For the vast majority of pet owners, their furry companions are members of the family and our best friends. It comes as no surprise that there is nothing quite so heart wrenching as the loss of a pet. Even though we know we won’t outlive them, the loss of a familiar face, their presence in our home, and their unconditional love can be nothing short of devastating. 

Unfortunately, our society doesn’t take the loss of a pet so seriously and it can feel alienating to take the time you need to grieve and process. At Parkside Animal Hospital, we’ve found that finding a way to memorialize your pet can be an important step on the path to peace and comfort during this difficult time. 

If you need some pet memorial ideas, we’ve compiled a few for your consideration. 

Humans are wonderful story tellers. Since ancient times, we’ve created myths and legends – some of which are believable, and some of which are clearly ridiculous. because dogs have been our constant companions for 12 to 15 thousand years, it stands to reason that some myths have been created about them, too, including those related to breed. 

It may be 2019, but there are still plenty of dog breed myths out there to confuse and misinform well intentioned dog owners. Let’s take a look at some of the most common misconceptions about dog breeds. 

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. 

Ask any cat owner and they’ll quickly confirm that cats are the perfect pets. They’re interesting, captivatingly beautiful, clever, fun, and snuggly to boot. Indoor-only cats are arguably healthier than ones allowed to roam, but they can definitely suffer the consequences of their static environment. Yes, they can become bored. 

The best thing an owner can do for their fluffy best friend is to give them the best of both worlds. Build a catio, and watch your cat become the happiest, most fulfilled (and safest) version of themselves!

Without a doubt, there’s a unique bond between kids and pets. From teaching empathy and social skills to encouraging physical activity, there are a number of ways pets can be good for children. In fact, most kids and their pets are best friends for life.

However, while kids and pets may be a natural match, that doesn’t mean you should leave them to their own devices. Accidents happen, even among the most well-behaved children and animals, so it’s important to take steps to ensure that all interactions are happy and safe.

You’ve talked to your family and you’re ready to adopt a new pet! Of course, your first thought is to check out your local shelter, and we couldn’t agree more. Shelters and rescue organizations have many loving and wonderful pets of every size, shape, and personality just waiting for their forever home.

But adopting a shelter pet is most successful if a little planning and preparation takes place before you set foot in the actual building. So let Parkside Animal Hospital be your guide as you begin to navigate adopting a shelter pet.

Dogs are such amazing pets. They’re cute, fun to be with, and absolutely lovable. But even the most well-behaved dogs can have some pretty unsavory habits. Drinking out of the toilet, humping, and butt scooting top the list of potentially confusing behaviors, but poop eating (also known as coprophagia) takes the cake. If your dog eats poop, there could be specific reasons why they do it. The good news? There are ways to get past this habit.

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.

We all love our pets, and keeping them healthy and pain-free is a top priority. However, it’s not always easy to tell if our pet is not feeling well, due to a basic survival instinct – and of course, the fact that they don’t have language to tell us how they feel.

Luckily, there are subtle signs that can alert you to when your pet is in pain. This is a lesson we all want to learn, so we can help our beloved furry family members feel better quickly.

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.