During your pet’s annual wellness visit, we know we discuss many important topics that are essential for keeping your furry pal happy and healthy for years to come. Although we are familiar with these subjects, we understand that most pet owners can be overwhelmed with vaccinations, screening tests, parasite prevention, and other preventive care topics—after [...]
Your pet’s health and well-being depends on you providing a pet-safe home environment. The Scripps Ranch Veterinary Hospital team has compiled a handy reference of common pet toxins, with links for further details, to help you pet-proof your home. National Pet Poison Prevention week is March 21 to 27, making this the perfect time to [...]
Imagine how your mouth would look and feel if you never brushed your teeth or went to the dentist. Dental disease is the most common health problem in pets, and causes chronic pain and illness in most pets older than 3 years of age. We interviewed Oscar, a 9-year-old dachshund, about his dental disease, his [...]
Whether you adopted a new puppy for the holidays, or made a resolution to finally teach your dog some manners, training your dog is the perfect way to ward off the winter blues. January is National Train Your Dog Month, so why not teach your pooch some new tricks instead of binging on a new [...]
The holidays should be all about spreading good cheer, eating delicious food, and making memories with friends and family—not about an emergency veterinary visit for your furry pal. However, cats and dogs don’t pay attention to safety lessons when tempted by shiny objects, tasty food, and other holiday dangers. As a pet parent, you must [...]
Pancreatitis is a painful and potentially life-threatening inflammation of the pancreas. At Scripps Ranch Veterinary Hospital, we see an increase in pancreatitis cases during the holiday season, and we want you to know more about the disease, what to watch for, and how to avoid pancreatitis in your pet. What is the pancreas? The pancreas [...]
Americans consume an average of 10 pounds of chocolate per year, which totals more than three billion pounds! With so much chocolate around, it is no surprise that chocolate ingestion is one of the top four reasons pet owners call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Hotline. More than 24,000 people call this hotline for chocolate-related [...]
Routine wellness care is a vital component of your pet’s health care regimen. Nothing is more effective at staving off preventable illnesses and conditions than regular exams and discussions regarding your pet’s ever-changing health. Let’s take a closer look at this essential care for a happy, healthy pet, by diving into the five W’s of [...]
Did you know that 83% of cats visit the veterinarian before their first birthday, but more than 50% don’t return until they become sick or are in pain, according to one study? Most cat owners clearly understand the importance of the initial kitten appointments and vaccinations, but many skip out on important preventive care as [...]
You are stroking your pet’s silky fur while relaxing on the couch, when your hand stumbles across a small, firm lump. Instantly, your mind goes to “the big C”—cancer. While some lumps and bumps can indicate a cancerous tumor, not all masses are malignant. In fact, many lumps are benign and, although they may grow, [...]