July Fourth is a time for backyard barbecues, fireworks, and celebrations with friends and family. However, this festive holiday isn’t quite as fun for your pet. Independence day can be a scary and dangerous time for your four-legged friend. Many pets are frightened by fireworks’ loud noises and bright lights, and the abundance of delicious [...]
Occasional chewing, itching, and scratching are normal in pets, but if your four-legged friend is incessantly exhibiting these behaviors, they may be suffering from pruritus (i.e., itching) and an underlying medical condition for which they should receive treatment. If your pet is always scratching, you may feel concerned knowing they feel miserable, but also because [...]
While many news stories are divisive, some fill us with hope and warm our hearts—such as watching a lost pet being reunited with their owner. Then, we draw our pet closer, and we may wonder whether our own pet would find their way home if they wandered off around the block—or three states away. Realizing [...]
March is Pet Poison Prevention Awareness Month—that’s quite the mouthful! However, coming up with a catchy name for a serious topic, such as this, is challenging. You may believe your furry pal is immune to toxicity, because you are a responsible pet owner. However, this thought has likely also crossed the mind of countless other [...]
When your cat yawns in your face, does their foul mouth odor startle you? Cats can have doggy breath too! Although cats are typically fastidious groomers, they still need oral health care to banish bad breath and dental disease. In fact, cats are just as likely as dogs to develop periodontal disease, and both species [...]
Is anything better than welcoming a new baby animal into your family? Whether the new arrival is a calf, a foal, or a puppy, introducing a new addition is cause for celebration. The real work, however, begins immediately, and your responsibility is to ensure they receive the best start in life. Before bringing home your [...]
Do you want to know my new year’s resolution? I want to put an end to the whole “Who’s a good girl?” debate. Once and for all, I want my owner to say that I am a good girl—unequivocally. Me. Yours truly. Holly J. Hound Dog. I am The Good Girl. But to be honest, [...]
Thanksgiving is about spending time with family, including your four-legged family members. You may be tempted to share the Thanksgiving feast with your pet—it is a family dinner, after all—but not all the fixings are safe for your pet. Fortunately, you can make many pet-friendly alternatives and let your pet have a feast of their [...]
Halloween is the best time of year to play tricks on unsuspecting family and friends. However, when you or others play tricks on your four-legged friend, the consequences can be dangerous. Fortunately, you can safely “treat” your pet to fun Halloween activities. See how common Halloween scenarios stack up as unpleasant tricks or delightful treats [...]
Blood work is perhaps the most informative diagnostic service available in veterinary medicine. At Walnut Creek Veterinary Hospital, we routinely perform blood work for sick, healthy, and pre-operative pets to diagnose illness, determine a baseline, detect early disease, and ensure pets are healthy enough to undergo anesthesia and surgery. But, although blood work provides your [...]
