5 Fun Ways to Exercise With Your Dog

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5 Fun Ways to Exercise With Your Dog

April is Canine Fitness Month, and our team at Desert Paws Mobile Veterinary Care is using the opportunity to remind dog owners how important it is for their dogs to exercise regularly. To help keep you and your dog healthy and happy through fitness, we’ve put together a list of five fun exercise ideas you can try with your dog.

5 Exercises You Can Do With Your Dog

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1. Hiking or Walking

Whether you explore a trail atop Mount Lemon or simply take a walk around your neighborhood while the pavement is still cool in the morning, going for a hike or a walk with your dog is a simple way to increase the amount of exercise you’re both getting.

2. Swimming

Swimming is a great activity for dogs and people to stay active in the heat of the desert. However, not all dogs like to or can swim. So, before taking the plunge with your pup, test the waters slowly to make sure your dog actually likes the water and feels comfortable swimming.

3. Bikejoring

Bikejoring is similar to dogsledding but with a bike instead of a sled. This activity requires some special equipment and training, and is most appropriate for working dogs of active breeds that are in great shape. However, once your dog is trained up, you can take to the bike trails and pedal while your dog runs ahead, pulling you along too.

4. Fetch and Chase

Lots of dogs love a good game of fetch, and it’s a great way to exercise your dog while you relax and wait for them to return the ball to you for another toss. If you’d like to get moving, too, however, you can always add in spurts of chase between fetches. Most dogs love to play keep-away, and when you chase after them, you’ll have a chance to get your heart rate up too.

5. Doga

Your dog probably isn’t going to go through an entire sun salutation and yoga flow with you. However, they do like to play along whenever a yoga mat and their owner hits the floor.
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Canine Lifestyle Counseling With Our Mobile Veterinary Clinic in Tucson

To learn more about exercising with your dog or to get more advice about the kinds of exercises that are appropriate for your dog’s age, breed, and fitness level, we welcome you to schedule an appointment with Desert Paws Mobile Veterinary Care today.

Know the Signs of Pet Poisoning! You Could Save a Life

While pet owners should always do their best to keep things that are poisonous for pets put away securely and out of their pets’ environments, pets can still sometimes get into and ingest things they shouldn’t. For Pet Poison Prevention Month in March, our veterinarians are raising awareness about the signs of pet poisoning so that you can recognize if your pet might have ingested a toxin, take immediate action, and seek emergency veterinary care right away.

Common Pet Poisons and Toxins

Substances that are poisonous or toxic to pets can be found just about everywhere you look. They’re in our refrigerators, pantries, medicine cabinets, cleaning supply cupboards, bathroom toiletries, gardens, garages, and in nature.
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Ingestion of the following substances can cause permanent organ damage and even be life-threatening to pets.
  • Medications - Many over-the-counter and prescription medications are toxic for cats and dogs.
  • Foods - Many human foods are very dangerous for pets. Some of the most common include all foods from the allium family (garlic, chives, and onions), xylitol (artificial sweetener), chocolate, raisins and grapes, and certain nuts.
  • Alcohol and Caffeine - Found in some of us humans' favorite beverages these substances are toxic to pets.
  • Household Items - Cleaning products, pool chemicals, batteries, and other household items are toxic for pets.
  • Pesticides - Pesticides and rodenticides of all kinds are toxic for animals. Talk with your exterminator about pet-safe options.
  • Plants - Several common houseplants are toxic or poisonous for dogs and cats. Some of the most common include lilies, palms, tulips and several other bulb plants, rubber trees, poinsettias, mistletoe, and more.
  • Sonoran Desert Toad - Sonoran desert toads are drawn to pets' outdoor water bowls. If a toad simply walks through your pet's water, this could result in a fatal poisoning.

Signs and Symptoms of Pet Poisoning

The signs and symptoms of poisoning can vary based on what particular toxin a pet has been exposed to and how much of it they have ingested. Pets that have ingested a poisonous substance sometimes only act a little strangely or seem slightly confused. Other pets might have severe symptoms such as:
  • Persistent vomiting or diarrhea (especially when blood is present)
  • Excessive drooling
  • Appetite loss
  • Pale gums
  • Dizziness
  • Fainting or collapse
  • Seizures or trembling
If you have any suspicions that your pet could have possibly ingested a poisonous substance (for example, you notice odd behavior or appearance, signs and symptoms, or evidence like bite marks in toxic plants or packaging), we strongly encourage you to seek immediate veterinary care.

What to Do If Your Pet Ingests a Poison

  • Rinse out your pet's mouth with water, spraying a hose across the mouth rather than into the mouth
  • Make note of the substance ingested or save the label from the packaging.
  • Contact Animal Poison Control for immediate instruction
  • Contact and seek emergency veterinary care as soon as possible
If you suspect your pet has ingested a poisonous substance, it’s important to take action right away.

Are Mobile Veterinary Services Right for Your Pet?

There are lots of reasons why visiting a veterinary clinic with your pet can be a stressful experience. As a result, many pets simply don’t receive the care they need. If this sounds like your pet, consider the following reasons why mobile veterinary care might be right for your pet.

5 Signs Mobile Veterinary Services Are Right for Your Pet

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1. Your Pet Doesn't Like to Travel

If your pet gets carsick or does not like to ride in the car, mobile veterinary care eliminates the need.

2. Your Pet Has Anxiety

Pets often experience anxiety and stress when visiting the veterinary clinic. When we can examine them in their own homes, we get a better baseline of their health and your pet enjoys a calmer, more relaxed experience while getting the care they need.

3. Your Pet Is Difficult to Handle

If your pet is large, strong, difficult on a leash, or overly excited about other animals, then visiting the veterinary clinic can be stressful and tough for you. When we come to your home, there’s no need to control your pet in a public location.

4. You Have a Tough Time Getting to the Veterinary Office

Whether your schedule is busy, your transportation options are limited, or you have mobility issues that can make it difficult to travel with your pet for veterinary exams, then mobile veterinary care is the perfect solution. Since we come to you, you can save time by avoiding the commute to and from our veterinary clinic while also avoiding the inconvenience of having to transport your pet.

5. It's Safer for You and Your Pets

When you visit the veterinary clinic, you and your pet are exposed to other people and animals – just like visiting any other public place. As a result, there’s a greater risk of you both being exposed to and subsequently contracting a contagious disease.
With a housecall veterinary appointment, your only point of contact is our veterinarian and any technicians working with them, making it a much safer option, especially if you are immunocompromised or in a high-risk category for severe illness with COVID-19.
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Mobile Veterinary Services in Tucson

Desert Paws Mobile Veterinary Care is a mobile veterinary clinic treating patients in and around Tucson, Arizona. Our mobile clinic and housecall veterinarians are fully equipped to provide comprehensive veterinary care to pets in the comfort of their own homes. We have everything we need to provide wellness and preventative care, in addition to diagnostic and treatments for sick pets.
To learn more about the complete services available to you and your pets with the convenience of our mobile veterinary clinic and housecall veterinarians, we welcome you to contact Desert Paws Mobile Veterinary Care today.

Does My Pet Really Need to Be Vaccinated?

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Does My Pet Really Need to Be Vaccinated?

At Desert Paws Mobile Veterinary Clinic, we put a strong emphasis on wellness and preventative care for pets because this type of veterinary care is so essential to their wellbeing, health, happiness, and longevity. One of the most important aspects of preventative veterinary care is having your pet vaccinated.

7 Reasons Why Vaccinating Your Pet Is Vital

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1. It Prevents Disease

The number-one reason to vaccinate your pets is to prevent them from getting sick with highly dangerous and contagious diseases. There’s nothing more stressful than having a pet who is sick and suffering from painful symptoms – especially when it could have all been easily prevented in the first place.

2. It's Safe and Effective

Vaccines are incredibly safe and also the most effective way to prevent your pet from contracting a variety of contagious diseases.

3. It's the Law

Pet owners are required by law to make sure that their pets receive certain vaccines and booster shots to prevent the spread of diseases like rabies and leptospirosis.

4. It Protects You

Several of the diseases that vaccines prevent pets from contracting are zoonotic, which means that they can be transmitted between animals and humans. So, vaccinating your pet also protects yourself, your family, your friends, and your delivery person.

5. It Protects the Community

Vaccinating pets also protects the community at large. By preventing your pet from contracting disease, it reduces the general spread to other pets, wildlife, and people living nearby.

6. It's Less Expensive

The cost of pet vaccines is much, much lower than the cost of the veterinary care that is required when a pet becomes seriously ill.

7. It Saves Lives

Many of the diseases that vaccines protect pets from have no cure and are fatal. So, vaccinating your pet could save his or her life (and your own).
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Convenient Pet Care With Our Mobile Veterinary Clinic

If you find it difficult to visit the veterinary clinic due to a stressed pet, mobility issues, transportation problems, or any reason, you can still get your pet the veterinary care they need to stay healthy and safe with our convenient mobile veterinary clinic. That’s right! Desert Paws Mobile Veterinary Care will bring everything your pet needs right to your doorstep.
To learn more about wellness and preventative care for pets or to schedule a house call appointment for your pet, we welcome you to contact us today.

Tips for Helping Your Cat Live a Long, Happy Life

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Tips for Helping Your Cat Live a Long, Happy Life

We love our pets, but it’s no secret that their lifespans aren’t as long as ours. Although our veterinarians can’t help you make your cat live forever, we can provide you with some tips and advice to keep your beloved kitty healthy and happy so that they can enjoy a full life with you.

7 Lucky Tips to Help Your Cat Live a Long, Happy Life

1. Safe Environment

Going outside is dangerous. Dangers like cars, wildlife, and diseases result in much shorter lifespans for outdoor cats. Keep your cats inside, and try harness and leash training to safely explore the outdoors together.

2. Spaying or Neutering

Spaying or neutering your cat protects them from several contagious diseases and several types of cancer. In addition to unwanted litters, it also prevents dangerous behaviors like wandering and territorial aggression.

3. Quality Nutrition

Talk with our veterinarian about a recommendation for high-quality cat food and nutritional supplements that will meet all of your cat’s unique needs based on age, size, activity level, and other health concerns.

4. Age-Appropriate Care

The nutrition, lifestyle, and veterinary care that’s most appropriate for our pets changes as they age. What’s best for a kitten won’t necessarily be right for an adult cat, and what’s best for an adult cat won’t necessarily be right for a senior cat.
Ask our veterinarian about diet, lifestyle, environment, and about how your pet’s veterinary care should change as he or she ages.

5. Enrichment and Exercise

Cats need lots of enrichment, activity, and exercise to stay happy and maintain a healthy weight.

6. Dental Care

Periodontal disease that occurs as a result of poor oral health causes systemic health problems that can significantly reduce a cat’s life expectancy.

7. Wellness and Preventative Veterinary Care

The most important thing you can give your cat to help them enjoy a long life is regular wellness and preventative veterinary care that includes vaccinations, physical exams, and more.
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Wellness and Preventative Care With Desert Paws Mobile Veterinary Care

At Desert Paws Mobile Veterinary Care, we not only provide mobile, house-call veterinary services but also high-quality, comprehensive care for cats and dogs alike. From kittenhood through your cat’s golden years, our veterinarians are experienced and fully equipped to provide personalized, age-appropriate care designed to keep your pets happy and healthy.
To schedule an appointment or learn more about the convenience of choosing mobile veterinary care for your pets, we welcome you to contact us today.

What Does It Mean to Be a Responsible Pet Owner?

What Does It Mean to Be a Responsible Pet Owner?

It’s easy to fall in love with a set of paws and a furry face at a local animal shelter or adoption event. Pets, however, need more than just our affection. Before you decide to bring a new pet home, be sure to consider the responsibilities of pet ownership and ask yourself whether or not you’re really ready to be a responsible pet owner.

5 Signs of Responsible Pet Ownership

1. You Have Enough Time

No matter what kind of pet you adopt, your new companion is going to require some of your time. You’re a responsible pet owner if you provide opportunities for daily exercise, active play, going for walks, taking baths, and more.

2. You Provide Your Pet With Life's Necessities

Responsible pet owners are fully prepared to give their pets everything they need to stay healthy and happy. This might include providing a special diet, toys for enrichment, harnesses and leashes, outdoor shelter, collars, microchips, pet beds, and more.

3. You're Prepared to Train and Socialize Your Pet

As a pet owner, it’s your responsibility to ensure your pet is safe around other people and other animals, and this requires training and socialization. It’s essential that if you’re not prepared to train your own pet that you seek professional help with teaching your pet the type of behavior that’s expected of them.

4. You Spay or Neuter Your Pets

Being a responsible pet owner also means preventing unwanted litter and overly crowded animal shelters. Whether you adopt a male or female dog or cat, you should have your pet neutered or spayed.
Spaying or neutering pets not only prevents pets from producing unwanted litters, but it also imparts a variety of benefits on your pet such as:
  • Preventing them from contracting contagious diseases
  • Reducing the risk of certain cancers of the reproductive system
  • Reducing undesirable behaviors (aggression, territory marking, wandering, and excessive vocalization)

5. You Can Provide Regular Veterinary Care and Save for an Emergency

Responsible pet owners have room in the budget to provide their pets with veterinary care. Before adopting a pet (or another pet), ask a veterinarian about the cost of regular wellness and preventative care. Additionally, you should have some money set aside in case of an emergency.

Establish Your Pet's Care With Our Mobile Veterinary Clinic in Tucson

We welcome you to establish your pet’s veterinary care with our convenient mobile veterinary clinic in Tucson. We’ll bring all the wellness, preventative, and sick pet care your new dog or cat needs right to your doorstep.
To learn more or schedule a new pet appointment, contact Desert Paws Mobile Veterinary Care today.

Everything You Need to Know About Parasite Prevention in Tucson

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Everything You Need to Know About Parasite Prevention in Tucson

In addition to vaccinations, proper nutrition, and exercise, an essential component of every pet’s wellness and preventative veterinary care is parasite prevention.

Why Is Parasite Prevention So Important for Pets?

There are several different types of parasites that can harm your pet’s health – and even put the health of your human family members at risk. So, it’s important to protect your pet’s from pests like fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, ear mites, and intestinal parasites like hookworms, whipworms, and roundworms.
Parasite prevention is especially vital to your pet’s ongoing health and wellness. Intestinal parasites can cause stomach upset and affect your pet’s ability to absorb nutrition. Pests like mosquitoes carry heartworms that can significantly damage your pet’s health and even be fatal. Other parasites like fleas and ticks carry a variety of dangerous, zoonotic diseases that can affect both your pet’s health and your own.

How to Protect Your Pets From Parasites

The best way to protect your pets from most parasites is with preventative medications. Our veterinarian can provide you with recommendations based on your pet’s exposure risk, species, and size. Preventative medications come in a variety of forms. For example, flea and tick preventatives can be found in oral tablets, topical ointments, and even on medicated collars. Heartworm preventatives are available in oral tablets and in the form of injections that protect your pet from the inside for months at a time.
In addition to protecting your pets with preventatives, it’s also important to keep their environment cleaned up and as undesirable to parasites as possible. Make sure your yard is free from debris, standing water, and feces from wild animals and other pets. This will limit the number of parasites in your pet’s immediate vicinity, reducing the risk of exposure.

Parasite Prevention and Screening With Our Mobile Veterinary Clinic in Tucson

Whether your pet’s heartworm prevention has lapsed or your pet needs a clean fecal test before entering a boarding facility, our mobile veterinary clinic in Tucson is here to help. We’re fully equipped to screen cats and dogs for signs of heartworms to ensure the safe administration of a heartworm preventative. Additionally, we can provide fecal testing for intestinal parasites and deworming treatments if necessary.
To learn more about protecting your pets from fleas, ticks, heartworms, ear mites, and intestinal parasites, we welcome you to schedule a wellness and preventative care appointment with our mobile veterinary clinic. Our veterinarians can help you determine the safest and most effective parasite preventatives for your pet based on your pet’s species, size, and the other pets and children living in your household.
To schedule an appointment for your dog or cat, contact Desert Paws Mobile Veterinary Care today.

Protect Your Pet During Heartworm Awareness Month in April

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Protect Your Pet During Heartworm Awareness Month in April

Although mosquitos are active all year long in Tucson, April marks the beginning of mosquito season in many U.S. climates, making it the perfect time to raise awareness about a dangerous pet parasite during Heartworm Awareness Month.

What Are Heartworms?

Heartworm is a kind of parasite that can affect a range of mammals, including dogs and cats. Heartworm larvae are transferred to pets through the sting of an infected mosquito. Once heartworm larvae are introduced into a pet’s bloodstream, they travel throughout the pet’s body. Once the larvae reach the pet’s heart and lungs, they take up residence. Heartworms can grow to be up to a foot long, and pets can often be infected with more than a hundred at a time.
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What Is Heartworm Disease?

Heartworm disease refers to the symptoms caused in cats and dogs by heartworms. As the parasites accumulate in a pet’s heart and lungs, they often cause heart failure and severe lung disease, in addition to damaging other organs throughout the body.
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Heartworm Disease in Dogs vs. Cats

Dogs are natural hosts of heartworms, meaning the parasites can live out a complete lifecycle in their systems, maturing and reproducing in a dog’s body. As a result, heartworm disease is usually much more severe in dogs than it is in cats. For dogs, heartworm is usually fatal if left untreated.
While the effects of heartworms in dogs, felines can still get heartworm disease. Cats are an atypical host for heartworm. As a result, most larvae don’t reach full maturity in a cat’s body. Although not as severe, heartworm disease in cats can cause respiratory problems like coughing and trouble breathing.

Treatment and Prevention

No heartworm treatment exists for cats, and the treatment for dogs is lengthy and often unsuccessful. As a result, heartworm prevention with tablets or injections is always recommended.

Protect Your Pet From Heartworm – Schedule an Appointment With Our Tucson Vet

April is Heartworm Awareness Month, but it’s always mosquito season in Tucson which means pets are always at risk of getting heartworms. That’s why our veterinarians at Desert Paws Mobile Veterinary Care recommend keeping pets on a year-round heartworm preventative.
If you have yet to protect your pets from heartworm disease, we recommend scheduling an appointment right away. Desert Paws Mobile Veterinary Care in Tucson will bring heartworm protection to your doorstep. We’ll first perform a quick blood test to screen your pet for signs of heartworm. Once the lab test results come back clear, we’ll help you determine the best heartworm preventative for your pet.
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Everything You Should Know for Spay/Neuter Awareness Month

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Everything You Should Know for Spay/Neuter Awareness Month

February is Spay/Neuter Awareness Month, and our veterinarians at Desert Paws Mobile Veterinary Care like to take this opportunity to educate pet owners and the community about the importance of spaying and neutering pets.

What Is Spay/Neuter Surgery?

Spay surgery and neuter surgery are two surgical procedures intended to sterilize cats and dogs. Spay surgery removes a female pet’s uterus and ovaries, and neuter surgery removes a male pet’s testicles.

4 Benefits of Spaying or Neutering Your Pets

1. Cancer Prevention

Removing a pet’s reproductive organs prevents testicular, ovarian, and uterine cancers. It also reduces the risks of cancers associated with reproductions, such as breast cancer.

2. Lower Disease Risk

Sterilized pets come into contact with fewer animals throughout their lives. As a result, they’re exposed to fewer contagious diseases.

3. Improved Behavior

Sterilizing animals reduces and eliminates a variety of undesirable and unsafe behaviors including:
  • Aggression
  • Territory marking or spraying
  • Wandering
  • Howling and yowling
These behaviors are unpleasant and can even be dangerous for your pet and people, and they can all arise as a result of an intact pet’s instinct to reproduce.

4. Fewer Unwanted Litters

According to the ASPCA, about 6.5 million cats and dogs enter animal shelters each year in the United States alone. Every year, about 1.5 million companion animals living in shelters are euthanized.
Spaying or neutering your pets prevents them from producing unwanted litters of puppies and kittens. This reduces the number of homeless pets that roam around and spread disease, wind up crowding animal shelters, strain community resources, and often end up being euthanized.
Additionally, preventing unwanted litters saves lives by increasing the number of shelter pets that are adopted every year.

Is Spay/Neuter Surgery Safe?

Among veterinary professionals, it’s well-known that the health benefits of spay or neuter surgery far outweigh any potential risks. Although every surgical procedure involves some degree of risk, spay and neuter surgeries are very safe. They’re performed all the time and considered to be routine surgeries.
Prior to all surgeries, our veterinarians thoroughly examine our patients to make sure they’re healthy enough to undergo the procedure at hand.
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On-Site Spay/Neuter Surgery in Tucson

If your puppy, kitten, or adult pet still needs to be spayed or neutered, we encourage you to schedule an appointment right away. With our mobile veterinary clinic, our skilled and experienced veterinarians are fully equipped to provide spay and neuter surgeries on-site at our surgical suite. To learn more or to schedule an appointment for your cat or dog, we welcome you to contact Desert Paws Mobile Veterinary Care today.

3 Easy Ways to Keep Your Pet’s Teeth Healthy

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3 Easy Ways to Keep Your Pet's Teeth Healthy

Take a moment to imagine what it would be like if you never-ever brushed your teeth. Yuck, right? Well, that’s the reality for most pets every day of their lives. Unfortunately, cats and dogs usually don’t get the dental care they desperately need because their families simply don’t realize that their teeth and gums need regular care just like ours do.

During National Pet Dental Month in February, our experts at Desert Paws Mobile Veterinary Care are taking the time to educate our clients about the importance of caring for their pets’ teeth.

Why Is Dental Care So Important for Dogs and Cats?

The primary reason pets require regular dental care is to prevent periodontal disease, which is a bacterial infection of the gums. Left untreated, periodontal disease causes all sorts of health problems including:
  • Red, bleeding, and swollen gums
  • Oral pain and discomfort
  • Terrible breath
  • Discolored teeth
  • Loose teeth and tooth loss
  • Degeneration of the jaw bone
  • Systemic disease
  • Early death
By age 3, most cats and dogs will have already developed some form of periodontal disease that should be addressed right away.

3 Easy Ways to Care for Your Pet's Teeth

1. Brushing

Brushing your pet’s teeth is one of the most important things you can do between dental cleanings to prevent periodontal disease. Be sure to use a toothbrush that’s designed for a cat or dog or a special finger brush and never use human toothpaste that’s designed to spit out. Instead, pick up a special formula designed for cats and dogs at the pet store that’s safe to ingest and flavored to please their taste buds.

2. Dental Diet, Treats, and Chew Toys

You can also encourage healthy teeth and gums by giving your pet kibble, treats, and chew toys designed to help remove plaque and tartar from their pearly whites. When shopping for these, be sure to select products that are designed for your pet’s species and size.

3. Professional Dental Cleanings

During your pet’s annual examination, we will perform a thorough head to toe exam, including a dental exam. If your veterinarian is worried about the possibility of periodontal disease, they will recommend a professional dental cleaning performed at our surgical center. During this procedure, we will scale and polish your pet’s teeth to remove any plaque and tartar.
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Pet Dentistry with Our Mobile Veterinary Clinic in Tucson

At Desert Paws Mobile Veterinary Clinic, we bring your pet’s dental care to your doorstep. If your pet has never had a dental cleaning or if it has been a year since their last one, we welcome you to join us in celebrating National Pet Dental Health Month by scheduling a pet dentistry appointment for your cat or dog today.