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Dozens of countries around the world have banned cat declawing, but only the American states of New York and Maryland have legally outlawed this controversial surgical procedure. That doesn’t mean there aren’t numerous national organizations working to raise awareness of the painful effect this practice has on our feline companions. While once widely regarded as a safe and humane procedure, few feline practitioners recommend cat declawing today. 

Most pet parents know that their dog or cat needs shots of some type, but few really understand what that means. Do you know what dog vaccines or cat vaccines your pet is due for and why they are important? MarketPlace Veterinary Hospital is here to break down for you. 

Whether you’re a cat or dog owner, there’s no denying that pets are an important part of our families. And just like any family member, they deserve our attention and love.

Here are our tips for pet owners to ensure your furry friends get off to a great start in 2023.

Are you looking for a new best friend? Dogs offer companionship and can even give your health and happiness a boost.

And if you work 9-5? Dogs are adaptable and resilient, and the right dog can be a perfect pet for single people with busy schedules—even those who work eight hours a day.

Here are some tips on how to keep your dog healthy while juggling work commitments.

Between Christmas and the other holidays that fall at the end of the year, you are probably pretty busy. That doesn’t mean that your pet care should fall through the cracks, though. MarketPlace Veterinary Hospital has our list of do’s and don’ts to make sure that your pet safety around the holidays remains top notch, no matter how crazy things get.

Your pet is a member of your family. You love your pets, care for them, and want to keep them safe. But what happens if they get injured or sick? In some cases, you may not be able to get your dog or cat to the vet right away, so it’s essential to have a basic pet first-aid kit on hand.

For your pet’s safety in the event of an emergency, the American Red Cross recommends keeping a pet first-aid kit stocked and ready, but that doesn’t mean you need to buy one from an expensive store or specialist retailer. Here’s how you can make your own:

As with most important appointments, there’s a lot to cover during a routine pet wellness exam. While we move through the many topics relevant to each individual pet’s health and well-being, it is possible that a couple items get inadvertently overlooked. To ensure that all of your questions and concerns are properly addressed, we recommend jotting down important questions and concerns in a notebook (whether digital or on paper). We strive to exceed expectations, and we hope both you and your pet get the most out of an upcoming pet wellness exam. 

We get it. Cats typically detest their travel crate and show white-hot rage/abject fear when placed in a car for travel. This means it’s pretty darn difficult to bring them into the vet. To complicate things, they’re famous for concealing any signs of illness or injury. So hidden are their potential symptoms, that long periods of time can go by without medical diagnosis or treatment. 

Weight gain in pets can happen so slowly, it’s almost unnoticeable. For owners that see their pets every single day, it may not even register that their pet’s shape and size is expanding. A few extra pounds on a human may be negligible, but the equivalent of 5 extra pounds is 79 pounds on a cat, or 25-100 extra pounds on a dog (depending on their breed). This has a profound effect on their overall health, and may even decrease lifespan. We can help you prevent pet obesity, and/or safely manage a pet’s weight gain. 

Keeping your playful pooch healthy and happy throughout his life means making sure he gets exercise, proper nutrition, plenty of belly scritches, routine checkups—and dog dental care. 

Did that last one surprise you? Plenty of pet parents don’t realize how critical oral hygiene is to a pet’s overall health, but the truth is, by the time your dog is 3 years old, he will likely have some form of dental disease. This condition is painful, and the bacteria that builds up in his mouth can travel to vital organs, like his kidneys, liver, and heart.  

At MarketPlace Veterinary Hospital, we want all of our doggie parents to understand the importance of pet dental care—both professional cleanings and at-home dental hygiene.