The holidays are filled with joy, beauty, and, most importantly, food. Cookie exchanges, potluck dinners, and large meals are standard during the holiday season, and pets naturally want to join the fun. Pet owners also want to share their delicious meals with their furry pals, especially during a season when the emphasis is on giving [...]
Each life stage your pet enters requires specialized care to ensure they remain happy and healthy and by your side for many years. As your furry pal enters their senior years, they experience a new set of unique health and wellness challenges that can impact their quality of life. Fortunately, you can help your senior [...]
An increasing percentage of U.S. cats and dogs are becoming obese. According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP), 59% of dogs and 61% of cats were classified as overweight or obese in 2022. These figures have increased since APOP’s 2018 study in which the organization reported that 55.8% of dogs and 59.5% of [...]
As your cat ages, they may slow down, running and playing less. Some of these are normal aging signs, but they may also indicate your whiskered pal has a painful disease. Cats instinctively hide their misery, but up to 90% of older cats suffer from osteoarthritis, experiencing reduced mobility and pain. Feline arthritis treatment options [...]
If you are considering welcoming a new four-legged family member, finding the right pet is critical to helping ensure the relationship is a success. Our Homestead Animal Hospital team thinks every family is better with a pet, and we offer tips to help you choose the right furry friend for your household. #1: Ensure your [...]
As the summer heats up, your pet’s safety should become your top priority. Prolonged exposure to extreme temperature and humidity levels puts pets at risk for heatstroke and other heat-related conditions. Common misconceptions about heat safety can endanger pets’ health, and our Homestead Animal Hospital team is setting the record straight by providing recommendations you [...]
Are you one of the many Americans planning a July Fourth party? Or, maybe you plan to take the whole family, including Fido, to your town's block party and fireworks show. While humans are having a celebratory, patriotic time on Independence Day, pets can be exposed to dangerous hazards. The Homestead Animal Hospital team has [...]
As a pet owner, you likely are accustomed to feeding your pet a certain amount of food and water that satisfies their needs, so when changes occur, you become concerned. Fluctuating weather patterns can affect your pet’s food and water intake, and so can a change in diet. However, many medical conditions can also cause [...]
Lyme disease is a complex illness transmitted via an infected black-legged (i.e., deer) tick’s bite. This illness can affect people and their dogs. While cats can technically contract Lyme disease, no cases have been reported outside of laboratory settings. Learn how to protect your pet—and your family—from Lyme disease by following our Homestead Animal Hospital [...]
Cats need to scratch to remain happy and healthy, but the behavior can be destructive and cause tension in your home. Our Homestead Animal Hospital team understands your frustration when your cat claws your belongings, so we are offering information that will help you understand your cat’s scratching behavior, plus tips to get them to [...]
