It's summer! Many of us are spending more time at home this summer and our cats may or may not be loving it. Since we've got all the extra time, why not spend some of it making sure your cat is set up for optimum health! Here are 5 tips to optimize your cat’s health: Schedule that overdue vet visit. I know, this doesn't sound fun. Even before the COVID-19 lockdowns, people were a little reluctant to bring their cat to the vet unless they really had to. I understand... Read more →

Unfortunately, July 5th is one of the busiest days in both veterinary hospitals and animal shelters. Panicked pups bolt over fences leading to injuries and lost pets, unattended food gets scarfed down causing gastric problems, overheated canines experience heat exhaustion, and the list goes on. I remember when we had our pet sitting business and we would see flyers for lost pets. During our dog walks, people were out searching or we'd hear the stories first hand of pets that got sick during a celebration. The good news is that... Read more →

During the recent events, many of us found ourselves with the task of grooming our own dogs at home. Some people didn't realize how much professional groomers are miracle workers. Amy I right? Washing your dog at home can prove to be quite the challenging task if you aren’t prepared. If you’re missing your groomer, here are some DIY tips for grooming your dog while at home. The 7 items that should be on your grooming checklist and ready to go: Towels Revitalizing Shampoo Wash Cloth Bath Fresh Mist Brush... Read more →

Every ingredient in dog food should provide a benefit. We choose to feed Life's Abundance dog food because they also believe in a whole-health, or holistic, approach to product formulation. Life's Abundance dog foods include all the nutrients that we know their bodies need — including some cutting edge ingredient choices we’ve made over the years that can pay big dividends to your dog’s health, taurine among them. Taurine publicly emerged as an important nutrient for dogs in 2018 when the canine heart disease, dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), started making headlines.... Read more →

Life's Abundance carries grooming products for your dog’s skin, coat and ears. You can feel great knowing that your dog care products are safe, convenient and soothing. Here's a quick look at the Life's Abundance pet care line: Life's Abundance Revitalizing Shampoo Sizes: 12 fl. oz. Best Known For: Rinsing easily, and leaving coats soft and odor-free for a long time. Featured Ingredient: Herbal infusion combined with Ordenone to actively neutralize odors for 5-7 days after bathing! This shampoo rocks! Our dogs look, feel and smell fabulous. We love that... Read more →

When you're looking into your dogs beautiful eyes, have you ever wondered if they can sense emotions? Yes they can! Dogs are social animals, and they want to understand us as best as possible. That’s why they read our emotions through subtle postures and facial cues. Since humans have no tails to wag, our furry friends have to decipher other signals to uncover our emotional states. Dog are great at this! Here's an example, when dogs bare their teeth it’s often a sign of hostility. On the other hand, when... Read more →

Did you know that more than half of the dogs and cats in the U.S. are overweight? All that extra heft puts our beloved pets at-risk for many serious health conditions. The good news is that solving your companion animal’s weight problem might be easier than you’d expect! Check out these helpful pet weight loss tips to ensure your beloved friend will live an even healthier and happier life: Select A Wholesome Diet One vital measure towards curbing weight is also a simple one — selecting the perfect food. Choose... Read more →

Deciding to bring a new dog into your family is exciting — it’s also a long-term life decision. It’s important to be prepared before you embark on the journey of bringing a new four-footer into the home! There are some common problems that folks run into, but once you’re aware of them, you can steer your pup towards a healthy and happy future. Here are five common mistakes dog parents make: Impulse Adoptions It’s common knowledge that dogs have an average lifespan of 10-15 years. But when those puppy-dog eyes... Read more →

Just like humans, dogs can get scared — and when they do, they may defend themselves by acting out aggressively. If your dog is behaving this way, it’s your job to do what you can to help them get over that fear! Here are some tips for overcoming aggressive dog behavior at home: Learn About the Breed Some dog breeds are naturally more fearful than others. For example, the Chihuahua has a notorious reputation for acting aggressively out of fear. To understand your dog's fear, it can be helpful to... Read more →

As your furry friend gets older, are they showing signs of slowing down? Arthritis in dogs and cats can potentially be treated, giving your pet an active life for years to come. Here are seven common signs that may indicate your pet has arthritis or other joint problems: 1. Limping Did your cat land wrong when jumping off the couch or is it a sign of something else? If your pet's limping seems to be related directly to a potential injury, it's important to have it checked out by a... Read more →

We love our dogs — and we want other people to love our dogs as well. This is why some basic dog training will enhance your bond with your dog while improving their relationship with your friends and family. Having a well-trained dog or puppy will make your life a whole lot easier and enhance your experience as a dog parent. Whether you are interested in basic obedience training or simply want to teach your new puppy the house rules, the key to any successful dog training begins with the... Read more →

Every summer, our local parks department posts warning signs at the trailhead of my favorite hike warning of the dangers of overheating. Not for people. For their dogs. The trail is five miles round trip, winding up a rocky mountain with little shade and no access to water. If you get into trouble out on the trail, you have to either be carried out or airlifted. Fortunately, most people heed warm weather warnings for themselves, bring enough water and have the appropriate hiking attire, all of which help make rescues... Read more →

Of all the holidays, Thanksgiving is surely a canine favorite. There's abundant food, there's full gatherings of friends and family, and did we mention the food? The downside is much of the bounty you'll be serving at your feast doesn't jibe too well with a dog's digestive system. Sure, they'll enjoy it in the moment, but there can be some serious side effects to all the sneaky feeding of scrumptious table scraps. Fortunately, we have some food for thought, presented in the following holiday infographic. You'll learn about some of... Read more →

Is there anything quite as wonderful as puppy breath? I keep reminding myself of this, and all the other happiness-inducing qualities of puppies in general, while mine is attempting once again to gnaw on my fingers even as I write this. But seriously, watching a pupper experience all of his “first things” is a source of joy. And guess what … March 23 just happens to be National Puppy Day, so let’s celebrate! Dr. V's new puppy, Dakota, on his way to his new home It’s been eight years since... Read more →

Two years ago, if you had asked me whether or not I recommended the canine influenza vaccine, I’d have told you, “probably not.” Even as recently as one year ago, I probably would have said the same thing, at least here in San Diego. But that’s the thing about medicine, especially when it comes to emerging diseases ... situations can change rapidly. Recommendations that made sense as recently as six months ago no longer hold. Such is the case with the current outbreak of canine influenza. Here’s what we know... Read more →

Happy Thanksgiving! Of all the holidays, Thanksgiving is surely a canine favorite. There's abundant food, there's full gatherings of friends and family, and did we mention the food? The downside is much of the bounty you'll be serving at your feast doesn't jibe too well with a dog's digestive system. Sure, they'll enjoy it in the moment, but there can be some serious side effects to all the sneaky feeding of scrumptious table scraps. Fortunately, we have some food for though. You'll learn about some of the incredibly tasty and... Read more →