Posts in Category: Pet Health & Wellness

Dogs communicate in all kinds of quirky ways. Sometimes it’s a wagging tail to welcome you home. Sometimes it’s an excited bark. And sometimes it’s a vigorous head shake when you least expect it. While an occasional flick of the head after a bath is perfectly normal, frequent episodes of head shaking can point to a dog ear infection, allergies, or even a trapped foreign object.

At Bowman Veterinary Hospital, we often treat itchy ears in dogs, and our team can uncover the cause of your dog’s discomfort and get those furry ears feeling better again.

Seeing a swollen face on your dog is alarming. One moment your pet looks perfectly normal, and the next, you notice puffiness around the muzzle, cheeks, eyes, or jaw. While some causes of dog facial swelling are relatively minor, others require prompt veterinary attention. Understanding what might be behind the swelling can help you make informed decisions about your dog’s care.

At Bowman Veterinary Hospital in Auburn, CA, our veterinarians and staff understand how concerning sudden facial changes can be. Here’s what pet owners should know about common causes of facial swelling in dogs and when it’s time to seek professional care.

Foxtails may look soft, wispy, and harmless, swaying in the summer breeze, but don’t let the fluffy facade fool you. These tiny grass awns are basically nature’s barbed darts—designed to travel in one direction and stubbornly keep going. For pets, that can spell serious trouble.

At Bowman Veterinary Hospital, we see countless cases of grass awn injury in pets, especially in adventurous dogs and curious outdoor cats who charge enthusiastically into fields, trails, and tall grass without a second thought.

Cats are known for their calm, composed demeanor, and when it comes to breathing, even subtle changes can signal something serious. If you notice your cat open-mouth breathing, it’s important to take it seriously. Unlike dogs, cats do not typically pant, and breathing with an open mouth is often a sign of distress.

In this blog, our team at Bowman Veterinary Hospital helps you understand what’s normal and what’s not, so you can act quickly during a cat breathing emergency. 

Cats are champions of cozy corners. A quiet closet, a sunny windowsill, or a favorite box can feel like a private paradise. But when cat hiding behavior suddenly increases, especially in a normally social pet, it can be more than a quirky preference. It may be your cat’s subtle way of signaling that something is wrong.

In this blog, our team at Bowman Veterinary Hospital explores why sudden behavior changes in cats can hint at trouble and when to respond with prompt veterinary care.

Few things are more distressing than your dog suddenly having a bout of diarrhea—especially if it happens inside your home. Now you’re worried about your pup and facing a mess to clean up. But if your dog can’t get out the door in time to relieve herself, you might have a dog diarrhea emergency on your hands. 

Not sure what to do? The team at Bowman Veterinary Hospital is here to help. 

Cats are masters of mystery. They nap peacefully, eat politely, and often hide discomfort with impressive skill. That’s why weight loss in cats—especially when it happens quietly—deserves close attention. If your cat is losing weight but eating, it’s rarely “just a phase,” and almost always a signal that something deeper is going on.

In fact, unexplained weight loss is one of the most important warning signs veterinarians see in feline patients.

Our pets bring endless joy and companionship into our lives, but they don’t always bring the best smells into our homes. Dogs, in particular, have a knack for rolling in questionable things outdoors, and even the cleanest cats can deposit fur, dander, and odors in their favorite resting spots. That’s why your pet’s bed deserves just as much attention as your own sheets and blankets. Here’s what every pet parent should know about the importance of keeping pet beds clean.

What’s better than a dog that loves to run, jump, and fetch dozens of frisbee throws? Not much, if you’re a pup parent. But dogs can overdo it if we aren’t careful. Joyous activity can slide into overexercising territory, and your pup’s body can show signs of exhaustion. 

Below, the team at Bowman Veterinary Hospital will share the signs of overextension in dogs to help avoid long-term discomfort or injury. 

As our pets get older, their bodies go through changes that can take their toll. One of the most common conditions that affects senior pets is arthritis, and in particular, osteoarthritis (OA).

Today, the team at Bowman Veterinary Hospital wants to make sure the pet parents in our community know what to watch for with arthritis.