Oakland Veterinary Referral Services Blog

Cats share our homes and our hearts. In fact, they retain the position of #1 among common household pets in the United States. That is probably why many of us choose to share our homes with two or more cats and have, perhaps, been challenged by passive and overt aggression between our feline companions.

Unfortunately, household cat conflicts are quite common.  Social tension between housemate cats may cause overt aggression or manifest as elimination outside the litter box.  These issues between cats in the home motivate pet owners to seek out help in the form of behavioral consultation (aggression or elimination problems are the most common reasons for behavioral consultation when it comes to cats). When cat conflicts cannot be resolved or seem to present too many disturbances in the home, many of these cats are sadly surrendered to shelters. Continue…

How many pet owners have succumbed to the trendy cuteness of the labradoodle, the exotic curiosity of an iguana, the beauty of a Afghan hound, or the novelty of the “fit-in-your-purse” teacup chihuahua, only to realize the pet isn’t a good match with their overall life and lifestyle? The sheer number of chihuahuas currently in shelters across the US illustrates why choosing a pet is more than a preference in appearance or cute factor.

Choosing a pet should encompass a plethora of factors: your lifestyle, living situation, personality, and schedule AND the specific physical and behavioral needs of the species and breed of animal. Continue…

Heart problems are serious business, no matter what your species. And cats are no exception. Unfortunately, heart disease in cats can be very difficult to detect. That’s where your family veterinarian may recommend a consultation with one of the veterinary cardiologists at OVRS to help in diagnosing, treating and managing your cat’s heart condition. Learn what every cat owner should know about their feline friend’s cardiovascular health. Continue…

From their adorable, furry faces to their undeniable enthusiasm when they greet us at the door, our pets provide a world of love. It’s not surprising that much research has been conducted on the human-animal bond and its impact on our physical, mental, and emotional health. Likewise, our affection for our animal friends reciprocally enhances their health and wellbeing. Continue…

You may already be aware that Oakland Veterinary Referral Services highly values staying at the cutting edge of veterinary medicine and at the forefront of veterinary standards. As part of that focus, OVRS recently obtained our VECCS Level 1 Accreditation in order to certify our ability to provide emergency and critical care for seriously ill or injured animals. Keep reading to find out what this means to you and your pets. Continue…

Most times an ear infection is a pretty easy problem to solve. Sometimes, though, we will run into an infection that won’t clear or that keeps on coming back. In this instance, it is likely that there is something going on that is predisposing that ear to have problems.

One of the more common diagnoses in complicated ear infections in pets are ear polyps. Find out what you need to know about ear polyps in pets and how they affect your animal. Continue…

After the holidays, when we are reminded of all of the wonderful things we have to be grateful for in our lives, we are often compelled to add “helping others” or volunteering to our list of new year’s resolutions.

Maybe this is true for you and your family, and you are currently looking for great missions to assist in the coming year?

For those of us who adore and care for pets, animal charities, shelters, and rescues seem to be the right choice for our philanthropic efforts. Whether you choose to give your time in the form of hands-on work or are gifting a favorite cause with a monthly donation, by donating to animal shelters you help the animal nonprofits that rely on the generosity of friends like you. Continue…

Portosystemic shunts (PSS), or liver shunts, are an abnormality in a pet’s blood flow through the liver. The liver normally filters toxins and impurities from the bloodstream. In a pet with a PSS, though, an extra blood vessel allows the blood to skip circulation through the liver. This prevents proper cleansing of potentially harmful substances from the body.

As you can imagine, a PSS can result in some pretty serious consequences. At Oakland Veterinary Referral Services, we are able to accurately diagnose and treat liver shunts medically as well as surgically. Continue…

Looking at your pet’s ears is a standard part of a routine wellness exam and can be a valuable diagnostic and treatment modality. Most people have had their own ears examined at some point with a device called an “otoscope,” a hand-held tool that allows visualization of the ear canal and ear drum. The process isn’t much different for pets.

However, when there is an escalation in your pet’s condition, or a standard otoscope evaluation isn’t giving the results needed, your vet may refer you to us for video otoscopy. This is cutting-edge technology that allows us to practice the very best medicine at OVRS. Continue…

We are downright giddy at all we’ve collectively accomplished during this landmark year and hope you have been well-served by our staff. We like to extend our service to you at home through our blog and value the time you spend reading it. Please feel free to peruse the Top 10 blogs viewed by our valued readers in 2014: Continue…