Preventative care is essential to veterinary medicine, helping ensure pets' health and well-being.

Situations requiring emergency vet care can occur anytime, day or night. As a pet parent, you must be prepared and know how to identify the situations. Knowing the signs that indicate your pet is in distress can help prevent severe medical conditions. An exam can help identify issues that can be potentially fatal. The following are warning signs your pet may need an emergency exam. 

The holiday season can be a fun time to spend with friends and family. But for pet owners, it can be very stressful and overwhelming. Interrupting routine can make your pet anxious due to the time they spend away from you. Thinking of boarding them can be daunting. However, you can rest assured they are okay throughout the holiday if you prepare them.

A veterinary exam is essential to keep your dog healthy. Here are a few ways to help prepare your dog and make its first veterinary exam a pleasant experience.

Dealing with and treating animals is quite different from dealing with human beings. Vets need to have certain traits to handle animals entrusted in their care. As a pet owner, you want to put your furry friend's life in the right hands. So what qualities do you look for in a veterinarian to determine they are the right fit for your pet?

As much as you love your dog, it is hard to travel with them everywhere. You may need to move by faith and leave them in a boarding facility. It is a leap of faith because you can never be 100 percent sure. It may not be the best of experiences for your dog. However, there are several things you can look for when you are shopping for a boarding facility.

A national survey conducted a few years ago shows that about two-thirds of dog owners understand that grooming can positively impact their dog’s health. However, only 37 percent regularly take their canine companions to a professional pet groomer. 

Owning a pet is a commitment and it is important to understand common pet emergencies so you can respond in a timely way. Restlessness, extreme panting, agitation, increased heart rate, aggression, or lethargy are all signs of possible pet discomfort.

How often should you vaccinate your dog and cat? Vaccines are an essential part of your pet's health care routine. But it may be challenging to determine which ones your pet needs and when to get them. Things can get even more complicated when you include core (mandatory) and non-core vaccines (suggested by your vet).

Does your pup constantly scratch with seemingly no relief? Are you hearing the constant jangle of his collar and tag as he scratches his neck all day? Or perhaps you notice that your dog’s favorite activity every day is licking his paws. If you see any excessive itching or licking, it is important to act on it...