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Category: Pet health

dog holding bowl
January 20, 2022 | , , ,

Choosing the Right Pet Food

What is the right food to feed my pet? What happens when my pet needs a special diet? There’s a lot of conflicting information and confusion out there about specialty pet food and pet supplements. Dr. Candice Bittner, DVM has offered up some expert knowledge to help pet parents choose the right food for their pets. Q: What’s the most important aspect of pet nutrition? What should pet parents look for? A: I’ll start by saying that aside from being a veterinarian, I’m also a pet parent. More specifically, I’m a pet parent to a dog with skin issues, so I
dogs body condition score featured image
October 25, 2021 | , ,

How to Calculate Your Dog’s Body Condition Score and BMI

Managing your dog’s size and weight with a healthy diet and exercise is one of the best ways to mitigate health issues and extend the life of your pet. For dogs that are above or below a healthy weight, a veterinarian can outline a specialized plan that adjusts feeding and exercise and put your pet on a path to better health. But what if you’re not sure if your dog is at a healthy weight? This guide will explain how to inspect your dog’s body using what is called a Body Condition Score (BCS) and how to calculate your pet’s
pet is overweight featured image
October 25, 2021 | , , ,

How to Tell if Your Pet is Overweight and Why it Matters

There is a worldwide obesity crisis amongst the global population leading to a rapid rise in cardiovascular diseases, musculoskeletal disorders, and even certain types of cancer. While this is certainly a serious issue that deserves our attention, relatively few people know that pet obesity is also common and is one of the most preventable health issues we find in dogs, cats, and other types of pets. The simple truth is, overweight pets tend to live shorter lives than lean and fit pets. Not only are obese and overweight dogs and cats at a higher risk of developing a variety of
rat inside a rat house
April 29, 2021 | ,

Do Rats Make Good Pets?

If you’re a first-time pet owner or have a fondness for small creatures, a domesticated rat can make a great companion! Rats make good pets because they are not only low-maintenance and easy to handle, but rats are also affectionate and intelligent animals. For these reasons, more and more people are choosing to embrace these curious critters and have turned into true believers that rats do, indeed, make great pets. Rats are social and affectionate creatures These pocket-sized pets are very social and have a tendency to form strong bonds with their human family. If encouraged, rats enjoy resting on
Cat being pet
March 22, 2021 | , , ,

How Long After Flea Treatment Can I Pet My Cat?

Fact checked by a Hello Ralphie expert veterinarian Fleas are a common external parasite that feed off your cat’s blood. Although they can create some health concerns, itchiness and allergic reactions on your cat’s skin is a common symptom. Some fleas even carry certain species of tapeworms, which make your cat susceptible to contracting parasitic infections. The good news is there are many available products that can help protect your cat from getting new flea infections, as well as treat any pre-existing infections. What types of flea treatments are available? There are numerous types available. A virtual consult with a
Cat next to litter
March 10, 2021 | , , ,

How Often Should You Change Cat Litter?

Fact checked by a Hello Ralphie expert veterinarian Cats are clean animals. Unlike dogs, felines constantly groom themselves and they’re notoriously picky about where they urinate and defecate. A cat can develop physical and mental ailments if they’re unable to clean themselves or forced to live in a dirty space. Therefore, it’s essential that cat parents provide their cats with a sanitary litter box. Here, we’ve provided a guide on litter box maintenance to keep your cat happy and healthy. We’ll go over how often you should change your cat litter as well as reasons why a routine cleaning is
Cat exam by a vet
March 8, 2021 | , , ,

How Often Do You Take Your Cat to The Vet?

Fact checked by a Hello Ralphie expert veterinarian It’s important to make sure your feline friend has regular check-ins with a veterinarian. Cats age at a much faster rate than humans, which means they develop age-related health conditions much faster than we do. Read how to care for a senior cat from one of our Hello Ralphie vets! The number of times you speak with a veterinarian about your cat’s health will depend on a variety of factors, include your cat’s age, any pre-existing medical conditions, and possible special needs. Most vets generally recommend a feline physical exam at least
a kitten and a puppy sitting on a wooden floor
March 4, 2021 | ,

Top Ten Less-Known Pet Toxins

While some pet toxins such as chocolate are well known and others like bleach and household cleaners are obvious, other pet toxins are less well known.
Cat brushing teeth
March 3, 2021 | , , ,

How do I Brush My Cat’s Teeth?

Fact checked by a Hello Ralphie expert veterinarian Dental disease is one of the most common health issues that veterinarians diagnose in cats. It can be present in every breed of cat and can be diagnosed at any age, although it becomes more prominent as cats get older.  Read more about senior cat care from a Hello Ralphie vet. Tartar and plaque naturally build on the outer surface of a cat’s teeth, which can result in malodorous breath (halitosis), tooth decay, and infections underneath the gums. These issues can cause your cat a significant amount of discomfort and pain and
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