Our Blog

When Old Man Winter comes to town he can bring varied temperatures, rain, sleet, and bitter cold. Pets, too, are exposed to different hazards during winter than at other times of year. To keep your pet protected through the cold months, your friends at Town and Country Animal Hospital are here to give you the scoop on winter pet safety.

All cat owners know their feline friends are…particular. While it’s not possible to cater to your cat’s every whim, working to create an environment where they feel happy and comfortable benefits everyone in the household. Not only do happy cats have less behavior problems (aggression, hiding, or eliminating outside the litter box) they make better companions overall. 

At Town & Country Animal Hospital we know cats. Although every pet is an individual, we feel confident that our list of the top ten things cats hate will hit the mark for the majority of our feline friends.

Everyone loves a sweet puppy or adorable furry-faced dog; but when you get down to it, there is more to dog care than appreciating their loveable nature. 

Much more. 

New dog owners sometimes go into the adoption only seeing all of the joy, wonder, and unconditional love offered by a pet, but forget that owning a well-behaved dog means more than just loving dogs. 

The team at Town and Country Animal Hospital is here to explain some of the mistakes new owners make, so that you can avoid them. Let’s begin!

Pet adoption is a huge life choice with far-reaching implications. If you’re used to a lot of freedom and financial flexibility, it is time to get ready for a few, rather large, shifts. Pets require a great deal of time, attention, and money, but the rewards are nothing short of amazing!

It’s one thing when you sign up to provide lifelong care to an adorable, playful, companionable pet. But when you adopt a pet with someone you’re dating there are some important considerations to review beforehand.

Most pets have favorite foods and treats, as well as preferences in ingredients that they gravitate to whenever available to them. In general, though, your furry one should have a good appetite unless they are ill or dealing with an emotional stressor. There are times when a pet just won’t eat their food, and this is distressing for many pet parents.

Since this is a common concern among our readers and clients, the team at Town and Country Animal Hospital is here to address the causes of pet inappetence and what you can do to help.

As is the case with most catastrophes, heat exhaustion in pets sneaks up on owners. By the time symptoms are noticeable, the situation can be barreling toward perilous at a frighteningly fast pace. 

The good news is that heat exhaustion in pets is entirely preventable! Minimizing your pet’s exposure to the heat is the best place to start, but there are additional strategies to keep them safe, comfortable, and healthy this summer.

The Wrong Kind of Hyper

Pets pant and sweat through their paw pads, but they aren’t able to effectively regulate their body temperature like we do. Hyperthermia occurs when excessive heat overtakes a pet’s inadequate cooling system, and can range from mild (heat exhaustion) to severe (heat stroke). 

Pet adoptions have skyrocketed since the pandemic, owing to long stretches of time at home isolated from others. This is great news for shelters across the country, and the positive impact on pets and their people alike has been incredible. 

While there’s much more close time together at home, puppies may have a harder time experiencing what life is really like on the outside. Puppy socialization during social distancing may have its own set of challenges, but with a little creative strategizing you can safely introduce your new puppy to the world.

Why We Socialize Puppies

Socialization is an essential part of pet ownership. By calmly introducing them to the sights, sounds, smell and sensations of the world, owners are all but guaranteeing their dog will be confident, trusting, and open to new experiences. 

Without proper, timely, or effective socialization, puppies grow into adult dogs that lack the necessary understanding of human society. Furthermore, intense behavioral problems, such as separation anxiety, are attached to incomplete socialization.

The best things in life really do come in small packages. Kittens are among the most delightful surprises out there, and their extreme cuteness helps them achieve high adoption rates.

Placing their darling qualities aside, kittens don’t come equipped with everything they need to survive. And while it’s less than a car load of stuff, certain items are essential for even basic kitten care.

First, the Prep

Humans have low impulse control when it comes to kittens. Indeed, it’s incredibly common for people to give into a whim after laying eyes on a kitty cutie pie.

Springtime is a wonderful season where we look at the arrival of blooms and warm weather. It is high time for spring cleaning, as well as getting the lawn and garden prepped for new growth. It’s no doubt those of us who abhor the chillier, darker months are celebrating the turning of the seasonal wheel where we can get outside with our pets.

Spring, though, brings with it some safety considerations for your furry loved one. There are many factors to consider before you plant, clean the garage, or enjoy the outdoors with your pet. The team at Town and Country Animal Hospital is here to tell you how to both enjoy the spring while keeping your pet safe.

Whether you realize it or not, if your pet has ever drug his rear end over your carpet, you have probably encountered the anal gland.

A developmental remnant, anal glands in the canine species are not quite as highly evolved as those of the skunk, but they serve a similar purpose:  to relay a message with a smell. Sometimes, however, things go awry and Town & Country Animal Hospital is here to help with whatever may arise. 

Anal Glands Explained

Just inside the rectum of every dog (and cat for that matter) lie two small sacs (one on each side) called anal glands. These sacs hold the secretions of the sebaceous glands in the area. Sebaceous glands are typically associated with hair follicles which create sebum, an oil that lubricates the hair.