Posts in Category: You & Your Pet

The holidays are all about giving, and our waistlines are the visual receipt. If your pants seem to be a bit tighter than last month, there’s a good reason. Chocolates, pies, cookies, boozy drinks, and fatty meats are to blame for human holiday pounds, but how can we account for weight gain in pets? It has to do with making time for regular pet exercise opportunities, every single day. 

One day you notice a damp stain on your couch, or a pile of clothes that smells like cat pee, and you feel equally frustrated and fearful that something is wrong. If your cat is suddenly peeing outside of the litter box, it’s a clear signal that there is a problem. Also called “inappropriate urination,” it’s important to find the reason it’s happening or the problem is likely to continue.

Whatever the circumstances, it’s a heartbreaking decision to give up your pet into the care of others. You know your pets will feel the loss of you, their home, and all their friends. You might feel that surrender is your only option, but there may be alternatives that will keep you and your furry friends together.

Reasons People Surrender Their Pets

When a pet parent can no longer provide adequate care, sometimes they must face the terrible decision to surrender the animal. Situations that could affect a pet owner’s ability to care for an animal include:

Our four-legged friends need lots of water to stay happy and healthy. Especially in the hot summer months or after long walks and vigorous playtime. It can get hot and muggy here in Arlington. Always monitor your pet’s water intake so you have a baseline and can know when something is off. 

When water intake goes beyond a normal amount or becomes excessive, it might be time for your pet to be evaluated by a veterinarian. 

Excessive thirst in dogs is called “polydipsia,” and can be a sign of underlying health conditions. At Arlington Animal Hospital, we are here to help you understand what is going on so your pet is happy and healthy.

The monthly flea, tick, and heartworm medications don’t go down as easily as you’d think. Pet pharmaceuticals are designed, when possible, for easy delivery. But your pets know there’s something wrong with what you’re offering, and they will put up a fight against consumption! Our pets love treats, but they can smell and taste flavored medication before it’s out of the bottle or tube.

The Top Two Tips For Administering Pet Meds At Home

Some dogs offer a little nip in the arm at cuddle time, while others snarl and snap warnings before they lunge for an attack. Dogs that bite without warning put other dogs and strangers at risk, which can cause major problems from your family. The team at Arlington Animal Hospital wants to help you figure out why dogs bite, and what can you do to prevent your dog from attacking:

Dogs have specific calling cards like barking or digging that are quintessentially canine in nature. Another common behavior among dogs is licking. Puppies learn to lick as a way to investigate everything around them, and this behavior matures as they do. Licking allows dogs to not only taste something delicious, but also to figure out what the object is.

Arlington Animal Hospital would love to explain this sometimes cute, other times gross, behavior in canines:

No two dogs are the same, and yet all dogs share some universal canine behaviors. To some degree, dogs cannot help doing certain things that seemingly defy human logic. Repetitive behaviors, including obsessive licking, can interrupt a dog’s sense of wellbeing. If your dog licks everything in sight, you might oscillate between wonder, curiosity, irritation, and confusion. Because of their individuality, their behavior is unique to them. But there are definitely ways you can address this canine trait before it gets out of hand. 

Dogs can smell like a lot of things, depending on what they eat, their health, and what things they have been exposed to (or rolled around on) outdoors. But if your dog is smelling like last night’s flounder dinner, it can be both offensive to the olfactory system and also concerning. 

Why does my dog smell like fish? That’s what the team at Arlington Animal Hospital is here to explain.

Dogs dig. Cows chew. Kittens? They love to scratch. This scratching behavior is something they will grow up with, as scratching is a part of a feline’s natural behavior. But if your wee little one is shredding you and the furniture, it’s time to figure out ways to curb the excessive scratching.

Your friends at Arlington Animal Hospital are here to give you some helpful suggestions how to train a kitten not to scratch. Yes, it is possible!