Oakland Veterinary Referral Services Blog

If you have a pet who has been diagnosed with cancer, things are scary enough. To make things, worse, though, the oncology world is filled with jargon and terminology that can intimidate even the most scholarly of pet owners. Take a moment to let us explain some oncology basics so that you can feel more confident in understanding cancer in pets.

Not All Cancer is Equal

Understanding cancer in pets can be difficult unless you have a good grasp on what cancer actually is. All of the tissue in our pet’s bodies are made up of individual cells. Under normal circumstances these cells grow and divide in an orderly, regulated manner. Cancer occurs when these cells begin to grow uncontrolled. Continue…

Ask most observant pet owners whether animals, such as cats and dogs, dream and you are likely to get a lot of anecdotal (and endearing) stories. From the soft yips of a snoozing puppy to the whisker twitches of a feline friend, it’s a fair assumption that our pet companions also experience dreamtime.

But, is there actually any scientific proof behind this assumption?

The Studies of Animal Slumber

From rats to cats, the subject of dreaming in animals has been a focus of research and debate for decades. And, the common denominator of dreaming is a stage of sleep known as REM (rapid eye movement). Continue…

As fellow animal lovers, it is hard for us to imagine treating a pet or animal unkindly. Sadly, though, animal cruelty occurs every day. It takes on many shapes and forms, but regardless of how you look at it, treating an animal without respect is a serious offense.

Take a step back and ask yourself if you know how to recognize animal cruelty and whether you know what to do about it.

The Faces of Animal Cruelty

Animal cruelty isn’t always as black and white as you might think. While most of us would step in if we saw a pet being beaten or otherwise physically harmed, cruelty isn’t always intentional. It may come in the form of: Continue…

Dogs and cats are susceptible to a number of internal and external parasites, some of which are capable of being passed to humans. Year-round, monthly parasite prevention is not only a vital component of your pet’s overall health and wellbeing, it’s important for your family’s health as well.

Pet Parasite Prevention

Parasites are more than just annoying. Many carry pathogens that can put our pets at risk for dangerous illnesses. By following your veterinarian’s recommendations for monthly parasite preventive medications, you will be protecting your pet from these tiny foes: Continue…

Living with a pet in a condo, apartment, or other small space may seem like an insurmountable challenge: no yard, lots of neighbors, flights of stairs to navigate, etc. But with more and more families downsizing to smaller living spaces, these particular pet care issues are becoming more important than ever.

Fortunately, it’s not only possible to keep your pet happy and satisfied within the confines of a small space, but it can often be a deeply rewarding experience. Consider the following guidelines for successful apartment living with pets.

No Pets Allowed?

This may seem obvious, but the first step to successful apartment living with pets is to receive express permission from the landlord before bringing a pet into your home. Conversely, if you are planning on a move to a rental and either already have a pet or are considering adopting one in the future, make sure your new home has a “pets allowed” policy. Continue…

Cancer is a formidable foe, and science is still in its infancy when it comes to mounting a battle against it. Thankfully, we have more options than ever before to treat cancer in our veterinary patients, and have a great deal of success. Our failures are still too high for our liking, however, and we are always looking for new ways to combat this common disease.

Oakland Veterinary Referral Services is excited to be offering a newer treatment technology for our patients with cancer. Electrochemotherapy in pets is an exciting option that we hope will allow us to win a few more of our battles.

The Ins and Outs of Electrochemotherapy for Pets

Every cancer is different, and there is no one-sized fits all treatment plan for every pet and every cancer. The more tools we have at our disposal, however, the better our odds of beating cancer. Continue…

Strong. Intelligent. Stately. Loyal. Dedicated. Just a few of the many adjectives one could use to describe U.S. military dogs.

Vietnam veteran and former military dog handler Joseph J. White felt the same way, which is why he founded National K9 Veterans’ Day (March 13th), a day intended to honor all military and working dogs for their service and their sacrifices for our nation.

Military Dogs Throughout The Ages

The first recorded use of dogs in battle was around 600 B.C.. Canines went on to be used by the Egyptians, Greeks, Persians, Romans, and ancient Far East cultures during wars and battles. Here in the U.S., the employment of military dogs began during the Civil War, where dogs served as messenger senders and guards for prisoners. Continue…

St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner, and with it come the inevitable parties, traditional Irish food, and the wearing of green. Named after St. Patrick, the most recognized patron saint of Ireland, this day is celebrated around the country, regardless of whether or not the celebrators are of Irish descent!

Because pets are increasingly being considered full-fledged family members, it makes sense that some of us will want to include our four-legged-friends in our St. Patty’s Day festivities. Before you follow that rainbow out the door, however, take a moment to bone up on some important St. Patrick’s Day pet safety tips.

St. Patrick’s Day Pet Safety 101

Don’t leave your pet’s safety to luck, keep the following ideas in mind when celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with your pets this year: Continue…

The month of March is a big one for girls and women everywhere. Each year, the Expanding Your Horizons Network holds a conference for girls in grades six through ten to engage in activities promoting opportunities for them in science, technology, engineering, and math fields. It is a great opportunity for these young ladies to learn all about the options that await them in the world.

Veterinary medicine is a science-based field that is full of opportunity for women of all ages. Learn more about girls in veterinary science and what prospects await them.

Girls Rule

Women are becoming a larger and larger majority of the veterinary field. As of 2009, this once male-dominated workplace has shifted to the majority of practitioners being women. And, with the majority of veterinary school enrollees being women too, this doesn’t appear to be changing any time soon. Continue…

Cancer affects our lives every day, and cancer in our pets is no exception. We are constantly on the hunt to find better, more effective ways to treat and hopefully cure cancers of all types. Oakland Veterinary Referral Services has an oncology department dedicated to helping our patients beat cancer, and this means incorporating the newest and most promising techniques into our treatment protocols.

Immunotherapy is one of those newer and more cutting edge ways to combat cancer. While knowledge about this technique is still in its infancy, we are learning more and more every day about how it can be used in our pets. Immunotherapy for cancer in pets is just one of the powerful tools we at OVRS have in our arsenal to defeat this disease. Continue…