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Have you ever come home after a long day to find that your dog has chewed the couch, pooped in the house, or even escaped? You may chalk this up to doggy boredom, or perhaps spite if you think your pup is mad at you for being gone all day. 

These are common beliefs about dog behavior, but it isn’t about being “bad”. Instead, these behaviors signal that your dog is feeling fear, anxiety and stress. And if these behaviors happen when you’re gone, it equals separation anxiety

What is Separation Anxiety?

Separation anxiety in pets is more common than we might think. In fact, up to 15% of dogs may suffer from it, according to veterinary behavioral specialists. 

If your pet is scratching and you’re not sure why, don’t worry – you aren’t alone! In fact, according to pet insurance claims, pet skin issues are the number one reason pet owners seek veterinary care.

Pet skin issues are no walk in the park. It takes time to sift through the many, many reasons a pet may be itchy. This takes patience, trust in your veterinarian, great communication, and financial resources. However, by working together, we can help you determine why your pet is scratching, as well as help them find some relief – which is worth a lot!

According to the website www.petsandparasites.org, there were over 300,000 dogs tested for Lyme disease in North Carolina last year. Of these, more than 7,000 tested positive.

Those results might not be shocking in our hot, humid state, but the general trend of ticks across the country shows an increase in areas that were previously not known for tick-borne illnesses. That means more pets and people are increasingly at risk.

This begs the question: if you find a tick on your pet, do you know what to do?

Physical therapy as a treatment modality was first established after injured soldiers returned from World War I. It wasn’t applied to animals until the 1960s, when sporting horses required medical intervention and support due to exertion, strain, and injury. About 20 years later, the practice of canine rehabilitation began to grow in Europe. In 1996, the American Veterinary Medical Association added “veterinary physical therapy” to its guidelines, and programs for pets have been established ever since at numerous veterinary colleges.

Canine rehabilitation can be a huge part of a dog’s life, and we’re proud to offer our services to the Charlotte community. But how exactly does it work?

As you look around your house, you may despair at the sight of what looks like tumbleweeds drifting by. Shedding is a normal part of pet ownership, but if you’ve noticed a recent change in your pet’s natural hair loss, it’s right to explore it further.

Long Animal Hospital and Emergency Center gets a lot of questions regarding pet shedding. Here are some guidelines for shedding, to get you started.

Dental disease, also called periodontal disease, is the most commonly diagnosed condition in pets today. In fact, the American Veterinary Dental College estimates that by the time most pets are 3 years of age, over 80% of them have some form of dental disease.

Aside from bad breath, it’s often difficult for pet owners to know what’s going on inside their pet’s mouths. After all, who wants to look in there, with all those sharp teeth? And pets are masters at hiding signs of discomfort and pain, even from their closest people – making it even harder to tell if something is wrong.

But make no mistake, dental disease is painful for your pet. In addition to red and bleeding gums, difficulty eating, and loose or broken teeth, dental disease can cause damage to  the heart, liver, or kidneys when bacteria from the mouth enter the bloodstream.

Luckily, dental disease in pets is preventable. Long Animal Hospital and Emergency Center tackles this important topic, here.

Seventy years ago, Long Animal Hospital opened our doors to the dogs and cats of Charlotte, NC and the surrounding community. Although our staff members now work in a cutting-edge facility, our mission remains the same. As we work to provide the best possible care to our patients, we’re honored to continue serving our ever-growing community of valued pet owners.

Over the last 12 months, we hope you found our services helpful, supportive, and convenient. If you didn’t see us in person at our hospital, perhaps you were one of the many online readers who visit our pet care blog. Either way, we appreciate your dedication to responsible pet ownership!

Someday we may become scientifically astute enough to halt the aging process, but as a society we are not there yet. While many of us long for our youth, the reminder of getting older is much more visible on a day to day basis when we look at the animals in our life.

Pets age much more quickly than people, and often the process seems to unfold before our very eyes. Fortunately, we can help to prolong and better the lives of senior pets better than ever before. Properly caring for your aging pet is no small feat, but the staff at Long Animal Hospital is prepared to help you along the way.

Cats are perceived as being “low maintenance” pets. But because they’re relatively easy to take care of, a common misperception of their special needs prevails. Just like other pets, cats benefit from routine veterinary care, grooming, nutritional counseling, exercise, and more. The outcome? When cat health is a priority, you have a happy cat at home.

The Real Deal on Cat Health

We understand the struggle that cat owners face when it’s time to bring their cat in to for their exam. Notorious for being terrible passengers in vehicles, cats detest being trapped in their travel kennel. And that’s if you can even get them inside it.

The other reason that cats aren’t seen as much as their canine counterparts is that cats always seem fine – until they’re not. Highly adept at covering up any telling symptoms, cat owners are often surprised to learn their cats may have been suffering for some time before the warning signs surfaced, such as:

Your dog may think he is invincible, chasing squirrels and barking at people out of your front window, but the truth is that none of us are. Even as we learn more and more how to take better care of our pets, cancer remains a prevalent diagnosis in our four-legged friends. In fact due to the increasing lifespan of our household pets, veterinarians are diagnosing cancer in canines at a rate of 25% in our senior population.

Thankfully, your friends at Long Animal Hospital and Emergency Center are here to help you and your pet understand this disease a little more.