Redmond Fall City Animal Hospital

07/12/2024

06/23/2024

When we welcome dogs into our lives, we often treat them as part of the family, showering them with affection and cuddles. However, what many of us don't realise is that our well-intentioned hugs might not be as comforting to our canine friends as we think. This blog explores the importance of under...

04/07/2024

ADOLESCENCE:
As dogs go through adolescence, it’s safe to say things turn a little topsy-turvy! 🙃

If you’re currently at this stage and feeling like you’ve taken one step forward and two steps back, don’t panic! During this stage of life, there’s a lot going on in their busy little brains.

Here are three facts about the adolescent brain 🧠👇

1. The inhibitory neurons of the amygdala that help to dampen down emotional responses don’t fully mature until the END of adolescence.

2. Communication between the frontal cortex and amygdala, which is essential for skills training, decreases during adolescence.

3. Extinction memory is impaired during adolescence, so if your dog has a bad experience it’s much more likely to lead to a ‘hard wired’ fear memory.

Have patience and compassion as you support and guide your dog through this vulnerable period of brain development.

03/25/2024

Heads up dog owners!
http://tinyurl.com/thinkingpets
The Thinking Pets Research Program at NC State College of Veterinary Medicine & Veterinary Hospital would love to hear from you! Please take this 10-15 minute survey about you, your dog and your relationship with your dog.
Your responses are completely anonymous & will help them to better understand possible owner-related and dog factors that may affect how dog's experience the veterinary clinic.

03/07/2024

It’s better to be safe than sorry, so check which type of lily you are purchasing before you bring any flowers or plants into your home. Lilies are beautiful plants which may brighten your home, but they are highly toxic to your cat. All

03/01/2024

And today we pay tribute to a favorite dog reinforcement, peanut butter! Always make sure it does not contain xylitol, a sweetener.

02/26/2024

Shake it…shake it off…

A recent study by two researchers in France looked at sniffing, pulse rate, and leash length on walks. Sixty-one dogs were taken on three separate walks, five minutes each walk, once with a 1.5m leash, once with a 5m leash, and once without a leash at all (walk order was randomized for each dog). Off-leash dogs sniffed the most, more than 3x as long as the dogs on short leashes. Dogs on long leashes spent nearly as much time as unleashed dogs sniffing, almost 3x as long as dogs on short leashes.

This study also found that sniffing resulted in lowered pulse rates, and the more intensely they sniffed, the more their pulse rates lowered. Pulse rate was also lowered when dogs “shook off” during walks on all leash lengths. The “shake off” behavior was often seen when the dog’s pulse rate was particularly high.

Read more about it below!

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1HX77kp2HBDiTxmq/?mibextid=Le6z7H

https://www.tuftsyourdog.com/everydaydogcare/giving-your-dog-time-to-sniff-on-walks-will-literally-soothe-his-heart/

What else can we learn about dogs from their walking behavior? Take your best friend on a Sniffari and see what you observe!

02/12/2024

02/09/2024

Cats are constantly communicating their feelings and intent with humans and other animals by using their primary communication method—body language. The prob...

02/09/2024

Do you know about the Five Pillars of a Healthy Feline Environment? Are you meeting the basic needs of your own cat companions?