Veterinarians in North Charleston, SC Providing Compassionate Pet Care

Your cat might be a part of your family, but there are certain things about its behavior that might still remain a mystery to you. One such phenomenon is hairballs. If you’ve ever wondered, “Why do cats get hairballs, and what can I do about it?”, you’ve come to the right place. Here at Northwoods Veterinary Clinic, located in the heart of North Charleston, SC, we believe in educating our pet owners about their furry friends’ health. Understanding Cat Hairballs: What Are They? Cats are meticulous groomers. As they clean themselves with their rough tongues, loose hair is often swallowed, most of which passes through the digestive system without issues. However, when the hair accumulates in the stomach, it forms a hairball that a cat often regurgitates. Why Do Cats Get Hairballs? The formation of hairballs, or trichobezoars, is primarily due to a cat’s unique grooming process. Cats have backward-facing hooks on their tongues that catch loose hair, which is then swallowed. In most cases, this hair is passed naturally through the cat’s digestive system. But when hair accumulates in the stomach, it can form a hairball. Long-haired breeds like Maine Coons and Persians are more prone to hairballs due to their thick fur. Symptoms of Hairballs in Cats Usually, cats expel hairballs without difficulty, leaving behind a small, tubular mass. However, complications arise when a hairball can’t be expelled. Watch out for signs like repeated unsuccessful retching, lethargy, loss of appetite, and constipation. If you notice any of these symptoms, don’t hesitate to contact us at Northwoods Veterinary Clinic. You can call us at or schedule an appointment online at https://northwoodsvet.com/request-an-appointment/. How to Prevent Hairballs in Cats The Role of Cat’s Unique Grooming While grooming is a natural behavior, you can help minimize hair ingestion and subsequent hairball formation by brushing your cat regularly. This simple routine removes loose fur that could otherwise be swallowed. Investing in a good-quality grooming tool especially designed for cats is advisable. Hairball Remedies and Diet Adjustments There are several hairball remedies on the market, such as lubricants that help hair pass through the digestive system. Additionally, certain diets are specially formulated to promote healthy skin and coat, reducing shedding and thus the amount of hair swallowed. Brushing and Regular Vet Check-ups Regular veterinary check-ups are crucial. At Northwoods Veterinary Clinic, we offer professional grooming services that can help control hairball formation. With regular visits, our team can also monitor your cat’s health and offer personalized advice to manage hairballs effectively. When to Consult Northwoods Veterinary Clinic While occasional hairballs are nothing to be alarmed about, frequent hairballs can indicate an underlying health problem. It’s important to remember that each cat is unique, and what works for one might not work for another. That’s why it’s essential to consult with a trusted vet if you notice an increase in hairball frequency or other troubling symptoms. Northwoods Veterinary Clinic in North Charleston, SC is committed to the health and well-being of your feline friend. If you’re concerned about your cat’s hairballs or just due for a routine check-up, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.  Visit our website at https://northwoodsvet.com/ for more information or to make an appointment. Remember, prevention is better than cure. Let’s work together to ensure your feline friend remains happy, healthy, and hairball-free!

Dogs might lick their paws for many reasons. Most of them are not of any concern to pet owners, but if the behavior starts to become obsessive, it can be a reason for dog owners to worry. Pets who groom their coats or their paws too much can cause skin infections and other problems like fungal infections as well. Knowing more about what kinds of paw-licking behaviors are normal can help you to identify behavior that requires medical attention. Dogs of all ages will lick their paws from time to time, but you need to know enough about this behavior to be sure that you notice if it becomes a problem related to your pet’s well-being. Main Reasons Why Dogs Lick Their Paws Read on to learn the 6 most common reasons why dogs do this: 1. Injuries Dogs like to lick at injuries that they have gotten. When it comes to licking feet, common injuries that might make your dog show this behavior are things like burns to the pads of the feet, foreign objects stuck in the feet, or cuts and nicks on the sensitive parts of the feet. Pets that lick their feet too much when they are injured can cause secondary infections and things like hot spots. Examining your pet’s feet can help you to spot issues like cuts and scrapes or foreign objects that need to be removed. Consider allowing your vet to handle these kinds of concerns to be sure that the entire foreign object is taken out and to be sure that your pet gets antibiotics and other supportive care as needed. 2. Parasites Some kinds of parasites, such as fleas or mange, can cause the paws to itch. Some dogs are more focused on grooming their feet than scratching when they have these kinds of parasitic infections. This kind of issue can usually be resolved quite easily with the help of a veterinarian. Make sure that you look for other signs of these kinds of conditions, like bald spots or flaky skin and sores on other parts of the body. 3. Food Allergies or Environmental Allergies Dogs who are allergic to their food can sometimes end up with itchy feet and spend a lot of time trying to groom or chew on the feet to make them feel better. This is a very common reaction that can happen if your pet is allergic to their food. Dogs can also be allergic to plants during some times of the year or things like detergent or cleaning products that you have used in the home. Allergies can be treated with over-the-counter allergy medications in most cases, but some pets will also need supportive care to eliminate additional problems like skin infections caused by excessive grooming. It can take time to identify the reason for your pet’s allergic reaction, so you will need to be prepared to take the time to eliminate different items slowly to see which ones might be causing your pet to display excessive grooming behavior. 4. Anxiety Some animals that are anxious or scared will groom excessively to help themselves to feel better. This kind of grooming can lead to baldness, sores and hot spots, and other injuries. Pets that have been abused or have trouble with being kept indoors can be more likely to display this anxiety-driven behavior, but dogs that are high-energy can also fall back on excessive grooming to help manage intense feelings. Your veterinarian can usually help you with this kind of foot chewing or grooming behavior by giving your pet some medications to help them to feel calmer each day. Make sure that your dog gets enough exercise and that they are being given a safe place to hang out all day long. Eliminating reasons for anxiety can usually cause this behavior to go away on its own. 5. Dermatitis Dermatitis can be caused by lots of things, from food allergies to contact with irritating substances. Your pet might have dry and cracked feet if they have dermatitis, or their feet could be red and swollen. Dogs that have dermatitis usually develop secondary infections that are fungal or bacterial. Taking your dog to the vet to be looked at can be a big help when it comes to resolving dermatitis issues. There are various medications that your pet can take to help their fee to heal, and your vet might give you a cone for your dog to wear to prevent them from grooming excessively while they are recovering from this problem. 6. Pain Pets that are in pain might also lick their feet to try and make them feel better. This pain could be related to a foreign object in the foot or things like arthritis. Dogs might also lick the feet when it is really the legs that are hurting or a bigger joint like the shoulder is to blame for their pain. X-rays and other kinds of diagnostic tools can help your vet to figure out where the pain is coming from so you can treat it successfully. Managing your dog’s pain can be essential if you want to stop them from grooming excessively for this reason. Contact Northwoods Veterinary Clinic if You Are Concerned About Your Dog Licking His Paws Pet owners should remember that dogs lick their paws for many normal reasons, but excessive grooming usually indicates a medical issue that needs attention. Your pet will thank you for taking the time to figure out what is wrong with their feet that is causing them to groom them all the time. Dogs who chew on their feet can cause secondary skin infections and other problems, so it is a good idea to make sure that your pet is not grooming their feet for hours every day. Foot grooming behavior can also be linked with a wide array of anxiety behaviors, or it can be a sign that your pet is bored. You will need to work with a vet to figure

While you might never have had to deal with this issue, many dogs can suffer from separation anxiety when their owners leave home. This problematic behavior can lead to health issues, destructive behavior, and problems with keeping your dog confined to the yard or even the home. Dogs with separation anxiety need careful management of their condition to prevent them from harming themselves or causing destruction to everything around them. Dog owners should know more about this condition so that they can be sure about the steps to take to treat their pets if they start showing signs of this issue. The more that you know about separation anxiety in dogs in North Charleston, SC, the more likely it will be that you can help your dog to deal with being away from you. Causes Dogs can experience this kind of anxiety for many reasons. The most common reason for separation anxiety is that your dog is scared when you leave home. Other reasons can be the loss of another animal that shared the home or a change of living arrangement like a move to a new home. Dogs that never suffered from separation anxiety before could also develop this condition as they age or if they suddenly suffer a health issue that causes them to become worried about their environment. Loud noises or other sudden surprises when your dog is home alone could also cause them to become frightened of being left alone in the home without you. Symptoms The symptoms of this condition can vary from pet to pet. Some dogs also experience these symptoms at a very heightened level, while others do not express severe symptoms even though they are struggling with separation anxiety. The most common signs of this condition are listed below: Urinating or Defecating in the Home This is a common symptom of this kind of anxiety. Dogs that never make messes in the home might suddenly do so when their owner is away or when something in their situation at home changes. Barking and Howling Dogs that have separation anxiety might also bark or howl while you are gone. This can lead to issues with your living situation, and it can annoy roommates if your dog engages in this behavior even when they are home, but you are not. Chewing, Digging, and Destroying Things Many dogs with separation anxiety will destroy things, dig holes in the yard, or chew things up. This is because they are worried, scared, or even frustrated about being alone, and they need to take this anxious energy out on something. This kind of behavior can also lead to self-injury, just as chewing on feet, broken teeth, or pulling out hair. Escape Some dogs with separation anxiety will simply figure out how to get out of their yard or their home and run to try and find the person that had left them. This is more common in animals that live in a backyard with a fence, but it can happen if your dog manages to chew a hole through the front door or climb out of a window and leave the home. Pacing Some animals with separation anxiety will pace the fence or pace up and down in rooms of the home when the person they are attached to is away. This can lead to sore feet, as well as a thin body condition, and overall anxiety. Coprophagia This is a unique kind of separation anxiety, but some dogs can experience this symptom when they are left alone. This condition happens when dogs eat excrement because they are worried about being left alone. Treatment Listed below are the main treatment methods: Medication There are various ways that you can deal with these symptoms if your dog is displaying them. You should always consider taking your pet to see the veterinarian as well, just to rule out other reasons for this extreme behavior. Your vet can prescribe anti-anxiety medications for your dog, which might help them to cope with challenges related to their environment. Crate Training Other ways of managing this condition include offering your dog something like a Kong toy with peanut butter in it or other kinds of durable and challenging toys that will keep them busy when you are away. You can also crate-train your pet so that they have a nice, safe space to sleep when they are alone. If your dog is still worried, even in the crate, you can place a blanket or towel over the front of the kennel so that they feel even more protected from the outside world. Thunder Shirts Some dogs benefit from things like thunder shirts or compression jackets. This gives them a feeling of safety that will make them inclined to go to sleep while you are away. Training You might also need to work with a dog trainer to help you and your pet to establish an effective routine to help them to feel secure and safe when you are gone from the home. Desensitizing training, as well as creating a consistent routine, can help your dog to feel safe when you are not in the home with them. There are dog trainers who specialize in this kind of training, and you should consider these professionals your first choice for this problem. Dog Separation Anxiety Can be Managed While your dog’s separation anxiety can seem very overwhelming, the good news is that this condition can usually be managed fairly readily. You will need to make sure that your dog is getting enough exercise when you are at home with them, and you should consider getting them a crate to stay in when you are away from the house. Consider working with your vet to help your dog feel calm through the use of a gentle sedative as you start to retrain their anxiety issues. You can always reach out to a dog trainer as well if you are looking for some new ideas to help a