What is leptospirosis?

Leptospirosis is caused by bacterial organisms called Leptospira which is spread via the urine of infected animals. These bacteria can be shed in the soil and water which can then serve as a source of infection for dogs.

Tags: Ask the Vet, dog safety, Dogs, dogs, health, pet advice, pet health, pet info, Pets, Vet

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We asked our employees at each of our 53 locations to participate in a company wide employee photo contest. We've seen some of the great photos they take on a daily basis for our Best Friends Photo Program, so we knew they were going to blow us away with their entries. And that they did. We received everything from photos of dogs running and playing to pets playing doctor! See for yourself in this video compilation.

Tags: best friends news, Cats, cats, Dogs, dogs, pet videos, Pets, photo contest

With a growing company of over 50 pet care and veterinary centers, we think it's important to recognize each and every location as a valued and unique member of our Best Friends family. That's why we'd like to introduce the Best Friends Spotlight Series here on our Dog Dish blog where we will celebrate the unique attributes and staff from each of our locations.

To kick it off, we'd like to introduce Phoenix Veterinary Hospital as the newest addition to the Best Friends Total Pet Care family.

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Spring has finally arrived! We’re all happy to welcome the sunshine, but there’s one thing that warmer weather brings that we don’t like welcoming… FLEAS!

Tags: cats, dogs, pet advice, pet behavior, Pet Health, pet health, pet info

Wishing you and your furry family a Happy & Safe Saint Patrick's Day!

Tags: Cats, cats, cute, Dogs, dogs, holidays, Pets

The last Tuesday of February has been coined "World Spay Day" in an effort to make a positive impact on the pet overpopulation problem. If you're wondering whether or not to spay or neuter your pet, take a look at our list- the Top Five Reasons to Spay & Neuter Your Pet!

Tags: Cats, cats, Dogs, dogs, health, pet advice, Pet Health, pet health, pet info, Pet Safety, Pets, Rabbits

National Love Your Pet Day is February 20th, but at Best Friends we think every day is! Will you be treating your pet to extra snuggles or cookies today?

Tags: Cats, cute, Dogs, holidays, pet info, Pets

With Valentine’s Day comes an abundance of chocolate (hopefully)! While these sweet treats are a delight for us, they are not at all good for our furry family members. Chocolate contains caffeine as well as a compound known as theobromine which can cause hyperactivity, increased heart rate, tremors, and even death if ingested in large quantities. Baker’s chocolate or any kind of dark chocolate are the most concerning since these have the highest level of toxicity.

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