Buying prescription food for your pet

If your dog or cat needs a prescription diet, I have probably written or emailed you a prescription. Now what? The fastest way to get food is to take the prescription to a Petsmart that has a vet in it. (Both O’Fallon and Glen Carbon stores have this, but the Belleville store does not! Many […]

What to expect during pet euthanasia

You’ve made the gut-wrenching decision that it’s time to say good-bye to your beloved dog or cat. You’ve scheduled the euthanasia appointment. This article is not intended to discuss making the decision, but what to expect during the euthanasia process once the decision is made. You’ll be emotional. You won’t hear much of what the vet is […]

pet cremation in the news

A sad news story is in the news, so wanted to bring it up in case you hear about it. A pet cremation service up in Pekin, IL (about 3 hours north of here) was not returning the actual pet’s ashes to the people….not sure what actually was in the boxes the people got. This […]

Dog social media

I got such a fabulous response to my article “The Power of Daily Walks” that I feel the need to expand on the topic. Many people asked me if their dog should go on daily walks if they have a large yard to run and play in. The short answer is “yes.” The long answer […]

What does YOUR heartworm preventative cover?

My earlier article went through every type of intestinal parasite that is treated by various American heartworm preventatives. But, which product treats what parasite? It is not simple! I color-coded the parasites for each product to make them easy to spot. Oral Medications Heartgard Plus The original. The classic. There are now many other brands […]

Blocked cats

If your cat has suffered bouts of FIC flare-ups, your vet probably has warned you to watch and make sure your cat is able to urinate. What’s the big deal? Cats with FIC can develop sandy debris or stones in their bladders. When a male cat urinates and these try to pass, the long, skinny […]

Urinary tract disease in cats

One of the more frustrating problems I deal with as a veterinarian is cats and their bladder problems: the inflammation they get in their bladder that causes painful, bloody urine, often outside the litter box. It’s such a convoluted topic, no one can even agree on what to call it! When I was in vet […]

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 […]