus, many pet owners never have cause to inspect them. While not every pet has issues with their anal glands, some cats and dogs depend on regular expression. The more you know about this hidden anatomy, the better off your pet will be.

It’s odd that the ways in which we celebrate the holidays are also responsible for negatively impacting pet health. Between the foods, guests, and routine disruptions, pets are inadvertently placed in the crosshairs. To counteract the effect that the seasonal holidays have on our ability to mitigate disaster, we offer this guide to holiday pet safety. The more you can stay in front of at home, the better. 

The holidays are a time for feasting, and many people loosen the reins on diet restrictions and enjoy the many delectable foods that can be found on holiday tables. As our pets also gather around the table and plead with you with their eyes to feed them, it can be easy to forget about how some human food can be harmful to your pets. Your friends at Dupont Veterinary Clinic want to help you figure out which foods to avoid giving to your pets this season:

The pancreas, for most people, is a bit of a nebulous organ. Most of us know that we have one, but not very many people really understand what the pancreas actually does. When it becomes angry, though, the pancreas is not an organ to be forgotten. Pancreatitis in pets (and people, too) is an extremely painful condition that Dupont Veterinary Clinic wants you to better understand. 

The Mysterious Pancreas

The pancreas lives in the abdomen, nestled just below the liver, and behind the stomach. It is long and flat and very delicate, composed of glandular tissue.