All dogs, cats and ferrets in Hollywood are required by Florida law to have a rabies vaccine, proof of vaccination, and rabies tag from a vet. Having the rabies vaccine eliminates the possibility of other Florida wildlife from spreading rabies to your pet. Most people are unaware that rabies is considered a viral disease and it can be transmitted from species to species.

Most cats that visit our Hollywood Pet Hospital today are fed a dehydrated form of combined protein, carbohydrate and fat in various shapes and sizes.  Is this the optimum form of nutrition for a cat?  It is my opinion that we have moved away from the optimal form of nutrition for our favorite obligate carnivores. The three main problems with feeding dry cat foods are inappropriate forms of protein, too high a carbohydrate content and too little overall water intake.

Are you one of those pet owners that can’t resist those big beautiful dog eyes so you slip a little treat in your pet’s mouth?  Well, what you are feeding Fido or Fifi might actually be dog poisoning. Some of the foods we treat our dog with are just seriously dangerous.  Many types of foods you might already be aware of, and others may not be so easy to detect to pet owners.

Once you begin brushing your dog’s teeth, the difference in the next few weeks will be apparent.  If you do not brush your dog’s teeth, tartar build up can cause cavities and problems, just like in a human’s mouth.  It’s just as important to have good animal health.

Ear Hematomas are blood blisters, or blood filled sacs that occur on the ears of dogs and cats. They most often are due to the scratching of the ear flap which can cause irritation and swelling of tiny blood vessels which then can leak small amounts of blood into the lining of the ear. Hematomas can develop over a period of time due to a chronic ear infection, or can occur within a matter of hours due to an irritation such as ear mites, allergies, bug bites or stings. Blood blisters look like swollen red blood pockets on the inside of the ear; if your dog develops a swollen ear, contact your trusted Davie Veterinarian for treatment as soon as possible. If left untreated the ear will turn hard and twist up into what many refer to as a cauliflower ear. Once this happens it cannot be repaired and the pet can have chronic problems.

Each year millions of dogs are euthanized due to overpopulation, there are simply too many dogs and not enough homes.  By neutering your dog you will not be contributing to this huge problem.  Neutering your pet also has many health benefits. If you dog is neutered before six month of age the chance of him getting testicular cancer is virtually eliminated, and the chance of prostate cancer decreases drastically.

It is important to understand that declawing is not a simple procedure. In fact, it is a major surgery. A declaw should only be done when absolutely necessary, and is not a one size fits all answer for each cat and their owners when it comes to nail related issues. The surgical process for declaws is quite intensive. It is a common misconception that a declaw means the toenail is removed in such a way where it will not grow back. This is incorrect. The surgery entails removing, essentially, the last joint from each toe of your cat. It is important to explore other non-invasive options before choosing the declaw route. This can be discussed with you trusted South Florida Veterinarian. Understand that if you decide to declaw your cat, there are places that encourage you to do so at an optimal age to reduce trauma. The older the cat is, the more painful the healing process will be, and the harder it will be for him to adjust. Some Veterinarian Hospitals, like DPC Veterinarian Hospital, in Davie, FL, encourage you to declaw you cat only as a last resort and before he/she becomes an adult.

Feral cats are essentially wild cats. They are often born on the streets and have had little to no previous contact with humans. Ft. Lauderdale has a large feral cat population so it's is extremely important for the community to recognize this issue to help prevent the number of cats born in the wild. Spaying and Neutering ferals helps control and minimize the growing population. There are feral Spay and Neuter programs that offer low cost services, like the Feral Program at DPC Veterinary Hospital. DPC encourages the community to trap ferals using humane live traps. They are then spayed or neutered, and ear notched. Ear notching is done so ferals can be identified from a distance as previously trapped and fixed. It is important to understand that these feral felines will never become domesticated pets, and fixing them is an important step in controlling the ever-growing wild cat population. In addition to Spaying and Neutering, they will also receive a rabies vaccine. It is mandatory by law to administer a rabies vaccine to any animal over four months old.

Allergies can be miserable, as you may know from individual experiences. Unfortunately your pets can also suffer from allergies, as well. The two most common types of allergies are environmental and food related. Environmental allergies are very common in fair skinned breads, and can have harsh effects on the skin.

Pet overpopulation is a huge ongoing issue in South Florida, as many as 45,000 pets are euthanized in Broward county each year and 65,000 in Dade County.   Most of these animals are puppies and kittens, and many are pure breeds. There are simply not enough homes for all these animals.  This is why spaying and neutering is so important,  it is the only way to stop pet overpopulation .