Ticks & Tick-Borne Diseases in Upstate New York
What CAPC and CDC Data Tell Us About Risk to People and Pets If you live in Upstate New York, ticks are not a “maybe.” They’re a reality. As a veterinarian practicing in our region, I can confidently say that tick prevention is no longer seasonal — it’s essential. Surveillance data from the CDC and […]
Grooming and Coat Care for Your Dog
The condition of your dog’s skin and coat is a good indicator of their health. Health and nutrition influence the luster and texture of your pet’s coat from the inside, while regular grooming and skin care help keep your dog’s coat clean and free of tangles on the outside. What types of haircoats do dogs […]
Proper Deworming Schedules for Puppies
A Smart, Practical Approach to Raising a Healthy Dog Bringing home a puppy is one of life’s great joys. Chewed shoes and all. Along with vaccinations and training, proper parasite control is one of the most important steps in setting your puppy up for a strong, healthy future. Intestinal parasites are extremely common in puppies […]
How to Properly Collect a Fecal Sample From Your Pet
Accurate Testing Starts With a Good Sample 4 Fecal testing is one of the simplest — and most valuable — diagnostic tools in veterinary medicine. It allows us to detect intestinal parasites like roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, Giardia, and Coccidia before they cause significant illness. But here’s the truth:A fecal test is only as good as […]
Safe Flea & Tick Prevention for Puppies
Protecting Them Early — Protecting Them Right Puppies are curious, low-to-the-ground explorers. Unfortunately, that makes them prime targets for fleas and ticks — even here in upstate New York. Fleas can cause: Ticks can transmit: The good news? We have safe, effective, veterinary-approved options for puppies. Below is a practical overview of commonly used preventatives […]
The Top 10 Canine Nutrition Myths
Nutrition is one of the most common topics I discuss with dog owners every single day. And like most things that circulate on the internet, there is a lot of opinion mixed in with very little science. Good nutrition is not about trends. It’s about evidence, physiology, and long-term health. Below are the top 10 […]
Puppy Behavior and Training: Dealing with Undesirable Behavior
How do I prevent my puppy from doing damage or getting into mischief? Prevention is the key to a happy life with puppies. Set your puppy up for success by preventing her from getting into trouble in the first place. Supervise. To be successful, your puppy must be directly supervised by a responsible person. When […]
Microchipping Your Dog
What is a microchip? Today, microchip technology is found everywhere, from computers and cell phones, to implants in wild animals for tracking their movements, to pet microchips that provide identification information. Different types of microchips work in different ways, depending on their purpose. The purpose of microchips used for pets is to provide a form […]
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 […]