Knoxville TN Animal Clinic, Knoxville Veterinarian

Certain dog behaviors can vacillate between alarming and confounding, and it’s not always clear when dog owners need to act. Sometimes, behaviors are temporary and resolve quickly, like a sudden upset tummy after eating something questionable. Other events that affect dogs can be more worrisome, especially if symptoms persist. 

A reverse sneeze, or paroxysmal respiration, is one such episode that can be equally frightening and confusing. But what exactly are we talking about?

There’s nothing like bringing a new pet into the fold to add love and excitement to your household. But the sudden adjustment of meeting new people and other pets can be stressful on a new pet, and that happy and sweet dog or cat you met in the shelter can turn into a different animal when confronted with a new situation.

Here are some of our top tips for introducing a new pet to your family.

Your relationship with your pets is likely a strong one, and there are very few things that can change that. At Volunteer Veterinary Hospital, though, we do sometimes see wedges come between animals and their owners. One of the most common reasons we see for trouble in paradise is pet behavior problems. 

Whether it’s chewing up your belongings, relieving themselves on your carpet, fighting with your other animals, or something else altogether, pet behavior problems can really put a strain on the human-animal bond. No matter the issue, though, there are things that you can do and ways that we can help.

As your family veterinarian, our staff at Volunteer Veterinary Hospital cares for your pet from head to toe… literally. We diagnose and treat a wide range of diseases and issues, but issues with the feet are not an uncommon reason that people bring their beloved animals to see us. 

Thankfully, many paw problems in pets are very treatable and with our help we can get your furry friend putting their best paw forward in no time.

How exciting it is when you make the decision to bring a new puppy or adult dog into your pet-loving household. Dogs, while being loyal, loving, and goofy, also require a period of socialization and training. Without these skills, behavioral problems often follow as your pet adjusts to the home. 

If you are a new dog owner and are unsure about how to begin the journey to successfully training a new dog, we have you covered. The team at Volunteer Veterinary Hospital is here to offer some great suggestions to these solid skills for a well behaved dog.

Cats can certainly be mysterious, but if they’re suffering from an unknown illness or injury their behavior may be more confusing. Because cats are hardwired to mask any signs of weakness, it can be fairly easy to miss (or misunderstand) the subtle signs they do show to indicate that something is not right. If you’re wondering whether or not your cat is sick, we have some tips to help.

Exercise is not only important to a pet’s physical health, it is also a great way to reduce negative behaviors and encourage enrichment and enjoyment.

After a surgery, however, your pet will be naturally limited to how much and what kind of exercise they can participate in. For minor surgeries, your veterinarian may instruct you to start your pet walking or other form of movement after a day or two, while more major surgeries might require immobilization for some time.

The team at Volunteer Veterinary Hospital knows how important following guidelines after surgery are, in order to prevent injury and encourage better recovery. This is why we are here to offer a few exercise suggestions for the recovery time after your pet has surgery.

Pet owners have an abundance of leashes and collars to choose from. They can be versatile, stylish, or robust, but the one thing a sturdy leash-collar combination cannot do is help locate a lost or missing pet. 

Microchipping your pet is a quick, safe option that can guard against accidental separation if their collar falls off or is removed. They are part of an amazing technology, but how exactly do microchips work?

The Fine Print

Pets don’t necessarily plan on becoming lost or separated from their owners, but it happens with regular frequency.

Cases of missing pets spike around certain holidays, like Independence Day (think fireworks) or Halloween (think scary costumes), but they can also result from thunderstorms, parties, or the simple act of wandering a little too far. 

Chances are, your pet has relished in the recent stay-at-home order. Of course, they didn’t realize that your new schedule wasn’t the result of a terrifying contagious disease, they were just happy that you were around. 

Now that life is readjusting to a new normal, you might be preparing to head back to work. Pet separation anxiety can quickly stem from abrupt changes, and we’re here to help.

What is Pet Separation Anxiety?

Pet separation anxiety is caused by a profound fear of being parted from their favorite human. If you think about it, you’ve possibly spent more time than ever before in your pet’s company. It’s natural that they’ll be a little confused when you start to leave without them, and not return for some time.

Fireworks, thunderstorms, summer parties, and the list goes on. Loud noise this time of year is common as we celebrate graduations, ball games, the Fourth of July, and more. It is not so surprising, though, that animal shelters wind up with more lost pets after these loud events. 

If your pet is anxious every time there’s a clap of thunder or firecrackers popping in the neighborhood, you’re not alone. Noise related anxiety in pets is a serious concern for many pet lovers and the team at Volunteer Veterinary Hospital is here to help alleviate the problem.