Understanding and Managing Allergies in Pets

Itchy puppy.

No pet owner wants to see their pet hurting. Often, the symptoms of pet allergies sort of simmer just below the surface. A pet may be allergic to various environmental triggers, food, or even fleas. The levels of sensitivity to different triggers covers the whole range between barely noticeable to outrageous. Pet allergies are becoming more commonplace. Accordingly, understanding and managing pet allergies is an important endeavor.

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Pet Allergies: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options

Puppy scratching himself.

Has your pet been scratching, licking, or biting herself a lot lately? She might be dealing with pet allergies. Our dogs and cats can experience the same over-reactive immune systems that we do when we come into contact with certain allergens. The team at East Sacramento Veterinary Center would like to share the common reasons for allergic reactions in pets. We’ll also help you know what symptoms to watch out for—and share how we can help manage your pet’s allergies. 

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5 Common Pet Health Problems and How to Prevent Them

Puppy and kitten with veterinarian.

Here at East Sacramento Veterinary Center, we love spreading the word about the importance of preventive care. But we know that pet health issues can happen despite those annual wellness appointments. That’s part of preventive care, after all—it doesn’t just help your pet avoid health issues. It also helps us catch them early if your pet does develop them. So, what are the most common pet health problems to look out for? 

Here are 5 common conditions we see at our clinic.  

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Prepare For and Support Your Puppy’s First Year

New puppy.

The weeks leading up to and shortly following the adoption of a puppy are nothing less than promising. With so much to look forward to (long walks at the park, fun afternoons at the beach, camping, road trips, and life-affirming snuggle time), you can almost forget all the hard work that goes into your puppy’s first year. It is an incredible journey, and we’re here to support you and your new puppy every (baby) step of the way. 

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Pet Dental Care: Why it Matters, and What You Can Do

Pet dental care.

Providing for our pet’s needs is seemingly simple; nutritious food, warm shelter, basic veterinary care, plenty of exercise, and lots of love is a recipe for a happy and healthy pet. Most pet owners are more than happy to take good care of their furry friends, but one aspect is often overlooked: pet dental care.

Although you wouldn’t go days, weeks, months, or years without brushing your teeth or visiting the dentist, (hopefully!) it’s easy to overlook a pet’s oral health. The truth is that pets need dental care as much as humans do, and ignoring it can lead to disastrous health consequences.

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How Common Is Sneezing in Cats?

Sick cat.

If you’ve started to lovingly refer to your cat as “Sneezy,” it’s a good idea to have them examined. While cat sneezing is not usually a reason to be overly concerned, frequent and unexplained episodes definitely warrant a veterinary visit and examination. This is especially true if they are repeatedly sneezing and also show other uncharacteristic or out of the blue symptoms.

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Why Your Vet Might Recommend a Pet Ultrasound

Dog getting ultrasound

Veterinary medicine gets more and more advanced with each passing year. In many ways, the diagnostics and treatment options that we are able to offer are very similar to those in human medicine. When it comes to diagnosis of a problem with your pet, pet ultrasound is a more advanced option that can be helpful. East Sacramento Veterinary Center is proud to bring this testing modality to you and your dog or cat. 

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Elevate Pet Health in the New Year

Dog out jogging

Pet owners often go to extremes to make their pets feel safe, comfortable, healthy, and happy, but we don’t always achieve a slam dunk. Take, for example, a sizable pile of expensive cat toys next to the coveted, yet almost discarded, cardboard box. Our efforts don’t necessarily always line up with what our pets really want and/or need. The good news is that we’ll always keep trying to hit that bull’s eye, and the new year is the perfect time to zero-in on pet health plans. 

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How to Prepare For Your Pet’s Next Wellness Exam

Cute puppy and kitten at veterinarian.

It’s highly relatable to only remember important questions after an anticipated meeting or appointment–like your pet’s annual wellness exam. We’ve all been there! In response, we try to cover as much ground as possible during every wellness exam. Owner questions and concerns are among our top priorities, but pet care topics are nothing if not expansive. Getting the most out of your pet’s next wellness exam is easy when you have time to prepare your notes and observations.

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