Tennessee is home to breathtaking waterfalls and thousands of miles of trails, many of which are dog-friendly trails near Nashville. If you have an outdoorsy canine companion, the following tips from our team at Harpeth Hills Animal Hospital can help you and your dog have a safe and enjoyable time exploring Tennessee’s scenic trails. 

Part of being a dog is running and playing and generally enjoying life. When our pets hurt, they can’t partake in these joyful activities. Canine orthopedic conditions like hip dysplasia in dogs can definitely affect quality of life, and Harpeth Hills Animal Hospital wants to make sure that your pet’s time with you is optimal.

There are a few different factors that play a role in the development of canine hip dysplasia, a disease characterized by painful, uneven movements. A normal hip joint involves a tight-fitting ball and socket motion. In direct contrast, hip dysplasia concerns a malformed connection of the ball and socket that results in a loose joint. Over time, hip dysplasia causes painful wear and tear of the joint, or degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis). The good news? It can be managed and treated.

Hearing loss in pets requires a different approach when it comes to care. While you’ll still feed them and shower them with attention, you might need to change the way you communicate. You’ll also need to stay alert for health and safety hazards that could spell trouble for them. The following tips should help you adapt to the new normal.

Sudden Deafness in Cats

Your cat can suddenly lose his hearing due to a middle or inner ear infection. Drug toxicity and noise trauma can also be to blame. Although some cases of hearing loss are temporary, others could be permanent.

While all breeds have something to offer their new families, doddle puppies are in high demand. They are absolutely sweet, easy-going, fun-loving, adorable, and gentle (to name just a few characteristics). With our go-to guide, caring for a doodle puppy is easy, straightforward, and satisfying to boot!

A Lot Of Love to Give

All of the doodle cross breeds out there are half poodles. Whether bred with a labrador (labradoodle), golden retriever (golden doodle), collie (cadoodle), cocker spaniel (cockapoo), or dachshund (doxiepoo), new owners can expect a lifetime of intelligence, companionship, and entertainment. 

Traditional cigarette smoking has somewhat fallen out of fashion, but the use of nicotine is still growing strong. Vape pens are considered a good alternative to cigarettes, but the liquid inside them is far from chemical-free. In fact, vaping around pets can be incredibly hazardous to animal health and safety. 

The average breathing rate of a healthy dog is about 27 breaths per minute. Depending on their weight and overall size, they may need to breathe faster or take in more breaths per minute. Despite having a benchmark for normalcy, some pups just breathe faster sometimes, especially if they recently exerted themselves or the temperature is high. A dog breathing fast might not always trigger immediate action, but it can signal that they need help ASAP.

Puppy dog eyes and that Puss-In-Boots pout are a pretty awesome (and adorable) part of owning pets. Sometimes, though, trouble can strike those perfect peepers. Join Harpeth Hills Animal Hospital in learning how to spot glaucoma eye problems in pets and what to do when you see them.

Pet owners spend a lot of time gazing into their pet’s eyes. It’s like we can feel the human-animal bond revitalized and reconnected each and every time we sustain meaningful eye contact. This amount of attention is great because if any issues start to affect our pet’s eyes, we can spot them straight away. The five most common eye problems in pets might never affect your best friend, but knowing exactly what to look for can lead to early intervention and effective treatment.

Flat-nose dog breeds, like the English bulldog, French bulldog, pug, and Boston terrier have become very popular over the last few years. They fall under the category called brachycephalic, or simply put, short-headed.  

There are some health complexities to these lovable breeds. Before owning one, be aware that these boop-able noses require some extra dog wellness care.