Nutrition Center

Constipation is a troubling and common digestive tract problem for cats. It occurs when the stool is too large and/or too firm to be expelled. Constipation is the likely culprit when a cat is straining...

The Best Food Options for Your Dog with Allergies

Jennifer Coates, DVM

Does Your Dog Really Need Lamb, Bison, and Other 'Hypoallergenic' Dog Food Proteins? By Jennifer Coates, DVM In order to identify what is the best dog food for dogs with food allergies you must first understand...

Can Cranberry Help to Prevent Dog Urinary Tract Infection?

Jennifer Coates, DVM

Cranberry has a reputation for treating/preventing urinary tract infections (UTIs). Do a quick online search and you’re sure to run into myriad reports of miraculous cures. It certainly would be wonderful...

Feeding the Starving Dog

Jennifer Coates, DVM

I ran across a local canine adoption event a couple of weeks ago. A couple of the dogs had been recently rescued from horrific conditions and were emaciated. We’re talking “skin and bones.” Their caretaker...

What You Don't Know About Mushrooms Can Kill Your Dog

Jennifer Coates, DVM

One of the saddest cases that I can remember from more than 15 years of practicing veterinary medicine involves a dog that died after eating mushrooms her owners had collected from the woods. The owners...

Of Cats and Fish

Jennifer Coates, DVM

I was eavesdropping on a conversation between pet owners a few days ago that got me to thinking. The question they were debating was, “Why do we feed our cats fish?” The practice doesn’t make a lot of...

Feeding Sick Dogs

Jennifer Coates, DVM

What do you think of the saying, “Starve a fever, feed a cold”? On one level it makes sense. The fever, in this case, is indicative of an infection that is provoking a generalized immune response. Fighting...

4 Reasons Life Stage Diets Help Improve Cat Health

Lorie Huston, DVM

Benefits of Age-appopriate Cat Food By Lorie Huston, DVM Balanced and complete nutrition is important for any animal. However, the nutritional needs will vary depending on the cat's life stage. For instance,...

What Food is Best for a Cat with Diabetes?

Jennifer Coates, DVM

The great majority of diabetic cats have what is called Type 2 diabetes. This means that, early in the course of the disease at least, they are still producing levels of insulin that should be adequate...

Feeding Cats with Pancreatitis

Jennifer Coates, DVM

Feline pancreatitis is a maddening disease. It is often difficult to diagnose, veterinarians are usually unsure of its underlying cause, and it can be resistant to treatment. Why then, should making recommendations...