Have you ever been sitting enjoying some quality time with your dog when they let out a weird, honking noise and appear to be struggling to breathe? 

This scary phenomenon is called inspiratory paroxysmal respiration, also known as the reverse sneeze. While it seems like something for dog owners to worry about, in most cases it is a common condition that occurs without serious repercussions in dogs. 

While most reverse sneezes are completely harmless, there are some cases where it could be a sign of something more. The team at Parkside Animal Hospital is here to help you understand more about the reverse sneeze and what it means: 

There may not exactly be such a thing as a puppy podiatrist, but that doesn’t mean that pets don’t have trouble with their feet. Paw problems are a real issue, and Parkside Animal Hospital is equipped to help you and your furry friends with paw diseases of all kinds.

Protecting Those Pads

As a pet owner, it is your responsibility to pay attention and be proactive when it comes to their health. You put a lot of effort into your pet’s care, and adding a few checklist items that specifically have the feet at heart isn’t much to ask.

Aside from the occasional dental chew, most pets don’t get much attention to their dental care. After all, wild animals seem to get on okay without toothbrushing, so why wouldn’t that be true for a companion animal? 

Actually, there is every reason why pet dental care should be on the top of the pet care list. Dental care for pets is paramount to overall health for several reasons, and is key to a pet’s well-being. The team at Parkside Animal Hospital is here to present a solid case for the importance of dental wellness for your four-legged friend.

Most of us who suffer from allergies rue the seasonal change when the pollen is high and everything is blooming. While beautiful, the misery of seasonal allergies can be felt with constant sneezing, itching, watery eyes, headaches, and so forth. Your pet may be feeling the change in the weather, too, with their own reactions to allergens.

Allergies in pets are a common problem The team Parkside Animal Hospital is here to help explain this common condition in pets and what you can do to help ease the itch.

When you have older pets with a little grey around the muzzle, it’s good to remember that, while dying isn’t optional, suffering can be. This means that senior pets can live active, happy, and pain free lives into their golden years and beyond. Your veterinarian can help make this a reality. 

What is a Senior Pet? 

Generally speaking, your pet is a senior at the age of 7. This varies to some degree with species and breed. Your veterinarian can determine when your pet falls into the senior life stage, one reason that preventive care exams annually is so important. 

Although we may wish for it, there is no poop fairy to clean up after our pets. This responsibility of pet ownership falls squarely on our shoulders. Aside from making us a good neighbor, scooping the poop of our furry pals helps to keep the environment cleaner and prevent disease as well. 

Parkside Animal Hospital gives you the lowdown on why scooping the poop is important. 

The holidays may be winding down, but we still have plenty of time to feel grateful and reflect on the wonderful, exciting and fulfilling year it has been here at Parkside Animal Hospital. We’re truly lucky to be a part of the North Bay pet care community.

Our weekly educational blog is fun to write, and we’re even happier that it seems to be fun for you to read. Each year we take a look at the most popular blog posts, and share them with you, here. So without further ado, here are Parkside Animal Hospital’s top 5 most read pet care blogs of 2018.

Similar to humans, pets suffer from various age-related illnesses. When we make it our goal to promote senior pet health, we can prevent diseases that threaten longevity and quality of life in our furry aging friends. In other words, early detection makes a huge difference when it comes to effective treatment. For the owners of senior pets, this means more time together – what could be better than that?

Canada made history this year when the Senate approved Bill C-45, also known as the Cannabis Act. This sweeping legislation paves the way for the legal possession, production, and sale of recreational marijuana for people over the age of eighteen. It also makes Canada the first wealthy nation in the world to fully legalize marijuana (medicinal marijuana has been legal since 2001).

While marijuana enthusiasts are understandably pleased with this new law, pet owners must take care to prioritize their pets’ safety when it comes to marijuana. At Parkside Animal Hospital, we want to make sure our valued readers understand the risks involved when it comes to pot and pets.

Getting ready for a camping trip is a lot of work – especially if you’re taking your dog. On top of all your own necessities to deal with the great outdoors, you have to pack all of their gear, food, toys, and bedding, too. However, one of the most important items isn’t something you have to physically bring with you to the campsite. Instead, through your commitment to your pet’s year round parasite prevention, they’ll be totally prepared for what nature has in store.