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Pet Talk

Springtime Gardening and Pet Safety

January 23, 2013

Spring is the season for being outdoors. For many that mean slipping on their rubber boots and gloves, grabbing their shovel, and planting seeds in the hope of an ample garden in the near future. While preparing your plot, it's important to take steps to ensure that it's safe for your pets to enjoy as well. "When planting your garden it is important to note tha... (Read More)

Should you scrap the table scraps?

January 17, 2013

As winter break comes to a close, numerous students find themselves back at home with a fridge full of leftovers. For many pet owners, this means a few less trips to the store for pet food. While sharing lunch with your four-legged friend is possible, owners should realize that your pet has particular dietary restrictions it must follow to guarantee that it stays... (Read More)

Matters of the Heart: Hypertension

January 14, 2013

One out of every three adults has high blood pressure or hypertension. As with humans, this health problem is seen in cats and dogs.Primary hypertension occurs when the blood pressure is higher than normal with no other cause. Secondary hypertension, however, occurs when the blood pressure is higher than normal as a result from a different disorder.Ordinarily, bo... (Read More)

Matters of the Heart: Congenital Heart Disease

January 04, 2013

Humans and animals often have similar health problems.  One example of this is Congenital Heart Disease. Congenital Heart Disease refers to a problem the animal is born with.  There are multiple types of Congenital Heart Disease: valve malformations or dysplasia, valve narrowing or stenosis, abnormal openings between the heart chambers or septal defects... (Read More)

Holiday Plant Décor – Which plants are toxic to pets?

December 20, 2012

EDITORS NOTE: Due to the university closure for the winter holidays, this will be the last Pet Talk column for the year. Pet Talks will resume normal distribution on January 3, 2013. Many people are decorating their homes for the holidays, but pet owners should be aware that some plants used for holiday decorating can be dangerous to cats and dogs. Understandi... (Read More)

Dashing Through the Snow: Signs of Hypothermia

December 13, 2012

The weather in Texas is extremely unpredictable. One day it's 60 degrees and raining, the next it's 80 degrees with sunshine. Winters can be even worse with unexpected cold fronts.  With extremely cold temperatures, hypothermia is a possibility for dogs. Hypothermia, occurring in both humans and pets, is a condition characterized by abnormally low body te... (Read More)