Compassionate Care & Veterinary Excellence in Charlotte NC

Is a pocket pet a pet that fits in your pocket? Well, sure, but each pocket pet is a unique and small individual who has its own special pet care needs. Before you bring a pocket pet home, there are some things you need to know so they’ll be happy in your care.

What Is a Pocket Pet?

A pocket pet is a small mammal, generally very furry and cute. The most popular pocket pets are:

Greenhouse gas emissions, including carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane, are produced around the globe. Notably, the burning of fossil fuels, bulldozing forests, transportation, construction, high-yield agriculture, and livestock management all contribute to rising greenhouse gases. We are all collectively and individually responsible for our impact on the environment, and the pets we care for are no exception. Whether we like it or not, the carbon footprint of pets is growing.

A Hard Look

Pets give us so much to live for. Their unconditional love and emotional support bolster us, and they can even help facilitate a deeper connection to nature when we exercise together outside. 

Dogs and humans share many of the same body parts, and the knee is no exception. Because canines are quadrupeds, though, their knee (or more properly, stifle) tends to experience a few more issues.

Luxating patella in dogs is a more common issue affecting the knee that our veterinarians at Animal Medical Hospital & 24 Hour Urgent Care diagnose regularly. Learn what it is, when to worry, and what you can do. 

There is not much arguing about it: the heart is a pretty important part of the body, be it in an animal or a person. When something is wrong with it, the results can be pretty devastating.

Heart murmurs in pets are not uncommon, but thankfully not all of them are panic-worthy. Animal Medical Hospital & 24 Hour Urgent Care hopes to help pet owners understand a little more about heart murmurs in pets and what to do about them.

Generally speaking, kittens are among the most adoptable pets out there. Unfortunately, their desirability hides a painful truth: older cats have a tough time finding new owners. Senior cats are often overlooked by prospective adopters who just can’t resist the cuteness overload of kittens or much younger cats. We understand the attraction to the wide-eyed adorable nature of a kitten, but there are many wonderful reasons to adopt a senior cat instead.

Humans have long used coconut oil for cooking, and it is featured in various culinary traditions throughout tropical regions. Contemporary trendsetters laude the versatility of coconut oil. Products containing coconut oil are ubiquitous these days, but is coconut oil safe for dogs?

No cat owner wants to force their kitty into their travel crate, but sometimes it’s the only option. What’s amazing is that if you create a safe haven for them inside their carrier, and give them time to adjust to it, they will eventually prefer their special place of refuge. As an added bonus, you’ll be able to bring them in to see us more regularly, improving their overall health and wellness. Win-win!

For many dog owners, pets are more than just furry creatures that hide your shoes and bark at the delivery person. Dogs are truly our best friends. From the happy butt wiggles when you get home to licking your tears away when you’re sad, dogs love us more than we deserve. If you’re wondering about ways to love and pamper your pooch in return, our staff at Animal Medical Hospital & 24-Hour Urgent Care have some terrific suggestions:

The diet industry is constantly trying to sell us new kinds of foods that will supposedly help us lose weight fast or increase energy levels, and it is no different for our pets. Every day, we are bombarded with ads for a new grain-free dog food diet or a raw food diet that is better for cats. How can you tell which diets can actually make your pets healthier and which ones might be more harmful than good? Animal Medical Hospital & 24 Hour Urgent Care is here to help you see through the fads and find the best way to feed your pets the nutritious foods they need:

Catnip has a comedic reputation of giving cats a certain kind of high, but what is it, really? Is catnip a drug for cats? Can cats overdose on catnip? The team at Animal Medical Hospital & 24 Hour Urgent Care is here to help you learn the truth about catnip and what it does to your feline friends.