Halloween is a fun night for families, but it brings a long list of hazards for pets. Candy bowls sit within reach, decorations dangle at eye level, and the doorbell rings all evening. At West End Veterinary, we see more pet emergencies around the holidays, and many are preventable. Here’s what to watch for this year, and what to do if something goes wrong.

When the weather turns cold, many pet owners put flea, tick, and heartworm prevention away until spring. It seems logical. Bugs disappear in the winter, right? Unfortunately, they don’t disappear completely, especially here in central Virginia. At West End Veterinary, we recommend continuing parasite prevention all year. Here’s why.

While behavior changes in older dogs are multifactorial, many of them are associated with canine cognitive dysfunction. Cognitive dysfunction is similar to dementia in people, and we are finding that it has similar predisposing factors.  Many of these factors are things we can modify early in our dogs’ lives to protect them from cognitive decline before it starts.

The pain associated with joint disease often goes undetected for years because the symptoms are so subtle.  Quite frequently, dogs will still run, jump, play, or chase a squirrel quite readily. They may initially just sit with one leg cocked out to the side, or hesitate ever so slightly to jump on the couch. As joint disease progresses and becomes increasingly painful, dogs will find ways to avoid using the affected limbs. That’s when we start to see muscle loss and loss of function. They start slipping on slick surfaces, and they sometimes limp after playing too hard. Even at this stage, most owners think that they are just “slowing down” and don’t recognize that they are in pain.  Often, by the time the owner or veterinarian recognizes that an animal is in pain, they have already lost significant muscle and mobility, which is difficult to regain. 

Longevity has become one of the hottest topics in human medicine. Everyone is clamoring to learn the best ways to improve both lifespan and “healthspan,” a term now being used to describe the period of life before you start developing debilitating medical conditions. It’s a fascinating topic, and specialists from seemingly every area of health and medicine are chiming in with the next tip, trick, or biohack to make you the next centenarian. With all this buzz, animal lovers naturally want to know whether we can help our beloved dogs live longer, healthier lives, too. 

Good oral health plays a major role in your pet’s overall wellness.

Why Your Pet’s Dental Health Matters When it comes to pet care, dental hygiene often takes a back seat to vaccinations and grooming.

Pet obesity is a serious and growing problem, and it's our mission as your veterinary clinic to help you keep your pets healthy. While a "chonky" cat or "fluffy" dog may seem cute, a few extra pounds can have life-threatening health consequences.

t’s the time of year that snakes are prevalent. If your pet noses around areas where a snake may be present, they could get bitten.