Posts in Category: Exercise Nutrition & Obesity

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?

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.

Time flies! It feels like just yesterday we were posting information about holiday pet safety for our community of dedicated owners. Now that summer is in full swing, it’s time to review the many ways our pets can get into trouble – or be placed inadvertently in harm’s way. Fortunately, with our tried and true methods for summer pet safety, you and your pet can enjoy all the season has to offer.

Getting Started

One of the best ways to get your pet started off on the right paw this summer is to have them examined. Preventive care exams offer great insight into your pet’s wellness, including dental health, nutrition, and disease prevention. Continue…

What is Leptospirosis?

Leptospirosis is a potentially zoonotic bacterial disease, defined as a disease spread from animals to people.  Most human cases occur from wildlife sources such as raccoons, squirrels, foxes, skunks, opossums, coyotes and rats whose urine has contaminated standing water or soil.  Direct transmission from pets to people is uncommon but has been reported, usually from pet rats.  The bacteria penetrates mucous membranes or abraded skin. Continue…

What is Diabetes Mellitus?

Once your Dog or Cat has been diagnosed with Diabetes Mellitus (Discussed further in Part I of our Diabetes Mellitus Blog), how is it treated? The short answer is with injections of insulin and with diet. Diabetes Mellitus is a generally treatable condition caused by an insulin deficiency.  Continue…

Chronic  Kidney Disease (or CKD) is diagnosed with lab tests that are performed by your Veterinarian.  CKD occurs when the kidneys are not able to do their job of removing waste products from the body as effectively as they should. These waste products accumulate in the blood and cause symptoms including increased thirst and urination, loss of appetite, vomiting, and weight loss. Continue…

Difficulty urinating, frequent urination, excessive trips to the litter box, blood in the urine, and urinating outside of the litter box are all signs of bladder problems in a cat. Does this mean that your cat has a urinary tract infection? The answer might surprise you. Continue…

Why is Obesity a Problem

Overweight or obese dogs and cats is an increasing problem. What causes our pets to be overweight or obese? The simple answer is too much food and not enough exercise.

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What is Diabetes

Dogs and cats can get Diabetes just like humans. Diabetes (or Diabetes Mellitus) is a disease that is caused by an insulin deficiency or insulin resistance (the body doesn’t respond normally to insulin).  Insulin is a hormone that is produced by the pancreas. Insulin is necessary for the body to use sugar (glucose). The cause of diabetes is uncertain, but genetics and obesity play a role in the development of the disease. Continue…