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What Should All Pet Owners Know?

Mar 8, 2023

text: what should all pet owners know ask a vet dog and cat
Article by Diana Gorin
See video on our TikTok

 

Picture this: you just got a new puppy or kitten. You did your research as much as you could on the breed, the best way to train, deciding what kind of diet you want to feed it, the best vet around (which is Alicia Pet Care Center of course)… You found the answers you thought you needed. 

But there are some things you don’t think to search up, so we asked our doctors at APCC what they think all pet owners should know because, it’s a valid question! Without any further ado, if our Vets had 10 seconds with a pet parent and  could only give * one * piece of advice, here’s what they would say: 

 

 

Matthew Wheaton, DVM

Matthew Wheaton, DVM

Chief of Staff

“Most Lilies are toxic to cats, not all but just keep them out of the house if you got curious kitties, lilies can be toxic to their kidneys. For dogs watch out for those sago palms, those little squatty trees, if you’ve heard my puppy talk you’ve heard me talk about it a billion times, any part of that plant can be toxic to their liver.”

 

Melissa Rellinger, DVM

Melissa Rellinger, DVM

Associate Veterinarian

“I’d recommend if there’s any abnormalities that you see at home, to videotape it with your phone, because most patients when they come into the hospital, they have so much adrenaline running through them that they hide their problems from us, so videotaping them at home is so important.”
Jen Lassler, DVM

Jen Lassler, DVM

Associate Veterinarian

“Most Lilies are toxic to cats, not all but just keep them out of the house if you got curious kitties, lilies can be toxic to their kidneys. For dogs watch out for those sago palms, those little squatty trees, if you’ve heard my puppy talk you’ve heard me talk about it a billion times, any part of that plant can be toxic to their liver.”

 

Sarah Cortright, DVM

Sarah Cortright, DVM

Associate Veterinarian

“If you have a male cat and you see him straining to urinate or poop, have him seen immediately, or call your vet. Because it can be a sign of a urinary obstruction, which is life threatening.”

 

Sarah Northrop, DVM

Sarah Northrop, DVM

Associate Veterinarian

“Dogs and cats show pain in more subtle ways than most people think. They rarely are going to cry out, whimper or even limp. Signs that we look for are generalized slowing down/sleeping more, “getting old,” hesitation to jump/climb onto furniture or into the car, less playing with toys, grumpier/more like to bite, not finishing walks, etc.  On an exam, a veterinarian may be looking for subtle changes in how they hold their ears, whether they stop panting, a “side eye,” or simply avoiding examination by sitting or walking away”

 

Lara Ashbran, DVM

Lara Ashbran, DVM

Associate Veterinarian

(if you are a patient with us) 

“The hospital is a nervous place for animals and they may act differently than normal.  But our hospital staff cares very much about their pets well-being and and are trained to handle their pets to help with any nervousness!” 

You can watch this Youtube video about “Happy Visits” that we offer at APCC to help our extra nervous patients get more comfortable at the vet’s!

Ashley Dewey, DVM

Ashley Dewey, DVM

Associate Veterinarian

“I wish pet owners knew the signs of pain in older dogs, especially.” 

 

We hope these tips and advice will be helpful for you when you notice your dog doing a strange behavior, or you cat making a weird face at you, and you’ll remember this article! 

To read more about our doctors, check out our about us page!

If you are in Orange County and think you may need to bring your pet in after reading this article, you can call to make an appointment at 949-768-1313!

 

 

About The Author

Diana Gorin, Social Media and Marketing Specialist | Diana started at APCC in February of 2022, after previously working in social media and branding. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film & Television and has worked in Georgia, New York City, Yellowstone National Park, but she loves California above all.  She also has an insane flamepoint kitten named Charlotte that completely runs her life.