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If slobbering all over the place is a skill, dogs would be the ultimate masters. Sure, there are some breeds that don’t have slippery lips, but generally speaking, it is a common canine trait (we’re looking at you, Newfoundlands, mastiffs, and St. Bernards). Dog drool is simply part of the territory, but understanding the physiology of this action sure is helpful. Why does your dog drool, and are there ways to minimize the thick globs from wetting your floors and furniture?

The holidays (that is, the weeks between Halloween and New Year’s) center around food, a fact not overlooked by our pets. Most pets notice each new item or special ingredient brought home and plot to get a taste as soon as you’re otherwise occupied. Indeed, the holidays bring out the opportunist in every pet, so it’s up to us to fashion alternative experiences to the rich, fatty or even toxic foods that humans indulge in this time of year. The key to holiday pet safety is careful observation of what’s going in your pet’s mouth.

The Risks to Your Pet

Whether you’re hosting a family holiday dinner or preparing some dishes to share as a guest, your pet will probably be right under your feet. The good news is that you can control what they have access to, and provide substitutions to keep them satisfied (and out of trouble). 

Holiday pet safety hinges on asking guests not to feed your pet, and to quickly clean up any fallen morsels so your pet isn’t tempted. Monitoring their actions and behaviors during the holidays is also essential. 

If dogs could use napkins or their sleeves to wipe away drool, they probably wouldn’t. They don’t care about being neat and tidy. Dog slobber is a characteristic that dog lovers tend to (begrudgingly) overlook. In trade, dog people get an abundance of affection and loyalty. That’s worth every bit of slobber!

From across the room, you hear gagging and retching sounds. Unfortunately, what comes next is your cat hacking up a hairball and you scurrying to clean up the mess. As a cat owner, this is a regular albeit unpleasant scenario. While hairballs can be gross, they are a common result of your cat’s grooming routine. Hairballs are harmless most of the time, although occasionally they can signal a bigger cat health problem.

Puppies and kittens are escape artists. They are young explorers who haven’t yet learned any rules about safety. Like all youngsters, they believe themselves to be invincible! But we know dangers lurk everywhere, so we do our best to keep them safe. What happens if they do escape and are lost?

Your pet’s paws are precious. Something about those sweet little feet can melt just about any heart. When there is something wrong with them, though, it can be absolutely anxiety-inducing for both you and your dog.

Dog paw problems are not uncommon, but at All Creatures Veterinary Hospital of Brooklyn we have the expertise and knowledge to get your pet back on their feet. 

If you’ve noticed your dog scratching a lot more lately, you are not alone. The team at All Creatures Veterinary Hospital gets plenty of questions about this behavior as the weather begins to warm. Seasonal allergies in canines are a frequent cause of skin disorders and other complications this time of year. Keep reading for more information on how seasonal allergies affect your pet and which dog allergy treatment can take the itch out of spring.

If your pet has just undergone surgery, it is incredibly important they take the time to rest and recover. Your pet will need to heal before resuming their daily routine and returning to their normal activity level. After healing has begun, it will be important to get your pet moving and back on their feet! The team at All Creatures Veterinary Hospital of Brooklyn is here to suggest tips to safely get your pet moving again after surgery:

Dogs do some pretty weird stuff from time to time, but most of their canine behaviors are recognizable and shrugged off as “normal”. The odd or uncharacteristic noise of a reverse sneeze, though,  can sound downright alarming. 

Based on the sounds they’re making, you might think your dog is choking or unable to breath, but with a reverse sneeze that is rarely the case. While a pet experiencing a reverse sneeze might not need emergency care, there are things you can do at home to ease the process. 

Our pets are exceptionally loveable and have a way of entertaining us with their antics. Most of the time, these antics are nothing more than the usual instinctual behaviors, but other times they can cause problems in the household. 

The good news is that many common cat and dog behavioral problems can be corrected through positive rewards training and socialization.