Posts in Category: Pet Health & Wellness

Whisker Fatigue is a term you may not have heard of. Whisker fatigue is actually a condition among cats that can cause significant stress.

The Incredible Whisker

It’s hard to imagine a cat without a set of luxurious, adorable whiskers. The primary function of whiskers is to serve as touch receptors that tell a cat a great deal about the world around them.

Whiskers transmit information about a cat’s environment via tiny sensory organs known as proprioceptors. These organs are located at the base of each whisker. They help cats navigate their environment in the dark, hunt for prey and determine whether or not they can fit into a tight space.

Spring is a notoriously fickle time in Colorado. One day, we’re enjoying temperatures in the 60s, and the next day we’re hit with a snow storm! This variation between cold and warm weather can make it easy to ignore your pet’s parasite prevention. Unfortunately, a little spring snow isn’t enough to keep fleas and ticks at bay for long. Although they may seem inactive during a cold spell, it only takes a few 50 to 60 degree days for parasites to become active again.

Pets most often pick up fleas and ticks outdoors after these parasites drop from other animals onto the ground, grass, or shrubs. Even indoor pets face exposure when people carry the parasites inside on their clothing. Typically, these parasites go unnoticed until they bite your pet, causing itching, skin rashes, and hair loss. Or, as with a tick, you’ve discovered a little round bump on your pet that wasn’t there a few days before.        

If you’re a longtime Denver area resident, you’ve surely noticed how much the metro area has grown over the past 10 years. And, our population growth continues to extend outward beyond the city and surrounding suburban areas.

While Colorado’s popularity as a great place to live is mostly a good thing, it also affects us in ways that we may not think of, such as how it affects our pets. With more and more people and pets moving here, the number of heartworm disease cases seen by local veterinarians has increased every year.

As we settle in for another season of tinkering around in our garage and backyard, it’s important to keep your pet’s safety in mind. Many of the chemicals we commonly use for outdoor maintenance can injure or even kill a pet. Although you may not expect your pet to get into trouble in your garage or yard, pets can be known to eat just about anything, so protecting them from outdoor pet toxins is essential.

There’s no question that pets are wonderful; all that snuggling and playing fills our hearts with contentment, and makes the duties of pet ownership worth it. However, no matter how cute or sweet your dog or cat may be, some behaviors still remind us their wild cousins. Even the most placid and domesticated pet possesses many natural tendencies, including the drive to chew.

Providing a dog or cat with an outlet for chewing seems to be a reasonable solution, but there’s a lot more to chew toys than many pet owners realize. Every year, thousands of pets become sick or injured by chewing and swallowing toys, or parts of toys. Since our pets can’t distinguish between a safe or unsafe toy, it’s up to us to keep our furry friends safe and sound by paying attention to what we allow them to chew.

Starting the New Year with a list of resolutions? We’ve compiled 10 New Year’s Resolutions for Pet Owners to inspire you! From eating healthier to getting more exercise, there are plenty of ways to kick off the year on a positive note for you and your pet.

It’s hard to believe that a new year is already upon us! As we reflect on the many valuable lessons and special moments of 2018, we’re reminded that none of it would be possible without our beloved patients and clients. Serving Denver area pets and their families is a privilege, and we’re so grateful for the relationships we’ve formed, both old and new.

Our monthly pet care blog is part of our ongoing service to you, and we’re thrilled that so many have been reading and enjoying it. Without further ado, we’re proud to present our top 10 most popular pet care blogs of 2018!

The season of sharing and gratitude is here, and the holiday spirit is strong at Lone Tree Veterinary Medical Center. We are deeply grateful for the friendships we’ve developed this past year and for the enjoyable moments spent caring for your special companions!

Whether your pet comes to see us for medical care, boarding, grooming, or obedience training, we are grateful for the trust that you place in us to provide the care your pet needs. We love helping pets have better lives, and our interaction and experiences with them make our days purposeful and rewarding. It is also wonderful to share in the commitment you have for the lifelong health and well-being of your pets.

We work diligently throughout the year to exceed the standards of our accreditation with the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). We also stay up-to-date on the latest research and techniques. Our staff members have all chosen this profession because of their love for companion animals. In good times and bad you can count on us to be here for you and your pet. And, as always, we appreciate your feedback when it comes to your pet’s care and your experiences with us at our facility.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

As you and your pets share in the holiday festivities, please know we appreciate you. We wish you a safe, happy season and a wonderful New Year!

There’s something special about dogs. Perhaps it’s their unwavering loyalty and devotion or their unique ability to read our emotions and body language. Maybe it’s the way they inspire joy in our lives every single day. Whatever the case, the bond between human and canine is awe-inspiring.

When most of us look at our dogs, we only see their inner light, and this is never more apparent than with deaf dogs. Unfortunately, deaf dog myths abound in our culture, but in reality, dogs of any ability level can lead happy, productive lives. At Lone Tree Veterinary Medical Center, we’ve set out to dispel the top 5 deaf dog myths and to show our readers what these often misunderstood pets can do. Continue…

When it comes to pet pain management, veterinary medicine has made tremendous strides in the past century. It’s now common knowledge that pets feel pain in much the same way as humans and that chronic pain can impair the healing process by interfering with immune function, decreasing appetite, and increasing anxiety.

Improving the quality and longevity of our patients’ lives is one of our top priorities. Let’s take a moment to focus on a pet’s pain and the various ways we can help manage it.

Recognizing Pet Pain

Recognizing signs of pain in pets is crucial for their care and comfort. Our pets can’t verbally communicate their discomfort, so it’s up to us as owners to observe and interpret changes in their behavior. Common signs that your pet might be in pain include:  

• Sudden limping
• Pacing
• Crying out or growling
• Excessive licking
• Loss of appetite
• Lack of grooming
• Lethargy or decreased activity