Hip dysplasia is a developmental orthopedic disease most common in large and giant-breed dogs, with the potential to affect dogs of all sizes. This painful joint condition can negatively impact a dog’s quality of life, but you can educate yourself and take measures to help ensure your furry pal remains comfortable and mobile. Our Island [...]

Dogs are adventurous creatures who enjoy exploring their world and getting a taste of the good life. Yes, dogs like to put all sorts of things in their mouths, and this appetite for discovery can cause problems when they gobble up something unsavory or worse—unsafe. Some of the biggest threats to your dog’s health are [...]

In general, bug bites don’t bother pets as much as they do people, but bites and stings can cause your pet to experience a severe allergic reaction. In addition, certain bugs can transmit pathogens that can cause your pet serious illness. Read our Island Animal Hospital team’s bite and sting guide to learn how to [...]

Warm weather makes you want to get outside and enjoy the summer season with friends and family, including your four-legged family members. However, hot temperatures and high humidity levels can prove deadly for your pet. To help keep your furry pal safe and cool when you’re outside during the summer, put our Island Animal Hospital [...]

Travel, family emergencies, and illness can prevent you from taking your pet with you or personally caring for them, and boarding can be a good option. If you’ve never boarded your pet, you may be nervous about the process, and our Island Animal Hospital team understands your concern. We provide guidelines for successfully boarding your [...]

You may think the July 4th festivities are fun and exciting, but the celebrations can be difficult for your pet, who may find them frightening. Our Island Animal Hospital team knows you want to protect your four-legged friend, so we enlisted the help of Rosie, the roaming rottweiler reporter, to help explain the perils your [...]

Most people find ticks abhorrent, and rightly so, because beyond their initial “ew” factor, they  endanger human and pet health. Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses are the most significant pet health risk, but tick bites can also lead to local infections. Our Island Animal Hospital team wants pet owners to keep their pets safe [...]

While their reproductive cycles differ significantly from humans, female dogs and cats produce similar natural hormones, including estrogens and progestins, that drive their cycles and support pregnancy. Spaying a female pet removes the uterus and ovaries, which not only prevents pregnancy and reproductive cancers, but also removes hormones that create the estrus cycle and influence [...]

Heartworms pose a significant risk for your pet and can lead to life-threatening complications. Our Island Animal Hospital team knows you want to protect your four-legged family member from these dangerous parasites, so we answer your frequently asked questions about heartworm disease. Question: How are heartworms transmitted to pets? Answer: Mosquitoes transmit heartworms. Wild canids, [...]

Arthritis is more common in cats than most people think. Studies demonstrate that more than 90% of cats older than 10 years of age have evidence of arthritis on X-rays, but many cases go undiagnosed and untreated, because cats adeptly hide pain. Our Island Animal Hospital team wants your cat to have an optimal quality [...]