Oakland Veterinary Referral Services Blog

If you have a pool, you know it is important that your pet know how to swim for safety reasons. If you don’t own a pool, you might not ever think about teaching your pet to swim. Whether you take a family vacation, visit a lake, or visit a friend’s house, ensuring your pet can swim is a smart and safe decision. 

With a little bit of effort and these tips from Oakland Veterinary Referral Services, you can give your pet the tools he needs to stay afloat in the water:

You’re an old hand at walking your dog, but are you familiar with dog walking etiquette? As a responsible dog owner, knowing the proper etiquette for walking a dog can make it more enjoyable (and safer) for you and your dog to spend quality time together outside around other dogs and humans you might encounter. 

Follow these etiquette tips from Oakland Veterinary Referral Services to improve your dog-walking experience: 

Would you like to be able to cook one healthy meal for you and your dog to share? We usually spend more time thinking about what to keep away from our dogs than what to share with them. If created properly, there are plenty of dog-friendly meals you can share with your dog. Oakland Veterinary Referral Services wants to improve the human-animal bond between you and your pupper by sharing these safe meals you can enjoy together:

At Oakland Veterinary Referral Services, we feel lucky to be located in a pet-friendly location like Bloomfield Hills. Whether you are coming to see us from far away or you’re popping in from down the street, here are some of our favorite local dog-friendly businesses:

Dogs are a key part of our families and we would do anything to keep them safe and healthy. You could accidentally poison your dog and put your favorite canine in grave danger with unexpected pet toxins around your house. The best way to avoid that awful scenario is to know about these dangers and keep them safely away from your furry friend. Here’s Oakland Veterinary Referral Service’s list of top 10 things most likely to poison your dog:

Have you thought about cat breeds and what type of cat you have? Cats often come into our lives in unconventional ways (like showing up on the doorstep and deciding they live there now). This means we often do not know much about their history. Most cat lovers can tell the difference between long and short-haired breeds and not much more.

Believe it or not, even experts differ in their opinion of how many official cat breeds exist. Identifying your cat’s breed can help you and your veterinarian provide the best care for your favorite feline. Here are some tips on figuring out what kind of feline is living in your house:

Nutritious diets are an important aspect of your dog’s overall health and wellness. Some treats you buy in the store are full of fillers and other ingredients that could be harming your pup instead of nourishing his body. If you want to be sure your treats are safe and helpful for your dog’s health, making them yourself is a great alternate option. Here are some of our favorite easy DIY dog biscuit recipes with 5 ingredients or fewer just in time for National Dog Biscuit Day:

Heart disease in dogs is more common than you might realize. Dogs are susceptible to many different forms of cardiovascular issues that range in severity. Your veterinarian will base the treatment on the type of heart disease. Oakland Veterinary Referral Services (OVRS) wants to help you learn about heart disease in dogs so you can spot any signs of trouble early.  

Pets are one of the biggest advantages of working from home. Pets are also one of the biggest distractions of working from home. Most pet owners love the chance to spend more time with their beloved animals, but they also have to get work done. And the more you are around your pets, the more attention they tend to expect! If you are trying to figure out how to work from home with pets, use these tips to keep everyone happy:

Has your dog been diagnosed with heartworm disease and is currently undergoing treatment? If so, it is important to change your at-home habits to complement your veterinarian’s efforts and give your dog the best chance for a full recovery. Heartworms target a dog’s heart, lungs, and blood, and can bring on potentially fatal health issues without the proper treatment. 

Even with treatment, your pup requires additional care and consideration while undergoing treatment. Here are some of Oakland Veterinary Referral Services’ (OVRS) top tips for caring for a dog during heartworm treatment.