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If you’ve ever reached for the cinnamon shaker while your dog gives you those irresistible eyes, you’re not alone in wondering: can dogs have cinnamon? Yes, cinnamon is not toxic to dogs, but that doesn’t mean it’s entirely without risk. Before you sprinkle any on your pup’s food or let them lick your oatmeal bowl,…

If you’ve ever walked away after serving your cat a meal and come back to find a half-eaten bowl still sitting there, you’ve probably wondered: how long can wet cat food sit out before it goes bad? Wet cat food should not sit out for more than two hours at room temperature. After that, bacteria…

Noticing that your cat is losing weight can be unsettling, especially when their appetite seems normal or you can’t pinpoint what’s changed. Unexplained weight loss in cats is almost always a sign that something is going on internally. Whether it’s gradual or sudden, a cat losing weight deserves prompt attention. At Plano Animal Hospital in…

If you love filling your home with fresh flowers and you share your space with a cat, you’ve probably wondered: are roses toxic to cats? Roses (Rosa species) are not considered toxic to cats by the ASPCA, but they’re not entirely without risk, either. The petals, leaves, and stems of true roses won’t poison your…

Picture this: your dog is bounding through the backyard, tail wagging, nose to the ground, and then suddenly yelps and recoils from a small, slithering shape in the grass. Garter snake encounters are common across much of North America, and curious dogs are frequent victims of defensive bites. While garter snakes are generally considered non-venomous,…

You catch your dog nosing around the yard, and before you can react, they’ve scooped up a rock and started chewing. If you’ve ever witnessed this and thought, “Why on earth does my dog eat rocks?”, you’re right to be concerned. Dogs eating rocks is more than just a quirky habit. It can signal a…

A dog drinking a lot of water can be normal after exercise or heat, but it can also signal illness, pain, or a hormonal imbalance that needs veterinary attention. When a dog is drinking so much water that you refill the bowl more often, notice larger urine clumps, or see overnight accidents, the body may…

Sebaceous cysts on dogs are enclosed pockets beneath the skin that form when hair follicles or skin glands become blocked, creating a firm or soft lump that often contains thick, keratin material. These growths are usually benign, but they can become inflamed, rupture, or become infected, which makes veterinary evaluation important. Many other skin masses…