Kidney and urinary tract diseases are prevalent among companion animals. There are a number of contributing factors and diet plays a major role. How does diet affect the diagnosis of kidney dysfunction? And the prognosis for your pet?

There are some things you need to know first! It matters whether you feed commercial pet food or raw food. Why? Because the two types of feeding create two different scenarios if we examine it in clinical terms, mainly through blood work and clinical symptoms.

Did you know that your small breed dog is genetically predisposed to dental/periodontal disease? The major reason for this is that small dogs have smaller jaws and the teeth are more crowded, leaving tighter spaces for food particles to hide. Genetics, diet, age, and health status also play a role.

The type of diet chosen for small breed dogs is crucial to their periodontal health. Contrary to popular belief, there is no such thing as a dry food diet that promotes dental health. Chewing kibbles does not keep teeth clean. In fact, it does the opposite when tiny dry food particles get caught between the tooth and the gum. Saying that kibble cleans teeth is like saying that a hard cookie would clean your own teeth when we know this couldn't possibly be the case!

Many of you know that we’ve recently started offering locally farmed certified organic coho salmon. Yum! This salmon is also Ocean Wise certified. So what does that mean?

Ocean Wise is a part of the Vancouver Aquarium ocean conservation program. It's a certification given to participating businesses that meet the criteria. The certification is based on the latest scientific research to recommend sustainable seafood choices to companies that partner with them.

Seeing as this is my favorite cat breed, I thought I’d have some fun and write a little blog about them. These amazing cats are set for snowy weather like we’ve been having this February!

Maine Coon ancestors arrived on ships with the Vikings. They developed into large, long-haired cats over generations that were faced with harsh winter conditions. The survivors were the largest, hairiest cats which make this breed very hearty in cold climates. They are extremely good-natured and that’s a plus due to their large size.

Does your dog or cat struggle with an upset stomach? Does he/she vomit or have diarrhea regularly? If so, don’t ignore it! There could be some serious consequences if you do. An unhealthy digestive tract could lead to immunological problems, organ disease, and other issues. Sometimes, we become complacent and just resign ourselves to thinking it’s just normal for our pet. It’s not!