Memorial Day is coming up this weekend, a weekend filled with backyard parties to celebrate graduations, weddings, reunions, and maybe watch the Indy 500! Often visiting families bring their dog or cat along which can be good or not so good. As a veterinarian, I have spent many Memorial Day fielding calls about pet problems…
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Senior pet Care guidelines with an Eye for behavior The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) has recently published senior care guidelines for dogs and cats for veterinarians to follow. This white paper is a guide to the three ways to provide integrative care, schedule appointments with enough time and resources and how to promote…
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The Low-Stress Veterinary Care Equation – The client is always a part of the equation As I have created courses, immersion workshops, and in-clinic staff training services, I realize there are multiple steps to achieving a safe, Low-Stress Veterinary Care experience. Handling knowledge, clinic space management, and pre-exam medications are clearly part of the…
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Why pets benefit from anxiety-reducing meds before anesthesia For many years, veterinarians advised pet owners to withhold all food and water for 12 hours before anesthesia. This common recommendation was based on the concern that food or water would reflux up the esophagus, and create a choking risk. Skipping oral medications were often advised. New…
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Cats, disease, nutrition, and behavior The connection of physical health with behavioral health has often been considered by a veterinarian in practice. It makes sense when an animal is in pain, they will act aggressively when touched or approached or perhaps act "off" - less social, more anxious, or aggressive when there are biochemical changes…
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What is going on with my old dog? As a primary care veterinarian, I have often had the bittersweet pleasure of caring for a furry family member from puppyhood to the end of life. At times, I would see a sweet, friendly dog show behavior changes that seemed out of place and confusing to the…
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Lessons Learned from Curbside Care About a year and two months ago, the world changed for veterinary practice. The traditional model of a pet owner bringing the pet into the clinic, waiting in the waiting room, then being escorted by a staff member into the exam room changed. Now we had to meet the client…
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The wonders of Witch Hazel (Hamamelis) As I have grown in my expertise in reducing pet stress during care, I have paid attention to every item and every step of care. Decreasing noise, soft towels to insulate against the cold stainless exam table, and using rewards were some of the first items I kept consistent…
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Introduce cats to each other When you add an additional cat to your home, your existing cat may not accept this cat easily. Many cats need a formal introduction plan to learn to accept each other. Preparing the home for the introduction, and addition of the new cat needs to happen before the big meet…
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First Time Dog owners need support - and so do repeat dog owners! I just read the Merck Animal Health Survey results about first-time dog owners, who acquired dogs during the COVID pandemic of 2020. I was alerted to this survey, and upon reading felt is imperative to have everyone read. Here is the…
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Low-Stress Blood draw using EMLA cream The use of lidocaine topical cream has become recognized as a way to decrease patient discomfort and stress for IV catheterization. One published study from the Journal of Feline Medicine and surgery journal article here looked at applying lidocaine 2.5%-prilocaine 2.5% combination cream 30 minutes prior to the jugular blood…
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From Cat fights to calm cats Calm Cats are happy cats. It is possible to stop cat fights now, when you work with your veterinarian to provide the medication and plan to create calm cats. Cats are interesting. They are affectionate, independent, and intelligent. Many homes have at least two cats, according to the AVMA…
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5 Essential Steps to Stop Separation Anxiety Separation anxiety can be one of the most frustrating behavior problems of dogs. The problem may begin gradually, starting with a little pacing or whining when you leave then escalating to digging at the door or breaking out of crates. As a veterinarian with behavior expertise, I am…
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How the Calmer Canine tPEMF device improved my dog Bella's reactivity My dog Bella is an 11-year-old, mixed-breed dog. She was a rescue, who by 9 weeks of age was no longer able to easily socialize easily. Despite meds, supplements, training, low stress handling and reward-based training, she is reactive at windows. Her triggers…
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The drug resistant client - understanding why clients would refuse medications Advances in animal behavior has helped veterinarians provide less stressful care to many patients, both large and small. The ability to correctly read the body language of stress before it reaches aggression, and then respond to this by changing the exam room, treatment and…
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