Resources
Tips and resources for happier pets
Practical, vet-approved advice and short videos on Fear-Free care, grooming, dental, wellness, and our birds and exotics, updated as we publish.
From the clinic
Everything we've written
Pick a topic, or scroll the lot. Every post is written or checked by someone on our team, and the short ones are usually the most useful.
Totally Rat-ical!
Reading the blog’s title, I’m sure some of you cringed or are grossed out. But yes, I have pet rats! I currently have five rats, but at one point, I had 11.…
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How to Prepare Your Pet for the New School Year
As summer winds down and the new school year approaches, many families are busy preparing for the return to early mornings, packed schedules, and homework…
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What is the Fear Free Experience and What Should I Expect?
Fear Free is a movement that was launched in 2016 by Dr. Marty Becker, with the goal of providing exceptional education on emotional wellbeing, enrichment,…
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When and Why to Neuter Your Pet + How It’s done!
There is a lot of controversy out there on when, why and if you should Neuter your pet. Most animal professionals will tell you that the benefits far out…
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When and Why to Spay Your Pet + How It’s done!
There is a lot of controversy out there on when, why and if you should Spay your pet. Most animal professionals will tell you that the benefits far out way…
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Making the Decision to Say Goodbye
Pets are family and losing any family member (when two-footed or four) can be very difficult. And it can become even more difficult when we may have to make…
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Taking the Fear out of Grooming
Does the thought of grooming your pet fill you with dread? Do you find yourself apprehensive about the stress it might cause your furry friend? Fear Not!…
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Pawsitive Perks of Pet Insurance
Did you know that every six seconds a pet owner in the US is faced with a vet bill of $1,000 or more? What happens when that pet owner is you? With the…
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What is This New Respiratory Disease in Dogs and How Worried Should I Be?
Over the past few months, you have likely heard of a new “mystery” respiratory illness in dogs that has been sweeping the country. We have also been seeing…
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Avian Enrichment
What is Enrichment, and why it’s important: Enrichment is a method used to encourage a bird’s natural behaviors and to provide them with mental stimulation.…
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Finding the Perfect Stay
When going on vacation, the time leading up to the escape from real life can be very stressful. One frequent question that might be asked is, what to do…
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Let’s Talk Toys!
Wow. What a category! So many options and things to choose from out there. You may wonder, “Why would you make a blog about toys? You buy them and give them…
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How to Live with a Clawed Cat (and Why We’re Not Declawing Anymore)
As of February 28, 2023, we will no longer be offering declaw services at our clinic. We wanted to take some time to explain scratching, the declaw…
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Rewards Of Rescuing
It’s not a secret that animal rescues/shelters nationwide are constantly full. This can make things overwhelming for the staff and many of the animals in…
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Winter Hazards for Your Pet
Winter can be a time of snowball fights, snuggling by the fire, and ice skating, both for you and for your pets. However, there are a few hazards that can…
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Let’s Talk Food Sensitivities
The animal nutrition world has blown up and become quite overwhelming, particularly regarding food allergies and sensitivities. I would like to sort out…
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How to Have a Safe Halloween with Your Pets
Halloween can be a wonderful time of the year: full of tricks, treats, and candy! However, this holiday can also be dangerous for our furry family members.…
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Loose Leash Walking: “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
This adaptation of an ancient Chinese Proverb fits so perfectly when I think about teaching leash manners to our pets. There are so many adventures we can…
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The Benefits of Using an Ultrasound in Small Animal Medicine
The veterinary staff at Ankeny Animal & Avian Clinic are always striving to provide the best diagnostics and care for your pet. One of our newer additions…
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The Benefits of a Specialist
As a general practice veterinary clinic, we get to see a lot of strange cases coming in. And sometimes, the cases get beyond what we are capable of…
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Life With A Geriatric Dog
Watching your beloved fur kiddo age can be a difficult process . It is so hard to watch your once energetic babe start to slow down and begin to struggle…
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Speak Softly and (sometimes) Carry a Big Stick: A Short Guide to Some of Your Dog’s Body Language
Have you ever wondered what your dog is trying to tell you? Most dogs are highly reliant on body language to communicate with humans and other dogs. Often,…
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Feline Tooth Resorption
Resorptive Lesion on Cat Tooth
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Guide to Guinea Pigs
Guinea Pigs are small, sociable, and gentle animals. They can be a great alternative to cats and dogs. But like all companion animals, they require special…
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The Finer Points of Acupuncture with Dr. Kim Lentz
Acupuncture involves placing tiny, flexible needles at specific points which stimulate the body’s own healing capabilities to treat & manage illness.…
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Let’s Talk Grooming
Let’s talk about grooming, shall we? First, let’s meet my dog, Goku. Goku is an 11-year-old Papillon Shih Tzu mix who weighs about 7 pounds. He has been…
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Let’s Talk Nutrition
Are you confused about what to feed your dog or cat? Do you have questions about pet foods and which is best? If you are like most pet owners, the answer is…
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Reading about it only goes so far
If something you've read here sounds like your pet, don't sit on it. Call us and we'll tell you honestly whether it can wait for a routine visit.