It could. I have plenty of dogs that handle transition just fine. However, I have an equal amount of dogs where, if you make the slightest change to their diet, you are going to upset their GI system terribly. You're basically looking to maintain their gut biome as happily and peacefully as possible. For some pets, that means finding a diet and balance that works and sticking with it. I know as humans, we want to add that variety and share what we're eating with them, but if it's not good for your dog and/or it's not healthy or a good option for any dog, it is best just to take the higher ground and not do it.

The obvious signs right off the bat are if you're noticing vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, and/or just generally not acting themselves. Those would be the easily identifiable symptoms that you would notice if your pet isn't handling the food that you're feeding them correctly. Of course, there is quite a long list, but that's something we'll discuss during your exam if this is your primary concern.

The short answer to that is no, but the honest answer is we're probably going to anyway. Some foods that are okay to give dogs are carrots, apples, bananas, and broccoli if they'll eat them. There's quite a list of human foods that are safe to give, but I would say focus on moderation. It should not be taking up anywhere near the bulk of their regular diet intake of certified food. Whether you're just giving a couple of bites of it or an occasional treat, that is okay. The foods that you want to avoid at all costs would be things that are toxic to them, like raisins, onions, and garlic. However, there are other things to consider. Things like fried foods, high-fatty foods, sugary foods, and the dreaded chocolate. We have plenty of blog material and resources on our website if you want to dive deeper into what things to avoid feeding or what things are safe to feed. As always, you can always call our clinic if you have any specific questions because, I'm going to be honest, you'll get those cute puppy dog eyes looking at you, and you'll want to cave in. Not all of us can be perfect and not feed because, I mean, come on. You can't have that guy look up at you; you'll give him a snack. So make sure it's moderation, the right option of food, and that you're not doing it all the time.

They can. If fleas or ticks are on your pet, they certainly can cause disease in humans. Fleas can easily jump from your pet, and if ticks are attached to your pet, they most likely cannot. But if they're crawling, they haven't yet taken a blood meal, and if they don't take it from your pet, they will find the next nearest warm body. If that is someone in your household, they do not distinguish. They will just try to get their next meal. Tickborne disease is a really important thing to prevent in dogs and in humans.

Oftentimes, it's when your dog goes outside. It can be just to go outside to the bathroom in your backyard, especially if you have deer coming through the backyard. It can be out on a hike if you're an outdoorsy adventurer, but not always. It can also be in the backyard or walking along the street where other dogs are around, which can cause exposure too. Oftentimes, we have rabbits, rodents, and other things that are coming into our urban areas, and those can also carry ticks.

Fleas can live in the environment, mostly on pets, but they can live in the environment for an annoyingly long time, usually about three months. They have these really protective shells or larval covers that would probably survive the apocalypse, but they are attracted by heat, and that is when they will open up. It's essential always to have your pet on flea prevention, but especially for those three months because if you're constantly cleaning your house, they can live in the sofa, in the carpet, or in the cracks between your floorboards. Trying to make sure that you're removing all of that pupa and cleaning all those areas to try and get rid of them is important.

Fleas are very small, but they're not microscopic, so you can see them with the naked eye. They have oval-shaped bodies with really long legs, and they're usually brown. They're very bouncy, so whenever you see them, they'll usually spring very far out of the way. Their movement is often very characteristic, and they're very itchy. Ticks have more of a flat, round body, and they have really short legs. They're much slower moving and crawling. They kind of crawl between the fur and will then attach. Their appearance will change once they are engorged with blood or they take a meal. They can become much larger, and they're often gray in color. It's important to try to remove the entire body, and if you're uncomfortable doing that, we can help with that too.

I will throw this out there: I am not a groomer. I just know my knowledge from when I come and pick up my cat from his grooming appointment. But I know they do a thorough brushing, usually with a detangler product, and then they will do a bathing, blow dry, and shave. Your preference and the condition of the coat determine how much shaving is involved. Oftentimes, they'll recommend doing an ear cleaning and trimming of the paw pads. Some places will do brushing for you or have some dental gel that they'll put on for a little added bonus for their grooming. I encourage you to call your cat groomer to see what their procedure is, but that's the gist of what to expect. I know there's probably a lot more out there that I am not a pro on, so I will gladly help steer you toward reputable cat groomers if needed.

They will lick themselves. They have a little rough tongue that they'll use to lick their fur and clean off any debris, and if you have multiple cats, I'm sure you've seen them grooming each other. This is one way that they help keep themselves clean. At times, you might see them licking their paws and wiping their face. That is primarily their routine for their self-hygiene maintenance.