Diarrhea in dogs – when to worry

Everyone with a dog or cat has dealt with it at one point. It’s never pretty. It’s diarrhea. Of course, I could write pages and pages on this topic. Our focus here: when do you start to worry? There are many variables at play. The diarrhea could be a nuisance that clears up easily with medication (or on […]

How to buy and introduce a scratching post for your cat

Shopping for a scratching post for your new cat? Thinking about declawing but want to offer an option besides your leather couch first? Buying a scratching post is a great idea, but buying the right one can make all the difference between your cat using it regularly, or ignoring it and working on the couch […]

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 […]

When fat cats suddenly go on a diet – worry!

Any time a pet stops eating, it is cause for concern. However, vets become much more concerned when an overweight cat suddenly decides to go on a crash diet, or even get picky. Skinny cats, believe it or not, I worry less about when they stop eating than fat cats. Counter-intuitive, perhaps, because skinny cats […]

Come see us at Canine Carnival!

The APA of Missouri is having its annual Canine Carnival on Sunday, Oct 4 from 11-3. The event features carnival games and prizes for dogs (and children!), raffles, food trucks… a little bit of everything! The carnival is at Tilles Park in Ladue, MO (9551 Litzsinger Rd). If you come out, stop by and say […]

Upcoming events for local rescues

Dinner Auction Highland Animal Shelter is holding a dinner and auction (both live and silent) at the Hilton Garden Inn in O’Fallon, IL. It’s Saturday, October 3 at 6pm. My husband and I will be there, so if you decide to go, please let me know! It will be fun to see a familiar face! […]