As the winter season settles in, the chill of the cold air often make
us more aware of our joint health problems- the same goes for your pet.
Though commonly bothersome in the winter, joint discomfort can be a year
round-pain that affects your pet’s quality of life.

“Joints are areas where bones come together,” explains Dr. Sharon
Kerwin, an associate professor at the Texas A&M University College of
Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. “They are a combination of
bone, ligaments, cartilage, and the joint capsule and fluid. If anything
damages the cartilage or another structure in the joint then arthritis
or deterioration results.”

Unfortunately, at this point in time, there is no cure for arthritis.
Symptoms can be treated but arthritis is often progressive and gets
worse with time.

Though no cure has been found yet, there are ways to prevent or
postpone the onset of your pet’s joint problems.

“While genetics do play a role in the development of some joint
issues, weight control and proper diet are essential in both prevention<...

Sharing With your Pets is Bad… At Least When it Comes to Disease.

Many of us share just about everything with our pets. After all, they
are part of our families. We share our home, our food, even part of our
couch. While we are taught early in life that sharing is good, there
are definitely some things that we don’t want to share with our pets
and one of these is disease.

Diseases that can be transferred between humans and people are called
zoonotic diseases. Dr. Mark Stickney, Director of General Surgery
Services at Texas A&M’s College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical
Sciences, explains how these diseases can be transferred and how they
can be prevented.

“The good news is that if you are sick you are almost certainly not
going to give it to your pet,” reassures Stickney. “The only real
exception is that it is possible to spread the flu virus from people to
ferrets.”

On the other hand, Stickney notes that it is much more common for
humans to catch diseases and/or illnesses from our pets.

“Our pets can actually give us...

Anyone who owns a dog or a cat knows that they will typically eat
anything they can get their paws on. While it is not harmful for a dog
to eat a cat’s food, it can be potentially hazardous for a cat to eat
a dog’s food. In moderation, a cat eating a dog’s food is probably
safe, but if the cat is only eating Fido’s dinner, they are probably
not getting the nutrients that are essential to their specific health
needs.

“Cats’ nutrition requirements are different than dogs’, they have
unique needs,” explains Dr. John Bauer, a professor of animal
nutrition at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine &Biomedical
Science. “Your cat is not going to get ill from eating the occasional
pieces of dog food, but if they are only eating dog food, then they are
not getting nutrients they need for a healthy life.”

If you have a cat that prefers to feast on their canine pal’s dinner,
it is important to know that there are five main nutrients, essential
to feline health, that are not balanced properly for proper feline
nutrition.

“First,...

Taking care of our pets is a year round commitment. However, caring for our animals is more than simply making sure they have food, water, and shelter each day. Making sure they visit their veterinarian for regular check-ups is vital to their well being as well.
October is National Pet Wellness Month. Sponsored by The American Veterinary Medical Association and Fort Dodge Animal Health, National Pet Wellness month is intended to promote awareness about the pet aging process, disease prevention, and the importance of pet wellness exams.
Many people adopt the misguided belief that unless you pet is clearly ill or injured there is no reason to take them to the veterinarian. Just because your pet is not displaying discomfort, does not mean it is healthy. Visiting your veterinarian for wellness exams can potentially prevent health problems, lead to early detection of health issues that could become problematic, and find existing problems that may be
corrected.
“Make sure your pets see their veterinarian at least once...