All animals can benefit from enrichment (i.e., the process of making their environment more stimulating and interesting). Enrichment has many benefits, including reducing stress, boredom, and behavior problems, and the chance of cognitive dysfunction development. Humans can seek out our own enrichment and stimulate our brains in many ways, but pets need their owner’s help.  [...]

You know your pet is wonderful, amazing, incredible—all the adjectives that mean they’re the best. Yet, after your furry pal’s wellness visit at Valley Center Veterinary Clinic, you may be told they are “normal.” We know that your four-legged friend is fantastic, not “normal,” but sometimes “normal” can be pretty awesome. Read on to discover [...]

Although your four-legged friend will inevitably grow older, suffering from the problems that often come with advancing age is not a given. In fact, you can easily keep your senior pet comfortable, healthy, and happy throughout their golden years with a few modifications to their schedule, environment, and care. Follow our Valley Center Veterinary Clinic [...]

Many owners attribute their cat’s waning energy to normal aging changes, but the cause could be something more serious, such as joint pain and inflammation. As a Cat-Friendly Certified practice, our Valley Center Veterinary Clinic team understands your feline friend’s unique biology and treatment needs, and we explain what you need to know about feline [...]

Pet obesity has become so normalized that many pet owners don’t realize their furry pal is overweight. Our Valley Center Veterinary Clinic team wants you to understand the reasons behind your pet’s health needs, so you can take the appropriate steps to provide the care they need. Since pet obesity is one of the most [...]

Like people, cats can experience stress, which is an immediate response to a threat that activates the body’s fight-or-flight response. Chronic stress can cause physical and emotional issues for felines, manifesting in problem behaviors such as scratching and urinating outside the litter box. Our Valley Center Veterinary Clinic team explains feline stress causes and how [...]

Some pet owners prefer to leave pet grooming to the professionals, and others enjoy the opportunity to save money, strengthen their pet-owner bond, and promote their furry friend’s health and well-being at home. Regardless of where you are on the spectrum, you can always learn how to elevate your pet-grooming game. Our Valley Center Veterinary [...]

Cats scratch for numerous reasons, but their claws can cause significant damage, and your first impulse is likely to yell at your feline friend. But, punishing your cat for scratching can induce stress and exacerbate the situation. Our Valley Center Veterinary Clinic team knows that cat owners are frustrated by destructive scratching, so we explain [...]

Spring is a pleasant time for most people, except allergy sufferers who deal with sneezing, itchy eyes, and other hay fever symptoms. Pets with allergies may also dread spring, which can cause them to develop itchy, red, inflamed skin. Parasites and skin infections can also contribute to a pet’s year-round  itchiness. Our Valley Center Veterinary [...]

An estimated 1% of dogs and 2% to 3% of cats have chronic kidney disease (CKD)—a progressive decline in kidney function—but this number increases dramatically as pets age. Around 10% of senior dogs and up to 35% of senior cats may develop this condition. Without adequate kidney function, a pet’s quality of life can rapidly [...]