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If you’re like us, corn chips are one of your favorite snacks. But have you ever noticed that your dog’s feet smell like Fritos? Many people report they actually like this smell! Regardless of how you feel about this phenomenon, it’s pretty common, and you may be wondering what’s behind this peculiar occurrence.

Whether you think your pet’s feet smell like corn chips, popcorn, or other corn-related snacks, stay tuned as Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital explores the world of doggy Frito feet!

Conscientious pet parents are always on the lookout for ways to enhance the lives of their pets. We vow to take them on more walks, buy them the latest Furbo, and make sure to schedule a wellness exam every year. But what about the food we give them?  

Research shows that feeding your pet a high-quality diet is linked to better health outcomes and a longer lifespan. However, some diets are causing concern among veterinary specialists. In fact, earlier this summer, the FDA issued a cautionary statement that grain free diets may be linked to the development of a condition in dogs called dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). However, as of this fall, veterinary experts are linking the problem instead to boutique, exotic, or grain free diets. Stay tuned as we explore the possible link between grain free diets and heart disease.

People depend on verbal communication to understand each other, but body language is a huge part of eye-to-eye conversations. Even though we constantly process and synthesize information from others, confusion and miscommunications occur all the time. So, if we aren’t that great at understanding other humans, how can we expect to learn verbal and nonverbal cues from a whole separate species?

Felines, for example, use various vocalizations to communicate, but amazingly, cat tails are equally helpful indicators.

With the winter holidays just about over, our thoughts turn to the coming year. Where will we focus our energy and time? What can we improve upon from last year? What are our long term goals for ourselves and our families? These and other important questions abound, such as, how will we help our pets to feel their best?

One way we can help with that last question is through our pet care blog. Writing and publishing this blog is our pleasure, and hopefully gives San Antonio pet owners some informative tips on pet health and well-being, pet safety, and just a dose of occasional fun and silliness.

We’re looking back, as well as forward, to share with you our most popular blog posts of 2018. So without further ado, here are Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital’s top 5 veterinary blogs of 2018.

The story collection Winnie-the-Pooh was published 92 years ago by the British author A.A. Milne. Pooh (and his highly relatable group of friends in the Hundred-Acre Wood) not only soothed kids still shaken by the effects of war, but with his beautifully simple, yet philosophical, musings Pooh spoke to people of all ages. The characters still endure to this day, in part because we have a treasure trove of insightful quotes that remind us of what really matters in life.

As we prepare to close out the year, we can’t help but reflect on the things we’re grateful for. To quote Eeyore, “ A little consideration, a little thought for others, makes all the difference”. Our compassionate veterinary staff couldn’t agree more!

Every January, an official tally of our city’s homeless population is conducted which results in funding allocation of support services. Last year, the count was over 3,000 people in San Antonio and Bexar County alone, with concentrations downtown and in encampments throughout the city and distant neighborhoods. They live in shelters, cars, boxes, abandoned buildings, beneath bridges, and sometimes right out in the open. What’s more, they often keep or tend to homeless pets.

We love DIY pet gifts! They’re fun to make and relatively easy when you have the right supplies/tools. But probably the best thing about making your own pet gifts is that you can customize them based on your best friend’s interests and preferences. Plus, it’s a labor of love to design and create items that you know your pet will enjoy.

As you settle in for a marathon Netflix session or just a quick recap of the nightly news, are you regularly accompanied by your four-legged companion? Is your dog quick to react to the sight or sounds of other dogs on TV? Does your cat race around your living room looking for the lions in that National Geographic special?

Many pet owners claim their pets watch TV, but is this true? Are dogs and cats capable of understanding what they see on the “boob tube” and, if so, how does this affect them?

Domestic felines may seem like they’ve shunned many of their primal instincts, and yet, many ancient behaviors remain in tact. Hunting, for example, is one feline behavior that persists despite the fullness of their food bowl. Sure, pet cats don’t have to be the predators their ancestors once were, but it sure is fun to bring home a tender morsel or two!

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and you may be thinking about meals, family, and eating your fill of delicious foods. It’s natural to want to share in the fun with our furry family members too, but the holiday table is fraught with high fat, salty foods that are not the best for our pets.

Feeding our pets traditional Thanksgiving foods like turkey bones, table scraps, gravy, and stuffing can cause GI upset – and worse. Any sudden change in diet and consuming fatty foods can cause a painful and potentially deadly condition called pancreatitis.

With that in mind, we decided to put together a list of ideas for Thanksgiving fun for pets – that don’t include food. After all, a healthy pet is one of the best things to be thankful for!