Knoxville TN Animal Clinic, Knoxville Veterinarian

The concept of “self-care” has picked up a lot of speed lately, and for good reason. We collectively strive for good physical and mental health, quality time in nature, and fulfilling moments with family and friends. All of this is to help guarantee quality – and quantity – of life.

What if there was something easy enough to do a few times every week that basically assured your pet’s health and wellness? Aside from providing excellent nutrition and varied exercise opportunities, pet dental health improves and safeguards their day to day wellbeing. Without regular attention to their teeth and gums, periodontal disease can really throw a wrench into your pet’s long term health.

We’re so fortunate to have spent the past year caring for so many incredible pets! As your trusted source for veterinary care in the Knoxville area, we pride ourselves on providing high-quality care and compassionate service.

Part of our commitment to you includes our educational pet care blogs, and we’re thrilled that so many of you are reading and enjoying these monthly offerings!

Because growing and improving are so important to us, we want to take a moment to highlight our most popular pet care blogs of 2018.

ENJOY!

As wonderful as the journey of pet ownership can be, there are bound to be bumps in the road at some point. Pet pain is a common occurrence, and it can be surprisingly difficult to detect given the natural instinct most animals have to hide signs of pain or illness.

Managing pain is absolutely critical to the overall well being of any creature – but how do you know when your pet is in pain?

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…

While we may not experience emotion in the same ways, there are definite indicators that felines have feelings. They are known to hiss or puff up when threatened or disgruntled, and examples of relative happiness include full body relaxation, walking with the tail up, and purring when next to (or on top of) their favorite person.

A happy cat is carefully looked after, cared and provided for, and as a result, they are absolutely healthier. Because we care deeply for every feline patient at Volunteer Veterinary Hospital, we aim to highlight the interplay between a cat’s emotional and physical wellbeing.

Odd Stats

There are more pet cats than dogs, but cats are typically underrepresented at the vet. Without a doubt, it can be difficult to crate and transport a frightened or angry cat, only to make them deal with possible adversaries in the waiting room, or feel vulnerable at the hands of a stranger poking and prodding them. 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…

There are few things more entertaining than watching a cat play, stalk, pounce, stare-down, and ambush their “prey”. Luckily, there’s an endless supply of funny cat videos online to keep us going throughout the day!

But, while everyone’s amused by the internet cats, what’s happening with the ones we know and love at home? Are they flinging themselves off dangerous heights, climbing into cardboard boxes three times too small, or cuddling a fellow feline? If so, it might be time to consider the ways you can improve cat enrichment.

The Link

There’s no question that a cat’s overall health is tied to their environment. Of course, there are other things that are just as important, such as vaccines and parasite prevention, nutrition, and dental care, but the link to feline happiness is undoubtedly their surroundings. 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.

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Hearing that your pet has cancer is a frightening experience, but according to the National Canine Cancer Foundation, 1 out of 3 dogs will receive a diagnosis of cancer in their lifetime. For cats, the statistic is 1 out of every 5 according to the Animal Cancer Foundation.

There is good news, however. Some pet cancers are treatable, especially if caught early and treated aggressively. There’s also ongoing research for the development of new treatments, as well as cures for some forms of cancer.  At Volunteer Veterinary Hospital, we honor Cancer Awareness Month by exploring common forms of pet cancer and some possible treatment options.

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