Cornerstone Animal Clinic, Randy Benham DVM

09/27/2025

September 27 is International Rabbit Day. This day helps to highlight rabbits’ welfare needs, including their diet, housing, and healthcare requirements. Frequent health issues seen in rabbits include ear mites, respiratory infections, and GI stasis. Muscle wasting can occur from incorrect housing set up and not enough time and space to move around outside of the housing. Rabbits can be sensitive to stress and can actually break their back from kicking their legs, so handlers need to know how to properly hold rabbits.

09/26/2025

Some people have cats that demand outdoor time, and other people have semi-feral cats that have adopted them and won't go elsewhere. Having a place to go that is clean, dry, protected from the wind, and insulated can help keep your outdoor cat safe and healthy during the winter. There are many different ways to make a shelter that is durable and affordable.

See how you can build an outdoor shelter for cats—it's easy, cheap, and your feline friends will love it!Full instructions: www.alleycat.org/resources/how-to...

09/24/2025

We are heading towards the time of year people start to winterize their vehicles using antifreeze. Laws have been put in place for manufacturers to use additives that make this normally sweet tasting liquid more bitter, but that doesn't stop an estimated 10,000 dogs and cats from being poisoned by it each year. Sometimes, people aren't 100% sure that a pet ingested antifreeze until the pet starts acting drunk, about 30 minutes to 12 hours after exposure. Medical care MUST be started IMMEDIATELY! Unless quick measures are taken, antifreeze toxicity is fatal and by the time the pet is no longer acting drunk, it is too late to counter the damage that is done to the kidneys.

09/22/2025

Happy fall, y'all! September 22 is the first day of fall, and as we are starting to head towards the colder months, there is a whole new set of hazards to be aware of. Composters or mulch can contribute to GI issues if your pet decides to munch on the contents. Flower bulbs and acorns can cause intestinal blockages. Snakes are getting ready to hibernate and can blend in quite nicely with the fallen leaves. People may be starting to put out rodent bait stations that can cause bleeding or neurological issues if a pet ingests any of it directly or through eating a pest that got some in their system. If your pet decides to eat wild mushrooms, there is a small percentage of them that are toxic and can cause medical issues.

09/21/2025

September 21st is national Cat & Dog Gut Health Awareness Day. Studies show how important GI health is to animals (and humans) for whole body health. Not only does gut health affect how nutrients are processed and absorbed into the body, but it can also affect immunity, mood, behavior, and cognitive function. Stress, some medications, and allergies can all change the gut flora which can affect everything else in the body. Pre- and probiotics are a great way to help with your pet's gut health, and are being linked to improvements in skin and dental health as well.

https://cornerstoneacky.covetruspharmacy.com/search/probiotic

09/20/2025

September 20th is Responsible Dog Ownership Day. Being a responsible dog owner can mean different things to different people, and there can be a clash in people's ideas on what that involves. Being able to provide the enrichment that a pet needs due to temperament and breeding is so important to a pet's happiness and can help curb behavior issues that might arise from a bored and anxious dog. Having funds for routine medical care (especially a rabies vaccine) needs to be prioritized and having an idea of how to get funds in an emergency, or have an emergency budget set up can be helpful- rarely do urgent situations occur when we are planning for them. Doing your best to make sure that your pet is safe- and other people and animals are safe from your pet- is also part of responsible pet ownership. Many counties have laws in regards to rabies vaccinations and leash laws. Pets don't understand legalities, so it is up to the owner to make sure their pet is protected.

09/19/2025

September is Animal Pain Awareness Month. Animals can be good at masking their pain and often times owners don't realize how painful the pet was until the issue is managed and the pet is feeling better. Dental pain and arthritis are 2 incredibly common causes of discomfort in pets. There are different treatment options that can be done to make a pet feel better, regardless of the underlying cause of pain to try to give your pet a better quality of life, while still trying to work with the owner's budget.

09/17/2025

September 17th is Pet Bird Day. Different types of birds commonly kept as companions have different habitat and enrichment requirements. If their mental, emotional, and physical needs aren't met, you may find a pet that develops very bad habits or hurts itself. While birds are fairly easy pets to keep, they do still need consistent care and attention.

09/16/2025

Tapeworms are the one type in intestinal parasite that owners are more likely to see evidence of than vet clinic staff are. Most other intestinal parasites only shed microscopic eggs in the animal's stool, with adults staying in the GI tract. Tapeworms, however, shed part of themselves as "egg packets" or proglittids, and usually come out when the pet has bowel movements. Sometimes they can come out on their own and can be found in the hair under the tail or on bedding. They pulse and move when they are fresh, drying out to look similar to brown sesame seeds. They are usually spready either from the dog or cat swallowing fleas or if they eat prey. If you see tapeworms, it is recommended to do at least 2 dewormings, 3 weeks apart to try to get all life stages to fully clear infections. Pets can get reinfected directly after deworming, so it is recommended to use a monthly heartworm prevention labelled for tapeworms if you know there is a risk of infection.

09/14/2025

With fall break and the holidays quickly approaching, don't forget to schedule an appointment for any vaccines that you might need to keep your pet protected for boarding or travel! For cats, the Rabies and Distemper vaccines are a great idea. For dogs, we recommend the Rabies, Parvo/Distemper, Bordetella, and Flu vaccines. Not all boarding facilities require all these vaccines, but it is always a good idea to make sure your pet is protected from these contagious diseases. If you pet is way past due, a booster may be needed, and it takes time for protective levels of antibodies to be reached, so don't wait until the last minute!

09/12/2025

Did you know that if you are in the military and use CareCredit, you can call and talk to a Care Credit rep and might qualify for lower to no interest? Care Credit is a great way to help budget the cost of pet care, whether it is for routine yearly wellness care or unexpected surgery or emergency services.

https://www.carecredit.com/go/QPJ984/

09/11/2025

September 11th is a day that still haunts many people, particularly those on the front lines of the tragedy, from in-person witnesses to the first responders and those involved in recovery efforts. While it is obvious that the terrorist attacks took a huge number of lives, the after effects are devastating as well. Over 300 dogs, many from FEMA's Urban Search and Rescue teams, trained in various disciplines like search and rescue, cadaver work, and even therapy, provided crucial support to rescue workers and helped locate survivors and victims.

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