Oakland Veterinary Referral Services Blog
Different Perspectives: Understanding the Differences in Animal Vision
We depend on our senses to help us navigate and understand the world around us, and our animal friends are no different. While our pets use their eyes in a similar fashion as we do, there are some fascinating differences in animal vision versus human vision.
Oakland Veterinary Referral Services invites you take a look at the world through the eyes of your pet.
How Vision Works
The basics of visualizing something are the same among all mammals. People, dogs, and cats all rely on the same visual processes in order to see something.
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Protect the Pads: Healing and Preventing Dry, Cracked Paws
Michiganders are no strangers to winter, and neither are their pets. While you’re busy lacing up your snow boots before you head outdoors, your pet waits, bare-pawed. Indeed, our pets rely on their bare paws to transport them everywhere they need to go, regardless of the weather.
Winter weather can wreak havoc on paws, however. Dry, cracked paws and other injuries are common in the coldest months. Learn how to take care of your pet’s precious paws with these pro tips, offered by your friends at Oakland Veterinary Referral Services.
All About Those Pads
The pads on the bottoms of paws are certainly adorable, but they serve a much bigger purpose for our pets. Paw pads provide traction and serve as shock absorbers, protecting the bones, tendons, and ligaments of the legs from the impact of all that walking, running, and climbing.
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The Owner’s Manual for Home Care for the Diabetic Pet
If your pet has been diagnosed with diabetes, you may feel a little overwhelmed and words like pathophysiology, insulin, and glucose curves may have your head reeling.
Obviously, diabetes is a diagnosis that requires a close relationship with a veterinarian. There are things that you will need to do at home as well. Home care for the diabetic pet is just as important as the care required at the vet’s office. Here’s what you need to know.
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Chemotherapy for Pets – How Will It Affect My Pet?
More pet owners want the best for their pet so they are choosing advanced options for their care. One example is in the treatment of animals diagnosed with cancer–a scary concept when you’re a pet owner.
You want your fur friend to feel better and be with you as long as possible, but you don’t want to make a decision that causes your pet pain and suffering. Oakland Veterinary Referral Services wants to help you make the right decision by better understanding how chemotherapy for pets can affect your furry family member.
Human Chemotherapy vs Treating Pets
One of the primary anti-cancer therapies is chemotherapy for pets, which can be a very effective option for cancer treatment. Most people know someone who has undergone chemotherapy and you know the human side effects all too well: nausea, weight loss, fatigue, and hair loss.
Thankfully, chemotherapy in pets is very different!
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Ringing in the New Year with Our Top Pet Posts of 2016
Celebrating the New Year just wouldn’t be the same without a classic countdown. Some of our favorite New Year’s pastimes include watching countdown shows, listening to countdown broadcasts, and trolling our social media feeds for those year in review snippets. Oakland Veterinary Referral Services can’t help but join in the fun, too. In case you missed our best pet posts of 2016, here they are for your reading enjoyment.
New Puppy? No Problem!
Those first few weeks of having a new puppy at home can be a little chaotic. Never fear, though, the staff at Oakland Veterinary Referral Services are here to help. Read through our puppy owner guide to be sure that your first week at home with your new puppy is a breeze!
Come Prepared
Preparing yourself and your home for the new addition is half the battle. The more you plan, the better off you will be. Try to bring your new puppy home at a time when you are going to have some free energy to concentrate on his or her care. If you’re adding a new four-legged family member around busy times, such as the holiday season, try to do it when you’ll have time off at home.
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Lights, Camera, Action! The Best Holiday Films Featuring Animals
No one (except maybe Ebenezer Scrooge) could argue with the magical splendor, festive revelry, and spirited generosity that seem to be everywhere this time of year. While it’s simply wonderful to participate in the endless social events and family gatherings, sometimes you just need a night in. If curling up under a chenille throw with your best furry friend doesn’t sound reasonable enough, perhaps our list of holiday films featuring animals will entice you. Go on, get comfy!
Beyond the Standards
Holiday movies have that charming je ne sais quoi that other films just don’t have. Of course, old standards like Elf, Home Alone, and A Christmas Story have their place among all classics. However, our favorite holiday films featuring animals not only elevate the experience of pet ownership but also highlight the power of the human-animal bond. Continue…
More than a Cage: The Benefits of Crate Training
Some dog owners see crates as “cages”, confinement for their animals, to be used as punishment or only if absolutely necessary. Crates are not only necessary at times, but can also be indispensable, caring tools in the hands of responsible pet owners.
When used properly, crating can create more enjoyment of life for you and your dog by creating a safe, secure place for training, transportation, and even relaxation purposes.
At Oakland Veterinary Referral Services, we have discovered that crate-trained dogs experience less stress and tend to do better overall while they are with us, which is why we are touting the benefits of crate training.
Pawsitively Pawsome Gifts for Pet Owners
Pet owners everywhere have a lot in common – namely, how much we love and adore our furry friends. A great way to show the pet lovers in your life how much you care is with a pet-themed gift this holiday season, whether it’s for their pets or for themselves.
Get a head start on your holiday shopping or creating with our list of fun and practical gifts for pet owners.
Pretty Paws: Your Guide to Pet Nail Trimming
For many pet owners, trimming pet nails is a task that invokes fear, dread, avoidance, or all three. All it takes is one bad experience to make both pet and owner understandably apprehensive about this basic grooming necessity.
Depending on your pet’s lifestyle, his or her nails may need to be trimmed as often as every few weeks. Thankfully, with the help of proper tools, instruction, and practice, even a beginner can master the art of pet nail trimming.
Why Pet Nail Trimming is so Important
Neglecting your pet’s nails can cause a variety of problems for him or her. Besides making walking uncomfortable, long nails can cause problems with gait and balance, and may even contribute to knee and hip problems by forcing your pet to walk on the outside of his or her paw pads.
Your pet’s mobility and health depend on regular nail trims. This important grooming component should be included as part of his or her regular home care.
