What your pet leaves behind after elimination is something pet owners would rather ignore, but paying close attention is an essential part of keeping them healthy. Pet owners should be just as interested in their pet’s bowel habits as veterinarians, as they tell a lot about what might be happening inside. From hygiene to early detection of worms, taking a look instead of turning a blind eye could mean the difference between a healthy pet and an unwanted ailment.

As veterinarians, it's our job to ensure prospective exotic pet owners know how to properly care for and distinguish between certain animals. The last thing we’d ever want is for someone to adopt a pet and then lose them due to improper care!

Guinea pigs have long been popular companion animals—especially for kids— and it's easy to see why. They're gentle, social creatures that are relatively easy to care for, and they have fun and adorable personalities that make them a joy to have around.

Every dog owner has the best of intentions when it comes to their dog’s health. It goes without saying that they want their dogs to be happy and healthy, enjoying their years to the fullest. The thing is, dog wellness is multifaceted, covering exams, vaccinations, nutrition, exercise, and mental stimulation. Because it can feel overwhelming to busy owners, critical elements of their dog’s well-being can be overlooked.

Doggos. Need we say more? Probably not, but we will because, sigh—aren’t they just the best? Admit it - you even love their funky smells, including that stinky breath and those paws which inexplicably smell like Frito’s. As Author of tearjerker Marley & Me, John Grogan, says, “Such short little lives our pets have to spend with us, and they spend most of it waiting for us to come home each day.” Need a tissue? We get it.

We've all been there. The bills have been mounting but life continues to move on in other ways, including pets that perhaps don't feel well. And we know that veterinary services during this COVID-19 pandemic are more challenging to receive. So you're scrolling the internet and you see an ad that claims “Discount pet drugs—no prescription required”. Even we in the veterinary community understand the appeal of this, but FDA experts say it can be risky to buy drugs online from sites that tout this message and others like it.

Blood tests are an easy, safe, and relatively inexpensive way to peer inside your pets and find potential health problems. Analysis of the numbers and structure of blood cells is important in the diagnosis and monitoring of disease and infection. These tests can help us identify a problem before clinical signs or symptoms appear. But what exactly are we looking for when we do a blood draw on dogs and cats?

One benefit of our quarantine time during this COVID-19 pandemic is that many of us are getting more physical activity, and our dogs are getting more exercise, too. After all, getting moving outside is nearly the only thing to do for leisure at this point! The downside is that this is the time of year that many of us need to be hyper-vigilant about snakes when taking walks or hikes.