We love Los Angeles’ year-round sunny weather, but the mild temperatures can turn scorching in the summer months, and the intense heat can pose potential hazards for pets. To ensure your summer fun doesn’t turn into a pet emergency, use these tips from our Emerald Animal Hospital team to protect your furry friend from Los [...]

Like people, pets can experience fear and anxiety.  One of pets’ most common anxiety triggers is sound. Pets often experience noise aversion, which causes them to have extreme fear or anxiety. A pet’s noise-averse reaction is similar to a person’s panic attack, and an affected pet becomes severely distressed. To help you learn to identify [...]

You don’t enjoy feeling itchy, and neither does your pet. Your pet can’t tell you when they are feeling itchy, but their constant scratching, head shaking, licking, and jingling tags are a dead giveaway. If your pet’s constant itching has you scratching your head, you’re in the right place. Many conditions cause itchiness in dogs [...]

Your pet is a part of the family, and when their birthday rolls around, you like to pull out all the stops to celebrate another year of unconditional love, affection, and loyalty. Your pet may not understand a birthday party’s meaning, but you can bet they will be excited when you shower them with attention, [...]

Pets seem to have a special talent for getting into mischief, but sometimes, their silly antics and curious noses can lead them to danger. By learning what type of hazards hide in your home, you can keep your furry pal safe from toxic substances. Here are six tips to help prevent poisoning in your pet. [...]

You know that you should visit your dentist twice a year, in addition to daily brushing and flossing at home. But, what about your pet? Do they require such frequent dental care? Well, the short answer is—it depends. Each pet has individual needs that determine the most appropriate time frame for their professional dental care. [...]

Respiratory infections are among the most common illnesses that plague cats. When adopting a cat from an overcrowded shelter or taking in a stray, pay attention to whether they are sneezing or have nasal and eye discharge. These are signs that commonly indicate a respiratory infection, which can spread like wildfire among stray and shelter [...]

In cooler climates, cold winters with heavy frost lower the risk of parasite infestations, but parasites are adapted to survive no matter what, so the risk is never completely eliminated. Here in southern California, we enjoy relatively mild weather, so parasites—including fleas, ticks, heartworms, and intestinal worms—remain a constant threat, regardless of season. Emerald Animal [...]

Every Thanksgiving menu tells a story—often a story passed down through generations that features time honored traditions and secret family recipes. Unfortunately, these classic Thanksgiving menus often feature ingredients that are toxic or harmful to pets. The Emerald Animal Hospital team wants to ensure this year’s food-filled festivities don’t leave a bad taste in your [...]

Over half the pets in the United States are overweight or obese, but many pet owners are unaware of this concerning problem. Carrying excess weight negatively impacts your pet’s quality of life (QOL) and increases their risk for several health problems. Our Emerald Animal Hospital team wants to help by explaining some truths about pet [...]