Wednesday May 29, 2013 was the first day that I realized my little “Jake Man” was deaf. “Jake” is a small mixed breed terrier that I adopted from a shelter in Arizona when I was 19. We have been inseparable since the day that I adopted him almost 13 years ago. On that day I [...]
What is heartworm disease? Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal condition caused by infection with the Dirofilaria immitis parasite. The larvae are transmitted through the bite of a mosquito carrying the infective stage of heartworm. Heartworms mature and migrate throughout the body, eventually inhabiting the arteries of the lungs and the right side [...]
Hairballs...not everything small and furry is adorable. You step out of bed blurred eyed, not fully awake when all of a sudden your foot makes contact with something cold, soft and wet. Cats are fastidious groomers, grooming between 2-3 hours per day, in the process of grooming the surface of their tongue’s barb-like protrusions on [...]
Fun Fur Facts About Cats 1. Trichobezoar is the proper name for hairballs. It comes from the Greek root, trich, which means "hair." A bezoar is any mass found in the stomach or intestines. It comes from the Persian word for "antidote or protection from poison." 2. Most cats will consume about 6 oz of [...]
Gilbertsville Veterinary Hospital has the proud honor of providing care to the Pottstown Police Department’s K-9 units. The Pottstown Police Department has three of them - Taz and his handler, Officer Jeff Portock, Kato and his handler Corporal Steve Hatfield, and Jak and his handler, Officer Peter Yambrick. Taz, a german shepherd mix, and his handler Officer Jeff Portock (seen [...]
National Hug Your Cat Day - June 4th. Find a kitty and celebrate!!! You maybe laughing at the idea of National Hug Your Cat Day, but do you know there are some important reasons to reach out and hug your cat. Research has found that hugging your feline friend is extremely effective at [...]
Five years ago our family was gifted an exotic pet - a large, brown crayfish from our son’s third grade classroom named Clawzilla. He was a great pet, needing minimal care but still enjoyable for the family and 8 house cats to interact with. We would decorate the outside of his aquarium with holiday decorations while [...]
Three-part series on working dogs that make the world a better place. Part One: Assistance Dogs Assistance dogs not only provide a specific service to their handlers, but also greatly enhance the quality of their lives with a new sense of freedom and independence. Below is a description of each type from Assistance Dogs International [...]
Dog bites send nearly 368,000 victims to hospital emergency departments per year (1,008 per day). According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2006, more than 31,000 people underwent reconstructive surgery as a result of being bitten by dogs. (Centers for Disease Control, Dog Bite Prevention, accessed May 20, 2013.) 16,476 dog bites to persons aged [...]
Exotic pets have grown in popularity over the past few years for a number of reasons. Some people enjoy having an unusual pet while others find exotic pets to be easier to care for than a dog or cat. Check out the following list of some of the popular exotic pets: 1. Pocket Pets: This group includes [...]