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If you’ve ever wondered, “why do my cats bite me?”, you’re not alone. Many cat owners in Winter Park and beyond experience sudden nips or unexpected aggression from their pets. Understanding cat biting behavior is essential to building a safe, trusting relationship with your feline companion. In this guide, veterinarians explain why cats bite their owners, what triggers this behavior,

Choosing the right vet-approved puppy food can feel overwhelming, especially with so many options available. If you’re a new pet parent in Winter Park, understanding what goes into healthy puppy nutrition is essential for your dog’s growth and well-being. In this guide, we’ll break down six types of vet-approved puppy foods, what to look for in quality nutrition, and how

Preventive pet care is one of the most effective ways to keep your furry friend healthy and out of the emergency room. From regular pet checkups to routine vet visits, early detection and proactive care can prevent serious health issues from becoming life-threatening. In this guide, we’ll explore how pet wellness checkups and simple pet health tips can save you

You know your pet better than anyone, noticing when they’re excited, when they’re sleepy, and when something just doesn’t seem right. However, pets can’t tell you where it hurts or how they’re feeling. Sometimes, the signs of illness are subtle. Other times, they’re hiding pain altogether. As a pet owner, you play a critical role in your animal’s health. Observing

Proper nutrition is a key aspect of pet health. A good, well balanced diet in young dogs and cats can set them up for a long healthy life. With all the brands of pet foods on the market, choosing a nutritious pet food that you can trust can be a daunting task. There are a few important things to keep

Arthritis is one of the most common chronic conditions affecting pets, especially as they get older. This disease causes inflammation, pain, and stiffness in the joints, impacting mobility and overall quality of life. While often associated with senior pets, arthritis can occur in younger animals due to injury, genetic predisposition, or joint abnormalities. ‍ Arthritis affects an estimated one in

At 4 Paws, we cannot stress enough the importance of routine exams and bloodwork for cats and dogs. Annual exam and bloodwork is recommended for most pets 7 years and under. For cats and dogs over 7 years old or with chronic health conditions, it is strongly recommended to have your pet seen and bloodwork checked every 6 months at

When you bring home a new puppy or kitten, vaccinations are one of the most important parts of keeping them healthy. But many pet owners wonder—why do these young animals need multiple rounds of the same vaccine, also known as boosters? The answer lies in how their immune systems develop. Puppies and kittens are born with some protection from their

At 4 Paws, we strongly recommend that every pet have a microchip to help increase the chances of them being reunited should they ever get separated from you. A microchip is a tiny device, about the size of a grain of rice, that’s implanted under your pet’s skin—usually between the shoulder blades. It contains a unique ID number, which can

Heartworm and flea prevention are crucial aspects of maintaining the health and well-being of both dogs and cats. Heartworm disease, caused by parasitic worms transmitted through mosquito bites, can lead to severe lung disease, heart failure, and even death if left untreated. Treatment of heartworm infection in dogs is very costly and some dogs do not survive it. There are

Intestinal parasites can be spread to dogs and cats through contact with an infected animal or from ingestion or physical contact with contaminated stool or soil. Parasite prevention is a vital aspect of maintaining the overall health and well-being of both dogs and cats and each month that a pet gets their oral or topical heartworm preventative, they are being

Just Say No to Awake Dentals As pet owners, we all want what’s best for our fur babies, especially when it comes to their health. Dental care is an essential part of a pet’s overall health, yet many pet parents are enticed by the idea of anesthesia-free dental cleanings. Marketed as a safer, less expensive alternative to traditional veterinary dentistry,

5 Safe Treats to Give Your Dog and 5 Foods to Never Give Your Dog As a devoted pet owner, ensuring your dog’s health and happiness is a top priority. One way to show love is through treats, but not all snacks are created equal. Knowing which treats are safe and which foods are harmful can make a significant difference

Holiday Hazards for Pets: Keeping Your Furry Friends Safe ‍ The holiday season is a time of joy, celebration, and festivity, but it also brings unique challenges for pet owners. From twinkling lights to delectable treats, the season’s splendor can pose unexpected risks to our furry companions. To ensure your pets remain safe and happy throughout the holidays, it’s crucial

Solensia: A Breakthrough in Alleviating Cat Arthritis Pain Cats, beloved companions known for their agility and grace, can suffersilently from arthritis as they age. This debilitating condition affects their joints, causing pain and stiffness, which can significantly impact their quality of life. Arthritis pain in cats is under diagnosed in veterinary medicine since cats hide their pain well and signs

The importance of vaccinations for your pet One crucial aspect of being a responsible pet parent is ensuring that your fur baby is up to date on all of its vaccinations. A lapse in vaccines can lead to serious illness, expensive hospital bills, death or even legal consequence in some cases. There are several different vaccines available for dogs and

Understanding Librela Injections for Dogs: A Comprehensive Guide Arthritis pain can often be an overlooked health condition in dogs. Most people think that if their dog is not actively limping or yelping, they are not in pain but this is actually not true. Signs of arthritis pain in dogs include slowness to lay down or stand up, gait changes such

Protecting Your Furry Friends: The Crucial Role of Heartworm Prevention in Dogs and Cats As pet owners, our top priority is the health and happiness of your beloved furry companions. However, amidst the joys of pet ownership, there are hidden dangers that require our attention, one of which is heartworm disease. This silent threat can affect both dogs and cats,

Proper Cat Etiquette and Setting your Kitties Up for Success There seems to be a never-ending plethora of information regarding cats and proper care, and it can become very overwhelming to sift through it all. How many litter boxes are recommended, and what type of litter? Where should their food bowls be in relation to their litter boxes? What about

Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease and Feline Idiopathic Cystitis What is the number one reason cats go to the vet? The answer may surprise you- it is not due to GI issues or eating something they shouldn’t, but actually due to inappropriate urination. Many clients end up at 4Paws asking our veterinarians why their cats are not using the litterbox

Pet Insurance: The Best Gift You Will Ever Give Your Pet Owning a pet brings immeasurable joy and companionship, but it also comes with responsibilities, one of which is ensuring their health and well-being. While many aspects of pet care are straightforward, the importance f pet insurance is often underestimated. In this blog, we’ll explore why pet insurance is a

If you are reading this you have either purchased/adopted anew puppy or are thinking about getting a new puppy. This can be both an exciting and stressful time as you add a new member to your family! There are several things to consider after getting a puppy including vaccinations, starting on prevention, and purchasing insurance and it can all get

Congratulations on your new kitten! This can be both an exciting and stressful time as you adjust to having a new member in your family. There are several things to consider after getting a kitten including vaccinations, starting on prevention, and purchasing insurance and it can all get a bit overwhelming so we have outlined below the process to expect

The Importance of Annual Bloodwork for Our Pets Most pet owners come to expect and appreciate the importance of annual examinations, vaccinations and heartworm and flea prevention for their pet. Something that is equally important that will be recommended annually for every pet is bloodwork. Bloodwork panels can be as simple as a parasite screening or can be a more

Our feline friends make great companions and can provide so much joy to our lives. It is important to keep them just as healthy and happy as they make us. One medical concern cats are predisposed to developing is urinary issues, which can become a significant roadblock to both their and our quality of life. There are several ways to

Most pet owners come to expect and appreciate the importance of annual examinations, vaccinations and heartworm and flea prevention for their pet. Something that is equally important that will be recommended annually for every pet is bloodwork. Bloodwork panels can be as simple as a parasite screening or can be a more comprehensive check of all internal organ functions. Determining

At some point in every dog’s life they will be exposed to some form of respiratory infection. It is best to be prepared for this through vaccination and routine exams with a veterinarian. The most common respiratory infection we see in our area is Kennel Cough, however there have also been recent outbreaks of Influenza as well. Luckily for our

Congratulations on adopting your new furry companion.  With this exciting time in your life comes a whole new set of information and challenges, from feeding instructions and vaccine updates to toy and training recommendations. One subject that is of great importance, and that our veterinarians at 4Paws Animal Clinic take very seriously, is the recommendation to spay or neuter your

A concerning recommendation for a pet owner to hear from their veterinarian is that their pet needs treatment that requires general anesthesia. We have all read/heard stories about pets going under anesthesia for a routine procedure and not going home afterward. While that fear is understandable and anesthesia is never without any risks, the veterinary profession has made many advancements

Maintaining good dental health is just as important for our pets as it is for us. Unfortunately, many pet owners overlook this aspect of their pet’s overall health. In fact, dental disease is one of the most common health problems seen in dogs and cats. Tartar and bacterial build up on the teeth can lead to gum disease, oral pain,

One aspect of pet health that is commonly overlooked is dental health. Signs of dental disease can be very difficult to detect to the untrained eye. Most people associate pearly white teeth and a lack of bad breath with good oral hygiene. The fact is, by the age of 2 years old, 80% of dogs and 70% of cats have

Hearing your pet diagnosed as having fleas can understandably elicit a range of reactions from disgust to disbelief. You might wonder how this could possibly happen when you take such great care of your pet or it never goes outside. It is equally understandable not to believe the diagnosis since most people do not actually see fleas on their pet.

Dogs and cats can suffer from allergies to various things such as fleas, food or environmental allergens. Allergies in pets can be very frustrating, confusing, exhaustive and expensive over time. Allergies in pets are very different to what humans experience. While pets with mild allergies can experience sneezing and runny eyes and nose similar to people, most pets with allergies

The most common cause of allergic itch that we see in pets are environmental allergens. In the United States, approximately 3.6% of dogs and <1% of cats experience allergies to things in the environment. Environmental allergens are microscopic particles found in our  surroundings that will trigger the immune system to overreact and attack the allergen in an effort to remove

Dogs and cats can experience allergies to a variety of things including fleas and environmental contaminants such as mold and pollen. A rarer form of allergies in dogs and cats, though equally problematic, are food allergies. Food allergies are statistically rare – only 0.2% of dogs and 0.1% of cats experience true food allergies. Despite this condition being very rare,