Kato Animal Hospital’s Pet Care Blog

The idea of leaving your pet at a boarding facility can be daunting. Your pet is a member of your family and leaving them behind can be hard on you both. But at some point, whether you like it or not, you have to leave your furry pooch in another’s care for a while. No matter how luxurious a pet boarding stay may be, it can be a stressful experience for your cat or dog. Your pet will be living in a completely new environment, being cared for by new people, and staying around other pets they don’t know. This makes it important to prepare your pet for boarding stay.

At Kato Animal Hospital in Toronto, ON, there are a number of problems that are common among our feline patients. Here are four that you should watch for.

When your dog is feeling under the weather, you might wonder when it’s appropriate to go to the vet. Dogs, after all, can seem sick one minute and fine the next! But there are a number of common dog problems that require veterinary attention. Here are some conditions to look out for so that you know when to bring your dog to your local animal hospital in Toronto, ON.

As a pet owner, you’re responsible for your animal companions, and this includes making sure their health needs are met by regularly bringing them to see their veterinarian. Kato Animal Hospital on Danforth Avenue has been caring for Toronto pets for a long time, and a question we often hear is “how often should my pet see the vet?” Here’s what you need to know about the frequency of visits to the vet, depending on the species of your pet.

At Kato Animal Hospital, we love animals and do everything we can to help them live happy and healthy lives. That’s why we offer pet grooming services in addition to regular hospital care to all our clients. Pet grooming is particularly important in a dense urban area like Toronto. Grime and dirt are everywhere and your pet can only do so much to clean him or herself. Here are our top five reasons you should give your cat or dog the gift of grooming:

Unfortunately, obesity in domestic cats has been on the rise. Obesity poses serious heath threats to your cat, including contributing to osteoarthritis, cardiovascular disorders, and diabetes. Just like with us humans, if cats don’t get enough exercise or don’t have the correct diet, they can accumulate fat in their bodies. Not all big cats are necessarily obese, of course. Technically, obesity is determined by the proportion of fat relative to what should be normal for your cat’s size. If your cat has 20% more body weight than is normal for a cat of his or her size, you cat is technically obese.

Many people aren't aware that their pets can suffer from a variety of different allergies. While allergy symptoms in humans most commonly affect the respiratory tract, cats and dogs tend to develop allergy symptoms on their skin.

Drew Carey is the current host of the television game show The Price Is Right, and he ends the show with that familiar line made famous by the shows preceding host, Bob Barker “Help control the pet population, have your pets spayed or neutered.” These words are representative of his lifelong love for helping animals. It’s a love and passion shared by Dr. Christine Kato and the rest of our staff at Kato Animal Hospital. When it comes to responsible pet ownership, sometimes the best approach to your pet’s good health includes a surgical procedure.

Just like humans, cats and dogs are prone to developing oral health problems if their teeth are not regularly cleaned. Many pet owners, unfortunately, aren't sure how to brush their pets' teeth. At Kato Animal Hospital, a Toronto pet hospital, we look after every aspect of the health of the furry friends who visit our clinic, including dental health. Here are some tips from our experienced veterinarians about how you can take care of your pets' dental heath at home.

Your pet’s an important member of your family. From kisses and cuddles, to games and outings, he or she is an integral part of your daily life. And, just like you and the other members of your family, pets require regular checkups to ensure their continued good health.

As summer draws to an end, allergens come to life and tissue box sales increase dramatically. Unfortunately, us humans are not the only ones that dread this time of year - our furry friends suffer too!