Dr. Kari Addante of The Village Vets Decatur reports...

Arthritis is one of the most common conditions affecting cats and dogs.  Studies reveal 20% of dogs over the age of 2 years and 90% of cats age 12 and older suffer from this disease.  Sadly, many times it goes unnoticed for far too long because it doesn’t always present with overt signs such as limping.  Because older cats and dogs are most affected, many pet owners think “slowing down” is a natural part of aging.  The truth is that cats and dogs with arthritis are painful and they don’t have to be.   Once the condition is recognized and treated, it’s amazing to see how much happier and active our furry friends can be.

Dr. Amanda Slider of TVV Decatur Emergency provides us with very critical pet healthcare information...

Most pets will experience some type of emergency medical condition in their lifetime. Below are the most common pet emergencies and a few tips on how to prevent a potential crisis.  Always contact The Village Vets Decatur Emergency immediately, 24-hrs a day, seven days a week, if you have any questions or concerns about your pet. (404-371-0111)

Planning a trip or vacation can be fun and exciting, but planning one in which you will be traveling by air and bringing along your dog or cat - well, that takes a quite bit more planning and preparation - and causes a lot of stress. . . particularly for your pet.  If flying with your pet cannot be avoided there are several very important things you need to consider.  First, and most important, safety precautions.  Second, learning your airline's rules and requirements well before your departure date.  If traveling internationally - learning the varied regulations of the country you will be traveling to is an absolute must to avoid your pet being held up by customs in a foreign country or denied access and returned to the U.S. immediately upon arrival. 

Dr. Melissa Finke, of TVV Decatur gives us many important tips and safety precautions, along with traveling requirements and resources of information to help you and your pet's journey be safe and uneventful.....

Dr. Streithof of TVV Decatur Emergency reports...

So you’ve been thinking of adopting a pet for awhile. You’ve thought it over, and you know you’re ready. It just so happens, your friend on Facebook has some adorable pictures posted of some puppies that absolutely need a home now! And they’re FREE!  Really? ... Look away from those cute pictures for a minute, because there may be one important aspect of pet ownership that you haven’t completely considered.

Mission Accomplished!  After months of vigorous planning and hard work, on April 5th Southern Mutts Rescue Wagon (SMRW) began their maiden voyage.  The journey began in Decatur and after traveling 36 hours through 8 states - they arrived at their destination of Boulder, CO - with all 22 four-legged passengers (rescued cats and dogs) safe and sound.  Unlike the southeast, these pets were transported to a region of the country where there is a high demand for adoptable pets.  Now after only 2 weeks at the Boulder Humane Society- all but one dog has been adopted - and several pets were adopted within the first five days of their arrival. 

(Pictured above are two rescue wagon volunteers - Donnie and Dianna of The Village Vets - who met the rescue wagon in Tupelo, MS to hand off their precious cargo of 9 cats and dogs.)

Dr. Doss of TVV Decatur reports...

It never fails, as we enter the fall season, we always see a surge in Feline Idiopathic Cystitis.   FIC, formerly known as Feline Urologic Syndrome (FUS), and Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTS), consists of a complex set of symptoms that can affect cats of all ages.  Symptoms include episodes of bloody urine, straining to urinate, urinating in abnormal places, and possible urinary blockage. Of all the cats that display this set of symptoms, 50% do not have a cause that can be identified despite extensive testing and can be classified as suffering from FIC.  Idiopathic is the medical term for “we don’t know why”.   

Dr. Carrie McColgan of TVV Lilburn-Stone Mountain reports...

We’ve probably all heard about MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) infections in hospitalized human patients, but how common are methicillin-resistant infections in our patients and pets?  Are they more dangerous or contagious than other infections?  And, most importantly, can they be transferred from our animals to us (or vice-versa), and what are the implications of that?

Dr. Amy Mathews of TVV Buckhead speaks about our feline friends . . .

Cats are extremely popular pets for many good reasons. One of these reasons that may work against them, and us, is the thought that they are low maintenance and do not need or want much attention. Stresses which we unintentionally cause our cats by not providing them a comfortable environment contribute to behavior problems and illnesses in our feline friends. There are more and more resources available to help us see the world through the eyes of cats and to render them a little less mysterious to us mere humans. One if these sources is indoorpet.osu.edu/cats.