If you're like me, the variety of leashes, leads, collars, and harnesses can make shopping for them an incredibly overwhelming experience. Also if you're like me, you may be left scratching your head as to why there are so many options.
So, I asked Dr. J to tell me a bit more about the variety of products on the market, why you would want to choose one over another, and why you should absolutely stay away from certain products like retractable leashes, choke & prong collars.
Topics: Leashes, Dog Collars, Loose-leash Walking, Walking on a Leash, Harness, Dangers of retractable leashes, Dog Tips, Cat Tips, Cat Collars, paws and play, Best pet products
If your cat is going into the litter box frequently, straining to pee, or can't pee, stop what you're doing and bring them to your vet or the emergency vet immediately.
Thankfully, this was something I learned early on in my career here at Preventive Vet, because when my cat, Mazel, started exhibiting these symptoms I was able to jump into action and address what ended up being a urethral obstruction before it could do too much damage, or become fatal.
This episode, I share my story in the hopes that it will spread awareness and help others more quickly identify the symptoms, and Dr. J answers some of my post-hospital questions, as well as offers some tips for preventing re-obstruction.
Topics: Cat Emergency, should I buy pet insurance, Feline Urethral Obstruction, My cat can't pee, Dog Tips, Cat Tips, paws and play, uo, cat pain
The battle of the bulge is a painful one I've fought repeatedly — and if watching the news in the last few decades has taught me anything, it's that I'm not alone. Unfortunately, the trend towards packing on the pounds is one that we have passed down to our animal companions.
The good news is, once we stop and take accountability for the extra servings, we also realize it is within our power to help our overweight cats and dogs. On today's episode, we discuss the pet obesity epidemic, and provide some simple ways to eliminate extra calories — and you won't even feel like a meanie!
Topics: Dog Tips, Cat Tips, paws and play, Pet Obesity
Did you know that we're supposed to brush our dog and cats' teeth daily? Me neither! And it turns out, most pet owners, including vets, haven't been the best at keeping up with our pets' oral health.
Don't fret, all is not lost. On today's show, Dr. J shares tips and recommendations for better oral health. And as he shares, the best solution, is the one you will actually put into action.
Topics: pet dental, Dog Tips, Cat Tips, paws and play, feline dental health, canine dental health
Road trips and big moves can be a lot of fun, or filled with stress. When you add animals to the equation, the opportunities for either scenario are multiplied.
On today's episode, we're sharing tips for successfully hitting the road with our furry companions — from what to pack, to how to use the bathroom when traveling alone.
If you've got great travel tips to add, leave us a comment and share it with the community!
Topics: Travel Sickness, travel anxiety, Traveling with your cat, Traveling with your dog, Dog Tips, Cat Tips, Pet Travel Safety, paws and play
On this episode of Paws & Play with Dr. J, we decided to have some fun, switch things up a bit and see if we could stump Dr. J with some of the most popular random questions related to dogs and cats being asked on the Internet.
If you've ever been curious as to why cats love boxes, why dogs love to eat cat poop, or what exactly dewclaws are for, you'll get a kick out of this episode.
Topics: Dog Tips, Cat Tips, paws and play, supplements for cats, supplements for dogs
If you've been curious about putting your dog or cat on supplements, this is the episode for you! It turns out, they can help with a variety of ailments, skin issues, and anxiety.
Dr. J and I talk about different supplements to give for proactive/preventive measures vs. reactive/diagnostic. Plus, some of the things to look for when choosing a supplement, particularly because there isn't a lot of regulation.
Topics: Dog Tips, Cat Tips, paws and play, supplements for cats, supplements for dogs
It's been a rather cool start to the summer here in the Pacific Northwest, but temperatures have already been soaring past 100 degrees in other parts of the country.
I don't do very well in extreme heat, so I can only imagine what it's like for our animal friends who rely on us to keep them cool and safe!
On this episode of Paws and Play with Dr. J, we go over a bit of what heat stroke is, animals who are potentially more at risk of suffering heat stroke, and then some fun ways to keep them safe indoors and out.
Topics: Signs of Heat Stroke, Heat Exhaustion in Dogs, Heat Stroke in Cats, Dog Tips, Cat Tips, Heat Stroke Risk Factors, paws and play, tips to keep pets cool
The week of June 18-22 is Take Your Pet to Work Week. And if the photo to the left is any indication, my cat, Mazel, is dropping some hints that he'd like to participate.
Of course, just because you can bring your dog or cat (or goat?) to work, doesn't mean that you always should.
On this episode of Paws and Play with Dr. J, we discuss a lot to consider for everyone involved, including the property managers, HR, fellow employees, and what you need to think of on behalf of your pets.
Topics: Pet Proofing, Pet Suffocation, Dog Tips, Cat Tips, paws and play, pet-friendly policy, bring your pet to work week, office safety
This is part two of our discussion about parasites, and apparently it came just in time!
There's a new CDC warning about the dangers of fleas, ticks and mosquitos for humans, and a new study saying most pet owners are oblivious to tick-borne illnesses. They're not oblivious, they just haven't listened to our podcasts yet!
Topics: Heartworm, Parasites, Heartworm Preventatives, Parasite Preventatives, Dog Tips, Cat Tips, Giardia, Intestinal Worms, Mosquitos, Pet Travel Safety
