Oakland Veterinary Referral Services Blog

You turn your back for a minute, and he’s off! A pet escape artist can maneuver through the narrowest of passages, wiggle under any fence, or slip through an open door with the stealth of a ninja – or at least it can seem that way. The truth is, when your pet likes to roam, there’s really no letting your guard down.

Pets escape for a number of reasons. Getting to the core of what prompts your particular pup or kit to want to wander is a good place to begin.

Understanding the Cause

Dogs and cats are natural roamers. Instinctually, many breeds can travel several miles each day, marking territory, communicating with other animals through scent, and seeking out a mate. However, when it comes to your beloved pet, we discourage the indulgence of these instinctual impulses through training, providing enrichment at home, and spaying or neutering before the first heat. Continue…

Cutting edge veterinary hospitals like Oakland Veterinary Referral Services are joining together to form a national network of veterinary trauma centers. Hospitals in this network will work with the recently formed Veterinary Committee on Trauma (VetCOT) to produce a veterinary trauma registry, standardize trauma practice, and further trauma education. Learn more about why this and other work planned by VetCOT is so important for improving veterinary trauma care.

VetCOT

In human healthcare, it is common for hospitals across the nation to work based on the best practices in how patient care is handled. Veterinary hospitals, however, are traditionally privately owned and often work independently. This becomes particularly evident in trauma medicine, where hospitals may be working with dated, or less than optimal, trauma processes and knowledge. Continue…

When you think of taking your four-legged pal to the dog park, do any of the following thoughts come to mind?

• Oh, great, my dog can play while I catch up on my phone calls, emails, texts…
• Patches has been off the hook lately… think I will take him to the dog park to work off that destructive energy.
• They always have water at dog parks, right?
• Dang, I am in a hurry, but I’m certain they hire someone to clean up doggie messes.
• My dog’s just naturally dominant, like the alpha, and that’s normal.
• Snuggles is just a bit timid; I’m sure she’ll become more assertive in time.
• If you confess to some of these misconceptions, hold the leash!

Continue…

Veterinary medicine is a science-based field, and that means that every day there is more research being done and new findings happening that change the face of what we do. It has gotten to the point that no one person can be an expert in everything related to veterinary medicine.

In recent decades, veterinarians have trended towards specialization, with board-certified specialists focusing on surgery, oncology, internal medicine, critical care, and other areas of veterinary medicine. The veterinary technician field has followed suit, with the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) Continue…

Hot weather dos and don’ts seem obvious where our pets are concerned. Do make sure there’s plenty of drinking water available. Don’t leave pets in the car. However, many of the activities our pets love, and we don’t worry about, especially away from home, can be riskier than you might think, especially in hot weather.

Try this quiz about hot weather pet safety – the answers (near the end) may surprise you!

Which of these situations may be dangerous (or at least very uncomfortable) for your pet?
(Assume drinking water is freely available.) Continue…

No one wants to think about a pet falling victim to accident or illness, but most of us will agree that thinking about emergency preparedness is important. The reality is: accidents happen and sudden illness or symptoms of distress can befall any pet, even the healthiest. Because of this, having a basic understanding of how to administer First Aid for pets is an important skill for any pet owner and can even save the life of a pet. Continue…

The media has been abuzz lately with news of the latest canine influenza outbreak. This disease has been hitting the Chicago area hard over the last month or so, and has many pet owners reeling with questions.

What is this dog flu? Should I be worried? How do I protect my pet? …Well, look no further for your answers. Continue…

Throughout history, mankind has studied animals and their behaviors. Animals have appeared as mythical heroes and guardians, as well as in fables focused on important moral lessons. They have embodied the stories of cultures throughout history and are the subject of Paleolithic cave art and archaic Native American petroglyphs. Continue…

A diagnosis of congestive heart failure for your pet can certainly be an intimidating one. As with many things in life, though, it is much scarier when you don’t really understand it.  Keep reading to learn what you need to know about congestive heart failure in pets. Continue…

Most children are naturally inclined to adore animals – from the Disney-inspired animal movies they covet to their own best-friend pets. Kids are often curious about all types of animals and are the first to want to pet, hold, or investigate any animal they happen to see. And, while this innate affinity is wonderful, it is also a great catalyst for teaching children about animals and how to safely and kindly interact with them. Continue…