Category Archives: Pet Safety

Recent headlines about Hantavirus have understandably made many people anxious. There are several reasons for the concern. First, there is no treatment for the virus, and infection carries a high mortality rate. Second, after living through the COVID-19 pandemic, we are all a bit more on edge with reports of emerging viruses. Finally, Hantavirus has been relatively unknown until recently, when it was implicated in the death of Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman’s wife and now to illnesses aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship. As a veterinarian, I thought it would be helpful to explain what Hantavirus is, how it spreads and whether pet owners should be concerned about their dogs and cats.

National Dog Bite Prevention Week is next week, April 12-18. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), there are approximately 90 million dogs in the United States, and 45% of households have at least one dog. In 2023, liability claims for dog bite and dog-related injuries topped $1 billion. Not surprisingly, the states with the highest number of dog bite insurance claims are also the most populous states: New York, California, Texas, Florida, Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Georgia and New Jersey. Unfortunately, children are the most common victims of dog bite injuries. Clearly there is a need to do more to prevent this public health threat. The Schwarzman Animal Medical Center is here to help. In this blogpost, we’ll share tips on preventing and responding to bite injuries.

I was wasting time, mindlessly watching cat videos on Facebook, when I ran across this horrifying video. At first glance, a cat using a clothes dryer as an exercise wheel

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.

This year, Americans are projected to spend a record $13.1 billion on Halloween. All these dollars pay for candy, costumes and decorations, all of which add great delight for humans, but candy, costumes and decorations may not be so fun for your pet. Here are some DOs and DON’Ts to help keep your pet safe this spooky season.