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If you feel like we do at Androscoggin Animal Hospital, you want to give your dog the absolute best of everything. Pet food is no exception. But how do you know how to choose the very best dog food? Don’t worry, we will help you decide?

Dogs and cats get along like oil and water. If you’re a devoted pet parent with a heart for cats and dogs alike, however, you’re probably wondering how to raise a cat and dog together. Is it possible? What can you do to help your dog and cat get along? We’ll help you learn how to get a cat and dog to bond.

Discovering a great dog sitter is like finding the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. You can’t believe your good fortune. And when you’re searching for a dog sitter, you’re willing to look far and wide for the right person. So, how do you find a pet sitter? Androscoggin Animal Hospital has a list of traits to look for:

Boundless Enthusiasm for Pets

You’ve been making your holiday gift list, and your dog will soon be the lucky recipient of some must-have goodies. Because he has been such a good boy this year, you plan to lavish him with a stocking full of toys and a new bandanna. He may even get to slurp some doggie ice cream.

And for the icing on the cake, you’ll make him some tasty homemade dog treats. These vet-approved snacks are really packed with nutritious ingredients from your kitchen. You might need a separate stocking just for these tasty snacks!

There’s a reason why “smarty cat” is part of our vernacular. Any cat lover will profess that cats are extremely intelligent creatures, with an insatiable curiosity, an ability to adapt to their surroundings, and a distinct aura of superiority—especially when they’re in the presence of dogs. And perhaps the clearest marker of feline intelligence: they have very little interest in following orders.

Cat lovers agree that all cats are smarty cats, but some cat breeds are known for being more quick-witted than others.

No matter how much we wish that our pets never got sick or injured, we are still not at a place in modern medicine where we can prevent these things entirely. While good wellness care goes a long way, Androscoggin Animal Hospital still sees plenty of sick patients. We would love to share with you, though, the top dog health problems we see and our advice to navigate them better. 

While most people know the exact location and function of a dog’s penis, many dog owners are unfamiliar with the medical term “paraphimosis.” Occurring when the glans, or the actual penis, gets caught in the outward position, paraphimosis ranges from quite unpleasant to downright dangerous. As it is with all matters concerning your dog’s health and wellbeing, we recommend taking a close look at their anatomy and behavior to know when things aren’t right.

For many families, fall brings a significant shift in day-to-day schedules. Long summer days are left behind, kids return to school, and evenings and weekends are full of hobbies and extracurricular activities. Some family members, including the furry ones, are less than thrilled with this change.

While vegans do not consume (or often use) animal products, many vegans have the desire to provide love and care to animals. Some pets are not able to be like their owner and live the vegan lifestyle. There are many fluffy and not-so-fluffy friends that don’t need meat and can be fantastic pet companions. If you are a vegan and find yourself asking what kind of pets can fit in with your lifestyle, Androscoggin Animal Hospital has you covered.

Have you ever had the notion that your dog could tell when you’re sick or sad? It turns out, your hunch is correct. Dogs pay attention to a variety of signals to notice how their favorite humans are feeling. They can recognize changes in facial expressions and behaviors and can also pick up on chemical changes using their advanced sense of smell.