Articles
Articles, questions and guides on pet care.
Poisonous Plants for Dogs and Cats: Tulips
Tulips are beautiful, popular flowers that many of us have in our gardens. But it’s important to note that the Tulipa genus of flowers is toxic to cats, dogs, and horses and can be fatal if…
Poisonous Plants for Dogs and Cats: Oleander
Oleanders are beautiful flowering plants that can grow incredibly large. Oleanders are commonly used in landscaping along fences for privacy and for their beauty. Unfortunately, the Oleander plant…
Poisonous Plants for Dogs and Cats: Azalea
Azaleas, also called Rosebay or Rhododendron, are common plants in outdoor landscaping. Despite their beauty, they can be toxic if eaten by dogs, cats, rabbits, reptiles, pigs, horses, and goats (to…
Poisonous Plants for Dogs and Cats: Dieffenbachia
Dieffenbachia is a genus of perennial, tropical, flowering plants that are widely sold and commonly kept as houseplants due to their tolerance of shade and their pretty and varied appearances. If…
Poisonous Plants for Dogs and Cats: Lily of the Valley
Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis) is a perennial plant (grows back every year) that has small bell-shaped white flowers that are beautiful and fragrant. The plant also produces berries. It is…
Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus
If you have a large breed dog, you’ve likely heard the term “bloat” or “GDV”. This is for good reason, as GDV is one of the most serious conditions encountered in veterinary medicine. It can be…
Safe Treatments for Your Dog’s Constipation
If your dog is passing small, hard stools, or is posturing to defecate but no stool is coming out, he may be suffering from constipation. Constipation can be uncomfortable for your dog, and…
Should you be worried if your dog’s stool changes color?
Monitoring your pet’s fecal material, including color, consistency, and frequency, are important parts of attentive pet care! Anything that’s abnormal for your dog should be noted. If it’s a…
Everything You Need to Know About Xylitol Poisoning in Dogs
Xylitol is a common sugar substitute found in many different types of sugar-free foods and other products for human consumption. Although it isn’t dangerous to people, cats, and ferrets, it is toxic…
Coffee and Other Caffeine Dangers for Dogs
Products containing caffeine are in essentially every household. But that doesn’t mean they’re safe foods for dogs to eat. In this article, we’ll explain what types of caffeinated foods your pet…
Alcohol Poisoning in Dogs
Pets can be attracted to our Friday night cocktails, especially when they’re mixed with sweet juices and liqueurs. If you suspect your pet has gotten into alcohol or is showing signs of alcohol…
The Truth About Onion and Garlic Toxicity in Dogs
Garlic and onions are from the same family, Liliaceae, and are toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. The toxic component is N-propyl disulfide and other sulfur-containing oxidants (SCO). Cats are the…
Macadamia Nut Toxicity in Dogs
The macadamia nut, also called Australia Nut and Queensland Nut, is toxic to dogs. The exact cause/substance that creates the toxicity is still unknown. Cats don’t seem to be affected, either…
Fruit Pit Concerns: Toxicity, Obstruction and Other Tummy Troubles
Fruit pits, including cherry, apricot, and peaches are toxic to pets and can cause problems if swallowed whole. This article discusses the common causes and symptoms of fruit pit toxicity in dogs,…
Holy Guacamole! Here’s what you need to know if your pet ate avocado
The avocado plant, Persea americana, is toxic to many animals, but in varying degrees. If your cat or dog ate an avocado or chewed on the plant, it’s important to know what to watch for. Let’s…
What foods are toxic to dogs?
Many of us like to share our meal with our favorite, furry, four-legged companion or feed them “human food” treats. Here’s a brief guide to help you know which foods to avoid feeding your dog and…
7 Lesser-Known Foods That Are Toxic to Dogs
There are many foods that we eat every day that are toxic to dogs. But did you know that some lesser-known foods are also poisonous to dogs? Continue reading to learn about the dangerous foods you…
What plants are toxic to dogs?
Spring is just around the corner and with it comes beautiful blooming flowers, plants, fruit, and vegetable gardens. While these plants can add color and wonderful aromas to your home and yard,…