Knoxville TN Animal Clinic, Knoxville Veterinarian

Allergy season in Tennessee is upon us, whether you be human or canine. Allergies in dogs tend to manifest a little differently than they do in us, however. While people suffer from stuffy noses, sinus pressure, and itchy eyes, our pets tend to deal more with itchy, inflamed skin. 

When you adopt a pet into your family, you generally are up for whatever comes along with taking care of your new ward. Most people, though, didn’t sign up to take care of any hitchhikers that might come along with their furry family members. Luckily, Volunteer Veterinary Hospital has you covered when it comes to identification, treatment, and prevention of the dreaded external parasite in pets.

A change in seasons means new possibilities for traveling and vacationing with your family. Whether your travels are by air or by car, you want to keep safety as your top priority. This is especially important if you are traveling with your pets!  The team at Volunteer Veterinary Hospital has put together the essential safety tips for traveling with your pets: 

Zoonotic diseases have been a growing concern for both humans and animals. We have heard a lot recently about these diseases that are transmitted from wildlife to people and pets. There is currently much more of a spotlight on diseases, particularly viruses, that mutate and affect other species. 

This is why the team at Volunteer Veterinary Hospital is here with some insight into how to protect everyone from these serious diseases.

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?

There’s nothing like bringing a new pet into the fold to add love and excitement to your household. But the sudden adjustment of meeting new people and other pets can be stressful on a new pet, and that happy and sweet dog or cat you met in the shelter can turn into a different animal when confronted with a new situation.

Here are some of our top tips for introducing a new pet to your family.

Your relationship with your pets is likely a strong one, and there are very few things that can change that. At Volunteer Veterinary Hospital, though, we do sometimes see wedges come between animals and their owners. One of the most common reasons we see for trouble in paradise is pet behavior problems. 

Whether it’s chewing up your belongings, relieving themselves on your carpet, fighting with your other animals, or something else altogether, pet behavior problems can really put a strain on the human-animal bond. No matter the issue, though, there are things that you can do and ways that we can help.

As your family veterinarian, our staff at Volunteer Veterinary Hospital cares for your pet from head to toe… literally. We diagnose and treat a wide range of diseases and issues, but issues with the feet are not an uncommon reason that people bring their beloved animals to see us. 

Thankfully, many paw problems in pets are very treatable and with our help we can get your furry friend putting their best paw forward in no time.

How exciting it is when you make the decision to bring a new puppy or adult dog into your pet-loving household. Dogs, while being loyal, loving, and goofy, also require a period of socialization and training. Without these skills, behavioral problems often follow as your pet adjusts to the home. 

If you are a new dog owner and are unsure about how to begin the journey to successfully training a new dog, we have you covered. The team at Volunteer Veterinary Hospital is here to offer some great suggestions to these solid skills for a well behaved dog.