Caring for your pet’s paws

As vulnerable as a human foot, paws need to be taken care of and pampered. An owner wouldn’t walk across a hot parking lot or a snow covered field without the proper protection on their feet. A paw pad needs to be checked for a myriad of issues that should be addressed including nail length, cracked pads and foreign objects wedged in between paw pads. Learn more.

Pet Costumes

Our patient Mickey Hudson in costume. Show us your pets in their favorite costume.

Hide Your Cat’s Litter Box

Pointers for hiding your cat's litter box.

Have Fun with Your Dog

Be sure to make time to play with your pup today!

A Healthy, Happy Dog

A happy dog is a healthy dog, and a healthy dog has strong, shiny fur. Your dog’s coat is one of the best ways to gain insight into your dog’s condition, be it physical or emotional.

Don't ever leave your pet alone in a car

A quick pit stop may feel like no time at all to you, but it's too long to leave your pet in a car by himself. One hazard is heat: When it's 72 degrees Fahrenheit outside, the temperature inside your car can heat up to 116 degrees within an hour. On an 85-degree day, even with the windows slightly open, the temperature inside your car can reach 102 degrees in just 10 minutes. If you're held up for 30 minutes, you may return to a car that's 120 degrees inside and a pet who is suffering irreversible organ damage or death.

Domestication of Dogs

Although experts often disagree, there is scientific evidence which shows that the domestication of dogs could have occurred more than 15,000 years ago.

Traveling by Car with Pets

Do you know the best place for your dog or cat in your car?

Dogs shouldn't roam in the car
The safest way for your dog to travel in the car is in a crate that has been anchored to the vehicle using a seatbelt or other secure means. Dog restraints or seat belts are useful for preventing your dog from roaming around the car and being a distraction to the driver, but they haven't been reliably shown to protect dogs during a crash.

Cats belong in carriers
Most cats aren't comfortable traveling in cars, so for their safety as well as yours, keep them in a carrier. It's important to restrain these carriers in the car so that they don't bounce around and hurt your cat. Do this by securing a seat belt around the front of the carrier.

Leave the front seat for humans
Keep your pet in the back seat of the car. If an airbag deploys while your pet is in the passenger seat (even in a crate), it might injure your pet.

Keep those heads inside!
Dogs and cats should always be kept safely inside the car. Pets who are allowed to stick their heads out the window can be injured by particles of debris or made sick by having cold air forced into their lungs. Never transport a pet in the back of an open pickup truck.

Give your pet plenty of rest stops
Stop frequently to allow your pet to exercise and eliminate. But never permit your pet to leave the car without a collar, ID tag and leash.

How Are We Doing?

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Making The Most of Your Vet Visit

Taking your pet to the vet? Whether it's a routine appointment or you're checking on symptoms, there are steps you can take to help the appointment go well.

Bringing your pet’s health records, or having them transferred ahead of time, is one of the most important things to do. Learn more

Dogs

Where would we be without their love and affection?

Schedule An Appointment

Call us to schedule an appointment today! (303) 282-0808

Must-Know Household Hazards for Cats

Keep your cat safe by being aware of household hazards.

Exercising with Your Pet

Exercise for pets can be as basic as batting a small toy or as complex as completing an agility course. Just find an activity that suits you and your pet and do it consistently. (Be sure to mix it up now and then with a new route or toy.) While exercise won’t replace feeding fewer calories when it comes to losing weight, it is a vital part of a healthy lifestyle for pets -- and people. When you and your pet move together, you celebrate one of the oldest, most unique and most extraordinary bonds our planet has ever known.

Does Your Dog Have a Chasing Problem?

It is not unusual for a dog to want to chase another moving animal, no matter what kind it is. A basic obedience class will be your best bet, or a couple of in-home sessions with a private trainer. Your dog needs to learn to sit and down or “emergency drop” on cue, as well as “leave it” (break eye contact with) for the safety and comfort of your cats. Learn more.

Playing Frisbee with Your Dog

Teaching your dog to play Frisbee is fun and rewarding. It is a great way to spend quality time with your dog and you both get plenty of fresh air and exercise. Some dogs take to Frisbee instantly, and others take some coaxing and time to get the hang of it; but almost any dog can learn to love it!

First, as with any change in your dog’s exercise routine, you should take your dog to the vet and make sure he’s in a healthy enough condition for Frisbee. If you have a puppy, discuss with your vet how old your puppy should be before he can start jumping for the Frisbee. If puppies take part in extreme jumping before their growth plates have closed, it can lead to lifelong problems. Generally around 14 months is a good age.

Once your vet has given you the go-ahead to start training, it is time to find a Frisbee and introduce it to your dog. Choose a Frisbee that is soft and flexible. You don’t want a Frisbee that is too hard because it would be more likely to hurt your dog when he catches it. One way to ensure positive associations with the Frisbee is using it as a food dish for a while. Chances are, once your dog has had a few meals out of the Frisbee, he will be completely comfortable around it.

Next, encourage your puppy to play with you with the Frisbee. Sit on the floor by your dog and tease him with it (not maliciously, of course). If your dog is interested in playing with it, let him and praise him enthusiastically. If he isn’t interested, use your super excited voice and play around with him until you get him in a playful mood. Once you’ve got your dog interested in the Frisbee, roll it on its side across the room. If he chases it, praise him enthusiastically. If he brings it back to you, cook him a steak, but the retrieve is not important at this point in training, so don’t worry if he doesn’t. Keep rolling the Frisbee for your dog as long as he stays interested.

The next step is taking your dog outside, tossing the Frisbee short distances and encouraging him like crazy when he goes after it. Never throw the Frisbee at your dog. In the beginning, stick to low, flat, short trajectories.

Once your dog is going after the Frisbee every time, start encouraging him to bring it back. You can help this along with a long (30 ft or so) training lead. As soon as he gets back to you with the Frisbee, trade him a treat and tons of praise for the Frisbee, then throw it again. You shouldn’t have any problem getting the Frisbee from your dog if you give him a treat, but if he’s being difficult, take it as a sign that you need to work on his “drop it” command. Read our Commands Every Dog Should Know article on more information on helpful commands to teach your dog.

Your dog will naturally begin to jump for the Frisbee, but it’s a good idea to take some time to teach him how to land properly. Your dog should land on all fours so the force of impact is spread across four legs. If your dog is landing on just his back two legs, you can teach him to jump through a hula hoop. This will help him get his hind end up in the air when he jumps so he will land properly.

Don’t leave the Frisbee out when you’re not playing with your dog. It will be much more enticing to him if he only sees it when you’re playing. Also, never let your dog chew on the Frisbee. Nicks and breaks will cause it to fly improperly, and could hurt your dog when he catches it.

Don’t be discouraged if your dog doesn’t start making breathtaking, spectacular catches right away. Some dogs are instantly amazing at Frisbee, others take months and months to really get it right. Just be patient and keep it fun for both of you.

Dr. Mac Griffin

Mac grew up in an Air Force family and has lived all over the United States as well as Europe. He first moved to Colorado in 1966, and graduated from Colorado State University in 1983. Mac and Sheryl worked as Denver veterinarians at the same prominent local animal hospital for several years until they decided to open their own practice in August 2000 in order to provide the best in veterinary medicine and overall pet care. Mac is the veterinarian Denver pet owners can count on for quality animal care. He has been active in the local veterinary associations and most recently served as President of the Denver Area Veterinary Medical Association. His furry family includes Barry, a cat adopted from Dumb Friends League and Evan, a Golden Retriever adopted from Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies.

Essential For Your Dog: Proteins

Proteins are the basic building blocks for cells, tissues, organs, enzymes, hormones and antibodies, and are essential for growth, maintenance, reproduction and repair. Proteins can be obtained from a number of sources. Animal-based proteins such as chicken, lamb, turkey, beef, fish and egg have complete amino acid profiles. (Please note: Do not give your pet raw eggs. Raw egg white contains avidin, an anti-vitamin that interferes with the metabolism of fats, glucose, amino acids and energy.) Protein is also found in vegetables, cereals and soy, but these are considered incomplete proteins.

Keep Your Pets Safe!

Intestinal Parasites

How Big of a Problem are Intestinal Parasites?