Oakland Veterinary Referral Services Blog

If you are a teacher or, like most dog owners with kids, your canine has received a lot more attention during the summer break. Or if you’re now being asked to come back into the office after working at home. Dogs are ruled by routine, so we must help ease them through major changes to their typical day.

This is why we at Oakland Veterinary Referral Services expect to see a spike in dog separation anxiety as we begin spending less time at home. As we return to school or work life, your pet may exhibit unusual symptoms or behavior. Let’s take a closer look.

We have come a long way in understanding mental and behavioral problems in humans and how to more effectively treat them. This is true for our pets as well. Mental illness in pets, including both cats and dogs, can impact their quality of life, health, and longevity. It can also create problems for their human families. It becomes a serious problem if undiagnosed and untreated. 

The team at Oakland Veterinary Referral Services wants to shed light on this condition to give hope and help to pets who are afflicted with mental illness. 

Isn’t a begging dog almost synonymous with every dog? Dogs just beg for food, right? Actually, there are things we do to encourage this bad behavior in our canine companions and there are things we can do to get your dog to stop begging for food. 

A begging dog can spell trouble in the weight department if you give in to them. Giving your pet table scraps also increases the risks of toxicity and behavior problems. Plus, it is just plain bad manners for your dog to beg. This is why the team at Oakland Veterinary Referral Services wants to give you pointers on how to teach a dog not to beg. Read on to learn more!

Kidney disease in cats is a common diagnosis. We estimate that some form of kidney disease affects 20-25% of our feline companions and an even higher percentage of seniors and geriatric cats. 

Kidney function is vital in filtering toxins from the body and keeping electrolytes and water in balance. If the kidneys are compromised, this can result in acute kidney disease or chronic kidney failure (the kidneys getting worse over time). 

The team at Oakland Veterinary Referral Services wants cat owners to be aware of this disease and what we can to treat and manage it for a better quality of life.

Awaiting the birth of new pups is an exciting time. When your dog is pregnant or nursing, their diet is key to the puppies’ gestation and development. You may be asking, “What should I feed my pregnant dog”? Good, balanced nutrition is the foundation for health. Building on that, there are specific needs at each stage of your dog’s pregnancy. What you feed your pet can go a long way in delivering healthy puppies. 

Your friends at Oakland Veterinary Referral Services congratulate you on your upcoming bundles of joy. We are here to provide insight and recommendations on what you should feed your pregnant dog. 

Despite ties between grain-free dog food and heart disease, grain-free diets are still popular. Is this risky? What’s the latest update? 

Manufacturers of grain-free dog foods promote the benefits of pure animal-based protein and alternative meats, such as wild game. But in 2019, a study by the University of California, Davis concluded that grain-free, as well as certain boutique foods, are linked to a heart condition affecting dogs. 

At Oakland Veterinary Referral Services, we continue to track the research about these diets. We want to keep our pet families well informed, so they can give their pets the best care.

Many owners take their pets’ senses for granted. After all, their impeccable sense of smell and keen hearing, as well as top-notch vision, are abilities that make an animal special. So, hearing loss in pets may come as a surprise to the owner. They may not even know their cat or dog is deaf until the loss becomes much more apparent.

Hearing loss in pets is a common occurrence, especially in senior pets. There are several things we can do to help your pet live a better life, even through the loss of their hearing.

Are you caring for a blind dog or cat? If a pet develops blindness in their older years or becomes visually impaired, it can be challenging for you and your furry one. Losing sight can be scary for a pet that relies heavily on that sense for their safety and sense of familiarity. 

Normal routines may be difficult and there is increased risk of injury and accident if your pet is blind or visually impaired. The good news is that your pet can continue to live a happy life with a little help.

Oakland Veterinary Referral Services is here to provide simple steps you can take to make your visually-impaired pet less vulnerable to injury, as well as increase their quality of life.

We know that pets give us unconditional love and joy. They improve our mental health, increase relaxation, and make us healthier. When it comes to children with special needs, studies show that the bond between differently-abled kids and pets can prove to be especially invaluable. There are many ways pets help children with disabilities. The team at Oakland Veterinary Referral Services is here to explain this wonderful relationship.

Are you over-exercising your dog during COVID-19? Exercise and fresh air are good for us and our pawed friends. During this spring, as we wait out the impact of COVID-19, most of us are staying at home with our loved ones, including the family dog. For our mental and physical health, a walk or run around the neighborhood is about the only way to escape the house. You grab the leash and the dog and head out. But how many walks are good for your dog, and how much is too much?

To avoid over-exercising your dog, your team at Oakland Veterinary Referral Services is here to help you stick to a pet friendly, healthy exercise regiment.