Our Blog

The pets we share our lives with are pretty predictable (despite the great unpredictability of the past few years!). Just like us, they like certain things to happen at particular moments of the day, week, or month. Creatures, as it were, of habit. 

At Felton Veterinary Hospital, we like to respond to pet patterns with monthly blog posts. These blogs are intended to shed some light on both new and familiar pet topics. We care what our community of pet owners are interested in when it comes to their pets, so we pay attention to which blogs resonate the most with our clients. As we ring in 2022, we take a second look at Felton Veterinary Hospital’s most popular blogs of 2021. Continue…

Fall in the San Lorenzo Valley brings many delights: golden leaves, warm weather (or rain!), wind, and of course, pumpkin spice everything. For pets with allergies, it can also mean the onset of intense itching and skin infections. 

Contrary to popular belief, allergies in pets don’t occur only in the springtime. Fall allergies can also be a problem for your pet, caused by weeds that pollinate in the fall, namely, ragweed. Other weeds that pollinate in the fall include sagebrush, plantain, and lambs-quarters.

Pets with environmental allergies, known as atopic dermatitis, or atopy, can be allergic in one season, or may be allergic year-round. Allergens can include pollen, grasses, house-dust mites, and mold. The windy conditions we’ve seen in our area this late summer and fall have contributed to a particularly challenging allergy year for pets. And although rain can calm things down, ultimately allergic pets will be uncomfortable again when it dries out.  Continue…

If you have a senior pet, one of the most important things to remember is that although getting older is not optional, discomfort can be. In other words, older pets can still enjoy life, be active and pain free, and stay healthy for weeks, months, and even years to come. And your veterinarian can help make this happen. 

Working with your pet’s veterinarian during the golden years can ensure a happier and healthier aging for your pet, and peace of mind for you.   Continue…

With summer underway, many of us have the travel bug – especially after a year of sheltering in place! But when the open road calls to you and your pet, there are a few safety precautions that should be taken. Keep these pet travel safety tips in mind, both as you pack and as you travel, and ensure you and your pet both have the vacation you deserve. 

ID Tags and Microchips

Bringing home a new puppy is an exciting time, but can also be stressful if you’re not prepared. From puppy-proofing your house to starting potty training the right way, it’s easy to become overwhelmed with your responsibilities in order to make your puppy’s transition a success.

With all the excitement and anticipation around welcoming your puppy home, it’s easy to forget important steps. But, preparing your home and your family for your new arrival can put you on track and ensure a happy dog for years to come. We’ve asked experts across the country, from Orlando, FL to Portland, OR, to share their best tip for bringing home a puppy.

To Our Covid Weary Pet Owners

As of June 17, 2021, and in light of California and CDC recommendations, we are taking a cautiously optimistic approach and partially unlocking our front doors! Your pets will be so happy to be accompanied into our building by their people again AND so will we! For our safety and yours, our doors will not be “wide open” quite yet. Let us define our Cautiously Optimistic Approach:

We will still have ALL appointments types call us from the parking lot when they arrive.

Welcome home! You’ve just unlocked the door and walk inside to find your living room covered with your chewed-up couch material. Or, you walk in and find that your cat has eliminated on the rug, instead of in the litter box. You grit your teeth and start to clean up, wondering what has come over your pet these days. 

Are they angry with you for leaving the house and punishing you? Probably not. Chances are, your pet is experiencing anxiety and fear. 

You’re ready to adopt a new pet! Congratulations. Of course, your first thought is probably to check out our local shelter, and we couldn’t agree more. Shelters and rescue organizations have many loving and wonderful pets of every size, shape, and personality just waiting for their forever homes.

Adopting a shelter pet is most successful if a little planning and preparation takes place before you set foot in the building. Felton Veterinary Hospital is ready to be your tour guide along the journey of adopting a shelter pet. 

Anyone who has pets knows the pain of resisting puppy dog eyes at the dinner table. As cute as they are, our pets often win the battle on that one. But when it comes to Thanksgiving safety for pets, it’s important to understand the risks and repercussions of giving in. 

But letting your pet partake in the feast is not the only risk to their health around the holidays. Keep reading for Felton Veterinary Hospital’s best tips for Thanksgiving pet safety, and avoid an emergency room visit on this, the most festive of holidays. 

Many of us were woken in the middle of the night on August 16, 2020 by a violent wind and dry lightning storm. But perhaps few of us were aware that we would be evacuating our homes hours or days later. The CZU Lightning Complex fire, which started from dry lightning strikes in our beloved Santa Cruz Mountains, ultimately caused the evacuation of over 64,000 people, burned over 80,000 acres in Santa Cruz and San Mateo Counties, and destroyed over 1400 buildings, according to Cal Fire.