Posts in Category: Pet Health & Wellness

Here in East Tennessee, we’re lucky enough to have beautiful hiking all year long. Sure, it’s chilly in the winter in the Smoky Mountains—but there’s something magical about hiking among frosty trees and the occasional snow. 

But as any Knoxville, TN vet knows, there are winter pet hiking safety concerns to know about. Here’s what our team at Volunteer Veterinary Hospital wants you to know. 

If your pet starts spurning food she usually gobbles right up, it’s easy to dismiss the change in appetite as a phase. But any change in food intake—especially paired with other symptoms—can be an early sign of illness or disease. 

Here’s what the team at Volunteer Veterinary Hospital in Knoxville wants you to know about pet appetite changes. 

Your dog used to zoom through the yard like a furry rocket. Now? He’s hesitating at the stairs and skipping playtime. Maybe your once-spry cat avoids leaping onto her favorite perch. It might seem like your pet is just “getting older,” but changes in movement can signal something more.

At Volunteer Veterinary Hospital in Knoxville, we know how important it is to catch mobility issues early. A simple checkup could be the first step to helping your pet feel like themselves again.

As the leaves change and the weather cools down, fall is a perfect time to cozy up, slow down, and check in on your pet’s health. Scheduling a seasonal wellness visit can help your pet stay healthy and catch any issues before they become more serious.

Here are five great reasons to book your fall pet wellness appointment with a trusted vet in Knoxville—like the friendly, local team at Volunteer Veterinary Hospital!

At Volunteer Veterinary Hospital, we understand how stressful it can be to find a lump on your pet. Not all masses, lumps, and bumps are created equal, and checking and monitoring them are an important part of pet wellness. 

While it is not possible to tell many different masses apart just by looking, there are definitely some things that you can do to determine what a new lump might be and how much to worry about it. Keep reading to learn some helpful tips about pet masses, lumps, and bumps.

We’re no strangers to severe weather in this part of Tennessee, but that doesn’t mean our pets welcome unpredictable storm systems. Flooding, tornado warnings, thunderclaps, and the range of associated hazards take extreme tolls on a pet’s tolerance, comfort and adaptability. Along with Volunteer Veterinary Hospital, you can help your pet by preparing for serious situations, prioritizing their relative well-being, and staying close to them in moments of fear, panic and anxiety.

Learning that your pet has a heart murmur can be alarming, but at Volunteer Veterinary Hospital, we’re here to help you understand what it means and what steps you can take to support your pet’s heart health. You can make informed decisions to keep your pet happy and healthy with the proper knowledge and care.

Life is composed of a series of changes, and we either accept and adapt or fight against time. One day, your pet is flying through the air in pursuit of a favored Frisbee; the next, he or she inexplicably refuses to get off the couch for a meal. Embracing this type of change can be very difficult, but through an understanding of basic senior pet care, you can fortify your aging pet’s overall wellness to ensure maximum safety and comfort.

All of us want what is best for our pets, and when it comes to pet nutrition, the amount of information out there can be staggering. It can be difficult to identify the best food for pets, and in truth, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. One nutrition trend that has been big lately is raw diets for pets, and Volunteer Veterinary Hospital wants to help clear up any questions on the topic. 

Call it the Achilles heel of our canine friends, but a torn ACL in the knee (more properly called a CCL in the dog) is the nemesis of many a pet. Injuries to the cranial cruciate ligament are one of the most common orthopedic problems diagnosed in dogs. Rupture of this ligament makes the knee joint unstable, and it can be an extremely painful condition. Thankfully, your friends at Volunteer Veterinary Hospital can help.