Heartworm facts from a veterinarian

About once a month, I get the panicked, guilt-ridden phonecall. “I just realized Fluffy didn’t get her heartworm pill last month! What should I do? Do I need to test her today?!?!” First, you are not a terrible person – it happens to the best of us! As soon as you realize it, give the […]

How many shots does my puppy or kitten need?

There seems to be so much confusion on this question – even people who work in vet clinics often do not understand! How many “distemper shots” should this puppy or kitten get? Once you know the science behind it, it is actually quite simple.  There is no set number of vaccinations a puppy or kitten […]

Alternatives to tooth brushing

In a perfect world, your pet saunters up to you, carrying his toothbrush in his mouth, requesting you brush his teeth while he calmly cooperates. Birds are chirping. The sun is shining. We all know we don’t live in a perfect world. Some pets, no matter how slowly you try to ease them in, will […]

What vaccines does your cat really need?

Years ago, veterinarians gave every shot to every cat, every year. No one asked about lifestyle. No one asked if this was actually helping the cat or harming the cat. No one asked if one shot was different from the next. Over the past 15 or so years, things have changed for the better! We’ve […]

Do you need the pet safe ice melt?

Many businesses use ice melt or salt to keep the walkways safe. Homeowners often use it on the sidewalks in front of their houses. Pet owners often want to use ice melt, but fear harming their pets. What gives? There are “pet-safe” ice melts being sold. Are they really safer, or is it hype? If […]

Coconut oil – magic…..or meh?

Meh. Coconut oil is over-rated. Kinda like New Year’s Eve – supposed to be magic, but in reality, not that great, and overpriced. No, it isn’t terrible. There is a small niche of animals that truly can benefit. For the majority of problems, however, there are much better options out there. Let’s break it down: […]

When 2 Worry – Holiday Edition

This time of year presents unique hazards to pets. Some are real. Some are overblown. Some no one really ever talks about! If you remember last year’s “12 days of quiz-mas” some of this may not be new to you. That means you’re becoming a well-educated pet-owner! When do you cancel the party and rush […]

Howl-o-ween Festival!

Come see us at the Partners for Pets Howl-o-ween festival, actually ON Halloween! And it’s FREE!! It’s from 10am – 3pm at 9136 Lower Marine Rd, St. Jacob, IL 62281. There will be 30+ vendor booths for trick-or-treating. Both kids and pets, with or without costumes, are welcome. There is a pet costume contest, as well as […]

Hallowen reminders

Speaking of  costumes and trick-or-treating…. I know it’s fun to dress up pets for Halloween. I have done it, and have the photographic evidence so I can’t deny it. Couple things to keep in mind before dressing up your pet. Check the costume for rough straps or seams. I was in a store admiring the costumes, […]

Not eating – When 2 Worry?!?!

Pets that stop eating can certainly stress out their owners. Some pets will stop eating altogether, while others may just eat less. This is a frustrating topic, since “not eating” can be an indicator of such a wide variety of problems! I’ll attempt to sort out when we don’t sweat it, and when you need the […]