Why does my dog drag his bottom on the carpet?
Many people believe this means their dog has worms, but more often than not it means that their anal glands are full and need to be emptied by the veterinarian. These small glands by their rectum can even become blocked. If this becomes a reoccurring problem, it makes sense to have the glands surgically removed to avoid painful infections.

My dog is limping a week after jumping up for a Frisbee, what could this be?
The most common orthopedic injury seen in dogs is a ruptured ACL (anterior cruciate ligament). Sometimes the dog will get moderately better after a week or two, but will never resolve without surgery. A veterinarian will usually sedate the pet for the best possible exam and to get the most diagnostic X-rays. This is done to rule out other knee and hip problems. If a positive diagnosis for ruptured ACL is made there are numerous methods of surgical repair. The surgery will be most successful if done soon to avoid arthritis.

My dog is overweight and we are having trouble getting the weight off. He is always hungry! What can we do?
The answer is diet and exercise, but that is easier said than done. The most helpful way to address an overweight pet is to see your veterinarian for a diet plan. This may sound extreme, but just like with people, we need guidance and accountability. There are now prescription pet diets that are so low in calories that they cannot be sold in the store. With the aid of computer programs a veterinarian can tell us exactly how much of this food to feed to get the most rapid, healthy, weight loss. When you factor in the amount spent on normal food, this program is a small price to pay to get the weight off in 2-3 months. An extra walk can’t hurt either, (For the pet and the owner as well).

My dog never is boarded at the kennel, why does he still need a kennel cough vaccine?
The name of the vaccination (and the bacteria) for kennel cough is Bordetella. This has nothing to do with Boarding. It is a vaccination to prevent upper respiratory infection in both dogs and cats. Any animal that goes to a boarding kennel, grooming shop, veterinarian for its annual check-up, or interacts with a neighborhood pet can come in contact with this disease. (Did you notice that all pets should fit into at least one of the categories?) The vaccine may be administered by injection or by nose drop. It is recommended every 6 months or year depending on the risk of exposure. It is also one of the least expensive vaccines at the veterinarian.

My cat has bad breath and I can’t brush his teeth. Any ideas?
This should be checked out at the veterinarian because your pet may have a severe mouth infection. Most pets need to have their teeth scaled and polished every 1-2
years. If a pet keeps up this schedule, they may keep their teeth their whole life and have much better breath as well as prevent systemic illness. If you can’t brush their
teeth with edible pet toothpaste, there are sprays, chews and special foods that are easy to use and can really help put more time between cleanings.