Zoonotic Diseases in Dogs
What is a zoonotic disease? Zoonotic disease or zoonoses are terms used to describe an infection or disease that can be transmitted from an animal to a human. Are there many zoonoses? Altogether, well over 100 diseases can be transmitted from animals to humans, although most are rare in North America. All domestic animals, including […]
Heartworm Disease in Dogs
What causes heartworm disease? Heartworm disease, or dirofilariasis, is a serious and potentially fatal disease. It is caused by a blood-borne parasite known as Dirofilaria immitis. Adult heartworms are found in the heart, pulmonary artery (one of the big blood vessels from the heart), and adjacent large blood vessels of infected dogs. Rarely, worms may […]
Ticks in Dogs
What are ticks? Although ticks are commonly thought of as insects, they are actually arachnids similar to scorpions, spiders, and mites. All adult ticks have eight legs and have no antennae. Adult insects, by comparison, have six legs and one pair of antennae. Ticks are parasites that feed on the blood of their host, which […]
Flea Control in Dogs
How can my dog get fleas? Fleas can spread directly from a flea-infested animal to your dog, but usually dogs get fleas from their environment. Fleas live, feed, and mate on many animals, including cats, dogs, rabbits, ferrets, opossums, rodents, and raccoons. Flea eggs fall off these animals, into the environment, where they hatch into […]
Body Condition Scoring in Dogs
What is a Body Condition Score? The Body Condition Score (BCS) is a way to check if a pet is too skinny, too heavy, or just right. It allows a pet owner to determine how much fat their pet has compared to the muscles and bones that make up their body structure (percentage of body […]
Deciphering Dog Food Labels
Evaluating dog food labels can be a challenging and confusing task for pet owners. These labels provide an important way for pet food manufacturers to communicate nutritional information to consumers. However, food labeling requirements for dog foods vary significantly from those for human food. It is important to understand some of the rules regulating dog […]
Puppy Nutrition: Feeding Large and Giant Breeds
Though every puppy is an individual, large, and giant breed puppies in particular require an individualized approach to nutrition, since they have some different needs compared to small and medium breed dogs. When it comes to puppy food, one size does not necessarily fit all. What are the specific nutritional needs of large and giant […]
How to Read a Pet Food Label (Without Needing a Chemistry Degree) š¾
Standing in the pet food aisle can feel overwhelming. Every bag promises shiny coats, strong muscles, and āpremium,ā ānatural,ā or āholisticā ingredients. At Country Care Veterinary Center, we prefer to take a practical approach: ignore the marketing on the front of the bag and learn to read the fine print on the back. Thatās where […]
Life Skills for Pets: Crate Training and Confinement for Puppies and Dogs
Why should I crate train my puppy or dog? Being able to relax when confined is an important life skill for puppies and dogs. For example, confinement may be necessary in any of the following situations: A crate for a pet is like a crib, travel sleeper, or playpen for a small child. It is […]
Dog Behavior and Training: Cleaning Ears
Why does my dog not like having his ears cleaned? Most dogsā ears are much larger than ours, and their ear canals are much longer. They are certainly a lot more sensitive. Owners usually only need to clean them when there is a problem; however, they may already be painful at this point, so the […]