Our Pet Articles

Alcohol Toxicity in Pets - Many of us enjoy a sip of wine after dinner or a cold beer with our pizza. We also realize that consumption of large amounts of alcoholic beverages leads to drunkenness and intoxication. What many folks don’t realize is that cats and dogs, like us, can get more than drunk when they consume – they can get a trip to the emergency room! Read More >

The Benefits of Exercise and a Healthy Diet - Is your pet fit? Activity is necessary for your pet’s health and well-being! The benefits of exercise in humans are well documented: weight loss, stress reduction, disease prevention and improved overall health. Exercise is described as any endeavor that works the muscles and increases the amount of oxygen delivered to them; it also improves heart health. Doesn’t your pet deserve the same benefits? Read More >

Halloween Tips - Don’t become so preoccupied with Halloween preparations that you forget caring for your pet! Halloween can present challenges for your furry family member and it is important to take steps to keep your pets safe and healthy during the holiday. Park Place Animal Hospital offers these tips to keep your little goblin safe. Read More >

Hot Under the Collar! Heatstroke in pets - Heatstroke, or hyperthermia, occurs when your pet’s body produces or absorbs more heat than it can dissipate. In the summer months, this can occur when prolonged exposure occurs and heat regulating mechanisms are overwhelmed. A temperature between 106-109 degrees is indicative of heatstroke and is a medical emergency! The most common cause of heatstroke in dogs is being left in your vehicle while you make “a short trip” to the store.  Read More >

Poisons in the Pantry - Pet owners are often tempted to give their pets treats while in the kitchen, but there are some human foods that are potentially toxic to pets. Pets are not little people! Four of the most common poisonings that you may (or may not) have heard of include chocolate, raisins or grapes, Xylitol (artificial sweetener) and macadamia nuts. Armed with knowledge, one can avoid these “poisons in the pantry”!
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Snakes Alive! - Snakes have always been given a bad rap and movie hits like “Anaconda” and “Snakes on a Plane” are enough to give any grounded person pause. Although your chances of meeting up with these legless creatures on your next flight are quite slim, your family pet may be at much greater risk. In fact, 150,000 dogs and cats are bitten annually. Read More >

Pets in Weddings - Our pets are often considered a part of the family, and couples are increasingly giving these members a starring role in their wedding. It’s not unusual for a bride or groom to enter a marriage with a four-legged companion already in their life, and incorporating the pet in the ceremony not only adds a touch of whimsy to the celebration, but reinforces the notion that the union being celebrated includes more than the two nervous folks standing at the altar. Read More >

A Clean Sheath is a Healthy Sheath! - The buildup of secretions from the sebaceous glands found in your horse's sheath, incorporated with dirt results in the waxy material we call “smegma”. Male horses (stallions and geldings) should have their sheaths cleaned periodically to remove the buildup of this naturally occurring substance. The frequency of sheath cleaning needed varies with each individual horse. Some horses may require monthly cleaning while others only require biannual cleaning. Smegma will vary in type from a dry crusty consistency to a smelly damp excretion that will require more frequent attention. Read More >

Rain Rot! - Although the description is fairly disgusting, the phrase “creeping crud” is a well-known term among horsemen. Also described as rain rot, rain scald, dermatophilosis and streptothrichosis, this skin condition is the most common cause of crusting lesions in horses. It can affect cattle, sheep, goats, and on rare occasions, dogs, cats, and humans. Read More >

Joint Health - Osteoarthritis, or inflammation of the bones of the joint, is one of the most common ailments seen in horses. Although treatment can control or reverse the symptoms of joint pain in some acute cases, chronic trauma to the joint eventually destroys the protective joint cartilage making damage irreversible. Read More >

Pesticides Use and Horses - Pesticide toxicity is a rare occurrence in horses – yet no event is rare to the one who experiences it. Ingestion, inhalation, or absorption of insecticides, herbicides, certain medications and chemicals can, in some instances, lead to an accidental poisoning. Poisons, by their chemical nature, may cause damage to structure or lead to disturbances of function. Read More >