Meet Norman and, as dad calls it, his “emotional support frisbee.” We do everything we can to help our fearful friends feel more at ease and we love it when owners help us out! 

Pet food quality is an often discussed, but poorly understood hot topic. Ask ten people for advice and you will likely hear ten different opinions on the “right” way to play the game.

The reality is that the pet food industry is not as well-regulated as many think. This allows descriptive marketing and emotion to come into play, often leaving little room for science or real, safe data.

Consider these stats:

• $158 Billion: The Pet Food Industry (this is similar to the COMBINED revenues of the NFL, MLB, and NBA!).
• $48 Billion: The US Coffee Market.
• $28 Billion: The Global Music Industry.

With this much money on the line, the marketing is loud and the number of pet food options is many. In my upcoming posts, I am going to give you the tools to help you navigate this industry and determine the best choice for your individual pet. 

We are fortunate enough to work with students from the Burlington Central High School Veterinary Science Program. Becca went from intern in the fall to employee this winter. She has shown a great desire to learn, is a fantastic teammate, and we are super excited for her next adventure attending the University of Illinois in Champaign. Also a big thanks to Brooke and @paintedforkeeps for Becca’s amazing sign!

What does that look like?

• A relaxing “nap” medication.
• A numbing agent for the site.
• Plenty of hugs from our team while we work.

Sweet Ruth snored her way through her skin biopsy and stitches today, then spent her recovery tucked safely in her favorite blankie.

Speaking of spring, let’s talk about some hidden dangers in our gardens and floral bouquets.

One of the most dangerous beauties for cats is the ever common lily. The entire plant from pollen to water in the vase can lead to fatal kidney failure in cats within hours to days. This can happen even with the most minute exposure, so if you think your cat may have been exposed, contact a veterinarian immediately…even if it requires calling an emergency hospital in the middle of the night.

Some more common toxic lilies include the Easter Lily, Tiger Lily, Daylily, Stargazer Lily, and Asiatic Lily. Keep this fact in mind when choosing flowers for your feline loving friends!

Fun fact….The scent of lilies is not considered toxic to cats.