Veterinary Blog in Gilbert

What are "core vaccines?"

Q: What’s the difference between “core” and “non-core” vaccines? Why should I care? A: Core vaccines are those that are recommended for all dogs or cats. They protect against diseases that infect dogs or cats of all life stages and lifestyles. These diseases usually (1) have high rates of infection, (2) pose a threat to…

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Is snake training right for MY dog?

Q: It’s spring in the desert and rattlesnakes are getting active. Does my dog need snake training? A:  Snake avoidance training, also known as snake training and snake breaking, can be a helpful tool for dogs that spend unsupervised time in Arizona’s deserts and woodlands. Canine Outdoor Enthusiasts–dogs that participate in off-leash activities like hunting,…

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I forgot a dose of heartworm prevention, why retest?

Q: I was a few weeks late giving my dog’s heartworm preventative, and now my vet says I should test him again in six months. I only missed ONE dose.  Is she trying to rip me off? A: Nope, she’s trying to protect your dog’s long-term health. Heartworm preventatives keep your dog from getting sick…

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Yikes! I forgot to give my dog's heartworm pill!

Q: I forgot to give my dog’s monthly heartworm preventative, what should I do? A: Give the dose you missed immediately, then continue giving the medication on the day you’ve always given it. If the missed dose is more than 2 weeks late, your dog should be tested for heartworm again in six months (click…

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Pass the puppy, please!

We have a little game we play with puppies. It usually starts after Dr. Burns gets finished examining one and starts chatting with the pup’s people. While the family is distracted, the puppy mysteriously disappears—sometimes until the visit is over and Dr. B walks the family back up to reception, where the missing puppy is…

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8 Reasons it’s Better to be a Pet Now than 25 Years Ago

Dogs have it pretty good these days, as Karen B. London, PhD recently pointed out in THE BARK. In 8 Reasons it’s Better to be a Dog Now than 25 Years Ago, London points out some of the ways dogs have it better now than they did in the 80’s. Written from her perspective as…

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Packing a Pet First Aid Kit

Pets add something special to travel and outdoor recreation. From time to time, however, they get sick away from home, leaving pet lovers to ask “what do I do now?” Fortunately, travel-related stomach upset and small scrapes and scratches are easily treated no matter where you are, but what happens if your pet becomes seriously…

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Bow WOW! Archeologists age world's oldest dog.

While the finding is subject to debate, German scientists announced that they have used carbon dating to determine the age of a canine jaw found in a cave just across the Swiss border. The bone was unearthed in the late 1800’s, but aging of the 14,000 year-old fragment has renewed a debate about when and where…

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Natural Balance recalls Chicken and Sweet Potato dog food

Natural Balance has recalled five- and and 28-pound bags of Sweet Potato & Chicken Dry Dog food, manufactured on December 17, 2009 with a “Best By” date of June 17, 2011. This voluntary recall has been ordered because a random sampling of this product tested positive for by the FDA; independent testing ordered by the company has failed to confirm this finding.…

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Creator of the Labradoodle wishes he hadn't

The former manager of Australia’s Royal Institute of the Blind’s puppy program credited with coining the name “Labradoodle” after breeding the first litter of the popular pooch now wishes he hadn’t, according to a recent interview with The Australian.  Wally Conran paired a purebred Labrador from the puppy program with his boss’ standard poodle back in 1988, hoping to…

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