It’s national pet ID week. Pet ID is crucial for ensuring the safety and well-being of our furry companions.

This week is about ensuring your furry companions are safe and well-protected. Approximately one of every three pets will become lost at some point in their lifetime, and it's heartbreaking to think of our beloved pets wandering alone and scared. The good news is Wise & Wonderful Integrative Veterinary Center can help prevent this from happening with proper identification.

Independence Day firework festivities can turn a time of celebration into a terror for many pets. From their perspective, loud, unpredictable noises accompanied by bright lights are threatening and a cause for alarm. Thankfully, it doesn't have to be that way. Wise and Wonderful Integrative Veterinary Center, your local Santa Rosa vet, offers vital information about fireworks and the risks they can present.

Foxtails are a dry weed very commonly found along paths and trails, in parks, and in your backyard! Foxtails are your dog's nemesis because they are small and sneaky and burrow between digits and paw pads. Dogs lick their paws which pushes the foxtail even further in. Eventually, their paw can become red, inflamed, infected, and swollen.

Ticks feed on the blood of mammals, birds, reptiles, and even amphibians. They use their sharp, barbed mouthparts to pierce the skin of their host and then feed on the blood. Ticks can be carriers of various diseases, including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and babesiosis.

Canine influenza is spreading – how can you protect your pup?

The virus, which does not affect humans, can spread in doggy daycare centers and animal shelters

Canine influenza, also known as dog flu, is a highly contagious canine respiratory virus. Wise and Wonderful Integrative Veterinary Center, your local Santa Rosa vet, offers some information about the virus and tips for treatment and prevention.

The entire lily plant is toxic, including the flowers, leaves, stems, and even the pollen. When ingested, lilies can cause kidney failure in cats, which can be fatal if not treated promptly.

Essential oils that are known to cause poisoning in cats include oil of wintergreen, oil of sweet birch, citrus oil, pine oils, Ylang Ylang oil, peppermint oil, cinnamon oil, pennyroyal oil, clove oil, eucalyptus oil, and tea tree oil. Ingestion or inhalation of these oils can cause drooling, vomiting, tremors, ataxia (wobbliness), respiratory distress, low heart rate, low body temperature, and liver failure.

Canine infectious tracheobronchitis – sometimes referred to as kennel cough – is not only a concern for boarded or kenneled dogs. Dogs commonly contract tracheobronchitis at places where large amounts of canines congregate, such as dog parks, training groups, dog shows, boarding facilities, and doggie daycare. Wise and Wonderful Integrative Veterinary Center, your local Santa Rosa vet, offers some information about the disease and tips for treatment and prevention.

Bad breath in pets can signify dental problems, such as gum disease, cavities, or tooth infections. Neglecting your pet’s dental health can lead to serious health issues like heart, liver, and kidney disease. In addition, dental problems can also cause pain and discomfort for your pet, which can impact their quality of life and overall well-being. Wise and Wonderful Integrative Veterinary Center, your local Santa Rosa vet, offers tips on caring for your pet’s teeth.

Avoid giving your pet turkey meat, especially fatty dark meat and skin (a small amount of unseasoned white meat is okay), and never give them any leftover bones. Garlic, onion, leeks, and chives are common in many Thanksgiving dishes and are toxic to dogs and cats.

Arthritis in cats includes more than difficulty jumping. Bony changes in a joint cannot be reversed, but treatments to reduce inflammation can make your pet more comfortable, including: weight loss, joint supplements (glucosamine-chondroitin-msm, fish oil), anti-inflammatory (NSAID), gabapentin, SOLENSIA (frunevetmab), Adequan, Chinese medicine, Chinese herbs, cold laser, acupuncture, chiropractic, and Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy (PEMF). Wise and Wonderful Integrative Veterinary Center, your holistic and integrative Sonoma County vet is here to help!

With advancements and the broader availability of veterinary medicine, our pets are living longer, healthier, and happier lives. While this is wonderful for our relationships with our senior pets, pet owners should be aware of normal aging changes and things we can do to make life more comfortable for our companions. Wise and Wonderful Integrative Veterinary Center, your holistic and integrative Sonoma County vet, has some tips for caring for your senior pet.

Arthritis in cats includes more than difficulty jumping. Bony changes in a joint cannot be reversed, but treatments to reduce inflammation can make your pet more comfortable, including: weight loss, joint supplements (glucosamine-chondroitin-msm, fish oil), anti-inflammatory (NSAID), gabapentin, SOLENSIA (frunevetmab), Adequan, Chinese medicine, Chinese herbs, cold laser, acupuncture, chiropractic, and Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy (PEMF). Wise and Wonderful Integrative Veterinary Center, your holistic and integrative Sonoma County vet is here to help!

Halloween Safety Tips for your Pet
Halloween is nearly here! There will probably be many more trick-or-treaters this year than in the past several years. While we are all eager to get our pets in on the fun, but to keep them safe this Halloween, here are some tips and tricks from Wise and Wonderful Integrative Veterinary Center, your holistic and integrative Sonoma County vet.

Holistic Medicine

Holistic medicine focuses on the whole body, which is made of interdependent components. Holistic veterinary medicine is concerned with the connection between the physical, mental, and spiritual health of pets and their environment.

Heatstroke

It’s another triple-digit day in Sonoma County, and the remainder of the week looks to be just as uncomfortably hot and dangerous. Untreated severe heatstroke may result in coma or death.

Your veterinarian and care team are trained to assess the severity of heatstroke and provide emergency medical treatment as required, including intravenous (IV) fluids, cooling treatments, supplemental oxygen, medications, and blood tests to check organ function.

April is Heartworm Awareness Month

Heartworm disease is diagnosed mainly in dogs and, less frequently, in cats and ferrets. Heartworms also live in other animal hosts such as wolves, coyotes, foxes, California gray seals, sea lions, and raccoons. It is transmitted through mosquito bites and is dependent on a climate with adequate temperature and humidity to support mosquito populations. In California, winter rains, gray water systems, irrigation, tree planting, commercial, and real estate development, interstate pet movement, and the introduction of non-native mosquitoes have all contributed to increased risk from heartworm disease.

February is National Cat Health Month! While keeping kitty in good health is always important, this is the purrfect time to pay your cute pet some extra attention. As you may know, here at Wise and Wonderful Integrative Veterinary Center, we combine both modern western veterinary modalities with traditional Chinese Medicine. Our Santa Rosa, California, veterinary clinic offers these tips on keeping kitty healthy.

January 14 is National Dress Up Your Pet Day! This annual celebration encourages pet owners to dress up their canine companions or feline friends. Pet owners can dress themselves and their dog in matching outfits or give the pet a completely interesting look. It all depends on what the animal feels comfortable in and what strikes the fancy of the pet owner. If you’re a fan of placing your dog or cat in human-like clothing, then celebrate this holiday and show off your style!

Have you finished your holiday shopping yet? Don’t forget to pick up something for your pet! It's easy to find things for dogs or cats, but what about smaller animals? A local Santa Rosa veterinarian has some great gift ideas for smaller pets.