Oakland Veterinary Referral Services Blog

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.

When we’re away from our pets, we want to know they are safe, happy, and staying out of trouble. With the latest pet technology, we’re able to interact remotely, keep our pets calm or entertained, and even ensure their health and safety. What are some of the best new high-tech pet items on the market? The team at Oakland Veterinary Referral Service (OVRS) is here with some of our favorites:

White dog owners often ask how to remove tear stains. Most dog owners gaze lovingly into the eyes of their furry friend at least once a day. Tear stains in no way decrease the amount of love we feel for our favorite canines. But they can detract from the aesthetic appeal of your pup’s otherwise perfect face. 

If you have a white dog that is prone to developing tear stains, the team at Oakland Veterinary Referral Services (OVRS) wants to help. Our tips help you identify the best way to remove tear stains so you can return to your regularly-scheduled love stares.

The start of a new year is the perfect time to look at your daily habits and determine how they fit into your goals. The goal is to make any necessary changes to help you achieve those goals. New Year’s resolutions do not just have to benefit the humans in your family, however. This year, think about some pet New Year’s resolutions that you can do with your favorite feline or your canine companion to set your year off on the right paw!

Dogs with hearing and sight impairments need just as much stimulation and playtime as dogs with perfect vision and hearing. Oakland Veterinary Referral Services (OVRS) is here with some great ideas for toys for deaf and blind dogs so you can keep your canine engaged and healthy:

Looking for ideas for gifts for cats? Christmas isn’t the same without our pets involved in the festivities. Buying gifts for our cat companions is a must for cat lovers everywhere. You may be wondering what special presents you should stash under the tree for your kitty. Oakland Veterinary Referral Services has a few suggestions for the cat who has (almost) everything. Check out our top 10 christmas gifts for cats your pet will be sure to love.

‘Tis the season for giving gifts to loved ones. That includes buying gifts for the family dog. If you are searching for something new and fun for your bestie, we have 10 fantastic ideas for the best 2021 Christmas gifts for dogs. Oakland Veterinary Referral Services has compiled some of our faves for the New Year.

Snuffle mats–what are they and why would your dog need one? Most dogs are prone to snarf down anything edible in their path, including their meals. Within seconds, the once full bowl sits empty. This can be a problem for some dogs when it comes to good digestion. Eating too quickly can lead to a serious condition commonly referred to as ‘bloat.’ 

These are reasons why snuffle mats have become popular among dog owners. And they are great for keeping your pet occupied with an enriching game of sniffing out the food. Oakland Veterinary Referral Services has reviewed several dog snuffle mats on the market. Here are some of the best of 2021.

The possibility of a feline injection site sarcoma can make some cat owners hesitate when it comes to annual vaccinations or other injections. They decide to avoid any vaccination risk and rely on the fact that their cats stay indoors. Vaccines are crucial though for most healthy cats to protect them from serious and sometimes easily transmitted fatal diseases. The risk of not vaccinating is much higher than the risk of this rare side effect, and recent research recommends other places on the body for vaccinations to avoid sarcoma risk.

It is important to weigh risks though; So one of the questions we get at Oakland Veterinary Referral Services is about feline injection site sarcoma. Let’s take a deeper look into this, the level of risk, and what you can do to protect your cat.