Posts in Category: Pet Health & Wellness

In the United States, approximately 1 in 300 dogs and 1 in 231 cats have diabetes. Diabetes in pets is one of the most common conditions we see here at Harpeth Hills Veterinary Hospital.

A diagnosis of diabetes in pet might be overwhelming, but the good news is that with early detection and careful management, pets can still lead long and happy lives. 

What is Diabetes in Pets?

Normally, food is broken down into glucose after a pet eats. Insulin is secreted from the pancreas and facilitates the transfer of glucose from the bloodstream into the cells. The cells can then use glucose for energy. 

Let’s face it, pets have an aroma that isn’t always so pleasant. They love to explore in the rain, snow, and mud. They roll around in mystery muck. They use litter boxes or squat outside to do their business. It’s understandable why your pet doesn’t smell like a bouquet of roses, but if they are really stinky, there may be a medical problem at play.

There are several reasons why pets have bad odor. The team at Harpeth Hills Animal Hospital is here to answer your question: “why does my pet stink?”

It’s simply human nature to procrastinate. But as Benjamin Franklin once said, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” This is especially true when it comes to pet dental health!

Much of the time, regular brushing at home falls to the wayside – until stinky breath is noticeable. At that point, damage to the gums may be a foregone conclusion. 

With dental x-rays, routine cleanings, and follow-up care at home, you can really support pet dental health for the long haul.

Maybe your cat has just vomited and appears restless. Or your dog has some sort of skin irritation. Or perhaps your pet has been coughing for a few days. What’s the first thing you’ll likely do? Be honest! 

If you said “Google your pet’s symptoms”, you’re not alone. And while health information online can be informative, there are so many problems with relying on the internet for veterinary advice, and they put your pet’s health at serious risk. Read on to learn how relying on the Internet for veterinary advice can be dangerous for your pet.

In today’s world, prevention care is the trend in modern medicine. So is saving money! This is also true in veterinary medicine. Rather than responding to a disease once it occurs, we prefer to prevent the disease from occurring, whenever possible, through wellness care, annual diagnostic screening, and healthy lifestyles for your fur friend. This saves money as well as the emotional expense of having to watch your pet suffer.

Let’s take a closer look at preventive screenings and lifestyle options for your pet, and why they matter in disease prevention and longevity.

Chances are good that you know a person who suffers from asthma, or you deal with the chronic condition yourself. Just like with humans, asthma in pets can be scary and life threatening.

The good news, asthma in pets is easily controlled with education, patience, and a commitment to a healthy lifestyle for your pet. 

What is Asthma?

Asthma is a chronic condition that affects the airways in the lungs, causing them to swell and constrict. This constriction can lead to the inability to take a full breath, exercise intolerance, wheezing, and other symptoms. Asthma can seriously affect a pet’s quality of life, and may lead to serious health consequences if not managed properly.

Everyone feels better when they’re clean, and pets are no different. Although most pet owners incorporate some aspects of grooming into their pet care routine, not everyone understands the link between pet grooming and health.

Besides helping our companions look and feel their best, home and professional grooming allows you to keep tabs on their overall health and strengthens the bond you share.

Are you ready to make grooming an important part of your pet’s care? Let’s get started!

Veterinarians routinely hear questions about the necessity of monthly parasite prevention, but this question is more common in the colder months.

Sure, December-February are pretty chilly in Nashville, but that doesn’t always mean that all the bugs die off. Most parasites become dormant in winter, but with rising temperatures they wake up – and begin the search for their first blood meal of the season.

Tempting, but Risky

It’s not unheard of for some pet owners to stop monthly parasite prevention as soon as it starts to get cold outside. This practice might save a few bucks, but it leaves pets completely exposed to the life cycles of different parasites.

The lack of buzzing, whining mosquitoes does not mean that pets cannot be infected with heartworm disease. In fact, they can still survive in temperatures under 50 degrees. Monthly parasite prevention protects your pet from a single bite from an infected mosquito, but also kills off any worms that may be deposited into their bloodstream.

A single missed dose can leave the door wide open for these sometimes deadly parasites.

We all know how important regular pet dental care is for ourselves and our children. We brush twice a day, floss, and see our dentist for cleanings twice a year. But what if we told you the same care is needed for your pets?

It’s true! Imagine what your mouth would feel like if you never brushed your teeth or saw the dentist. This is a fact of life for most pets, but it doesn’t have to be the case.

And there’s good reason to make regular dental care for your pet a priority. Periodontal disease in pets is the most common health condition in pets today. So common, in fact, that by the time pets are 4 years of age, over 85% of them have some form of dental disease.

Once again we’ve closed out another year, and it’s time to look back and reflect on all the memories, moments, and accomplishments of 2018. Aside from taking a cue from social media and all the many (sometimes ridiculous) “Top 10” lists appearing everywhere, we like to take time to look back and feel grateful for our patients, clients, and friends who made 2018 a most wonderful year for Harpeth Hills Animal Hospital. Thank you!

Each year we also like to look back at our monthly pet care blogs to make sure we are providing you with relevant, timely, and interesting (and sometimes plain fun!) content. By measuring clicks and shares, we also have compiled our own list of Harpeth Hills Animal Hospital’s top pet care blogs of 2018.

We hope you enjoy this peek into what blogs inspired the most this year!