Spring is a time of transformation. Green grass starts growing, flowers start blooming, and pet fur is suddenly absolutely everywhere. Springtime pet shedding is no joke, but how do you know what’s normal and what’s excessive? How can you prepare for the big spring shed? The team at Shiloh Veterinary Hospital has tips to help see you through the spring shedding season.

Is Shedding Normal for Pets?

Shedding helps pets regulate their body temperature and keep their coat in tip-top shape. If you’re a pet parent, you’ve probably always got at least some loose dog or cat hair drifting around your house. 

But during the spring, animals shed their heavier winter fur to get ready for warmer months ahead. You might start noticing small piles of fur throughout the house—a little trail that shows you exactly where your pet has trod.

But how much shedding is too much?

When Shedding Becomes a Concern

While most shedding is normal, excessive fur loss can point to an underlying problem for your pet. Excessive shedding in dogs can show up as bald spots, irritated skin, or an uneven shedding pattern that leaves some areas more hairless than others. There could be all sorts of reasons for an unusual shedding pattern, from allergies to parasites, and even hormonal imbalances.

In the same vein, if you notice your cats losing fur in spring in large amounts or in specific areas, this could be a sign of stress, a skin infection, or another underlying issue.

As you care for your pet’s spring coat, look out for these cat and dog shedding signs of trouble. If you see anything that worries you, reach out to your veterinarian as soon as you can. Your vet can help you identify dog and cat fur loss causes and provide treatment to get ahead of the issue.

Seasonal Pet Grooming Tips

You can help your pet’s coat stay healthy all the way through the spring shedding season with some simple habits:

• Brush regularly: Regular brushing gets rid of loose fur and prevents matting, which is especially important for double-coated breeds.
• Monthly baths: Baths help get rid of hair that needs to go, too. Use a gentle pet shampoo to clean your pet’s coat, followed by a thorough brushing.
• Provide a balanced diet: Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids help give your pet a shiny, healthy coat all year long.

As a bonus, taking regular care of your pet’s coat will help you spot strange shedding patterns or bald spots right away! 

Keep Your Pet’s Coat Healthy This Spring

When you know what’s normal for springtime pet shedding—and what isn’t—you can take steps to keep your pet’s coat healthy and spot signs of trouble right away. If you’re ever worried about your pet’s springtime hair loss, reach out to your veterinarian for guidance. 

If you live in the Los Angeles area, the caring team at Shiloh Mobile Veterinary Hospital can come right to your door! Reach out to us today at (818) 614-9929 to schedule a visit.

The post Springtime Shedding: What’s Normal and When to Worry About Your Pet’s Coat appeared first on Veterinary Blog for Los Angeles - Shiloh Veterinary Hospital.

Flea infestations can be a real headache for your pet and for you. 

Not only do fleas cause discomfort and itchiness for your furry friend, but they can also lead to other health issues—hair loss, hot spots, anemia, skin infections, and more. And fleas can cause allergic reactions in some pets, further exacerbating the itching and scratching.

For you, flea infestations can be a pain to deal with. Fleas can quickly spread throughout your home if left unchecked, and flea bites are itchy and uncomfortable for humans too. 

As a pet owner, it’s important to be able to spot the signs of a flea infestation and get rid of these pests promptly. This post will discuss the symptoms of a flea infestation and offer tips on how to treat fleas on kittens, puppies, dogs, and cats.

Signs of a Flea Infestation

The first step in treating a flea infestation is to recognize the signs. These are common signs of flea infestation in pets:

• Excessive scratching: Fleas feed on your pet’s blood, which causes them to itch and scratch.
• Red or irritated skin: Red bumps or sores on your pet’s skin could indicate a flea infestation.
• Flea dirt: Flea dirt is a term used to describe flea feces. It looks like black specks on your pet’s skin or fur. If you notice flea dirt on your pet, it’s a sign that they have fleas.
• Hair loss: Persistent scratching can lead to hair loss, so keep an eye out for patches of missing hair.

Treating Fleas on Dogs and Cats

A range of flea treatments, including topical and oral medications, are available. Talk to your veterinarian before administering medications to your pet. 

Topical treatments: Topical treatments are applied directly to your pet’s skin. Follow the instructions carefully and only use cat-specific or dog-specific products as appropriate.

Oral medications: These medications are administered to your pet in pill form and kill fleas from the inside out. 

Treating Fleas on Kittens and Puppies

Kittens and puppies require special attention. Some flea treatments aren’t safe for young pets, so ask your vet for recommendations. 

Allergies in Dogs and Cats

Is your dog or cat constantly itching and scratching? It could be a sign of allergies. Allergies in pets can be caused by several factors, including food, pollen, and flea bites. 

If you suspect your pet has allergies, talk to your vet to determine the cause and appropriate treatment. These are common signs of allergies in dogs and cats:

• Itching and scratching: Pets with allergies may scratch and bite themselves excessively, leading to red and irritated skin, hair loss, and infection.
• Sneezing and coughing: Pets with allergies may exhibit symptoms similar to humans with allergies, such as sneezing and coughing.
• Runny nose and eyes: Allergies can cause your pet’s nose and eyes to become watery and inflamed.
• Ear infections: Pets with allergies may be more prone to ear infections, which can be caused by bacteria or yeast.

Your vet may recommend antihistamines, steroids, or other medications to help alleviate your pet’s symptoms and can help you identify and avoid the allergens causing the problem.

With proper care and attention, you can help keep your pet free from fleas, and parasite prevention can help avoid any repeat infestations. Please let us know if you have questions about treating flea infestations or preventing them altogether. We’re always here for you at Shiloh Mobile Veterinary Hospital.

The post How to Spot Signs of a Flea Infestation on Your Pet  appeared first on Veterinary Blog for Los Angeles - Shiloh Veterinary Hospital.

The occasional itchy ear is one thing, but when your pet is digging and scratching incessantly it is a different story. Excessive scratching in dogs and cats can be caused by a few things. Shiloh Veterinary Hospital has the information you need to find out if your pet might have an ear infection or you need to be looking for signs of ear mites instead.

Excessive Scratching in Cats and Dogs

Animals cannot just reach up and scratch an itch when their ear is bothering them. Itchy ears may look like they are scratching the ear with their back feet, rubbing the ear on the ground, or holding the ear at an awkward angle. If you rub or touch the itchy ear, you might also get some groans, moans, or a paw ready to help your efforts.

Itchy ears in dogs or cats can be caused by:

• An external ear infection (otitis externa)
• Irritation or allergic reaction
• Ear mites
• A foreign object in the ear
• Tumors or polyps in the ear canal

In order to know exactly what the cause of excessive scratching in dogs or cats may be, it is often best to contact us so that we can examine your pet and determine the cause. This way treatment is most likely to be effective.

Signs of Ear Mites 

Perhaps the yuckiest cause of ear irritation in pets is ear mites. Ear mites are very tiny parasites, barely visible without a microscope. While there are several species of this ectoparasite, in cats and dogs we are most often dealing with Otodectes cyanotis.

Ear mites live in the ear canals and feed themselves by indulging on ear wax. This results in a dark brown crumby waste that they deposit in the ear. They also cause inflammation and itching.

Otodectes like spending most of their time in the ear canal itself, but at times they will crawl out onto the skin outside the ear. It is during this time they can spread from animal to animal, so close contact is required for a pet to become infected.

Signs that ear mites might be an issue for your pet include:

• Shaking their head
• Scratching or rubbing the ears
• Dark, coffee-ground like debris in the ears
• History of recent close contact with other animals

Most often pets with ear mites have come from being strays or have been in a shelter-type environment. It would be extremely unlikely that a dog or cat that has been well-cared for in a home to contract ear mites. 

Thankfully, once ear mites are diagnosed, they are very easy to treat!

Don’t hesitate to ask us for help if you think your pet’s ears may be bothering them. Ear problems in pets can be very irritating and painful, and we are happy to provide relief for our patients in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Diego Counties.

The post Ear Mites: Small Pest But Big Problem for Pets appeared first on Veterinary Blog for Los Angeles - Shiloh Veterinary Hospital.

The holidays are upon us, and this fact has many of us jumping for joy. The turkey, stuffing, casseroles and desserts are enough, but add in all the other holiday indulgences and it’s easy to see why so many of us overdo it, and pay for it later. 

For our pets, though, such overindulgence in fatty and rich holiday foods can spell disaster. Every holiday season, pets are seen like clockwork in the animal emergency clinic for pancreatitis, a painful and life threatening condition often caused by the consumption of such foods. 

Avoid a pet emergency this holiday season by learning about pancreatitis in pets and holiday food safety. 

Food Safety

Many of our delicious and traditional holiday foods are toxic to pets, and accidental pet poisonings are unfortunately common during the holiday season. Keep the following food items away from your pet. 

• Chocolate
• Xylitol
• Yeasted raw bread dough
• Macadamia nuts
• Alcohol
• Chives, onions, and garlic
• Grapes and raisins
• Raw poultry or meat
• Sage and other herbs

Sometimes our pets’ love of eating can also get them into trouble when they ingest something that causes an intestinal obstruction. Corn cobs, bones, aluminum foil, turkey string, and wrappers are common items ingested by pets that can result in an emergency surgery to remove. Remove temptation by clearing leftovers right away, keeping garbage bins tightly lidded and behind closed doors, and by resisting the urge to share fatty or rich foods with your pet. 

Pancreatitis Basics

You may regret overindulging in pumpkin pie or casseroles, but for pets, eating even a bite or two of fatty or rich foods can be truly dangerous. Pets don’t digest rich foods well, and the result can be gastrointestinal upset and a potentially life threatening condition called pancreatitis.

If your pet is exhibiting any of the following signs of pancreatitis, she needs to be seen by a veterinarian immediately.

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Abdominal pain
• Hunched position
• Depression
• Lethargy
• Lack of appetite
• Difficulty breathing

Holiday Food Safety For Pets

Thanksgiving may pose some risks for our pets, but that doesn’t mean our pets can’t join us in some of the holiday fun. They can even enjoy a few extras this time of year, without the added salt, sugar or fat. 

If you’d like to treat your pet and still practice holiday food safety for pets, try steamed green beans instead of green bean casserole, plain cooked sweet potato instead of candied yams, and a scoop of plain pumpkin instead of pumpkin pie. 

And, remember that not all treats are food! Indulge your pet in play and exercise instead, which is a great way to relieve stress, burn extra calories, and is great for bonding with your pet. Treat your pet to a neighborhood walk, or a game of ball or laser pointer tag when the big meal is over. You can also show your pet how thankful you are for them with lots of snuggles and affection. 

If you have any questions about holiday food safety for pets or pancreatitis, please don’t hesitate to call us. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your pets from Shiloh Veterinary Hospital. 

The post Pancreatitis and Holiday Food Safety For Pets appeared first on Veterinary Blog for Los Angeles - Shiloh Veterinary Hospital.