Intermountain Pet Hospital Blog

As a pet owner, you’re always looking for ways to give them the best life possible, and that includes the food you feed your dog. But could it be possible that a trendy dog “health” food trend is harming your pet?

Brr, is that a chill we feel in the air? As November descends, so does the impending winter weather and the below-freezing temperatures early in the morning. Although you may be thinking about ways to keep yourself warm, don’t forget your furry friend in the process. Your dog may be wearing a winter coat, but that doesn’t mean she’s immune to the cold of a Treasure Valley winter.

If you’re a cat owner, you know that your feline friend is a source of companionship, fun, and lap snuggle sessions. But did you know that certain kinds of cats were abused and dreaded because of superstitions? Of course, we all know that a “black cat” is a supposedly spooky Halloween decoration and nobody wants one to cross their path, but where did these ideas come from?

As the days shorten and the weather cools, we begin to see the signs of a different season all around us. Sure, it’s the season of giving and twinkling lights and family togetherness, but it’s also another kind of season altogether—flu season. That might prompt you to head to your doctor’s office and get yourself a flu shot (and you should). But what about Fido?

It happens all too often and leaves dog owners devastated: everyday household items can, and do, cause death for beloved pets. This tragic scenario almost came true for a couple in Iowa last month when their one-year-old Boxer-Terrier mix Millie got into a bottle of melatonin.

Have you felt concerned about your cat's teeth because of her behavior? Have you noticed symptoms such as bleeding, drooling, or foul breath recently? If you're worried your cat has a cavity, think again. Feline cavities are very rare and an unlikely scenario for a domestic cat. What cats do frequently suffer from is a condition called tooth resorption.

You are a responsible dog owner. You take your pooch or pooches out for regular walks, give them the right food, take them to the dog park, and even doggy day camp on days you know you’ll be out all day. And of course, your family fur-ball is up-to-date on his vaccinations.

Now, he has a cough. A bad one.

You ask, “How could this happen? My dog is vaccinated. Is it the canine flu? Is it kennel cough?” The answer might surprise you.

Making the decision to spay or neuter your pet can come with some worry and confusion. After all, you want what’s best for your dog and may worry about the effects of an operation like spaying or neutering. But when it comes to spaying and neutering, there are a plethora of good reasons to go forward. There are, of course, health benefits and convenience issues that often convince dog owners to spay or neuter, but you may be unaware of the behavioral reasons to consider spaying and neutering, as well.

Deciding to bring home a new puppy can be exciting, thrilling, and stressful all at once. If you already have another dog (or more) in the home, this introduction of a new family member can be dicey and require extra care and attention on your part. Particularly if you have concerns about your dog based on interactions in the past where your dog may have acted aggressively toward other animals, you should consider how to make the first impression a good one. Here are a few ideas to make the transition of bringing a new puppy home smooth.

If you saw an unattended dog approaching you, your response may be one of avoidance, annoyance, or even fear. Most unsupervised dogs should be cautiously approached, but when it comes to service dogs, there could be something else entirely going on than you think.