Independence Day firework festivities can turn a time of celebration into one of terror for many dogs. From the canine perspective, loud, unpredictable noises accompanied by bright lights are threatening and a cause for alarm. Thankfully, it doesn’t have to be that way. Here are someways to help your dog keep calm and carry on for a Fear Free Fourth of July.

Training dogs to wear a muzzle is important so they become accustomed to it and will accept it readily when needed or advised for a specific purpose.

New Year’s festivities can be a time of stress for many dogs and cats. From a pet’s perspective, loud, unpredictable noises and celebratory fireworks explosions are threatening and an understandable cause for alarm. For pets whose people are hosting a party, the presence of strangers and the changes in their environment—decorations, scented candles or potpourri, furniture moved around—can also be distressing. Thankfully, it doesn’t have to be this way. Here are tips to help your dog or cat keep calm and carry on as they join you in welcoming in the new year.

A greying muzzle is only one of what can be many changes a dog experiences as they reach their golden years. You can improve senior pets’ quality of life by being aware of these common changes and taking action.

At some point in your pet-owning life, you will need to give prescribed medications or treatments to your pet. That can be stressful for you and cause fear or anxiety in your pet, but we have some tips to make home care easier on both of you.

Dogs and cats are not just pets. They are treated like members of the family. And like any member of your family, it’s important to keep your companion animal healthy and free of parasites. It is fairly common for a dog or cat to become infected with an internal or external parasite at some point in its lifetime. Parasites can affect your pet in a variety of ways, ranging from simple irritation to causing life-threatening conditions if left untreated. Some parasites can even infect and transmit diseases to you and your family.

Heartworm is a parasitic roundworm transmitted by mosquitoes that causes damage to the heart, lungs, and arteries in animals. Year round heartworm preventatives are recommended for all dogs.

Most pet dental disease occurs below the gum line, where you can’t see it. Your pet’s teeth and gums should be checked at least once a year by your veterinarian.

Continued scratching by cats may be related to stress, anxiety, attention seeking,or a perceived lack of security in their environment. Anxiety can also be intensified by punishment, thus driving the cat to increase scratching behaviors in the same or other undesirable locations in the home.

DAP is a combination vaccination protecting against Parvovirus, Distemper, and Adenovirus. This vaccination is given every 2-3 weeks from the age of 6-8 weeks to 16 weeks in puppies. After the 16 week vaccination, the next recommended DAP vaccination is in 1 year.