Consulting with a veterinarian is the best way to determine the difference between a behavior problem and a mental problem. The vet will conduct a full physical examination to ensure there are no issues with pain or underlying organ issues that could be causing the behavioral problems. Blood work may also be necessary. Once these factors are eliminated and a full history is taken, it will be easier to determine if the issue is behavioral or medical.

Reach out to a veterinarian for any concern you have, regardless of whether you think it's small or not. However, specific instances when you should seek help include if your dog exhibits aggressive tendencies, becomes very fearful, pants or paces excessively, is scared of thunderstorms, or gets overexcited or agitated when people enter your home.

While the allergies themselves can be similar, the signs and symptoms are usually different. Dogs typically don't experience sneezing, runny eyes, and congestion as humans do. Instead, they usually exhibit skin issues such as excessive itching, licking of the paws, and redness.

Common symptoms of allergies in dogs include licking of the paws, redness on the belly, in the groin area, in the armpits, and sometimes on the face. Rarely, dogs may exhibit sneezing, watery eyes, and a watery nose. Some dogs with allergies may also experience gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea.

Allergies are extremely common in dogs, with about 60 to 70% of patients having some kind of allergy. The prevalence of allergies in dogs depends on the area that you live. For example, Greenville is one of the highest pollen producers in the whole country, which contributes to a higher number of allergies.

We determine if a dog has allergies through a combination of a thorough physical history, going over everything that the dog has been exposed to and the signs they have, and a full physical exam. A lot of times, we'll run some blood work to help us eliminate other issues that could be going on, and sometimes we will send the dog to a dermatologist.

A microchip does not guarantee that your cat will be found, but it does increase the likelihood of your cat being returned to you if they are found and brought to a location that can scan the microchip. It is essential to register your pet's microchip and keep your contact information up-to-date to ensure the best chance of being reunited with your lost pet.

Only animal shelters and animal hospitals have the capability to scan pet microchips. If someone not affiliated with these organizations were to somehow obtain a scanner, all they would be able to access is the microchip number. They could then look up the registry that the microchip is linked to, but they would not be able to access your personal information without your consent.

As far as we know, all shelters and animal hospitals have the capability to scan for microchips and should scan any stray animal that comes in. This helps them to reunite lost pets with their owners.