Our Veterinary Blog

Explore a wide range of pet care topics in our practice veterinary blog, updated regularly! Let us know if you have any questions by calling (563) 391-9522.

Is it safe to take dogs camping?

It is camping season! We know you’re itching to get out of the house this summer…but let’s make sure your pet (and other family members) don’t end up itching after going on that trip. How can I prepare for my camping trip? 1) Check the pet policy. Most places post their pet policy online, but…

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Reopening Our Offices So Owners Can Accompany Their Pets at the Vet Again

No doubt by now you have seen or heard that the Center for Disease Control (CDC) released a statement on May 16, 2021 that recommends those who are fully vaccinated can begin resuming normal activities with fewer restrictions. Here at Animal Family Veterinary Care Center, that meant it was time to start discussing how we…

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This Is Why Your Cat Has Greasy Fur

The look and feel of a healthy cat’s fur coat is a thing of beauty. It should be soft, shiny, and smooth. After all, they work hard to get the best results, spending up to half of their waking life self-grooming. But if your cat has greasy fur, it could signal underlying problems that should…

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Catch the (Sound) Wave: Veterinary Ultrasound

Have you ever considered what superpower you might choose if given the chance? Being able to fly, having superhuman strength, or zipping around at the speed of light might be incredible. As veterinarians, x-ray vision sounds pretty handy. While your team at Animal Family Veterinary Care Center hasn’t quite figured out how to harness any…

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Ready to Care for Breed-Specific Conditions? The Most Common Pet Health Problems

You might like the look and temperament of a certain pet breed, only to find out that there are serious pet health problems associated with it. Of course, not every pet will suffer from issues that affect the breed in general, but it is important to acknowledge the health prospects of a prospective pet, both…

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Summer Safety Tips for Pet Parents

Wow! It’s getting hot out there! Temperatures are already hitting the 80’s on some days and the humidity has increased as well. At our house, we cope by switching to shorts and light t-shirts, drinking lots of water and taking breaks indoors or in the shade. We produce quite a bit of sweat and take…

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Canine Influenza

There has been a large outbreak of Canine Influenza in the Chicago area. However, there are no reported cases in the Quad Cities at this time. That said we do need to educate ourselves about the virus and understand that it could possibly spread to our area. Canine Influenza H3N8 is a virus that was…

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How to Help Your Dog Cope with Scary Noises

We are well into the season of thunder storms and fireworks. If you have a dog that is afraid of loud noises their fear can take much of the fun out of summer. An anxious dog may cower, salivate, pace, hide, howl or even destroy furniture during storms. Finding ways to calm them can be…

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How safe is Your Backyard?

We try to keep our pets as safe as possible. We keep them leashed away from home. We feed them the best food we can provide. We keep their shots and worming current, we train them, and we love them. When we’re home they play safely in our fenced backyards. How about that yard? Is…

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Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is caused by a decrease in the hormones produced by the thyroid gland. Hypothyroidism is seen in middle aged dogs, generally 7 years of age or older. It is very rare in cats. It is occurs most often in larger breeds but we see hypothyroid problems in all sizes and breeds of dogs. Thyroid…

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