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There’s nothing like a sunny day to get you and your pet outside for some fresh air and fun—but before you head out the door, make sure your pet is ready for the sunshine. Just like us, pets can suffer from sunburn and bug bites, and they need a little help staying protected. At East Sacramento Veterinary Center, we’re here to help you understand why sunscreen and bug spray are just as important for your pet as they are for you.

Summer barbecues are one of the best parts of the season. Juicy, grilled burgers. Ice-cold drinks. Bouts of laughter with family and friends. 

But if you’re a pet parent, it’s important to remember that many popular picnic and BBQ foods are dangerous for your furry companions. Along with the excitement of fireworks and rising summer temperatures that can lead to heatstroke, BBQ gatherings also have toxic foods that can cause serious health issues for pets.

Here’s what the team at East Sacramento Veterinary Center wants you to know about pet safety during summer BBQs and cookouts.

Is there anything better than going for a spring romp with your pup? We don’t think so. But one thing we don’t want is for your dog to get exposed to Giardia this spring while you’re out exploring.

Giardia is a protozoal parasite that can cause gastrointestinal distress in dogs (and humans, but we digress). Understanding how Giardia spreads and how to prevent it can help keep your furry friend safe and healthy. 

As much as we try to keep our pets safe, accidents happen. Curious noses sometimes find their way into trouble. But what do you do if your pet eats something toxic? At East Sacramento Veterinary Center, we know how distressing it is to realize your pet has eaten something potentially dangerous. Here’s what you need to know to handle pet poisoning situations calmly and effectively.

Candy corn, bite-sized Snickers, and Tootsie Rolls might taste great to us, but they should never be shared with our animal companions, no matter how much they might beg us for a sample! This Halloween, the team at East Sacramento Veterinary Center reminds all pet families to keep Halloween pet safety top of mind when planning for a season of tricks and treats.

Your pet can join in the fun safely with the following tips for finding (or making your own) pet-friendly Halloween treats.

Sharing a little bit of your dinner with man’s best friend is a part of many of our relationships with our dogs. While we want you to enjoy your pet, East Sacramento Veterinary Center thinks it is important to remind our clients that there are reasons that people food is really for people. Besides things like digestive upset, pancreatitis, and weight gain, human foods can sometimes be dangerous. Read on to learn what you need to know about toxic foods for dogs.

Spring has sprung and there’s no feeling quite like throwing open the windows and letting some clean air into the house. Something about the exit of winter makes everything feel new, and often inspires people to clean out the house to welcome the new season and the warmer weather. As you start to plan out what you want to clean and organize, be sure you are thinking about spring cleaning and pet safety. 

Your friends at East Sacramento Veterinary Center  are here to offer some pet safety tips so you can refresh your home without putting your pets at risk. 

Plants bring a natural beauty to your interior and exterior home decor. Although they are fun to look at and often easy to care for, they can pose a serious danger to your dogs and cats. The team at East Sacramento Veterinary Center wants you to know which plants are poisonous, so you can enjoy some greenery at home without unknowingly housing toxic plants for pets:

Snake encounters are just a part of life in California, and yet, few of us are truly primed to handle them. 

While people may go out of our way to avoid snakes,, a pet’s predatory instincts may be triggered if they detect unexpected movement or sound in their immediate environment. Unbeknownst to the pets in hot pursuit of an unknown intruder, snakes have amazing defense mechanisms, including painful, venomous bites. 

Every year, approximately 150,000 venomous snake bites occur every year in cats and dogs. Some cases are fatal, but not all bites contain venom (known as “dry bites”). This is hardly consoling for a pet owner that simply wants to keep their pet safe from snakes.

Peanut butter is a popular and very common food item in most pantries. It’s also a good reward for your pet to be included in dog treats and used as Kong fillers. But did you know that your innocuous peanut butter may be hiding a deadly chemical called Xylitol?

Xylitol poisoning is one of the top ten toxins reported by Pet Poison Helpline. Each year, thousands of cases of Xylitol poisoning occur. But what is this substance and what products should you avoid? The team at East Sacramento Veterinary Center is here to tell you more about Xylitol in peanut butter and other foods and what you should do to avoid these toxic treats.