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You’re snuggled up on the couch with your best fur friend when your hand passes over a lump you hadn’t noticed before. Immediately, your mind starts racing. Is it new? What is it? 

Before you know it, you’re over on Dr. Google, frantically searching for answers. The search engine turns up all sorts of scary words. Tumor. Cancer. Malignant. 

Lumps and bumps on pets seem scary, but they don’t have to be. Seeking guidance from a veterinary professional is always your best bet, and your team at Harris Parkway Animal Hospital is ready to help.

It’s not always easy to know what to do when a pet has a minor injury or is feeling under the weather. Of course, the internet is chock full of advice for everything from fleas to broken bones, but not all of it is usable, and some is downright dangerous.

There are plenty of reasons someone may turn to DIY pet remedies, and in some cases treating your pet at home makes sense (with guidance from your pet’s primary healthcare provider, that is). There are also plenty of instances in which home treatments should never be attempted.

The team at Harris Parkway Animal Hospital wants to make sure you know what to watch out for when it comes to DIY pet remedies, and how to make sure your furry loved one gets the best possible care.

While it can feel great to come home to your best friend, it’s hard not to wonder what they got into while you were away. Sure, some pets will happily curl up on the couch for several hours, but others may pace, howl, whine, or stare out the window obsessively. Pet separation anxiety can also cause pets to damage property or even hurt themselves. 

There might not be alternatives to never leaving your pet home alone, but it is imperative to know their limits.

Our human world is centered on immediate gratification. We want what we want – and we want it right now. Knowing this about ourselves, it’s not surprising that we experience challenges regarding pet behavior. Specifically, when they do something they know is wrong (or at least we think they know it’s wrong). 

Since basically all of their behaviors hinge on instincts for survival, they eat, drink, and eliminate whenever and wherever they can. This can definitely land them in hot water with their owners, but the question remains: do pets feel guilty about their transgressions?

Cats make amazing pets, but they can definitely be a bit puzzling to live with at times. First of all, their awake in the morning, awake in the evening, nap all day, schedules make it seem like all they do is sleep. And when they are awake, they’re either grooming, eating, playing, or appearing to think really deep thoughts.

But the mysteries of feline behavior go deeper than their unique schedules and daily habits. Indeed, cats are highly intelligent, complex problem-solvers that not only require extra patience, understanding and observation, they deserve it.

Is your older dog starting to have accidents inside the home? Is your pet recuperating from surgery and not able to use the litter box or go outside? Have you recently adopted a special needs pet who has trouble when it comes to appropriate urination or defecation? These are just some of the many reasons your pet may benefit from the use of pet diapers.

There are many factors to consider when it comes to selecting pet diapers, including your pet’s size, gender, and whether your pet needs long or short-term protection. Let the team at Harris Parkway Animal Hospital get you started!

Good pet owners spend a lot of time with their pets and understand what they’re doing (at least most of the time!). However, it’s not unusual to be utterly perplexed by certain behaviors. For example, typically laid-back animals can go from zero to sixty when scared, surprised, or stressed.

Aggression in pets can be the direct result, but, fortunately, there are ways to prevent and manage these behaviors.

Know the Signs

Body language is highly informative when it comes to understanding how animals feel about something or someone. Aggression in pets is sometimes warranted, but if it’s something you deal with on a daily basis, it’s time to take a closer look.

Be mindful of the following signs of aggression in pets:

We use the internet for nearly everything these days, and we rely on it to tell us exactly what we need to know – and fast. Few could argue with the convenience, but despite all the advantages, the available information isn’t always correct or necessary.

As for pet care, there are countless websites that aim to help owners. But some online veterinary advice should only be taken with a grain of salt.

Aside from the fact that an animal looks their best when at the proper weight, maintaining a slender silhouette is essential for overall health. Without a doubt, even a few extra pounds on a cat or dog can risk their well being. Joint pain and arthritis are the most obvious side effects of added weight, but diabetes in pets is a serious threat to longevity and quality of life.

Diabetes in pets is becoming more common these days, but with an eye on prevention this diagnosis doesn’t have to be a foregone conclusion.

Of the many things cat owners would likely discuss with their cats if they shared a language, their persnickety preferences might top the list. Even though we’re all dying to get to the bottom of what our cats are thinking at any given moment, if we stop and closely observe feline body language we may find they’re already giving us most of the facts.

Without a doubt, cat communication is subtle, but if you listen closely they speak volumes.