People living in Florida, especially along the coastal areas, usually have a list of things to do and protect during hurricane season. Most important is the contents of a hurricane kit, but equally important is to prepare early for protecting your pets. “A good practice is to start with,” said Dr. Al Paredes at Day and Evening Pet Clinic, “is by calling our veterinarian clinic to make sure that your dogs’ and cats’ vaccines are up to date. Also, in case of an evacuation order, having a plan for boarding pets that you cannot take with you is essential. We can ...

Fleas are a major concern of pet owners. Dr. Al Paredes, veterinarian at Day And Evening Pet Clinic in Palm Harbor, FL often gets questions about how to remove and prevent flea infestations both in the home and the yard. Dr. Paredes recently was asked by a reader of his blog, "When you have a moment would you comment about the use of diatomaceous earth as an organic non-pesticide approach to killing fleas in the "back yard"? Here is what Dr. Paredes had to say. "Diatamaceous earth works to kill fleas by absorbing the lipids of the insect, therefore dehydrating it ...

Every dog loves a yummy treat now and then and they especially love the peanut butter in these delectable, nutritious goodies. We were so impressed with this recipe for homemade dog biscuits we decided to share it with you. Prep: 15 min. Bake: 30 min. + cooling Yield: 31 Servings Ingredients 2 cups whole wheat flour 1 cup toasted wheat germ 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 3/4 cup water 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter 1 egg 2 tablespoons vegetable oil Directions In a large bowl, combine the flour, wheat germ and cinnamon. Stir in the water, peanut butter, egg and oil. On a floured surface, roll dough to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut with a 3-in. ...

“Many pets suffer from ear problems”, said Dr. Al Paredes, Veterinarian at Day And Evening Pet Clinic. The most common problems include ear tissue infection, ear mites, and chronic ear infections from a lack of regular cleaning. Signs of Pet Ear Diseases “The signs of ear diseases are easy to spot,” said Dr. Paredes. “If your pet’s ears have a bad odor, if they are scratching or rubbing their ears, shaking their head or tilting it to one side, check the ears for signs of discharge, swelling or redness in the ear canal, or painful areas around their ears.” The Causes of Pet ...

"A cat spraying problem is not typically a litter box issue," says veterinarian Dr. Al Paredes. "Rather, it is usually a marking behavior which is a dominant nonverbal communication among cats." Spraying can signal several different things; commonly to attract a mate or mark territories and boundaries. A cat’s  urine contains pheromones, a substance produced by animals that is used for communication and identifies the cat. While neutered male cats might spray when aroused, intact males have the greatest motivation to mark because of their mating and territorial agendas. Intact female cats that are in heat can spray to signal potential ...

Your pet can have an emergency at any time. “Preparing ahead of time is one of the smartest and best things you can do for your dog or cat,” said Dr. Al Paredes, a veterinarian in Palm Harbor Florida. Preparing and keeping a pet first aid kit handy in each place your pet may be could save its life. Minimally keep a basic first aid kit handy in the home and another one in the car when your pet is traveling with you. A basic first-aid kit will help reduce worries if an unexpected emergency occurs. Keep the perishable items ...

Pet health care tip. The holidays are here, and festive Christmas tinsel, ribbons and strings of lights are up, or going up, in homes across the city. What do these items have in common? “To your dogs and cats, these things are toys, and your pets don’t know that they are dangerous,” said Dr. Al Paredes, veterinarian at Day and Evening Pet Clinic in Palm Harbor, Florida. Ingesting tinsel and ribbon can cause choking, and a string of lights that is plugged in can cause electrocution if your pet chews on them, and is a choking hazard as well with small plastic ...

Your pet can suffer from eye problems just like humans do. At the first sign of a problem it is important to have a veterinarian check your pet’s eyes right away. This can prevent more serious complications. Common problems include red eye, cataracts, glaucoma, eye tumors, inflammation, defects of the eyelids, discharge, retinal degeneration and other problems. Red Eye - Both cats and dogs can get red eye. This is when the blood vessels of the conjunctiva (the pink lining of the eyeball and eyelids), sclera (white covering of the eye), or cornea (clear surface of the eye) become enlarged or more ...

Pet Care Tip - Foods That Are Toxic To Dogs And Cats Who can resist giving tidbits to a soulful pair of puppy or kitty eyes that plead for a bite of what you are eating, despite the fact that some human foods are toxic poison to your pet. The holidays are particularly touchy when your guests can hardly resist sneaking bits of food to your begging pets. While they mean well, it is best to ask that they not indulge your pets right up front so there is no question what your rules are. Veterinarian Dr. Al Paredes says what you ...

Hi, I’m Dr. Al Paredes, and I’d like to welcome you to Day and Evening Pet Clinic and tell you an interesting story about one of our clients and a pet Pit Bull puppy that we treated recently. Well, yesterday we had a young man come in and say that his engagement ring disappeared. He and his wife had a little debate over where it went, and they finally decided that their young Pit Bull puppy ate it. So he brought him in to get an X-ray. We took some X-rays and found the wedding ring and we were ...