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What could be more fun than coming down on Christmas morning and finding a cute squirming puppy or kitten under the tree? Perhaps instead it is a rabbit, guinea pig, or gerbil. While this scene sounds wonderful the holidays may not be the best time to purchase a pet.

One of the most common problems seen in the veterinary office is the ear infection. Common signs indicative of an ear infection include head shaking, scratching or rubbing the ears, and odor from the ears.

Bartonella is a type of bacteria which up to 40% of apparently healthy cats may harbor in their bloodstream. There are five species of this bacteriathese bacteria with Bartonella henselae being the most common offender. Cats can become infected with bartonella after having fleas or ticks. The cat scratches itself and then collects infected flea dirt under its claws. If the cat then scratches another cat or a person the bacteria can be transmitted.

 "My English Bulldog, ""Buccus"", was 10 weeks old when I first brought him home. I was out of work at the time, so my husband and I thought it would be the perfect time to get a dog. Boy, were we wrong!

"An abnormal, excessive fear reaction to being left alone, during which time the dog exhibits one of more of the following: destruction (often directed towards exit points), excessive vocalization, housesoiling, anorexia, pacing and hypersalivation. When the owners are present, the dog does not exhibit these behaviors. As they prepare to leave, the owners may observe increasing signs of anxiety. Owners often describe these dogs as ""needy"" or ""clingy"".

NewsCopy "by Neal L Beeber, DVM

Does your pet keep you awake at night scratching? Does he or she bite or lick at their skin or paws and rub their face on the carpet? Is their coat shiny and healthy looking or does it look dull and have a distinct odor? If any of these problems are present your pet may be suffering from allergic dermatitis.

The 3DX Snap test is a color change test performed at the Rutherford Animal Hospital for screening dogs for three diseases, Heartworm, Lyme, and Ehrlichiosis. If the Lyme portion of the test is positive, it means that it was exposed to Lyme disease at some time in the past but is not necessarily suffering from the disease. Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium and can only be transmitted to mammals via the bite of ticks. For this reason you cannot catch Lyme disease from your dog! A positive test indicates only exposure.

"Alternative or complementary medicine has become much more mainstream in the treatment of humans, and consequently its benefits have been used in Veterinary medicine as well. As people turn to alternative approaches for their own health they want to offer their pets the same benefits.

Periodontal disease is one of the top diseases that affect companion animals. In fact, 85% of dogs and 70% of cats are affected by periodontal disease. Periodontal disease destroys the tissues that support the tooth. Additionally, on top of any local lesions,abscesses, and loosening and loss of teeth,periodontal disease can also have wider-reaching consequences for the animal. The risk of bacteria passing into the bloodstream is very high. The bacteria can then create inflammatory lesions in other organs (kidneys, heart, liver, lungs).

Flea Biology

There are 3 phases in the life cycle of a flea:

Adult fleas- they lay eggs on pets, sometimes up to 50 eggs per day and fall wherever your pet goes.

Larvae- This stage is what hatches from the adult eggs

Pupae- The final stage that comes from the larvae They are protected by a cocoon and are very hard to eliminate. When the pupae emerge from the cocoon thaey are fully formed adult fleas. The cycle continues.