Animal Health Clinic

07/31/2026

Oh hey, it's ! This is probably one of our favorite holidays, because we get to celebrate it twice a year. Help us celebrate by sharing a photo of your lovable mutt in the comments below! And be ready to celebrate again in December!

07/31/2026

Kneading behavior is a holdover from when cats were kittens. It originates when kittens are nursing on the mother. During nursing, kittens instinctively flex and relax their paws (known as the milk tread) to stimulate lactation and release the milk flow. Even after kittens have been weaned and have grown into adulthood, it’s common for many cats to continue the kneading behavior.

07/30/2026

Puppy time 🐶! Benny gave us cuteness overload today.

07/30/2026

Puppy time🐶! Doogie is sweet and smart.

07/28/2026

Puppy time 🐶! Boone is growing like a w**d, but in a good way.

07/28/2026

🐾 Not every dog wants to be touched — and that's okay.

Dogs are not public property, and we should never assume that an unfamiliar (or even familiar) dog is inviting interaction just by being present.

The golden rule: don't approach unknown dogs. Give them space, stay relaxed, look slightly away, and let them come to you.

And even when a dog does approach you, sniffing, standing nearby, or coming close is NOT necessarily an invitation to pat them. Wait for clearer signals — loose, relaxed body language, leaning into your leg, gentle eye contact, a nudge, a paw, or a play bow. Those are consent.

Once you have those signals, you can ask their guardian if it's okay to interact. Keep it brief, and pause to check if they want to continue.

🚫 Avoid: patting on the head, pushing your hand in their face, hugging, or overwhelming them with too many people or too much intensity.

⚠️ Signs a dog is uncomfortable: lip licking, yawning, looking away, moving away, ears pinned back, tail tucked, whale eye (whites of the eyes showing) — and of course snapping or growling, which is an immediate request for more space.

This applies to children too — teaching kids that unknown dogs are not to be approached is one of the most important lessons we can pass on.

I've put together an infographic breaking all of this down — save it and share it! 👆

And if you want to go deeper, I've also made a video exploring whether people should even have the expectation to pat an unknown dog — and why "asking first" doesn't always make it okay 👇
📺 https://youtu.be/K2D8cOGUhs4

07/28/2026

07/27/2026

07/27/2026

There's no place for punishment when training your cat. Every behavior serves a purpose and makes sense to the cat, even if it doesn't make sense to you or seems like a deliberate act of misbehavior. Your job is to figure out the underlying cause. Take a loving, positive approach to training.

07/27/2026

Kitten time 🐈! Milo is ready to explore.