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Studies show that the majority of pet owners in the United States choose to have their pets spayed or neutered, and at The Whole Pet Vet we couldn’t be happier about this statistic. Spaying or neutering your pet has many health benefits, and goes a long way toward reducing the homeless pet population.

Aside from cases of professional, humane breeding, having a pet spayed or neutered just makes sense. We’re excited to share with you the reasons why!

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If you’re a pet owner, the start of a new year isn’t just about you. 2017 provides us with the perfect opportunity to reflect on the ways we can improve the health and happiness of our treasured four-legged friends.

Many of the same resolutions you might make for your own health and wellness can be extended to your fur babies! Your friends at The Whole Pet Vet have put together some simple ideas for resolutions for pets that we hope you will find useful and inspiring.

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The time has come for us to take down the 2016 calendar and affix a new one to the wall. Many do this with optimistic relish, others see it as a moment that deserves a quiet moment of reflection. For the triumphs enjoyed or setbacks endured, the previous 12 months provide an opportunity to take stock. That way, the new year can be tackled with a certain level of aplomb.

We do this in a variety of ways, but our staff at The Whole Pet Vet Hospital and Wellness Center enjoys looking back at our pet care blogs of 2016. From dental care to acupuncture, exercise to parasite prevention, senior pet health to behavioral concerns of young pets, we value what makes our growing community of readers more successful pet owners. From there, the sky’s the limit!

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This holiday season, you may find yourself wondering if that extra piece of pecan pie is worth the calories. You aren’t the only one who needs to be watching your waistline, though. We know now more than ever that pets who are overweight suffer from health problems and decreased lifespan, just as we do.

With over half of the nation’s dog and cat population considered overweight or obese, weight management in pets is an important part of proper care. Learn how The Whole Pet Vet is helping pet owners keep animals healthier, one pound at a time.

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It is a problem that we diagnose more than we would like, and it can be downright awful. Pancreatitis is an often diagnosed health issue, especially this time of year, as we enter a season of overindulgence and celebration.

The Whole Pet Vet Hospital and Wellness Center wants you to know how to recognize pancreatitis in pets and learn what you can do to prevent it.

Pancreatitis Primer

The pancreas is an organ that resides in the abdominal cavity. It is involved in many important bodily functions, including producing insulin and enzymes that aid in digestion.

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As the public (and medical community) become more and more educated about the care of their pets, many traditional recommendations have been called into question. People are choosing to vaccinate themselves and their children more judiciously than ever before, and their four-legged children are no different.

The Whole Pet Vet Hospital and Wellness Center wants you to know that our approach to pet vaccinations is holistic, just like everything else that we do. Continue…

For many years, we have been fascinated by the impact music can have on memory, emotional state, and even healing from physical injuries and illnesses. Amazingly, the more we learn about music therapy and its benefits to humankind, the more we find that this same knowledge can be applied to our four-legged friends.

How Does Pet Music Therapy Work?

Thanks to the initial psychoacoustic research conducted on the effects of sound on shelter dogs (Kogan, Schoenfeld-Tacher & Simon, 2012), we have learned that certain types of music can help reduce anxiety, lower heart rate and respiration, and alleviate certain behavioral challenges in pets (such as chronic barking). Continue…

Bonding in the great outdoors is one of the best parts of pet ownership. Whether you’re heading out for a hike on the St. Joseph’s Hill trail or just playing in the yard, you and your pet can enjoy the beautiful summer weather safely by being prepared.

Keep our summer pet safety tips in mind before you and your pet head out for your next adventure.

Paw Care

Your dog’s paw pads are more sensitive than they appear, and hot pavement or concrete can often be too hot for them to safely walk on. A good rule of thumb is: if it’s too hot for your bare feet, it’s too hot for your dog’s. Find grassy and/or shaded areas to walk your pooch, or limit walks to early morning and evening hours when life’s just a little cooler. Continue…

Advancements in veterinary medicine have helped to increase longevity and enhance the quality of life of cats, dogs, and other animal companions. And, when it comes to our geriatric fur pals, one of the best ways we can keep them at their healthiest – while slowing down some of the impact of aging – is through senior wellness pet care.

When is my pet considered a senior?

As you may know, our pets age much more rapidly than we do. One year doesn’t seem like a long time to us, but it comprises a significant portion of the life of a four-legged companion. Continue…

Although heartworm disease is preventable, it continues to put thousands of dogs, cats, and ferrets at serious risk in all 50 states. This is, in part, due to some misconceptions about heartworm prevention, such as the idea that it is only a ‘seasonal worry’, and therefore medications only need to be used during springs and summer.

This risky gamble leaves many pets susceptible to the infection. In fact, here in California, many parasitic diseases are on the rise because of our mild climate, making it possible for these vector-borne illnesses to be transmitted year-round.

The Facts About Heartworm Disease

Dirofilaria immitis, the parasitic worm that is the cause of heartworm disease, is spread through the bite of a mosquito that has acquired this parasite by feeding on an infected animal (typically, other infected dogs or canids like coyotes and foxes). Continue…