Asthma is a chronic disease affecting the airways of the lungs, making it harder to breathe. An estimated 25.7 million Americans have asthma, 1.8 million of which are children.

Cats can suffer from asthma too, causing symptoms ranging from mild respiratory distress to life-threatening asthma attacks requiring hospitalization. Cat asthma is thought to be the result of an allergic reaction to inhaled particles, and can affect cats of any age (although most cats develop asthma between 4-5 years old).

It seems like a large part of taking care of pets is working to keep them parasite free. From ectoparasites like fleas and ticks, to blood-borne parasites like heartworm and intestinal parasites, it’s a tough job.

While we have a pretty good handle on most of these monsters inside, some of them can be nastier than others. Echinococcus multilocularis is one of the more worrisome parasites, and is being diagnosed with increasing frequency here in Canada. Not to worry, though – your friends at Summeridge Animal Clinic are here to help!

Anesthesia-free pet dental cleanings have become more popular in recent years. You may have heard about them being offered at grooming salons, pet stores, or even some veterinary clinics. Similar to human dental cleanings, these procedures involve the scraping of plaque and tartar without the use of anesthesia.

The popularity of this practice comes from marketing campaigns that promote it as a safe and less expensive alternative to putting a pet under anesthesia. However, what these campaigns fail to mention is that anesthesia-free pet cleanings tend to make dental problems worse, and, in some cases, it amounts to animal abuse and cruelty. Continue…