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As if 2020 couldn’t get any worse, now your pet’s food has been listed in a recall. What do you do? Rush your dog to the vet? Burn the food? Start sobbing uncontrollably in the corner?

Take a deep breath and know that your friends at New Haven Pet Hospital have your back. Most of the time a dog food recall is nothing to panic over, and we are here to guide you through.

On March 15, 2007 (simpler times!), the FDA learned that certain dog and cat foods were contaminated with a substance called melamine that was sickening and killing pets. This massive pet food recall and the fear that it generated among pet owners led to an increased interest in homemade pet food.

Although preparing your sweet pet’s food in the safety of your own kitchen seems like a good way to protect them from potential poisoning, but proper pet nutrition is a tricky business. Commercial pet food is formulated to be nutritionally balanced for a pet’s specific age and life stage, but this doesn’t mean you can’t provide your pet with a good diet on your own. Research and advice from your trusted veterinarian are the keys to making an informed decision.

Cats have been venerated and persecuted in equal measure over the years. Their roles in major historical events, such as rodent-ridders at the dawn of organized agriculture, were not insignificant. Likewise, their influence on people has been immeasurable over the course of millennia, perhaps reaching its zenith in Ancient Egypt. 

Black cats have, perhaps, experienced the greatest intensity of both human fear and admiration. Through no fault of their own, blacks cats began to be seen as pawns of the devil. The result? An odd connection between black cats and Halloween may not be easy to untangle.

Most dogs enjoy having activities to occupy their time, just like us. But there are some breeds that take that desire to expend energy to a new level. These breeds are in the working dogs class and have been bred for jobs we can benefit from. 

The team at New Haven Pet Hospital wants to give a shout out to our hard working canines by putting a spotlight on working dogs and their roles in society.

Adopting a new dog, cat, or other sweet companion into your family is an exciting time. After all, what could be better than adding more love to the household? Many potential new pet owners are curious about whether they should purchase a purebred or adopt. While there are some benefits to both choices, there are wonderful advantages to adopting from a shelter or rescue – including saving a life!

The team at New Haven Pet Hospital wants to encourage you to make the best choice for your family. Here are some of the reasons why you should adopt and the amazing gifts you will get from a shelter pet.

More than 500,000 household fires occur annually and over 1,000 of those are caused by curious pets. This is why there is a day devoted to National Pet Fire Safety, on July 15th every year. In observation, the team at New Haven Pet Hospital  would like to offer some important tips for your pet’s safety around fire.

Avoiding the Blaze

Our pets don’t mean to cause trouble, but accidents can and do happen, especially when pets are home alone. Here are a few essential tips for pet fire safety:

We know there’s a strong connection between the brain and the body, and recognize that our mental state improves when a daily regimen of exercise is carefully maintained.

This is true for human and pet health alike. In our increasingly automated and sedentary world, staying fit and active is more important than ever before, and we’ve got some tips to keep your best friend looking – and feeling – their best.

Setting the Tone

In order to provide the best possible life for your pet there are definite facets to pet health that shouldn’t be left on the back burner. Deciding that daily vigorous exercise is part of your new normal will have amazing results for both of you. 

Owning pets and having a spotless house are not mutually exclusive, but having a fresh, clean house can feel like a lofty goal when wagging tails, muddy paws, and slurping tongues are involved.

Don’t worry though, you’ve got this! To help, we’ve prepared a ready-made list on how spring cleaning for pet owners can be easily achieved – and maybe even enjoyed by all members of the house!

With Pets In Mind

Of course, pets don’t know the extent of their effect on your household. They don’t necessarily know that their paws tracked dirt, mud, litter, fur, or other debris throughout the house.

For people who absolutely love animals, it’s tragic to hear about cases of animal cruelty. A great deal of research, education and intervention has been at the forefront of preventing neglect and abuse, but there is still much to be done.

April is Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month, and to aid in the fight we’ve got some tips on how to spot – and stop – animal cruelty. 

Animal Welfare Counts

As a responsible citizen, you may feel absolutely compelled to get involved when you witness signs of animal cruelty. However, you should never compromise your own safety in this virtuous fight.

There are definite barriers to pet ownership for many people, but depending on your set-up, there is probably at least one type of animal you could share your home with.

Whether you’re allergy-sensitive, live in an apartment, or simply want to try something different, owning a pet reptile might be the perfect choice. 

It’s Habitual

Despite the common perception that they are “low maintenance” pets, reptiles require a great deal of consideration. Reptiles can be absolutely perfect pets, but it’s important to resist the impulse to adopt one before you conduct extensive research about their daily needs and health care requirements. Many reptiles can live for a couple decades or more! As such, it’s critical to choose wisely.