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Some dogs (and cats) simply live to eat, and enthusiastic eaters can often demolish their meal in mere seconds. Luckily for these fast foragers, there are a great many options to choose from that can help them to savor their supper a bit more. Stick with us to learn more about slow feeders and how this strategy can benefit your ravenous pal.

Many businesses have adapted incredibly well to changes presented to their industries, but the widespread, long-lasting effects of Covid-19 are still being tallied. As essential businesses, veterinary hospitals have made important strides over the last year. Every day we must find a balance between promptly serving our patients and meeting all the necessary safety protocols per our local and federal leaders. As a result, pet owners end up waiting for veterinary appointments longer than ever before. 

By now, most of us are aware of the many risks to our pets associated with traditional home decor, but did you know that many of the latest decorating trends can also put pets at risk? 

From macrame to decorative grasses and succulents, home decor is trending in some dangerous directions, at least where our pets are concerned. Our team at Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital is here to provide some guidance.

While 2020 has been, shall we say… unpredictable, we can reliably count on two things: the final page of the calendar will turn to 2021, and the boundless love of our fuzzy little weirdos.

Indeed, our pets have been steadfast in their support this past year just as the team at Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital has been steadfast in our commitment to your pets’ health and well-being through all the ups and downs.

As you know, part of our ongoing commitment to you and your pets’ health and happiness is our blog. And we are excited to celebrate the date change with our top blogs list! Hopefully you enjoy a look back at our most-read blogs of 2020…

Dogs are smart. Their ability to recognize patterns and to anticipate cause and effect relationships is almost humbling to us humans at times. It is easy to harness these traits for good, but sometimes these qualities in our canid friends can backfire, too.

Most pet dogs have picked up some bad habits along the way. Your friends at Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital want you to know that if you have inadvertently taught your pup some poorly received tricks, all hope is not lost. While it can take a lot of work, untraining bad habits in dogs is possible under most circumstances.

Many dog owners have a preference for certain types of leashes that work best for their pets. Some claim to love the traditional nylon leash, while others feel that a harness type leash is safer for their squirrely dog. Then you add to the mix the wide variety of styles, colors, materials, and so on, and it can be exceptionally hard to determine the right one for your furry friend. 

The good news is that there is no one correct answer, but there are some suggestions to keeping your pet safe. The team at Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital is here to explain why the harness, leash, or both question is a great one. Let’s take a closer look.

If you have watched an episode of Animal Planet’s My Cat from Hell by cat behaviorist Jackson Galaxy, you probably have heard the term bush dweller or tree dweller. These distinct terms describe those cats that prefer being high in the air or those who want to be close to the ground and hidden. In the wild, your typical tree dwelling cat, such as leopards and cheetahs, want to hang out in trees and bush dwellers, like bobcats, need to be in dens, bushes, and other low lying places.

So, if you are curious about your favorite furry friend, you are in luck! The team at Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital is here to answer your questions about whether your cat is a bush or tree dweller. 

Most dogs live to eat. A healthy interest in food is not a bad thing, however,  and a dog who likes to eat makes it easier to select a good food since they are less likely to have strong preferences. 

The diets of many dogs include both treats and kibble. While being treat-motivated can often make training a breeze, too much of a good thing can certainly exist. So what is a pet owner to do when a pet is just too treat motivated? Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital has your answers. 

Cats with access to the great outdoors may have more feline fun, but this freedom can come at a high price. The potential for serious falls, car accidents, and fights with other animals leads many owners to keep their fluffy buddies strictly indoors. Many cats are content to hang around the house, but depend on their indoor environment to keep them busy, engaged and entertained. However, without daily physical and mental stimulation, owners can possibly expect some destructive cat behavior.

Cats are already cute to the max, but what if you added an extra furry toe or two? Without a doubt, polydactyl cats take adorableness to a whole new level, but their extra toes deliver more than looks. A cat with “kitty mitties” has even better balance, greater climbing capabilities, and finer predatory skills. If you have a polydactyl cat, our team at Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital is ready to serve their unique cat wellness needs.

Thanks to their wider, larger paws, polydactyl cats come equipped to handle life’s challenges!