Oakland Veterinary Referral Services Blog

Our pets need different levels of care during various stages of life. When you agree to take a pet into your home, this means you are prepared to offer this care as they age. Senior cats require a different level of care than kittens or adult cats, but what does that mean, exactly? The team at Oakland Veterinary Referral Services is here to help you figure out how to care for your senior cat.

While no one expects a veterinary emergency, it helps to understand how to deal with an emergent situation and find the help your pet needs. A veterinary ER offers specialized emergency care that can save your pet’s life. Do you know what to expect from a visit to the veterinary emergency room? This guide will help prepare you in case you ever need to bring your pet to one:

It’s time to settle the debate once and for all: who wins when it comes to cats versus dogs? We decided to go straight to the source and ask each species which is the best and why. So, without further ado, here we go:

Easter is a time for family—and that family also includes the furry members. As you start to make your plans for the holiday, consider safety considerations for your pets. With a little effort, you can create pet-safe Easter celebrations that everyone can enjoy.

Dogs are naturally curious creatures; sometimes, they explore the world around them with their mouths. If your dog swallows a foreign object, you should get them veterinary care as soon as possible. The Oakland Veterinary Referral Services team is here to walk you through how we handle situations when a dog swallows something.

At Oakland Veterinary Referral Services, we see our fair share of injuries. Our expert emergency team knows how to offer animals the best care, including treating bite wounds in pets:

Each dog has a unique personality. A large part of being a successful pet owner is giving the animal the space to be themselves and doing what you can to help when needed. Life with a reactive dog can be challenging at times, but taking the proper precautions and giving your dog the guidance they need can be a very rewarding experience for both of you.

In a pet emergency, how can you tell when every second counts vs. when you have some time for a regular veterinary appointment? This guide will help you figure out which pet emergencies can and cannot wait.

Accidents and emergencies will happen to even the most prepared pet owners. Although we can’t plan for everything, we can prepare ourselves by knowing when our pets need emergency care right away. 

Hot spots are a common skin issue affecting dogs, which can leave your pup with unpleasant side effects. The Oakland Veterinary Referral Services (OVRS) team is here to help. This guide teaches you how to treat and prevent hot spots on dogs.

Oakland Veterinary Referral Services has a blood bank and provides blood transfusions to dogs and cats who have a pet emergency. We often ask dogs to be blood donors and have cat owners ask if we also need cat donors, but we always use canine blood. Can a cat receive a blood transfusion from a dog, and if so, in what circumstances? Our guide explains cat transfusions and when it is okay to use canine blood in feline patients.