Heartworm disease used to be thought as a rare ailment in Arizona, limited to the Midwest and eastern portions of the US. Over the years it has migrated across the US. Year over year, Arizona has more mosquitoes and more cases of heartworm disease. Micro-climates such as golf courses, backyard ponds, unkempt pools/foreclosure areas, and…
Deciphering and comparing the multitude of dry and wet pet foods available can give you a headache. While there are certain requirements and regulations that pet food companies must follow, the labels are often not very helpful and/or misleading. I get the question of “what food should I feed my pet” every day, but the…
Are You Worried About the Dog Flu? You may have heard about the recent outbreaks of the dog flu over the last couple of years, and we know that it can be scary. Well, we at Arizona Animal Hospital, are here to help. We can discuss the pros and cons of the vaccine as well…
We are getting to that time of year again where our pet’s fear and anxiety can start to present a real problem. Commonly known as “noise aversion,” this can present itself in many different ways. Anything from trembling and shaking, to chewing and destroying parts of your home. Triggers for noise aversion can be caused…
We keep busy this time of year caring for dogs and cats with allergies. Our allergy season for pets usually begins in November, runs thru April and can to a less extent last year round. Almost all seasonal/environmental allergies manifest on the skin of dogs and cats. This is different than people who largely…
I have been a vet now for 20 years and have lived in the Valley for 13 years. We moved here to be close to family and enjoy the Arizona desert lifestyle. One of those desert perks was being able to be outside without the bugs. No Mosquitoes, few flies, just pleasant. One of the…
Every year thousands of dogs are infected with Valley Fever in Arizona. What we found over the years are few things that can help treat and cure several dogs even the most severe cases from this dangerous, debilitating and deadly disease. We wanted to make sure that pet owners understand the disease, understand what…
I wanted to write about a topic that has hit close to home. There has been a string of coyote attacks in our neighborhood. We have lost 3 dogs and 2 others have been severely injured. Even more concerning is how and why these attacks have occurred. In all cases, a pack of 3-5 coyotes…
With the rising costs of Pet care, Pet owners are asking more aboutwellness pans and Pet insurance. There also seems to be a lot of confusionas to what a pet owner needs or may need when signing up for a PetInsurance or Pet Wellness plan. In a nutshell, wellness plans cover theannual maintenance, things like…
It’s a fact, we have a lot of venomous snakes in our community and a dog isbitten everyday around here. Snakebites are emergencies and your pet needsto come in immediately for care. Antivenom is given to counteract thepoison and results are generally positive. Smaller dogs are at greaterrisk. The Rattlesnake vaccine is not a substitute…
Wow, a month has passed since my last post. Time has been flying by. Wehave been so fortunate to be busy here at Arizona Animal Hospital. Theresponse to our practice has been excellent during the slow summer season.Pet owners seem to be happy with our hospital and the way we are conductingour business. Our key…
Alert! Another Desert Dog Danger Update! Monsoon season is here and so is another desert danger we see. The Desert (Bufo) Toad. They come out in this more humid weather, generally in the evening and their numbers wax and wane every year and it seems we have a bunch in 2015. I remember 12…
Turtleskin is a company I got to know when I needed bite protection from rattlesnakes. Snakebites are a threat mostly in the warmer months for people and pets. We wear their snake pants and gaiters to protect us when outdoors, enjoying our beautiful Sonoran desert. Naturally we looked to them for protection in our veterinary…
It’s time. A new day, a new business and a new blog. I am so excited to open my first veterinary practice after 20 years working for other hospitals and corporate entities. It is time to take everything learned, everything gained from all the great experiences I have had over these years and create something…