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Goodheart is committed to keeping your pet happy and healthy while preventing disease.
Xylitol: Is it Lurking in Your Pantry?
Symptoms, treatments, and what to do if you think that your pet has eaten it.
The number #1 recommendation from professionals is to read food labels before feeding anything to your pet. Do you have sugar-free gum, candies, or powdered peanut butter in your pantry? A sugar substitute called xylitol(also called birch sugar)is common in most of...
How to Recognize Pain in Your Cat
Even though house cats have been domesticated for 10,000 years, their instincts still tell them to hide their vulnerabilities.Cats are stoic. This trait can make it hard to know when they're in pain. Your cat may experience pain for many reasons: joint issues, tooth...
Don’t waste money! Store your pet food right.
Original packaging, room temperature and storage location matter
Dr Beth Spencer recommends storing dog and cat food in its original packaging, on a pantry shelf.You’ve done your research and chosen the best food for your cat and dog. Avoid these 3 mistakes once you get home. Don't decant food into new canisters, which could...
Introducing your cat to your newborn (or child)
Pets can grow to love your new baby with a few simple tricks
Dr Penn Chinudomsub when she was with her cat named JJ. Cats can get along with newborns and kids if you plan ahead and use these tips.Bringing a new baby into the home can be exciting but could also mean extra stress on your pets. Cats, fairly or unfairly, can be a...
How do I introduce my dog to my newborn?
3 tips that make all the difference for furry friends
A few easy steps can relieve your dog’s anxiety when you bring home a new baby, creating lasting friendships between your furry and human kids. Photo credit: Family PupzFor many of us, our dog was our first child. If you’re about to have a baby, congratulations! A...
Your dog’s age just got a little more exact
Researchers have a new formula to replace the “7 dog years = 1 human year” calculation
Our docs can offer advice on habits that promote a long, happy, healthy lifeNew research shows that dogs age in spurts as their DNA changes. Dogs still age faster than humans. However, they don’t age in a straight line like previously believed. As dogs age, their...
Humping: dogs mount for more than sexual reasons
There’s no reason to be embarrassed, but action is required if it’s constant
Male and female dogs hump buddies due to sexual instinct, to play, or to command control. Call us if this has become a habit for your pet.Is there anything more awkward than your dog humping another dog at the park? Perhaps sniffing a guest’s groin. But we’re here to...
Non-anesthetic dental procedures don’t work
Anesthesia is safe and provides your pet with a stress-free and pain-free cleaning.
Cats and dogs won't sit still for a dental cleaning. Anesthesia is the only way a vet can remove disease-causing bacteria from your pet’s teeth and gums.Recently, we’ve seen non-anesthetic dental procedures promoted for pets. Don’t believe the hype. These providers...
New guidelines: Fix your cat by 5 months of age
Cats can live longer when spayed or neutered earlier
Raj the cat might look a bit nervous, but really Feline Fix by 5 is a more humane option: It reduces disease, improves behavior and controls unwanted cat populations.Research indicates a decrease in cancer, behavioral issues, overpopulation, and infections when cats...