Kennel Cough is Going Around!

It’s summer vacation season, which means lots of dogs are in and out of boarding kennels. In the past few weeks, many of the area boarding facilities (in the Metro-East) have experienced a dramatic increase in the number of dogs contracting “kennel cough,” which we in the vet field refer to as “Canine Infectious Respiratory […]

Going on vacation? Boarding tips!

More and more boarding facilities are open in our area, and summer is the busy time for them. Some are new on the block, and some have been around for years. How do you know which is the best for your pet? Don’t just go by what you hear – make an informed decision! Does […]

Pay online with a credit card via PayPal!

Finally! By popular demand, you can now pay for medications I mail with a credit card online. I got the Paypal button working, and it’s at the bottom of the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) page, until I decide on a better place for it. (Click here to see the button.) -You can still mail checks […]

Is your cat’s risk for heartworm infection different from dogs?

Everyone knows how important it is to keep dogs on monthly heartworm preventative. But can cats get heartworm? Let’s see….. For starters, heartworm is transmitted the same way in dogs and cats. A mosquito flies around, sucks on an animal with heartworms, ingests the larvae from that pet’s blood, and then processes it into a more […]

May events for area rescues

Pasta for Pets Gateway Pet Guardians is hosting their annual Pasta for Pets at the Sybergs in O’Fallon, IL on Sun, May 17 from 2-5 pm. Along with great food, there will be many silent auction items, live music,  and raffles as well! Click here for details. Splash for Rescues Camp Bow-wow is hosting their […]

Should we panic over the dog flu?

Nope. Wait, I guess I should write more than that. First, some perspective. In 2013, a total of 56,979 people in this country died of influenza and/or related complications. This did not make the news. Recently 1,000 or more dogs in Chicago come down with influenza, 5 dogs died, and it’s making national headlines. To […]

Tick protection options

Many safe and effective options exist. Topicals like Frontline, Vectra, and K9 Advantix have been used for years. Collars such as Seresto or Preventic are popular as well, and work great. Recently, two new oral products came out that are getting fabulous reviews from both vets prescribing them and clients using them. Nexgard is a […]

Shelter/rescue events for April

5K-9 Run a 5K race with your dog (or you can run it solo)! Gateway Pet Guardians is hosting the event at Rock Springs park in O’Fallon, IL on April 25. Click here for details. Partners for Pets fundraisers Partners for pets in Troy, IL, is having many events in April! Tuesday April 7 is […]

Hungry ticks transmit disease

Everyone hears tick disease, they think of Lyme disease. And that’s great….if you live in an area where Lyme is the most common tick-borne disease (which is the Northeast and Wisconsin). People can get it, as can dogs, and even outdoorsy cats. In our area, Lyme disease is not nearly as common as Ehrlichiosis. Lyme […]

March events for area shelters

Doggie Easter Egg Hunt Camp Bow-Wow in Swansea is hosting an Easter egg hunt for dogs to benefit the Belleville Area Humane Society. It ‘s March 28 at 11am, with a rain date of March 29. Click here for details. Texas Hold ’em Event Act Now Rescue is hosting it’s annual Texas Hold’ em tournament […]