It's January, and dog license renewals are due. With all the holiday hustle bustle, it's easy to forget to write and mail that check, isn't it? What if we told you there's a way to never have to remember to renew your dog's license again?

Pennsylvania State Law requires all dogs over 12 weeks of age to be licensed (they do routine door-to-door visits to check compliance, too - violators are fined $300 per unlicensed dog). A standard license is renewed annually, and is valid from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31. However, microchipped dogs are eligible for a Lifetime Dog License - pay once, and never worry about it again!

Thanksgiving is a time of joy; families gather together and feast on turkey, ham, stuffing, potatoes, and pie...YUM!

No matter how hard it is, don't give in to those sad puppy eyes at the edge of the table. The day after Thanksgiving is often known in the veterinary world as "Pancreatitis Friday" - a day full of dogs that can't stop vomiting, and come in hunched over with extremely painful abdomens!

Remember that what's "just a little bite" for us equals much, much more to our furry friends.

If treats have gotten out of hand in your house and you're worried about your pet's weight, call us!

Our veterinary technicians are trained to take Morphometric Measurements of your dog or cat to accurately determine your pet's ideal body weight based on his or her skeletal structure.

The veterinarian will determine your pet's current body condition score (BCS) and calculate the recommended daily caloric intake to help adjust your cat or dog's diet to get on track to a healthy weight!

Yes, of course we discourage feeding your pet from the table. Extra calories can contribute to obesity (a nationwide study of American pets revealed that 1 in 3 dogs and cats are overweight in the U.S.). Some foods safe for humans are actually toxic to pets, and fatty-rich foods can cause serious problems, like pancreatitis.

That being said, Vetstreet.com surveyed 198 veterinarians, vet techs, and veterinary office managers, and revealed that many veterinary professionals "bend the rules" and feed our pets just a little people food now and again.

It turns out that more than 3 out of 5 of us let our own dogs and cats sample carrots, chicken, cheese, and peanut butter. Around half share beef, eggs, popcorn, and sweet potatoes with our pets.

All of the foods on this list are fine to feed in moderation, but should not be a daily occurrence to avoid excess calories and an unbalanced diet. Consider the food comparison chart below, made by our friends at Hill's Pet Nutrition:
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You've probably had this conversation:
- "Hi, Mrs. Johnson. This is Stephanie from Tender Touch Veterinary Hospital calling to remind you about Sunshine's appointment with Dr. Brill tomorrow at 4:00 p.m."
- "Great! I'll be there."
- "We're looking forward to seeing you again! Remember to bring a fresh stool sample with you; within 24 hours is considered fresh, so long as it hasn't been frozen or left out in the sun."

We know, it's icky. But it really is important! Here's why: