Caring for Your Furry Family, One Paw at a Time

A: Some owners choose to only use home-cooked diet as the main source of food for cats and dogs. It is not wrong, but it is difficult for them to have a nutritionally balanced diet. So, if you prefer to cook for them yourself, it is recommended to find a reliable pet-specific recipe. Most of these recipes will suggest adding some supplements to supplement the lack of nutrition in the food. We have heard that some people feed cats and dogs vegan diet because of personal beliefs. As a result, these animals suffer from heart disease and die unexpectedly. Cats are carnivores and dogs are omnivores. Therefore, especially cats, they need to ingest an amino acid called taurine from meat, and if they lack it, they will have serious heart problems.

A: Most veterinarians do not recommend feeding raw food, because raw food may contain
bacteria and parasites. Not only are cats and dogs susceptible to infection, but also the owner
who handles the food can be at risk! If you insist on feeding raw, it is recommended to use internal deworming routinely.

A: Fleas are the most common ectoparasites in our area, and they are active outdoors for a long
time no matter if it is winter or summer. Since humans are not hosts to dog or cat fleas, they do
not live on humans, but they may bite or cause allergies, and we may bring their eggs home
when we go out. If cats and dogs are not treated with external deworming, fleas will live on cats and dogs, reproduce on them, and live in the household endlessly. Certain parasites in animals pose a risk of infecting humans, especially children, the elderly and those with
weakened immune systems. Therefore, regular internal and external deworming is especially important for your pets!

Blood tests can help us detect many problems that are invisible to the naked eye, such as liver and kidney function, blood sugar, anemia, inflammation, endocrine problems, etc. Doctors may recommend blood tests in the following situations:

- When pets are sick, doctors often recommend blood tests to investigate possible underlying causes. 

- Before surgery or anesthesia, blood tests can help us understand the animal's health condition and reduce the risk of anesthesia.

- Especially for middle-aged and elderly pets, regular routine blood tests help us to detect their problems early and provide early necessary interventions.

A: It is the most convenient choice to use ready-made pet food. In fact, if you choose good quality pet food, it is the most nutritious and balanced diet for them. There are a variety of pet foods on the market, some claim to be natural, some claim to be organic, but in fact many of them are just marketing tactics, and what looks fancy may not be actually healthy. The main issue is that these pet food manufacturers are not regulated by any authorities. For example, some dog foods are advertised as grain-free, but recent studies have proved that these foods can cause heart disease in dogs, so veterinarians do not recommend these foods anymore. We recommend a few well known veterinary approved brands. They are high quality and the blend of ingredients has been studied for a long time. No matter if the form of food is kibbled (dry) or canned (wet), it is all acceptable and has long as the nutritional balance is appropriate for your pet.
However, please choose a diet that suits their needs according to their life stage.

A:  You can, but it is usually NOT necessary due to the following reasons: 

1.      Dogs cannot infect humans unless the humans eat meat from a dog infected with Toxoplasma, which is unlikely to happen. 

2.      Pregnant women may get infected from cat feces but must meet the following conditions:   

-         The cat has not been infected with Toxoplasma gondii before

-         The cat ate infected raw meat within two to three weeks. 

-         The cat feces must be in the environment for more than 24 hours. 

-         The human must ingest cat feces.  

A: Oral cleaning is an extremely important part of pet health care, including developing a good habit of brushing teeth every day and making appointments for routine teeth cleaning under general anesthesia with veterinarians.  If there are rotten teeth or thick dental calculus on the teeth for a long time, it will damage the gums and even affect the health of internal organs.

It is mandatory that all dogs must use a leash when they come to the clinic.  This is to ensure the safety of your dog and other animals.  Some dogs may be extremely nervous when they come to the clinic.  If they encounter other dogs or cats, they are more likely to have unpredictable behaviors.  The leash allows the owner to have the most basic control over them.  Similarly, cats must be put into a kennel when they come to the clinic.  Cats are usually even more nervous than dogs, and they can move around very fast.  If they are frightened, they will flee to unexpected places with lightning speed.  Only by placing them in a kennel,  can their safety be ensured.