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Marijuana, cannabis, pot, weed… whatever you want to call it, if you live in California, it’s legal. With recreational and medical marijuana use becoming more and more mainstream, there are an increasing number of pets who are being accidentally or intentionally exposed to the stuff. 

Part of responsible marijuana use is knowing what risks it may have for you and your family. East Sacramento Veterinary Center would like all of our readers to understand pot and pets and how they mix.

When Pot and Pets Mix

When pot and pets mingle, the results aren’t always for the best. Whether Fido finds your edible stash, decides to eat a discarded roach on the ground outside, or you give him something to help with his arthritis (please always call us before giving medicine or supplements to your pet!) there can be some serious consequences.

Kittens are among the cutest animals out there, but they are also the most vulnerable. They need a lot of help in the first few months in order to eventually grow into healthy, strong adult cats.

While a kitten’s cuteness goes a long way toward ensuring they get the support they need, not everyone knows how to go the distance. When it comes to kitten care basics, we got you covered.

Why Kitten Care Is So Important

Kittens are usually adopted from shelters or foster homes between 6-8 weeks of age. If you adopt a kitten younger than that you may need to meet their special feeding requirements.

Welcoming a new puppy into your home is one of the most exciting experiences there is, in our humble opinion. Just as with a new baby, there are joys and happiness, and also may be a few bumps in the road as your new puppy joins your family.

Each puppy comes with its own personality, characteristics, and challenges each day. But regardless if this is your first puppy, or another addition to your crew, there are some things that should be kept in mind across the board when it comes to puppy care. 

Your East Sacramento Veterinary Center veterinarians and staff are with you every step of the way as you navigate the pathway of puppy care!

Whether it’s a special skill one consciously works on, or it’s simple, dumb luck, getting through the holiday season without getting sick or hurt is critical. While this way of thought definitely applies to people, it’s of equal importance for the pets in our care. 

Since a pet’s wellness isn’t accidental, their overall health utterly depends on an owner’s approach to holiday pet safety. Don’t worry, your friends at East Sacramento Veterinary Center have you covered.

It’s an all too common scene: you arrive home from work, tired, but happy to relax and unwind with your favorite furry friend. But what greets you instead is a couch chewed to smithereens, or a fresh urine spot on the carpet. Welcome home! 

It can be natural to think that your dog is angry with you or that your cat is trying to teach you a lesson when they exhibit these behaviors, but in reality, it’s likely that fear, anxiety, and stress are the root causes. 

Fear and anxiety are common contributing factors in behavioral problems in pets. Learn how to spot the signs of pet anxiety and steps to take to help your furry best friend.

…And Other Thanksgiving Pet Safety Tips

Anyone who has pets knows the pain of resisting those puppy dog eyes; but when it comes to Thanksgiving safety for pets, it’s important to understand the risks and repercussions of giving in. 

Letting your pet partake in your Thanksgiving feast is not the only risk to their health around the holidays, however. Keep reading for East Sacramento Veterinary Center’s best tips for Thanksgiving pet safety, and avoid an emergency room visit on this, the most festive of holidays. 

A normal part of your pet’s wellness exam involves looking at the condition of the teeth and gums. The presence of tartar, cracked teeth, or reddened gums can definitely lead us to suspect that bigger problems are at play. Because the damage caused by periodontal disease occurs below the gum line, however, a pet dental exam gives us greater access to understand the extent. 

Starting Early

Young animals lose their baby teeth when adult teeth grow in. A pet dental exam can be helpful to ascertain if the teeth are growing in normally. At this point, we can also help owners establish good practices at home. We can also look closely for any of the following:

A pet emergency can come in many forms; from accidental poisonings, to being hit by a car or bitten during a fight with another animal. Some pet emergencies are much less obvious, however, making it difficult to tell whether or not your pet needs immediate medical attention or if you can just “wait and see.”

When it comes to any type of veterinary emergency, timing is critical and can mean the difference between a successful outcome and a tragedy. Knowing how to recognize a pet emergency should be in every pet owners arsenal, and the team at East Sacramento Veterinary Center can get you started!

Responsible pet owners know to keep up with their regularly scheduled pet wellness exams, but have you ever wondered why we want to see your pet yearly (or more often)?

Besides your pet’s yearly vaccinations (an important component of overall health), the pet wellness exam gives us a chance to establish a health baseline for your pet. Animals are genetically predisposed to hide signs of illness or injury until a condition is advanced, and an annual exam is the best way to catch and treat any problems early. Your pet’s wellness exams are tailored to your specific pet, and designed to support health and wellness through each phase of their lives.

At East Sacramento Veterinary Center, we pride ourselves on the incredible relationships we are building with our pet patients and their families. Although we strive to make our environment as relaxing and pet-friendly as possible, we understand that not every patient enjoys visiting us. In these cases, you may want to consider veterinary house calls.

Veterinary house calls allow your pet to receive exceptional care, with the old-fashioned feel and convenience of a home visit. Are veterinary house calls right for your pet?