When should I have my dog’s nails clipped? This is a question that many of our clients ask when they come in. We find that the answer tends to depend on whether you walk your dog over concrete areas or not. As a dog’s nail comes into contact with...
Healthy dogs and cats are alert and responsive to whatever is happening in their surroundings. When they are injured or ill, their behavior is affected to various degrees. The more serious the condition, the less response there will be. Gauging Responsiveness...
Many dogs breathe 10 to 30 times per minute;for cats, the rate is 10 to 40 times a minute. Dogs who are hot or exercising breathe faster and may pant up to 200 breathes per minute. Panting and open-mouthed breathing are considered danger signs in cats because they...
What is the capillary refill time? Capillaries are tiny blood vessels that lie near the surface of the skin. They’re easiest to see in your pet’s gums, above the teeth. The capillaries are what give the tissue its normal pink color. You can judge the...
To measure you pet’s normal heart rate, have him/her sit or lie in a relaxed position and place the palm of your hand over his/her left side directly behind the point of the elbow. Feel for the heartbeat and count the pulses in 15-second bursts. Then multiply...
Did you know that your pet’s skin and gum color can tell you much about your their health? Skin tone can be hard to see on a pet depending on the amount of fur they carry. Veterinarians use the color of the mucous membranes, such as the “white” of...
