Posts by InTouch

While adding a new pet is a fun and exciting family project, choosing the perfect fit can be challenging. Some families have always had a certain breed and they are used to the demands and quirks of the breed, while others are embarking on a journey to get something different or even their very first…

Summer is full of fun times and celebrations, especially around the Independence Day holiday. The fireworks this time of year sure are beautiful to watch. Dogs and cats all react differently to fireworks. While some do not seem to mind, others are driven into a panic at the noise or the flashes of fireworks. Some…

While the holiday season is wrapping up there are a few common household holiday items that can prove toxic to your pet.  This time of year we seem to see more toxicities than other times of the year. I would like to take a few moments to go over a few common toxins, what to do…

For years it has been said that given our Chicago harsh winters, flea and tick prevention is not required in the winter months. We previously thought it was too cold and the ticks either went dormant or died. While this can be true for some ticks, it is not true for all types of ticks.…

Before we answer the question of, “Is year round prevention needed for my dog?” Let’s first talk about how heartworm disease is transmitted. The very basic principle behind the transmission of heartworm is that a mosquito bites an infected dog then bites a non-infected dog, through this the parasite is transmitted. The question of if…

Acupuncture is a healing modality that has been used for thousands of years in animals, mostly horses, and people. Acupuncture did not become widely used in pets until the 1990’s. Although it’s an eastern modality, more acupuncture treatments are done on pets in Europe and the US than anywhere else in the world. How does it…

Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection spread through the urine of wild animals. Raccoons, opossums, mice, voles, deer, foxes, squirrels, and skunks can all spread this bacterium, so this infection can be spread in virtually any type of neighborhood around the world and can be in your own backyard. Dogs become infected when they come in…