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April is Heartworm Awareness Month. Maybe—hopefully—you already give your dog or cat their heartworm prevention medication regularly. But we believe it’s important to learn what heartworm disease is and why this preventive medicine is critical to your pet’s health. 

There’s a lot of ways to ruin a day, and chief among them definitely include a flea infestation or a tick bite. Both have the potential to cause serious problems in pets and people alike. As with most things in life where there is a clear and obvious solution, it is critical to address parasite prevention long before these bugs cause the unfortunate symptoms for which they are notorious.

Dogs have their fair share of quirks. Most of the time, these little peculiarities add layers to an owner’s amusement and appreciation. Regarding things out of their control, such as smelly paws, we can choose to accept these characteristics or figure out creative ways to deal with them. The good news is that the corn chip odor coming from their paws is not causing any pain or long-term harm. This means that owners are simply left with the mystery of why their dog’s feet smell like Fritos and what they can do to reduce the funky odor.

Northern California residents are no strangers to the potential of encountering a rattlesnake on a hike, in a park, or sometimes even hanging out in our own yards. Although we know to stay away when we hear a warning rattle from a nearby snake, we cannot be sure how our pets will react to these creatures until the situation arises. Your friends at MarketPlace Veterinary Hospital want to help you act quickly if you encounter a rattlesnake with your pets nearby:

Dozens of countries around the world have banned cat declawing, but only the American states of New York and Maryland have legally outlawed this controversial surgical procedure. That doesn’t mean there aren’t numerous national organizations working to raise awareness of the painful effect this practice has on our feline companions. While once widely regarded as a safe and humane procedure, few feline practitioners recommend cat declawing today. 

Most pet parents know that their dog or cat needs shots of some type, but few really understand what that means. Do you know what dog vaccines or cat vaccines your pet is due for and why they are important? MarketPlace Veterinary Hospital is here to break down for you. 

Whether you’re a cat or dog owner, there’s no denying that pets are an important part of our families. And just like any family member, they deserve our attention and love.

Here are our tips for pet owners to ensure your furry friends get off to a great start in 2023.

Are you looking for a new best friend? Dogs offer companionship and can even give your health and happiness a boost.

And if you work 9-5? Dogs are adaptable and resilient, and the right dog can be a perfect pet for single people with busy schedules—even those who work eight hours a day.

Here are some tips on how to keep your dog healthy while juggling work commitments.

Between Christmas and the other holidays that fall at the end of the year, you are probably pretty busy. That doesn’t mean that your pet care should fall through the cracks, though. MarketPlace Veterinary Hospital has our list of do’s and don’ts to make sure that your pet safety around the holidays remains top notch, no matter how crazy things get.

Your pet is a member of your family. You love your pets, care for them, and want to keep them safe. But what happens if they get injured or sick? In some cases, you may not be able to get your dog or cat to the vet right away, so it’s essential to have a basic pet first-aid kit on hand.

For your pet’s safety in the event of an emergency, the American Red Cross recommends keeping a pet first-aid kit stocked and ready, but that doesn’t mean you need to buy one from an expensive store or specialist retailer. Here’s how you can make your own: