Posts in Category: Pet Health & Wellness

The pets we know and love have profound reactions to the world around them. We can make the case that pets respond positively to various stimuli (think walks in the woods, laser pointers, snuggles on a cold night), so it only makes sense that they react in kind to stressful or traumatic events.

Fortunately, the national trend that honors an animal’s emotional state is growing – and fast! With a fear free vet, your pet no longer endures those “red light” moments of acute stress or anxiety when traveling to our practice. Indeed, your pet may even look forward to routine visits.

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It may come as a surprise to many owners, but pet skin problems are among the top reasons pets are brought in to see us. Our furry family members tend to experience a wide array of conditions that can manifest in the skin, including allergic response to pollens, molds, and even food.

Parasites cause everything from mange to chronic anxiety issues, and you might be shocked to learn that our four-legged friends often experience skin problems due to a number of different illnesses and conditions. That’s why veterinary dermatology is so important to the health and well-being of cats and dogs alike.
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According to the American Heart Association, heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of death worldwide. Heart problems are on the rise among our four-legged friends as well, making pet heart health a growing concern among veterinarians and pet owners.

At Clairmont Animal Hospital, your pet’s wellness is our top priority and we hope to empower all of our clients to take the very best care of their pets’ hearts!
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It may come as a surprise to many owners, but pet periodontal disease is one of the most commonly diagnosed conditions among cats and dogs. This is due, in part, to how easy it is to overlook the condition of your pet’s teeth and gums, as well as a lack of awareness around pet tooth brushing.

But what is periodontal disease, and how can it be prevented? Let the team at Clairmont Animal Hospital help you learn more about why pet dental care is so important to your fur friend.
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Now that the year is winding down, and the food, presents, and let’s not forget the treats and gifts for our pets, have all been enjoyed, it’s time to ring in 2017.

Whether you celebrate by quietly reflecting on the old year and making resolutions for the new or by partying until the wee hours of the night, your friends at Clairmont Animal Hospital like to celebrate by thinking about our animal friends.

One of our wishes for the new year is continued good health and wellbeing for our pet patients and for all animals. In order to help pet parents make the best possible lives for their pets, we are committed to pet owner education and useful information on topics related to pet care.

In this spirit, we give you our top five blogs of the year!

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“My dog ate my homework” – although an age-old excuse for students, it is still a relevant concern among pet owners when it comes to pets eating something they should not. Pets have interesting habits. Of course, this is why humans feel so compelled to share time and space with species so unlike our own: it never gets old! When a pet’s proclivities turn dangerous, interesting quickly morphs into frightening.

When a well-meaning Lab simply cannot stop eating your gym socks, for example, understanding the reason why can only get you so far. If your pet ate something unusual, it’s more important to know what to do. Continue…

We don’t really put much thought into the fact that most of our dogs and cats are spayed; however surgery is a big deal, no matter who you are.

The traditional spay involves a full abdominal incision in which the uterus and ovaries are removed. It may be a routine surgery, but that doesn’t make it an easy one. In fact, if a human had this type of surgery performed, we would likely be feeling pretty sorry for ourselves for a few weeks at least.

Clairmont Animal Hospital prides ourselves on putting our pet patients first. That is why we offer and encourage our female patients to undergo a laparoscopic spay surgery rather than a traditional spay procedure. Why you might ask? Read on to see if you are convinced. Continue…

There’s something about shorter days and cooler temps that make all of us a less than enthusiastic fitness buff. Despite knowing the importance of being active, a brisk morning dog walk seems unlikely when the sun has yet to peek over the horizon.

There are also times when freezing rain and low temperatures can actually be harmful to our fur friends. So the question is, how do you keep your pet both active and safe? Continue…

Bowls of gravy, golden turkey legs, and buttered rolls from the oven – all these rich foods signal the arrival of Thanksgiving and other winter holidays. Unfortunately, the amount of feasting that occurs during this time of year also results in an increased number of cases of pancreatitis in pets.

Pet owners aren’t the only ones who suffer a little GI discomfort after overindulging. Think those leftovers aren’t so bad for Fido? Think again. Table scraps can create more problems than simply a bellyache when it comes to our pets. Continue…

Loving any senior pet is a worthwhile endeavor, but if you’ve raised your pet from puppy or kitten hood, escorting him or her through the golden years may be a sweeter and greater accomplishment, even still.

With the right combination of nutrition, healthy lifestyle, disease prevention, and veterinary care, your pet could possibly sail through the senior years and live well past the typical age for his or her breed. You may be wondering what tenets of senior pet care are most important, and that’s where we come in! Continue…