Veterinary Blog

Furnishing toys and comfort items can keep a pet out of trouble, but there’s more to pet enrichment than simple distraction. Providing safe games or toys can improve a pet’s sense of control on their surroundings and circumstances. We’ve got some boredom-busting activities for dogs and cats to play with when their owners are temporarily away or busy. 

Now more than ever, shoppers are becoming conscious of the impact they make on the planet. That includes those of us who shop for pet products. Here at Curem Veterinary Care, we’ve rounded up a list of our favorite eco-friendly pet care brands to make sustainable pet care easy for you. 

Whether you’re ready to start your holiday shopping or you just want to splurge on new bedding for Fido, we’ve got you covered. 

Pet healthcare is a labor of love for all involved. Long hours, somewhat difficult working conditions, a lot of training, and sometimes less than commensurate wages make the veterinary field a less-than-attractive option for many. For those of us who love it, though, we wouldn’t have things any other way.

Help us at Curem Veterinary Care celebrate our veterinary team and learn what a day in the life of a veterinary technician looks like.

As responsible pet owners, we want to provide the best possible care for our beloved animals. However, unforeseen accidents and illnesses can lead to unexpected veterinary expenses. That’s where pet insurance comes into play. 

In this blog post, we’ll explore the benefits of pet insurance and how it can be a game-changer for your pet’s health and your peace of mind.

If you’ve adopted a shelter dog before, you might recall that bringing them home for the first time left an indelible impression. The following days and weeks likely unfolded in a happy haze of new smells, experiences, and connections that helped them navigate their new life. The special joy associated with an auspicious adoption typically gives way to the long-term satisfaction that is responsible dog ownership. Dog adoption is one of the most worthwhile adventures in life. 

October is Adopt a Dog month. With millions of dogs waiting in shelters for their forever homes, could the timing be right to bring one home?

If your pet seems healthy, happy, and completely free of medical issues, it can be tempting to skip his yearly wellness exam. Especially if you’re already juggling what feels like a thousand other responsibilities. 

But pet health check-ups are an incredibly important part of being a responsible pet parent. The team at Curem Veterinary Care shares why routine veterinary exams are a must.

Pets can suffer from chronic pain just like humans can. But unlike humans, pets can’t tell us when they are experiencing chronic pain. At least, they can’t speak our language to let us know. But our furry friends give us plenty of signs that they’re not feeling well. 

At Curem Veterinary Care, we speak your pet’s language. We’ll show you how to recognize and manage chronic pain in pets. 

Our furry companions aren’t just pets but cherished members of our families. But just like humans, our pets can experience anxiety, particularly when separated from their loved ones. 

Pet separation anxiety is a common issue many pet owners face, but it can be managed effectively with the right strategies and support. In this blog post, Curem Veterinary Care will explore the causes of separation anxiety in pets, provide practical tips for coping with it, and offer guidance on strengthening the bond between you and your four-legged friend.

While most pet owners aren’t super excited for their pet to have surgery, it is something nearly every animal lover will have to deal with at some point. Whether it is to be spayed or neutered, to undergo an urgent procedure, or for routine care like a dental cleaning, anesthesia is a common component of pet health and wellness. So what can you as a pet owner do? Curem Veterinary Care is here to guide you through optimal pet surgery preparation. 

Cats are pretty amazing animals. Well-tuned machines, they are incredible hunters and even more incredible companions to us. As pet owners, we want to take the best care of them we possibly can. The foundation of good pet care starts with feeding, and feline nutrition can be a bit of an overwhelming topic. Curem Veterinary Care aims to get our pet parents started off on the right paw when it comes to feeding their animals. 

How Feline Nutrition is Unique

Cats are not small dogs, nor should they eat like one. Understanding the differences is key to determining a balanced diet for cats. 

When considering feline nutrition, it is important to note that:

• Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they must eat meat to thrive
• Cats do need nutrients from non-meat sources as well
• Felines require 2-3 times more protein than dogs do
• Cats need external sources of amino acids like arginine and taurine since they cannot manufacture their own 
• Many essential vitamins for cats must be provided in the food including vitamin A, vitamin D, and niacin
• Feline species have unique metabolisms that affect their use of essential fatty acids, carbohydrates, and need for B vitamins

This means that it is very important to choose a diet for your cat that has been carefully formulated to result in the perfect balance of proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals for cat health. 

Feeding Your Cat

When it comes to feeding your cat the best diet possible, it definitely takes some knowledge. While it may seem easy to throw together a few ingredients to result in a tasty meal, most non-researched diets are lacking in the nutrition department. 

When selecting a food for your cat, be sure to choose a diet that:

• Meet the AAFCO nutrient profile for your cat’s life stage (growth, adult, senior, etc.). The more specific the better!
• Ideally has been passed through animal feeding trials to prove suitability
• Has been formulated by a nutritional expert (ideally a board-certified veterinary nutritionist or a PhD in animal nutrition)
• Is manufactured in a plant owned by the manufacturer
• Participates in quality control measures
• Provides owner access to customer service 

Not all of the most important information is on the label of your pet food. Pet Nutrition Alliance maintains a database that contains some of this information for you. 

Avoid common traps of falling for flashy buzz words, paying too much attention to the ingredient list (this can often be misleading), or putting too much stock in ratings websites or pet store “experts” who are trying to sell you something. 

When it comes to cat food ingredients to avoid, the list is pretty short. Cats cannot successfully eat vegetarian diets, and obviously added color dyes and the like are not ideal. For the most part though, if a food is formulated by a professional nutritionist, each ingredient serves a valuable purpose.

We are here for you as a resource as well. Never hesitate to contact us with your questions about feline nutrition, or anything else for that matter.