Posts in Category: Seasonal Pet Care

If you notice your pet scratching a lot more than usual or biting at their paws and legs, chances are they have allergies. Spring is a beautiful time for budding trees and blooming plants, but it’s also the bane of most allergy sufferers. Your pet can also experience seasonal allergies, which can cause a variety of uncomfortable symptoms.

Volunteer Veterinary Hospital is here to explain more about pollen allergies in dogs and what you can do to relieve the itchy-scratchy for your pooch:

Certain dog behaviors can vacillate between alarming and confounding, and it’s not always clear when dog owners need to act. Sometimes, behaviors are temporary and resolve quickly, like a sudden upset tummy after eating something questionable. Other events that affect dogs can be more worrisome, especially if symptoms persist. 

A reverse sneeze, or paroxysmal respiration, is one such episode that can be equally frightening and confusing. But what exactly are we talking about?

Has your pet been unusually itchy lately, pawing on their face or constantly scratching? They may be dealing with allergies. While many of us deal with the usual spring sneeze-fest, seasonal allergies in pets may manifest in ways that pet owners may not assign to allergies. 

Let’s take a closer look at pet allergies, their symptoms, and how we can work together to relieve the discomfort for your fur friend.

Seasonal Allergies in Pets

Seasonal allergies are also called environmental allergies, atopy, and airborne allergies. An allergy is an overreaction to an allergen, which can include those that are present in the air or environment. 

Winter has definitely made its presence known, and if you’re like us, the “Big BRRR” is keeping us inside more than we would like. Still, sometimes indoor time in the winter can be a nice chance to slow down and reconnect with what’s most important – namely, our pets! 

If you’re searching for ways to engage with your pets this season, look no further. Volunteer Veterinary Hospital knows that a little inspiration is always good, so we’re diving into the best winter indoor pet activities. 

Wasn’t it just summer last week? While we may still be in a bit of denial over the approach of cold weather, it doesn’t change the fact that it is looming. Our pets, especially those who are a bit older, may be facing their own set of challenges as the temperature changes. Volunteer Veterinary Hospital is here to share all of our best winter tips for senior pets as you prepare to weather the winter months.

Why Senior Pets are Special

Care for the senior pet is usually a bit more involved than for their younger counterparts. While the cold temperatures are a challenge for all, young and old, aging pets often have additional health concerns that can add to the difficulty. Take into account: Continue…

We’re finally coming out of the extremely hot summer, and the items on your pet to-do list are about to change. Keeping your pet safe is just one of those enterprises that keeps you on track throughout the year, but it does differ from season to season.

Fall pet safety hinges upon paying extra close attention to certain seasonal threats that don’t pop up on your radar during, say, June. With that in mind, we’ve got some top-notch tips that will keep you and your pet going strong and healthy for the rest of the year.

A Breath of Fresh Air

Now that the sweltering heat has subsided, pets collectively look forward to spending more time outside. You can definitely enjoy being together, but even if it’s simply doing yard work out back, there are certain safety considerations for your pet. Continue…

It’s hot, it’s sticky, and all you want to do is hide inside with the air conditioning or jump into an ice cold pool. Summer in Tennessee is not for the faint of heart, and if humans are feeling the effects of extreme heat, you can be sure our pets are also experiencing it. Because of the differences in the way our pets’ bodies handle the hot weather, they’re at greater risk for certain heat-related ailments; keeping an eye on them during the hottest part of the year is essential.

Let’s take a moment to learn more about pet heat diseases, including how to prevent and recognize them.

Heat Stroke

Heat stroke is defined as a life-threatening elevation in body temperature, and it’s the most dangerous of all pet heat diseases. Heat stroke usually occurs in warm weather, and it can lead to multiple organ failure and death if left untreated. Signs your pet may be experiencing heat stroke or heat exhaustion include: Continue…

Summer has arrived, and if you have children in the home, this is likely a time of great rejoicing. Visions of running through the sprinklers, popsicles on the porch, endless crafts, and other summer delights fill the heads of the youngest family members, and, of course, the family pet must be involved in the fun.

Before diving into to your to-do list of activities and adventures this summer, take a moment to make sure pet safety is at the top!

Outdoor Fun

Nothing screams summer like playing outdoors with the family pet, especially if there’s a pool, sprinkler, or hose involved. While everyone is out soaking up the sun, it’s important to remember that pets can easily succumb to dehydration and heatstroke during the warm and humid months. Keep the following tips in mind to protect your pet this summer:

• Make sure pets have access to plenty of shade and fresh, cool drinking water at all times while outdoors.
• Keep pets inside as much as possible on very hot or humid days.
• Let your kids and pets keep cool in a shallow kiddie pool or sprinkler.

Continue…

At some point or another, you may have had some experience with an itchy, miserable pet. Unlike allergies in people, pet allergies most often result in skin problems, such as red, smelly ears or skin rashes and intense scratching.

Before you can battle allergies in your pet, though, you must understand their cause. Read on to learn what causes pet allergies and what you can do about them.

Flea Allergies in Pets

Flea Allergic Dermatitis (FAD) is the leading cause of allergies in both dogs and cats. Just as some people can an extreme reaction to a mosquito bite, some pets are very allergic to flea saliva.

For these pets, even one flea bite can set off a severe itchy allergic response. In these patients, it is essential to provide comprehensive flea control to prevent flare ups. Continue…