Posts in Category: Pet Health & Wellness
Lifelong Learning at Lone Tree Veterinary Medical Center’s Canine Academy
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if your puppy or dog arrived at your doorstep with perfect manners? Unfortunately, we all know this is hardly the reality. All dogs, regardless of age, require at least some training in order to learn how to navigate life with humans. At Lone Tree Veterinary Medical Center, we understand the importance of humane obedience training. That’s why we employ a full-time certified dog trainer and offer a wide variety of training options in our Canine Academy program.
Behavior Matters
A well-behaved, properly socialized dog is a joy to be around and makes for a much safer environment. Untrained dogs pose a risk to other people, animals, and themselves, making obedience training as much about safety as it is about good behavior.
Properly trained dogs are also easier to bring along on hikes, camping trips, and other outings. Being able to include the family dog in your adventures is fun for everyone, and these shared experiences add up to a wonderful life together. Continue…
The Importance of Annual Pet Vaccines
Annual pet vaccines are important because they protect your pets from dangerous and contagious diseases.
Knowing which vaccines your pet needs, however, as well as why and when, isn’t always something that’s widely understood by pet owners.
Understanding Vaccines
Vaccines help the body’s immune system prepare to fight disease-causing organisms. They contain antigens that resemble the disease-causing organism but don’t cause illness. When the vaccine enters the body, it mildly stimulates the immune system. If a pet is later exposed to the actual disease, their immune system is ready to recognize and either fight it off completely or lessen the severity of the illness. Continue…
Cat Behavior Decoded: What Your Kitty Wants You to Know
Few companion animals are as captivating as the wonderfully delightful housecat. Their beauty, grace, and mysterious nature draws us to them, even if they don’t always return our affection when or how we want them to. Cat behavior is certainly perplexing, but by making a concerted effort to deepen our understanding of their instincts and desires, we can improve our relationships with them and create happier, more harmonious lives together.
Cat Behavior: Body Language
Cat behavior can range from cute to puzzling to downright annoying. It can be challenging to interpret what our cats want, but paying attention to their body language can give us clues as to what they’re thinking. Cats tend to show their affection for humans through head butting, twitching their tails, or rubbing their cheeks or bodies against us. Meowing is generally reserved for communication with humans and may signal hunger, happiness, or a desire to play. Continue…
The Ins and Outs of Heartworm Prevention
Most pet owners are familiar with or have heard about heartworm disease. Heartworms are mosquito-borne, blood-dwelling parasites that make their home in the pulmonary artery, a major blood vessel between the heart and lungs, wreaking havoc on the cardiovascular systems of dogs and cats.
Thankfully, we have many safe, effective options available for our pets that can almost eliminate the chance of infection when properly administered. You probably give your dog or cat a heartworm preventive as recommended by our veterinarians at Lone Tree Veterinary Medical Center. Since heartworm preventives are commonly misunderstood, we’re going to zero in on the heartworm preventives we use, what they do, and why administering them correctly matters for them to work properly in preventing heartworm disease. Continue…
An Itch You Can’t Scratch: What to Do About Lice in Pets
If you’ve ever had to deal with a case of head lice, whether on yourself or your child, you know how upsetting it can be. Besides the “ick!” factor, treating a case of lice is time-consuming, frustrating, and can lead to many missed days of school and work.
Just like no one wants to see lice on their child, discovering your pet has lice can elicit a similar response. The intense itching and scratching can make pets (and their owners) a bit crazy, and tackling the issue head on (no pun intended) is ideal.
But First, The Good News
Dealing with lice in pets is certainly not one of the more pleasant aspects of pet ownership. Fortunately, you don’t have to worry about catching the gruesome pests from your dog or cat. Lice are species-specific, meaning that they stick with one type of animal only. Cat lice can be transferred only to cats, dog lice only to dogs, and human lice only to humans. Phew! Continue…
A Brave New (Pain Free) World: All About CBD Oil for Pets
In 2000, Colorado became one of the first states to legalize the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. Since then, many other states have followed suit (29 to be exact). Nine states (including Colorado) have legalized its recreational use, as well.
What does this have to do with pets? More than you may realize. Not only have cases of marijuana toxicity in pets increased since marijuana laws began passing, but pet owners have also been turning to marijuana to try and help their pets with a variety of medical issues. Specifically, they’re seeking the oil extracted from the hemp plant, called cannabidiol oil (CBD oil) to treat their pet’s pain and other ailments.
The use of CBD oil for pets is growing in popularity, but is it right for your pet?
A Focus On Healing: Post-Surgical Pet Care Basics
The days and weeks that follow any surgery are a time of rest and recovery, and having a loving and supportive caretaker at home is an absolute must. Depending on the type of surgical procedure your pet has undergone, as well as their age and overall health, they will have specific postoperative requirements that must be adhered to for optimal healing.
Here at Lone Tree Veterinary Medical Center, we do our part to make sure that you’re equipped with the discharge instructions, medications, and postoperative checkups that your pet needs, but the majority of post-surgical pet care relies on how you care for your pet at home.
Meow-Wow! The New Cat Lodge at Lone Tree Veterinary Medical Center
When people see our new, beautiful Cat Lodge, they’re pretty impressed! With its sleek condo spaces, stunning wall murals reflecting Colorado mountainscapes, custom built cat trees made from real aspen and spruce, and a colorful and entertaining fish tank, we couldn’t be happier to show it off!
The Four Stages of Pet Dental Disease
Pet dental disease, also called periodontal disease, is one of the most common clinical conditions seen by our veterinarians. This comes as no surprise when we consider that most adult dogs and cats show some signs of the disease by the time they reach 3 years of age. If left untreated, pet dental disease can lead to pain, tooth loss, infection, and even damage to the vital organs, such as the heart, liver, and kidneys.
At Lone Tree Veterinary Medical Center, we prioritize your pet’s dental health. We want to shine a spotlight on periodontal disease and discuss how pet owners can actively prevent and treat this serious condition. Keeping your pet’s mouth healthy is key to their overall well-being!
New Year’s Resolutions For Your Pet’s Health
The New Year is the perfect time for a fresh start and setting new goals. Resolutions such as eating healthier, working out, improving work performance, or losing weight— all positive and worthwhile goals. However, many people tend to overlook their pets when planning their New Year’s resolutions.
