Dr. Burgess Blog

Crystal Lake means so much to our family. My husband grew up here, our daughters are lake girls through and through, and water and the peace it provides has always held a special place in my heart.

While the official fourth may have passed, the Counter Cat brings a smile to my face daily and keeps us in the holiday spirit year round.

So many of our friends know exactly where to go for the treats. It is uncanny, they will be focused and stoic for the whole exam and then beeline to the treat corner.

Grain-Free Dog Food and Heart Disease: What Pet Owners Need to Know Grain-free dog food is not medically necessary for the vast majority of dogs,...

Is Corn Bad for Dogs? The Truth Behind the Filler Myth Corn is not a cheap filler in pet food. When properly processed, it supplies protein, complex...

Why a Board-Certified Veterinary Nutritionist Matters in Pet Food Not all pet food nutrition credentials are equal. Some "nutrition" certifications...

Who Is Really Making Your Pet's Food? Most pet food brands do not own the facility where their food is actually made — they provide a recipe and a...

Pet Food Feeding Directions: Why They Are Just a Starting Point Feeding directions printed on a pet food bag are set by the manufacturer, not by...

What Is AAFCO and Why It Matters for Your Pet's Food AAFCO, the Association of American Feed Control Officials, sets the nutritional standards that...

What Pet Food Ingredients Really Mean Pet food ingredient lists are ordered by pre-cooked weight, not nutritional importance, and terms like "meal"...

Understanding Pet Food Guaranteed Analysis The guaranteed analysis on a pet food bag lists only minimum and maximum percentages for crude protein,...

Pet Food Shrinkflation: Are You Getting Less for the Same Price? Pet food shrinkflation is when a manufacturer quietly reduces the amount of food in...

Pet Food Marketing Claims: What Labels Really Mean Terms like "holistic," "premium," and "ultra-premium" on a pet food label are pure marketing and...

Lucy is a comfort dog for the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office. Her job is to be there for victims, especially children, during the hardest moments, initial meetings with prosecutors, trial preparation, and court-related interviews.

Yesterday was Gus-Gus’ 11th birthday! Many of you know we have two resident cats here at Healthy Paws: Gus and Eleanor. Adopted in 2016 from Helping Paws, they are an integral part of our team and hospital life.

Clark came to visit Healthy Paws and he took a video of his experience!

Heather, one of our amazing technicians, is going into the weekend smiling and happy…puppy cuddles are the best! 

Oakley came in today for his wellness visit. Oakley is the sweetest boy, however he gets nervous at the vet and goes into fight or flight mode. BUT...

I might work with the most amazing people. I love how our team is always there for each other, supportive during tough times, and always ready to...

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...

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...

We are fortunate enough to work with students from the Burlington Central High School Veterinary Science Program. Becca went from intern in the fall...

In our world, "Local" also refers to how we keep our patients comfortable. Whenever possible, we prefer performing minor procedures using sedation...

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...

They say it takes a village, and this is mine. This photo was taken during a moment of celebration, but I am sharing it today for a different...

I love learning and research. Diving deep into, well, almost anything, is a hobby and sometimes an obsession of mine. Tonight, I spent the evening...

It is never easy losing a beloved pet. But there is a special kind of joy that comes when our team gets to see puppies and kittens find new homes...

I cannot remember this exact moment but I can feel it. The scrappy barn kitten, warm in my arms. The smell of dirt, fresh air, and cows that came...

So what if your dog or cat is missing a few teeth, it just makes their smile more charming, right? Maybe. But in some cases what appears to be “just...

Ever heard of a “Shark Smile”? In the vet world, we call these retained deciduous teeth (or sometimes supernumerary teeth). The Golden Rule for dogs...

We are thrilled to partner with Dr. Paula West and the Innovet surgery team. By collaborating with these specialists, we are able to provide...

Oscar visited yesterday for an ultrasound and lab work. Oh and a little walk outside. Enjoy the beautiful weather!

Do you ever see your cat at the water bowl? How much water should your cat drink? Should you give your cat canned food? All of these are questions that can be answered by traveling back over 10,000 years to when cats were first domesticated.

Low Calorie Snacks for Your DogLow Calorie Store Bought Options Licky Stik 1 calorie/10 licks Fruitable Skinny Minis 2 calories Zuke’s Mini Naturals...

Low Calorie Snacks for Your Cat   Low Calorie Store Bought Options Halo Healthsome Cat Treat 1.5 calories Zuke’s Cat Natural Purrs 2.5 calories...

How to Clean Your Dog’s Ears

How to Give Your Dog a Nail Trim

Basset Hound Fun FactsOriginally bred by French monks in the Middle Ages, as early as the 1500’s Bassets were used as hunting scent hounds with fox,...