What Does it Mean if My Veterinarian Hears a Heart Murmur? Listening to your pet’s heart and lungs is a vital part of the annual physical exam. When we listen to your dog or cat’s chest we are listening to the type of sounds the heart beat produces as well as the rhythm of the... Learn More
Are You or Your Pet Itching to Learn About Allergy Medications? While treating infection and working up the underlying allergic cause for infections/itch, we often need to help your pet feel more comfortable at the same time. The over-the-counter products (ex. topicals, antihistamines, vitamin E, fish oils, etc.) may be relatively safe, but this often... Learn More
You Asked: Can I use a microchip to locate my pet, like a lojack does for stolen vehicles? Our primary care doctor, Dr. Kimberly Schultz, DVM, has the answer: Microchips do not work like GPS systems. Microchips are tiny radio frequency identifying devices (roughly the size of a grain of rice). A microchip is implanted... Learn More
Can I Take My Puppy to the Park Yet? Everyone looks forward to bringing their new puppy to the park. To make sure your new friend stays safe and healthy, Dr. Kimberly Schultz, DVM and the Primary Care Team at Friendship Hospital recommend waiting until at least 2 weeks after your puppy has completed the... Learn More
June 23rd: Take Your Dog to Work Day! We all know how special dogs are in our lives. But did you also know that they can help with reducing stress levels and making you more productive at work? For more information and a tool kit to make this special day successful at your work place please... Learn More
Warm Weather Safety Tips: Part II Dr. Janine Calabro, FHA’s Chief of Emergency and Critical Care, is back with part two of the Warm Weather Safety Tips series in order to help you keep your furry friends safe and healthy this summer! We often see an uptick in trauma cases when it’s nice outside. More... Learn More
Warm Weather Safety Tips: Part I Happy June! Now that it’s heating up outside, FHA’s Chief of Emergency and Critical Care, Dr. Janine Calabro, has some warm weather safety tips. As an emergency & critical care doctor, my biggest worry every summer is heat-related illness, particularly heat stroke. As the weather gets warmer and more... Learn More
Each spring thousands of kittens are born, adding to the millions of cats already housed in a shelter setting. That means our local shelters and foster-based rescue groups have many adorable kittens to choose from in addition to older, more mellow cats. Please consider adopting a shelter cat (or two!) this month. Cats adopted from... Learn More
Why Does My Dog Eat Grass? Many wonder, including myself, as to why my dog goes outside and starts eating grass. Tons of theories have been suggested, but no link to a primary cause has been found. Most nutrition and behavior specialists speculate that the behavior is usually one of boredom and/or enjoyment if done... Learn More
What’s that fishy smell? Ever wonder why your pets scoot their bum on the rug? Or start licking their back-ends, which later smells like they burped a rotting fish? Well, here’s what that’s all about. There are two very special glands to thank, the infamous anal glands or anal sacs. These are two small glands... Learn More
Are tennis balls safe for dogs? Dogs love to play fetch but you need to be careful with the type and size of ball you use. Standard tennis balls have an abrasive outer surface that will wear down the tennis material with excessive chewing. There are “pet friendly” tennis balls that are made with less abrasive... Learn More
Chewing Rawhides vs. Brushing Your Pets Teeth Primary care doctor, Kimberly Schultz, DVM, recommends both. Dental disease can lead to inflammation, infection, and chronic pain in pets just as in people. Good dental hygiene is an important part of keeping dogs and cats healthy. Daily tooth brushing is considered the gold standard in terms of... Learn More
Does My Pet Need Weight Watchers? The Fat and Skinny About Your Pet’s Weight Just like with humans, talking about our pet’s weight can be awkward. The truth of the matter is that most of our pets are a bit on the pudgier side of the scales. Most of the time our pets are just... Learn More
May is National Arthritis Awareness Month! We asked primary care veterinarian, Dr. Amanda McMurphy, what the top 5 non-pharmaceutical options for treating arthritis were. This is what she recommends: 5) Transitioning to a Prescription Joint-Friendly Diet Joint-friendly diets contain natural anti-inflammatory agents and ingredients that serve as building blocks for cartilage development. Some joint-friendly... Learn More
Leptospirosis: Every Dog is at Risk! We asked primary care veterinarian, Dr. Dana Carr, why the Leptospirosis vaccine is recommended at FHA: Leptospirosis is a disease caused by infection with the Leptospira bacteria. These bacteria are found worldwide in soil and water and are spread easily through infected wildlife. There are many strains of Leptospira... Learn More
You asked: Why are tapeworms not typically found in fecal testing? Our primary care team member, Dr. Boone, has responded: The adult tapeworm lives in the small intestine of dogs or cats and usually measures 6 inches in length or more. The tapeworm’s body is made up of several tiny segments – a head, a... Learn More
Hip Dysplasia: Those Hips Don’t Lie Ever see a dog walking down the street strutting their stuff and shaking their hips? While at first, you may think they are trying out for the next Beyoncé music video. The truth is that this type of gait may represent underlying orthopedic disease. The classic “swaying hip” or... Learn More
April 28th is National Hairball Awareness Day! It’s no secret that cats are notorious for developing hairballs. Cats have tiny barbs on their tongues that catch hair while grooming, which they then swallow. In a healthy intestinal tract, hair will pass right through and out in the stool. If hair does not pass out of... Learn More
Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society – Level I Emergency and Critical Care Facility Friendship Hospital for Animals Receives Certification as Level I Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Facility. Friendship Hospital for Animals was recently certified as a Level I veterinary emergency and critical care facility by the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society. The... Learn More
Spaying your pet: Ovariectomy versus Ovariohysterectomy This sweet pup, Hazel, came to Friendship Hospital for Animals for a pre-surgical appointment in preparation for her spay procedure. A “spay” is a surgery to remove both ovaries which are the source of hormones responsible for estrus cycles in female dogs and cats. Hazel’s knowledgeable mom was well... Learn More
Easter Holiday Hazards For many, celebrating the Easter Holiday means Easter baskets filled with candy and special baked goods and bouquets of spring flowers. It is important to remember that some of these can be potentially toxic to your pets. Pets like to play with Easter grass and sometimes ingest it, which can lead to... Learn More
Pet Food Recalls – What Does it Mean? You asked about a recent pet food recall due to Pentobarbital contamination….. Our primary care doctor, Kimberly Schultz, answered: Recently, a canned dog food was recalled due to contamination with Pentobarbital. This means that some lots of this dog food were found to be contaminated with a... Learn More
Client Education – Allergies! Learn how to diagnose and manage itch with Friendship Dermatology Specialists on Sunday, May 7, 2017 at 1:00PM. *Featured image courtesy of Hund and Katz. Learn More
Spring is Coming – What You Need to Know About Your Pet’s Allergies! Updated February 20th, 2018 FREE Client Education Event: 4/14/18 @ 1pm “Allergic Pets – What to feed them and why” Join veterinary dermatologist Dr. Darcie Kunder to discuss dermatologic problems (and solutions) caused by what you’re feeding your pet. Bring your dog... Learn More
Primary Care in a Specialty World by Dr. Becky Bolch I am constantly asked how do I like our new second floor and the addition of many new specialists. Of course, the facilities are amazing and allow us to manage our patients’ medical care at the highest level. However, the best aspect is the team... Learn More
Introducing Extracorporeal Therapies! Friendship Internal Medicine is happy to announce the opening of our Extracorporeal Therapies Service! Dr. JD Foster, Dr. Gideon Daniel, and their team can perform hemodialysis and hemoperfusion to treat kidney disease and various toxin ingestions in our patients. Our first patient, Bay, is a four year old lab. Bay’s owners returned... Learn More
Fergus is in Remission! Fergus was in today to see Dr. Mallett for his final chemotherapy treatment for lymphoma. We are so happy to report that he is feeling well and his cancer is in remission! Headed by board-certified oncologist Dr. Courtney Mallett, Friendship Oncology Specialists offers a wide variety of treatment options for... Learn More
DERMASTROLOGY – Reading the Skin Signs Who is a veterinary dermatologist? Many owners, even those who work in human medicine, are surprised to hear that there are veterinarians who specialize in only dermatology. Dermatology is a branch of medicine that manages diseases affecting the skin, hair, and nails. Other human specialists may manage allergies, infections,... Learn More
Wellness Visits – So Much More than Vaccines! Veterinary medicine has changed a great deal over the past 40 years. As a child in the 1970s, I remember my parents taking our dog, Missy, to the vet for her “shots.” There was little focus on her overall health, and basically, she got several injections and... Learn More
Cats Need Exercise Too! Did you know that household cats, especially those who live exclusively indoors, have little to do and can easily become bored? This can lead to behavioral issues, excessive weight gain, and eventual health consequences. Although, it may be tempting to allow your cat outdoors, there are many safety and health concerns... Learn More
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