Animal Skin and Allergy Clinic Blog

It’s typical to see your cat or dog scratch their ears and shake their heads. Bugs, dust, and even gusts of wind can cause a tickle. If your pet does this more than usual, however, it might mean there’s a bigger issue at play, like ear mites. Not all mite infestations are a cause for concern, but some might result in skin irritation and more serious skin diseases. 

Although each cat has a unique personality, there are plenty of shared behaviors that make cat owners scratch their heads. Whether you are an experienced cat parent or are new to the world of feline ownership, here’s the truth behind some of the most interesting cat behaviors:

Are hypoallergenic pets creatures of myth like unicorns and fire-breathing dragons? If you suffer from pet allergies, here is some good news! Hypoallergenic pets DO exist!

It only seems natural that those who love animals might also enjoy some greenery in their lives. Caring for plants has many similarities to caring for pets, and many people enjoy nurturing both. 

When bringing plants into a home inhabited by pets, though, Animal Skin and Allergy Clinic wants to be sure that our animal-loving clientele realizes that not all plants and pets get along. If you are strategic, though, there are many pet-safe houseplants you can add to your home without worry. 

No one likes to wait, and yet, our lives are simply full of waiting. Sometimes, the result of waiting has a sweet or satisfying reward, but generally speaking, waiting can be stressful.

When pets are forced into their carriers or coerced on their leashes to attend an appointment, nerves in our veterinary waiting room can be palpably felt. With a little extra consideration and emotional management, there are ways to reduce anxiety and improve not only your pet’s experience – but that of other waiting pets, too!

The concept of holiday pet safety can mean something slightly different to everyone. But one thing we can all agree on is that the emergency room pales in comparison to all the warmth, laughter, and coziness at home. 

No matter your pet’s species, age, or personality, the strategies for a safe holiday season are the same, and your friends at the Animal Skin and Allergy Clinic can help you get started.

The best part of pet ownership is all the extra hair – said no one ever. While shedding is an expected part of pet ownership, there are some situations in which the hair in your home is more than normal.

At Animal Skin and Allergy Clinic, we know that shedding can be a pain, but we also know how to diagnose and treat excessive shedding.

Normal Hair Growth

It is totally normal for pets to shed hair. No matter if your dog or cat has long hair or short, smooth or wiry, a sleek single coat or a fluffy double, shedding happens. 

Hair grows in a four stage process which includes:

For the most part, dogs are incredibly charming. They snuggle with us, make us laugh, and keep us company when we’re lonely. In short, owning a dog is great for human health. However, dogs can display some truly questionable antics that aren’t always easy to explain.

To help you sort things out, we’ve compiled a list of some weird dog behaviors and what might be driving them.

Freddie Mercury of Queen was famous for many reasons, but his 10 cats only cared that he doted on them. Truly a hero to cats, Mercury gave his precious felines their own rooms in his London mansion and called to speak to them when he was on the road.

While Mercury certainly wasn’t the most colorful pet owner of the modern age (after all, Salvador Dali owned an ocelot named Babou), he’s a great reminder of the power of pet ownership – and its rich history.

Savvy pet owners know how overwhelming it can be to take in all of the available information in the age of the Internet. You could literally spend days trying to sort through news stories, new scientific studies, veterinary blogs, and Facebook posts to try to find the best information.

Thankfully, pet owners in Washington state are catching on to the fact that the professionals at Animal Skin and Allergy Clinic have done a lot of the hard work for you already. Get yourself up to speed by catching up on our top five veterinary blogs of 2018.