Blog

We are so fortunate to live in a time of preventive medicine. When it comes to the human-pet dynamic, we can easily stay in front of many potential problems. 

Zoonotic diseases, for example, play a huge role in the world of prevention. With many pets sleeping with their owners and sharing kisses, responsible attention to hygiene, sanitation, and vaccination is of the utmost importance.

While it may not be the most comforting thought, Americans are not alone in our attempts to make sense of our upside down world. People around the world are struggling to cope with the immense challenges of COVID, and social unrest has reached a boiling point in global and local communities. 

But where do our pets fit into this new paradigm? Pet safety is always a priority, but there are new threats to their normal city-living routines.

Ordinary Living’

There are easily a million pets living in NYC homes, and more than half of them are dogs. In fact, the rate of pet adoption is higher in urban areas than anywhere else – for good reason. City dwellers are keen on providing the best possible lifestyles and living conditions for our pets. 

The last couple of months have been unbelievable in many ways. The good news, for pet owners anyway, is that they didn’t have to shelter in place by themselves, and the companionship offered by their sweet pets really hit the spot in these times of shock, despair, fear and sadness. But now that we’re approaching going back to a semi-normal way of life, pet separation anxiety may be just the beginning of our challenges.

Helping Pets with Transitions

Many pets relished in all the extra time their people spent at home, doting on their every need. This is especially true for pets that were adopted shortly before or in the midst of sheltering in place.

Mandatory quarantines and stay at home orders created a different way of life for pets and their people alike. Despite relaxing restrictions we cannot expect our pets to simply accept roll with these particular punches. In  other words, don’t be surprised if your pet suffers from separation anxiety.

We all know it’s inevitable, but that doesn’t make it any easier to cope with pet loss. Whether sudden or unexpected, the death of a beloved pet is never easy – and the path to healing can seem never ending.

Sadly, our society doesn’t take pet loss, and the associated emotions, as seriously as it should. This leaves grieving pet owners with few avenues for support as they process their sadness.

At All Creatures Veterinary Hospital we empathize deeply with the loss of a pet, and we hope to connect you to resources and ideas that can help you cope and begin to heal. 

We would get so much more done if our human communications hinged on subtle expressions, sleek movements, and specific flicks of appendages. Cats are, unlike us, very efficient in their use of the eyes, ears, fur, body positioning and of course, their tails to convey exactly what they’re thinking and feeling. From fright to pleasure, suspicion to affection, feline body language is incredibly adept at communication. 

Amazingly, the more we know about the way our feline friends communicate, the deeper our human-cat connection can be!

In a perfect world, we would have as many pets as our hearts desire and they would all get along. Sure, many animal cohabitants are open to new experiences and friends, and fluidly go with the flow of the household. Unfortunately, adapting to a routine change can be a hard-fought battle with far-reaching consequences for deeply territorial pets. 

While it’s true that a peaceful, easy-going vibe is attainable in a home with multiple pets, adding a second pet must be done in a gentle, deliberate fashion.

The holidays are here, a fact that has most Americans racing the aisles, planning delicious feasts, and getting ready for visitors and family gatherings. Some of us celebrate with the golden light of Hanukkah, some take pride in a perfect Christmas tree. And almost all of us celebrate New Year’s Eve with parties, fireworks, and lots of friends.

Unfortunately, the holidays pose some unique hazards for pets and are associated with some very common pet emergencies. We’ve gathered our time-tested holiday safety for pets tips to keep your furry friends safe and healthy all season long!

Whether it’s for a routine wellness exam, acupuncture, or emergency, we value the time and effort it takes to bring a pet in (and we know it’s not always easy!). As such, we do our best to limit wait times in our lobby and exam rooms, but sometimes pets and their people have a few moments to visit with others, explore the lobby, and visit with our friendly staff.

Veterinary hospital lobby safety is important to us at All Creatures Veterinary Hospital of Brooklyn, and we hope that the following tips can make your next visit as enjoyable as possible.

Before small children understand that fireworks were designed to entertain and awe, they are often scared. With language, conditioning, and ongoing positive experiences, kids learn as they grow that fireworks are enjoyable and help us celebrate Independence Day, New Year’s and more.

Pets, on the other hand, don’t come equipped with the knowledge that fireworks (and other loud, jarring, unpredictable noises) won’t harm them. When they feel threatened by loud noises, like thunderstorms, construction sounds, etc., frightened pets either hide or flee. Especially for city-dwelling pets, it can seem impossible to shield them from the hustle and bustle that can lead to anxiety symptoms.

To prevent the dangerous and sometimes painful side effects of pet noise anxiety, we’ve got some tips to help you through the summer.

2018 certainly had its ups and downs, but at All Creatures Veterinary Hospital of Brooklyn, we couldn’t be happier with the past 365 days. It has been a pleasure to serve our wonderful Brooklyn pet community, and each day has given us a chance to grow and give back to each of you.

Speaking of growing, we are thrilled that so many of you are reading our monthly pet care blogs. Writing and publishing the blog has been a privilege and we hope that it’s given you timely, interesting and relevant information about how to keep your pet their healthiest.

With that in mind, we looked at which blogs you found most engaging, and we’ve compiled All Creatures Veterinary Hospital of Brooklyn’s top 5 pet care blogs of 2018 here for your reading pleasure. Enjoy!