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.

With the vibrant colors of autumn painting the landscape, it’s the perfect time to make sure your pets are ready for the changing season. At Shiloh Veterinary Hospital, we understand the importance of seasonal pet care. 

Here are some essential fall pet health tips to keep your furry, feathered, and scaled friends happy and healthy as the weather cools down.

Preparing Pets for Cooler Weather

As temperatures drop, pets need to acclimate to the cooler weather. Short-haired breeds, or pets with health conditions, may require additional warmth. Consider these tips:

• Provide Extra Bedding: Ensure your pet has a warm, comfortable place to sleep. Add extra blankets or invest in a heated pet bed.
• Limit Outdoor Time: Shorten walks and outdoor playtime on particularly chilly days.
• Temperature Control for Reptiles: Make sure reptiles have a properly regulated environment with heat lamps and mats to maintain necessary warmth.

Hydration and Diet Adjustments

Just as in summer, hydration remains important in fall. Additionally, pets may need diet adjustments:

• Hydrate Regularly: Ensure fresh water is always available. Consider adding wet food to your pet’s diet for additional moisture.
• Modify Diet: Some pets may require more calories to maintain body heat. If you have questions, contact our friendly staff to determine if your pet’s diet needs changes.

Flea and Tick Prevention

Fall can be a peak time for fleas and ticks. Despite the cooler weather, these pests remain active:

• Continue Preventive Treatments: Use flea and tick preventives year-round. Check your pet regularly for any signs of pests.
• Keep Up With Lawn Care: Keep your yard tidy by raking leaves and trimming tall grass where pests can hide.

Allergies and Skin Care

Fall allergens can affect pets just as much as humans. Watching for signs of allergies and taking steps to minimize their impact is an essential part of seasonal pet care:

• Bathe Regularly: Regular baths can help remove allergens from your pet’s coat.
• Monitor Skin Conditions: Look for excessive scratching, redness, or bald spots. Call us if you notice any issues.
• Feather Care for Birds: Ensure birds are preened properly and maintain humidity levels to prevent dry, itchy skin.

Autumn Pet Safety: Outdoor Hazards

Fall brings specific outdoor hazards to be aware of:

• Watch for Mushrooms: Some mushrooms are toxic to pets. Remove any mushrooms from your yard and watch for them during walks.
• Avoid Rodenticides: Rodents seeking warmth may lead to an increase in rodenticide use, which is poisonous to pets. Keep these products out of reach and consider pet-safe alternatives.

Fall into Wellness with Shiloh Veterinary Hospital

Ensuring your pet’s health and safety during the fall season is simple with these practical tips. By preparing pets for cooler weather, maintaining seasonal care, and being mindful of autumn-specific hazards, you can enjoy a worry-free season with your furry, feathered, or scaled friends.

For personalized advice and comprehensive care, contact Shiloh Veterinary Hospital, your Fear Free Certified mobile veterinary service, to schedule an appointment online or call our office today. Let’s work together to keep your pets healthy and happy this autumn!

The post Essential Fall Health Tips for Your Pets: Ensuring Wellness This Season appeared first on Veterinary Blog for Los Angeles - Shiloh Veterinary Hospital.

As the leaves change and temperatures drop, it’s not just humans who can feel the effects of seasonal shifts. Pet allergies in the fall are a common issue that can make your furry, feathered, or scaly friends uncomfortable. 

The team at Shiloh Veterinary Hospital is here to help you navigate these autumn ailments with ease, providing veterinary advice for managing fall pet allergies right at your doorstep.

Understanding Pet Allergies in the Fall

Fall allergens can affect pets just as much as they do people. The most common culprits include:

• Ragweed: A significant allergen that releases pollen during the fall.
• Mold: Decaying leaves and damp environments can increase mold spores.
• Dust mites: More time spent indoors can expose pets to dust mites.

Recognizing the symptoms of pet allergies is the first step in ensuring your pet’s comfort and health during the autumn season.

Symptoms of Fall Pet Allergies

Keep an eye out for these signs indicating your pet may be suffering from allergies:

• Itching and Scratching: Persistent scratching, biting, or licking, especially around the face, ears, and paws.
• Red, Irritated Skin: Look for redness, rashes, or sores on your pet’s skin.
• Ear Infections: Recurrent ear infections can be a sign of allergies.
• Sneezing and Coughing: Respiratory issues can be triggered by airborne allergens.
• Watery Eyes and Runny Nose: Similar to human allergies, pets can experience watery eyes and nasal discharge.

Veterinary Advice for Managing Fall Pet Allergies

Managing your pet’s allergies involves a combination of preventive measures and treatments. Here are some tips to help:

• Regular Grooming: Bathing your pet with hypoallergenic shampoos can remove allergens from their coat.
• Clean Environment: Clean your home regularly to reduce dust and mold. Use air purifiers to help keep indoor air clean.
• Limit Outdoor Exposure: Limit your pet’s time outside on high pollen days. Wipe their paws and fur when they come back indoors.
• Diet and Supplements: Consider an anti-inflammatory diet and supplements such as omega-3 fatty acids to boost your pet’s immune system.
• Medications: Consult with your veterinarian for allergy medications or treatments that can provide relief.

Animal Health During the Autumn Season

Maintaining overall health is important during the fall to prevent and manage allergies. Here’s how you can ensure your pet stays healthy:

• Regular Check-ups: Schedule a wellness visit with Shiloh Veterinary Hospital to catch and address any health issues early.
• Hydration: Make sure your pet stays hydrated, as dry air can exacerbate skin and respiratory issues.
• Balanced Diet: Feed your pet a balanced diet to support their immune system and overall health.

Autumn can be challenging for pets with allergies, but with the proper care and attention, you can ensure your furry, feathered, or scaly friend stays comfortable and healthy. At Shiloh Veterinary Hospital, we’re dedicated to providing personalized care right at your doorstep.

Schedule a Visit

If your pet is showing signs of allergies, don’t hesitate to schedule a wellness visit with us. Contact Shiloh Veterinary Hospital today to book an appointment online or call our office. Let us help you and your pet enjoy a happy and healthy autumn season!

The post Autumn Ailments: Navigating Pet Allergies in the Fall Season appeared first on Veterinary Blog for Los Angeles - Shiloh Veterinary Hospital.

It’s summertime here in Los Angeles, and the California sun means business. While you might be sipping plenty of things to keep you well hydrated, it is easy to forget about your pets. Shiloh Veterinary Hospital wants to help ensure that you stay on top of your feline hydration game so you and your pet can enjoy the season. 

Dehydration in Cats

Hydration is the amount of water we have in our bodies at any given time. Keeping the body well hydrated is very important to make sure many physiological processes occur optimally. Adequate hydration is essential in order to:

• Digest food 
• Regulate body temperature
• Keep electrolyte levels balanced
• Lubricate the joints
• Deliver nutrients and oxygen throughout the body
• Create essential bodily fluids like sweat, urine, bile, feces, and saliva

If dehydration in cats or any other animal occurs, many problems can ensue. Decreased circulation can affect the major organs and create potentially life-threatening changes. 

When a cat becomes dehydrated, you may notice increased lethargy or weakness, a poor appetite, tacky mucous membranes, sunken eyes, and decreased skin elasticity. 

Certainly outdoor temperature and conditions can lead to and contribute to feline hydration status, but systemic health issues like chronic kidney disease, digestive problems, or diabetes can also lead to dehydration in cats.

Optimizing Feline Hydration

Keeping hydrated is so important, but how can you help your cat stay quenched?

On average, cats need to drink about 4 ounces of water per five pounds of lean body weight daily. This translates to a 10 pound cat drinking about a cup of water per day. Keep in mind that consuming canned food, which contains up to 80% water, contributes to this number. 

Keep your kitty cool this summer by encouraging water intake with some of our favorite tips:

• Provide flowing water in the form of a faucet or fountain as cats tend to prefer moving water
• Keep water offerings fresh, clean, and cool
• Place water sources in easy access areas
• Add a little wet food into the mix
• Flavor water with a small amount of tuna juice or low sodium chicken broth (offer a plain alternative as well)

Of course, if you suspect that your cat might already be dehydrated, it is best to contact us. Depending on how severe things are, medical treatment may be in order. There may also be underlying causes of the dehydration that need to be addressed. 

Keeping your cat well hydrated this summer (and every season) is a great way to support their overall health. Wellness and preventive care are important for all animals, and our feline friends are no different.  

The post Keeping Your Cat Hydrated in Summer  appeared first on Veterinary Blog for Los Angeles - Shiloh Veterinary Hospital.

Angelenos hoping for a pleasantly-mild summer, prepare for a little heartbreak – we are on course to break record record highs, again.

High temperatures coupled with an extremely arid climate can make southern California a tad uncomfortable for all residents – including pets. With our summer pet safety tips, your best pal can relax in the shade, enjoy a tasty frozen treat, and stay far from trouble, all summer long.

Dawn. Dusk. Repeat.

Until the pavement no longer feels too hot for your own bare feet, it’s best to hold off trotting down the block with your dog. The hours surrounding dawn and dusk are optimal for summer stroll, pet safety–wise. Otherwise, the direct hit from the sun can make sand, concrete, asphalt, gravel, and even dirt pathways quite dangerous for delicate paw pads.

If you must be out and about in the middle of the day, be prepared with the right gear:

• Booties
• Collapsible water dish
• Fresh water
• Shade
• Frequent breaks

Special Considerations

All pets require extra care and attention when it comes to the heat, but seniors and overweight pets are at higher risk of overheating when exercising. Additionally, brachycephalic breeds, such as bulldogs and pugs, cannot easily regulate their internal temperatures through panting. It’s best that they are never exposed to high heat and excessive exertion.

Chillin’ at Home

Sometimes, pets are just safer at home. They can still pop outside if they want to (and can!), but they should have a few different chill zones to retreat to when the day becomes too hot. Fans, air conditioning, water, and proper cross-ventilation are great ways to counter the heat.

Heat Stroke Dangers

If you are running errands with your pet, we urge you to never leave them inside your parked vehicle. Even a car that has all the windows “down” and is sitting in the shade can be fatal.

If you ever notice that your pet is panting excessively, unsteady when walking, and pacing around, they may be suffering from heat stroke. Drooling and abnormal gum color can precede collapse. Shiloh Veterinary Hospital recommends seeking pet emergency care promptly.

Summer Pet Safety Can Be Fun!

Swimming is a top-rated activity for people and pets alike, but there are many things that can easily take the fun out of it. Swimming is tough and animals tire easily. Give them opportunities to rest and drink water in the shade.

If you have a pool, train your pet how to get in and out safely. Keep the area covered and surrounded by an alarm if at all possible. Supervise your pet closely whenever they are in or around water. Rinse well, dry their ears, and give them a delicious frozen pet treat to reward them.

Safe, Then Happy

If your friends at Shiloh Veterinary Hospital can assist you with any questions about summer pet safety, we’re always here for you.

The post Hot and Dry Conditions: Summer Pet Safety Tips for the Los Angeles Area appeared first on Veterinary Blog for Los Angeles - Shiloh Veterinary Hospital.