Health Tips

HEAD: How to Have A Feline-Friendly Vet Visit According to the American Humane Society our feline companions go to the veterinarian about half as often as dogs. The number one reason? Owners say their cat hates going to the vet and they dread the drama. The result is that cats only get vet care when […]

HEAD: Better Vet Visits for Your Cat Indoor or outdoor, cats need regular wellness exams—but statistics show that after their initial kitten vaccinations, pet owners tend to take cats to the vet significantly less often than dogs. Regular exams are just as important for felines as they are for canines. Cats are very adept at […]

HEAD: Heartworm: Your Pets Are More at Risk Than You Think Until recently, heartworm was considered more of a problem in the southern part of the country than in the Pacific Northwest. The parasite is spread by mosquitoes, and due to warmer, wetter summers making our region more hospitable for them, heartworm is becoming a […]

HEAD: Heavy Rains Bring Higher Risk of Heartworm & Giardia The recent heavy rains have not only resulted in flooding and property damage, they’ve also left our pets with an increased risk of heartworm and giardia. Heartworm is a potentially deadly parasite contracted when an infected mosquito bites your dog or cat. The standing, stagnant […]

HEAD: Protect Your Pets from Heartworm Heartworm is a nasty disease affecting our pets, and mosquitoes transmit it from pet to pet. As the name suggests, heartworms live in the heart, and they can also thrive in the lungs and blood vessels. Because they constrict blood flow, they can damage internal organs and cause lung […]

HEAD: Foxtails: Tiny Seeds, Big Problems Foxtails are one of the more serious pet hazards: not only can they work their way into any part of your dog or cat, but they’re very hard to find in a pet’s fur. They like to get around, too—a foxtail in the nose can migrate to the brain […]

HEAD: Watch Out for Blue-Green Algae Low water levels and high temperatures have caused blue-green algae blooms throughout our area. The toxins released by this algae can cause liver and kidney failure in dogs, so it’s important to stay alert of these algae for the rest of the summer. [Link to more information or local […]

HEAD: The Lowdown On Doggy Aspirin When your pet is in pain, it’s natural to want to do something immediate to help them feel better—but that shouldn’t include giving any over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications made for people. East Padden veterinarians warn that aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, NSAIDs, naproxen and any pain reliever made for human consumption […]

Flea, tick and heartworm prevention isn’t just a summer thing—year-round protection from these pests could be a life saver. The Companion Animal Parasite Council reports that for the fourth year in a row, cases of heartworm infection and Lyme disease are forecasted to be above normal across the country. Ticks carry Lyme disease, which is […]

HEAD: Is Your Pet’s Food A Heartbreaker? If you feed your pet a grain-free diet, home-cooked meals or food with exotic and atypical ingredients, you may want to reconsider. Veterinary cardiologists, nutritionists and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are currently investigating a possible link between those types of diets and the development of dilated […]