Oakland Veterinary Referral Services Blog

When you stumble across something on your pet that wasn’t there before, it can be a very disconcerting feeling. Is it a tick? A discarded piece of bubblegum? Cancer???

Pets often have such thick coats that we neglect to find small bumps until they become somewhat large. Some lumps and bumps on pets are no big deal at all, while others can be worrisome. Be sure you know how to handle your next bumpy encounter. Continue…

A pet’s skin is his or her largest organ, so monitoring and maintaining good skin health is an important part of having a happy, healthy pet. Allergies, irritations, infections, parasites, lumps and bumps can all affect pet skin. Take the time to learn how to perform a thorough pet skin check to be sure you are keeping your four-legged friend in tip-top shape.

How to Perform a Pet Skin Check

It is probably best to sit down once a month and really look at your pet closely. You may wish to keep a small notebook to document findings. Get comfortable in a well-lit area of your home. It is probably easiest to put small dogs or cats up on a counter so that you can really see what you are doing, but your lap will work too. Start at the nose and work your way back to the tail. Be sure to look at the following: Continue…

It’s that time again! We are so pleased to announce our annual TEAR Cancer Fundraiser event. Join us Friday, October 23rd, 2015, at the Townsend Hotel in Birmingham for a buffet dinner, live and silent auction and the Bugaboo Whitt Memorial Raffle all to benefit TEAR Foundation.

You can purchase single tickets for $100 each, or an entire table of 10 for $950 including champagne toast and introduction. It is going to be an exciting, fun and productive evening to help pets with cancer.

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If you have ever had trouble breathing, you know how scary a feeling it can be. There are many causes of breathing trouble in pets, just as with people, but they all result in difficulty taking a breath.

If you have a pet who can’t catch his or her breath, we are going to teach you what you need to know. Pet respiratory problems shouldn’t be taken lightly. Keep reading so that you can breathe easier when caring for your breathing-challenged pet.

Signs of Respiratory Problems

If your pet is having trouble breathing, it is important to have him or her examined right away. Even mild problems can progress rapidly, and you don’t want to wait until things are bad. Continue…

Urinary tract infections are not pleasant, whether you have two legs or four. When the urinary tract (the bladder, kidneys, or ureters between the two) are host to bacteria, no one is happy. Keep reading to learn about UTIs in dogs and what we can do.

Signs of Urinary Tract Infections in Dogs

Sometimes, despite our body’s best efforts, bacteria can make its way up the urethra into the bladder. Most urinary tract infections in dogs never move beyond the bladder, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t bad news. While UTIs rarely result in systemic infection and remain local, they can cause irritation and discomfort. Continue…

Ask many dog owners what their biggest fear is regarding canine diseases or illnesses and they may say parvo or rabies. And with good reason as the core vaccines for dogs focus on the big four: canine parvovirus, distemper, canine hepatitis, and rabies. But, depending on your dog’s level of exposure to the outdoors, or to crowded kennels and dog parks, it can be equally important to vaccinate against diseases like leptospirosis which are too often ignored.

To truly understand what vaccines are needed for your pet, begin by educating yourself on some of the common diseases, such as leptospirosis. Continue…

Veterinary medicine and nutrition are good for your pet, but pet owners shouldn’t overlook environmental enrichment and stimulation as important components of an animal’s overall health and wellbeing. Even the most dedicated or involved pet owner may start to notice the tell-tale signs of a bored pet; especially if you’re walking by the same ol’ smells, day after day.

Life gets hectic, we all get a bit older everyday, and the old antics from kitten or puppy hood give way to a more sedentary life. Even for pets that have a stretch of backyard to play in, boredom (and maybe even bad behavior) can easily set in. But, with a new approach to your pet’s environmental enrichment, it doesn’t have to be this way. Continue…

When you look at your beloved family pet, the last thing you want to think about is his or her last days with you. While no one wants to think about end of life pet care, chances are that you will outlive your four-legged friend and it something you will need to address.

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As a pet parent, the last thing you want is to discover that your dog or cat has gotten loose and is missing. You may wonder what you would do first? Who would you call? Where would you even begin to locate your missing pet?

First Things First

• As soon as you discover that your pet is missing, contact the Bloomfield Township Animal Welfare department and the Oakland County Animal Control And Adoption Center to file a missing pet report.
• Create a “lost pet” flyer complete with a photo of your pet and your contact info. Enlist family and friends to help post copies of the flyer in as many places as you can, such as lampposts, trees, veterinary offices, pet supply stores, dog parks, grocery stores, and gas stations. Always ask permission before posting a flyer.
• Get on the computer and utilize as many social media sites as possible to aid you in your search.

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What constitutes responsible pet care? Certainly most pet owners love their pets. What should that love in action look like though? Is it daily feeding and petting? Spoiling your pet with treats? What does it mean to be a responsible pet parent?

Our blogs usually focus on how to prevent health care risks, ways to improve pet health and quality of life, or various health conditions. In this blog, we want to describe our view of responsible pet care and celebrate the many responsible pet owners who provide exemplary care and love to their pets each and every day. Continue…