Blood tests are an easy, safe, and relatively inexpensive way to peer inside your pets and find potential health problems. Analysis of the numbers and structure of blood cells is important in the diagnosis and monitoring of disease and infection. These tests can help us identify a problem before clinical signs or symptoms appear. But what exactly are we looking for when we do a blood draw on dogs and cats?

You may have seen the quote: “The best therapist has fur and four legs” floating around the interwebs by way of inspirational memes, but is there any truth to this saying? According to studies performed by the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI), our pets can actually benefit our mental health in a variety of ways.

You lock the doors, set the burglar alarm, and climb into bed, with the family dog following close behind. You inevitably fall into one of two camps—your pet sleeps alongside you in the bed or he sleeps on the floor...likely in a dog bed beside you (or possibly a crate). If you fall into the latter camp, you might be considering loosening those restrictions due to COVID-19. Let's face it - we're all feeling more vulnerable these days, and your faithful friend beside you in bed can bring comfort.

The various food items that are toxic or potentially toxic to dogs seem to get a lot of air time (we’re looking at you, chocolate and avocados), but we don’t seem to hear as much about what can cause harm in cats. And the worrisome thing is that the list is quite a bit longer as - in addition to certain foods - drugs, plants, and other items can be very dangerous to cats.

There’s a reason that memes about the differences between cats and dogs abound. The stereotypes do tend to be rooted in truth. Cats have a reputation for being a bit aloof and stoic, while dogs are seen as the lumbering, goofy guys who slobber all over their owners when they return from running a 10-minute errand. And while there are plenty of exceptions to both those rules, the ideas tend to hold true when it comes to them exhibiting signs of pain.