Tips for making your pet’s medicine go down more smoothly How to give your pet medication: When your dog or cat is hurt or sick, veterinarian‐prescribed medication may be part of their road back to health. Yet it can be a challenge to get a pet to swallow what’s good for them. Meds may have a bitter taste, and a pet may balk at being force‐fed for its own good. The first time you need to medicate your pet, ask the veterinarian to show you how to administer the medication so that you can follow the best practice.

Humans, particularly residents of Florida, are well aware of the dangers of too much sun exposure and the risks of contracting cancers like melanoma. Cats and dogs have fur that offers partial protection from UV exposure, and unlike people, melanoma in pets is more often found in the mouth or nail beds rather than on sun-exposed skin. However, excessive sun exposure can increase the risk of other types of skin cancer in pets. Florida pet owners should take extra care due to the state’s higher UV index, geographic location, and the tendency for pets to spend more time outdoors year-round.  Walking dogs on concrete or sand can increase UV exposure, particularly to sparsely haired belly areas, due to reflected sunlight and prolonged exposure.

A cancer diagnosis can change a family’s world overnight. While some pets benefit from surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation aimed at controlling or eliminating cancer, palliative care is another important path. The goal of palliative care is simple: to keep a pet comfortable, minimize pain, and protect quality of life, for as long as possible. At Animal Cancer Care Clinic, Dr. Evan Sones (DVM, MS, DACVIM – Oncology) explains that palliative care is highly individualized and can begin at any point during the cancer journey. “Palliative care is about comfort and quality of life,” says Dr. Sones. “It can be used on its own, alongside treatment, or once treatment has concluded, depending on what a pet and their family need.”