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At The Whole Pet Vet Hospital & Wellness Center, we love cats. These extraordinary creatures amaze us day in and out with their beauty, resilience, and resolve. Each of us has our weaknesses, though, and for many cats their weak spot seems to be their renal system. 

Feline chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a commonly diagnosed problem in our purring patients. In fact it is the most common condition diagnosed in our cat population over 10 years of age, making it very important for our pet parents to understand and acknowledge.

We understand the temptation to skip routine appointments, but contrary to the ways they appear “normal” and act “fine”, there could very well be trouble brewing beneath the surface. 

Aside from the great opportunity to see your pet and visit with you, we value routine pet wellness exams because they shed so much light on issues that are either about to develop, or have already. So, from a pet’s earliest years to their very last, we encourage you to keep all their pet wellness appointments! 

Hide and Seek

Most pet owners are surprised to learn that their pets have an illness or injury that went undetected at home.

Even the most aware, vigilant, and involved pet owners can’t know everything that’s going on with their best friends. Animals are hardwired to hide any signs of weakness, and pain is a sure-fire way to gain the attention of potential predators (even when they don’t exist inside the home). 

Chocolate is something many of us enjoy, and chocolate is usually the staple sugar around Valentine’s Day and other holidays. Chocolate is also an ingredient in many desserts, drinks, and food items. But chocolate in all forms is poisonous to pets. 

The Whole Pet Vet Hospital and Wellness Center is here to explain why chocolate toxicity can occur, the symptoms to watch for, and how to better protect your fur friend.

Chocolate Toxicity

Chocolate contains two chemicals which are toxic to pets. These are caffeine and theobromine.

In case you’ve been living under a rock, it’s now 2020 – which feels like a big year! It’s not lost on us that we are wrapping up not only a year, but an entire decade. With that in mind, we are so grateful for your friendship and for trusting us with your precious fur babies. 

As we look back at our successes and challenges, we are reminded that progress is a process. One way The Whole Pet Vet Hospital and Wellness Center measures our progress is through sharing informative, educational and fun topics in our pet care blog.

If you have been a faithful reader, we thank you! And even if you’ve just discovered us, we’d like to invite you to look back with us at the top blogs of 2019. Please enjoy!

If you’ve shopped ‘til you’ve dropped this holiday season so far, you are certainly not alone. Giving thoughtful gifts take time and focus, and we hope you’ve been successful!

If you’ve been stumped by gifts for pets and their owners, however, we have you covered. There is no shortage of creative, fun, useful, and sweet gifts for pets out there, and we’ve curated a list, just for you. We hope you find something the pet on your list will love! 

Have you ever smelled your pet’s feet? No, seriously – have you? It seems strange, but if you have ever been close enough to your dog’s paws, you may have noticed a strange, yet familiar odor. Corn chips! 

You’d be surprised that many owners come to us and ask why their pets’ paws smell like that corn snack (or other strange scents).

Your team at The Whole Pet Vet Hospital and Wellness Center is here to answer this odd riddle.

Pet Odors Are Normal, Sometimes

Of course, pets pick up a number of smells on their paws from walking on dirty concrete, asphalt, grass, and other surfaces. So, it’s no surprise that your pet’s feet don’t smell like a bed of roses. But there are times when odor can signal a problem.

Of all the fantastic feline features, perhaps it’s their whiskers that are the most predominant. After all, when asked to draw a cat, a child is highly likely to include an array of whiskers on either side of the nose. 

Even though cats are typically characterized by their whiskers, the general consensus about their purpose is less obvious. Cat whiskers are actually quite amazing, and our favorite felines wouldn’t be themselves without them.

CBD oil is one of the most talked-about alternative therapies in recent years, and its rising popularity has reached the pet-care market. Pet owners are turning to CBD oil to help their companion animals with everything from arthritis to anxiety to seizures, and many other conditions. 

With so much information floating around online regarding CBD oil for pets, it can be difficult to know whether or not the supplement is safe and effective. 

Few things are more exciting than getting ready to bring a new baby into your life. You may be rapidly checking off your to-do list if the time is growing near. And amidst all your planning, preparation, and taking good care of yourself, you may also be wondering how your pets will adjust to your new addition as well. 

To make this transition smooth for everyone, The Whole Pet Vet Hospital and Wellness Center has some ideas and tips for introducing your pets to your new baby. Pets are creatures of habit, so it makes sense to start as early as you can to get them acclimated to the idea of a new addition to their family.

In order to effectively identify wild roaming bison, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service implants them with inert microchips. In fact, various types of animal research use similar information gleaned from these chips. They do not transmit GPS or have an internal power source, but these biocompatible chips have likewise been instrumental in the identification of loads of species – especially lost or missing pets. 

From llamas to parrots, ferrets to frogs, pets are routinely microchipped. It might not ever get scanned, but a pet microchip can facilitate a swift return home.