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September is National Happy, Healthy Cat Month. While at Bowman Veterinary Hospital we don’t necessarily think we need to wait a whole year to celebrate your kitty, it’s a nice excuse to spoil her rotten! So what can you do to help make sure you have a happy healthy cat in September and beyond?

Keeping Your Cat Healthy

Being in good health makes us all happier. Cats have basic medical and preventative care needs that we need to meet. These include:

Rattlesnakes are nothing to sneeze at. If you’ve lived in California long enough, you have probably either encountered a snake or know someone who has. Dogs are at particular risk for rattlesnake bites due to investigating grasses, shrubs, and other prime rattlesnake habitat with their noses.

Each year, the staff at Bowman Veterinary Hospital treats dogs that have been bitten by rattlesnakes. Protecting your pet means understanding their risks, preventing encounters whenever possible, and working with us to determine if the rattlesnake vaccine is appropriate for your pet.

If your pet was injured and needed emergency hospitalization to survive, could you afford to have them treated? Today, advances in veterinary science have afforded pet owners and pets a very high level of care, but it comes at a price. Estimates show that pet care costs average $1800 per year, which can put a significant financial strain on many families. 

Of course pet owners want to take the very best care of their furry friends – they’re members of the family, after all! This is where pet insurance comes in. Just as human health insurance is designed to offset our own health care costs, pet insurance can ease the burden of an unexpected injury or illness in our pets. But, is it worth it? Bowman Veterinary Hospital explores. 

In a perfect world, our dogs wouldn’t need to be leashed, rather they would joyfully, and safely, accompany us as we go about our daily tasks. As this is clearly not the case for the vast majority of us, the daily leashed walk has become an important part of dog ownership. 

Retractable leashes may seem like a good choice for an owner who wants to give their dog a sense of freedom, but the risks involved with this type of leash are considerable. 

The star that rises and sets with the sun during the high summer is known as Sirius, or the Dog Star. Forever shining brightly in the constellation Canis Major (Big Dog), Sirius was perceived by ancient people as bringing about the hottest temperatures of the year, giving way to the famous expression “the dog days of summer”.

What this means for your dog is probably more fun and games played outside. Without an approach to their safety and wellbeing, however, they could wind up getting sick or injured this summer. But not on our watch!

Kitten season is in full swing, and June often marks the height of this phenomenon. This feline population boom fills animal shelters with healthy kittens who all need loving homes, and has prompted Animal Humane to designate June ‘Adopt a Cat Month’.

With that, your team at Bowman Animal Hospital is celebrating cats and cat care, and encouraging our pet loving friends to consider adopting a cat!

We want the best for our pets, and that means taking all the necessary steps to provide them with a great life. Proper nutrition, good medical care, exercise, and, of course, lots of love and affection are obvious needs, but when it comes to pet anxiety, many animal lovers are at a loss.

Fear and anxiety are natural responses to certain stimuli, and no pet is completely immune. Learn how to spot the signs of pet anxiety and what you can do to help your furry friend.

Anyone who has had or currently has cats knows what special creatures they are. They are clever, independent, have the athletic ability of Olympic athletes, and can be incredibly sweet. It’s no surprise that we love our cats and want to keep them well. But keeping them healthy takes more than just bringing them to the vet when they’re sick.

When it comes to cat health, Bowman Veterinary Hospital focuses on preventive care. Read on to learn how to keep your cat happy and well for their lifetime.

Nobody likes a dirty ear, but when it comes to pets, it’s more than just a cosmetic issue. Dirty ears aren’t only uncomfortable, they also put your pet at risk for pain and infection. They may also be indicative of more serious issues.

Ears are essential for hearing and balance, two of the main ways your pet navigates the world around them. Fortunately, pet ear care is simple, and you can make it part of your regular grooming routine with these tips and tricks for success.

You may (or may not) have heard of Xylitol, a sugar substitute commonly used in many foods. In fact, you may even enjoy sugar free gum, cereal, or peanut butter sweetened with the substance. But are you aware that Xylitol is toxic to dogs and cats?

We have many questions about human foods that are safe (or not) for our pets. Although Xylitol recently made the national news cycle as an ingredient in peanut butter, it’s being used in more foods than ever thanks to the low-carb diet craze.

It’s our job to raise awareness of potential threats to your pet, and we hope that giving you an idea of what Xylitol is and where it is used can help keep your furry friends safe!