Blog
We Know It’s Hard – Why annual visits for your cat are so Important
We get it. Bringing your cat to us can be hard. A national survey revealed that 58% of cat owners report their cats hate going to the vet. Nobody wants to do something to a family member hates. Getting them into the carrier in some cases requires a proficiency in both MMA and magic, the car ride often initiates a voiding of bodily fluids, and the list of profanities that we all know they are spewing from their mouth can …
Firework Safety…Because Booms Can Be Scary
Fireworks can be scary for many of our furry family members. From hiding and shaking to destroying the house trying to escape, New Year’s Eve, 4th of July, and Sea Hawk Sundays can cause real anxiety for both our pets and us. Here are some tips to help make these days a little easier. My best piece of advice is to plan ahead. Make sure your dogs and kitty family members have identification tags on them, that they are microchipped, …
Holiday Safety for Our Animal Companions
Well, that time of year is upon us again when friends and family members descend on our houses with treats, ornamental plants, gift baskets and all other manner of potential danger for our pets. It is important to institute safety measures for our furry family members while preparing for all the holiday chaos and fun. The smallest piece of tinsel, rich chocolate dessert, or artificially sweetened piece of candy in the wrong paws might spark disastrous consequences around this time …
Brushing Teeth — You can do it!!
Most veterinary dentists recommend that we brush our pet’s teeth at least a few times a week as part of a healthy dental routine. While brushing a cat’s teeth sounds like a crazy endeavor fraught with risks of bodily injury, I am a strong believer that cats can be trained to allow teeth brushing. The key is introducing the process very slowly and using lots of positive reinforcement. Pets can’t have fluoride toothpaste so we recommend using a flavored enzymatic …
Have Questions about Giardia?
A recent thread about Giardia on NextDoor.com had multiple dog owners chiming in with a range of questions, first-hand experience, and advice. Given how prevalent this parasite is in the Pacific NorthWET, we thought it was high time we wrote an article about it. What is Giardia? Giardia is a microscopic protozoan parasite that can be found on surfaces, in soil, in food, or in water that has been contaminated with feces (poop) from infected humans or animals. Giardia thrives …
The Dog Park Dilemma – Westcrest and Beyond
One of my favorite places to sit and watch dogs is at an off-leash dog park. There is something about the excitement the moment the leash is disconnected that cannot be described. The posturing when a new dog approaches. A quid pro quo butt sniff. A tail wag. And then the full on play begins. Most of the time we all make it through the gauntlet of the dog park unscathed, but many the unfortunate dog (and people periodically) fall …
The Litter Box Blues
A veterinarian’s worse nightmare is to look at the schedule and see that one of the appointments is a cat that is not using the litter box. When I first graduated from veterinary school, I always felt like a failure because I didn’t truly understand the problem and my recommendations were always kind of half-hearted. I can now say, years later and a personal battle with a cat that periodically urinates in random places (cat to remain unnamed although I …
Back to School In White Center!
Back to School in White Center with Cascade Heights Veterinary Center The end of summer is coming near and that means fall is right around the corner. For many of us, fall signals the upcoming football season and fantasy football. Here in the Pacific Northwest it generally also means the start of the rainy season. But wait! We can’t forget the most important thing…going back to school! I’m not going to lie, I dreaded the start of the school year. …