All posts by AMCteam

When we recently reviewed our top performing blogposts, we found something interesting: the oldest post and the only top post specifically about cats focused on chronic kidney disease. Fourteen years later, the topic remains just as relevant. With World Kidney Day on March 12th highlighting Kidney Health for All, it’s worth remembering that kidney health matters for our feline family members too. A diagnosis of kidney disease in your cat can sound frightening. But in many cases, especially when detected early, feline chronic kidney disease can be managed for years, allowing cats to maintain an excellent quality of life.

February is American Heart Month—a time when hearts are top of mind. While candy conversation hearts are ubiquitous this time of year, I’m focusing on a different kind of heart: the one inside your dog or cat’s chest that pumps blood throughout the body, delivering oxygen and nutrients while taking away carbon dioxide and waste products. To help raise awareness, the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center featured Dr. Erin Achilles, Senior Veterinarian and board-certified veterinary cardiologist, on this month’s Ask the Vet podcast. This blogpost summarizes her expert recommendations to promote heart health in your dog and cat.

The fifteen-day Chinese Lunar New Year festival started February 17. As a veterinarian, I love that each year in the Chinese zodiac is represented by an animal. Twelve is an important number in both the Chinese and Western zodiac: the Western Zodiac is composed of twelve constellations, while the Chinese zodiac features twelve animals. 2024 was the Year of the Dragon and 2026—or 4724 in the Chinese calendar—is the Year of the Horse. While we don’t normally care for horses at the current day Schwarzman Animal Medical Center, horses are a part of our history—and occasionally, our present. In honor of the Year of the Horse, I’ll share a few AMC equine stories to start the Year of the Horse off right.

Valentine’s Day is full of sweet traditions—chocolate, flowers, and gifts—but some of the most common holiday staples can become serious pet hazards. Pet insurance companies don’t just help pet families afford veterinary care—they’re also a rich source of data to help us understand how often certain illnesses and injuries occur. While insurance data is not collected with the scientific rigor of a research study, it can provide a useful snapshot of pet care trends. In this blogpost, I’ll look at what pet insurance claim data suggests about common health issues in dogs and cats, and what it may reveal about Valentine’s Day hazards.

February is National Pet Dental Health Month, an annual reminder that healthy teeth and gums are essential to your pet’s overall health. At the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center, we use this month to highlight the importance of routine dental care and help pet families recognize early signs of dental disease. Today’s blogpost will explain how veterinarians deliver dental care—and what you can do at home to support your pet’s oral health.