Hip dysplasia commonly affects large-breed dogs, leading to joint dysfunction and pain. If you own or are considering adopting a large-breed dog, you should learn about this concerning condition. Read our Billings Animal Family Hospital team’s answers to frequently asked questions about canine hip dysplasia. Question: What is hip dysplasia in dogs? Answer: The term [...]
In July 2018, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that they were investigating certain pet foods that may be linked to canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Our team at Billings Animal Family Hospital wants to provide information about this research, to help ensure your dog is protected. What is dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs? DCM is [...]
Dogs are scavengers by nature, but sometimes these instincts cause them to eat something inappropriate, which results in gastrointestinal upset. Dietary indiscretion is a common reason dogs vomit, but what if the cause is more problematic? How do you know when the issue is benign or worrisome? Our team at Billings Animal Family Hospital answers [...]
Dogs have a keen sense of timing, and they appear to enjoy showcasing their strangest behaviors in front of your new friends, during an important video call, or immediately after you publicly bragged about their intelligence. The “how” of their embarrassing sense of timing may be a mystery, but Billings Animal Family Hospital can help [...]
Dr. Best has a special interest in canine reproduction, and offers a wide range of services, covering infertility issues, optimizing fertility, and assisting in successful breeding. Many of our clients have benefited from Dr. Best’s experience in the past, so we want to share an overview of the services she can provide, and highlight our [...]
Picture this: A stranger walks up to you, stares directly into your eyes without blinking, and pats you on the head, all the while cooing sweetly that you are adorable. How would you react? Would you shy away from her patting hand? Politely ask her to stop? Punch her in the face? Being greeted by [...]
January is National Dog Training Month, and we couldn’t be more excited here at Billings Animal Family Hospital! We believe that obedience training is about so much more than having a dog who will follow commands (although, that is important too). When done properly, dog training sets the foundation for a great relationship with your [...]
Some pet owners are a little more liberal with doggy kisses than others. Some of us channel a little more Lucy than others, avoiding contact with our pet’s tongue at all costs, while others believe that dogs have very clean mouths and don’t mind the extra affection. So which is it? Read on to learn [...]
A basic backyard for your pet should include fencing, access to water, shade, and his or her own patch on which to answer nature’s call. While there’s nothing wrong with this approach, going the extra mile to design a truly pet friendly backyard has far-reaching benefits. Not only will your pet be happy and safe, [...]
Perhaps you’ve seen the multitude of phone or tablet apps that are supposed to translate human speech to barks, growls, and howls that our dogs can understand. Or maybe you’ve read the articles about a machine that will let us know what our pup is trying to tell us. While high-tech translations are a tempting [...]