Oakland Veterinary Referral Services Blog

Once again the time has come for OVRS’ annual Companion Animal Classic! Now in its fifth year, this event has become perennial favorite fundraising event for TEAR Foundation, and this year will be no exception. Continue…

With summer upon us, the temptation to get outdoors and explore the wilds is pretty much inevitable.

The world is teeming with renewed life and without fail the urge to get out and enjoy the natural beauty of our area is irresistible.

But what happens when you’re out and about and find an orphaned or injured animal in the wild? Many of us don’t know. After all, it’s not a common occurrence. Do you know what to do or whom to call? How do you know when to help and when to walk away?

Thankfully, our community has a tremendous resource when it comes to helping wildlife in distress. The Howell Conference and Nature Center’s Wildlife Rehabilitation program offers the injured and orphaned wildlife in our area a fighting chance for recovery and release.

If you find and injured or orphaned wild animal, please call the Howell Conference and Nature Center’s Wildlife Helpline at 517-548-5530.

What To Do

When you encounter an injured or orphaned wild animal, it is only natural to want to help. However, it is of the utmost importance that you take the precautions necessary to protect both yourself and the animal. Often—if not always—this means not attempting to touch or move the animal. Remember, animals that are scared or in pain often attack as a means of self-defense.

If you do find an animal in distress it’s best to call the Wildlife Helpline at 517-548-5530 and request professional assistance for the animal. The Wildlife Rehabilitation program’s professional staff can advise you on the best course of action and send assistance if necessary.

What to Know

It is not uncommon to see a baby wild animal on its own in the wild. Never assume an animal has been orphaned unless it is obvious (meaning you see the carcass of the parent in the immediate vicinity, and are certain there is not another parent nearby).

In most cases, it is best to leave young or baby animals alone, even if they appear to be in distress, you never know if its parent is on the way. If it’s obvious that help is needed, please call the Wildlife Helpline immediately and let the experts know where help is needed and why.

Other signs that a wild animal may need the assistance of the experts at the Wildlife Rehabilitation program are as follows:

• • Apparent or obvious broken limbs

• • Evidence of traumatic bleeding

• • A featherless or nearly featherless bird on the ground

• Your pet presents the animal to you (or leads you to it with a sense of urgency)

Again, if you do find a wild animal in need of assistance, call the Howell Conference and Nature Center’s Wildlife Helpline at 517-548-5530 for help and please, keep yourself safe.

Do your cats fight like cats and dogs? Dr. DePorter is currently enrolling fractious felines in a clinical trial testing the effects of a new pheromone treatment on fighting amongst kitty housemates.

Fighting between cats is no laughing matter and can cause lots of stress within the household. Fights do not always include physical contact between the cats. Instead, cats may have a tense body tone, stare each other down, and make angry noises. Fights may also include stalking or chasing the other cat, swatting, growling, hissing, spitting, twitching or puffing of the tail. Some cats do play or wrestle aggressively, which is different.

If you have between two and five cats in your household and your cats have had an encounter like the ones described above in the last two weeks, you may be eligible to participate in the trial. The cats involved must be:

• Free of medications, supplements, or pheromone treatments
• Older than 6 months of age
• Neutered if they are male

Participants accepted into the trail will receive test product pheromone diffusers, a $50 American Express gift card, and a voucher for the new product when it becomes available for purchase. You will be expected to keep a daily diary, complete weekly surveys, and complete a weekly phone interview for a period of seven weeks.

If you are interested in participating, please attend one of our upcoming enrolling meetings on Tuesday, May 14 or May 21 at 6 p.m. Please R.S.V.P. at (248) 334-6877 as space is limited.

Humans only please! Dr. DePorter will be explaining feline aggression and how cats communicate. Attendees will learn about how to handle aggressive encounters between their cats as well as more about the trial.

If your dog or cat has environmental allergies, chances are that you have heard the term “atopy.” Atopy is one of the most common causes of chronic itching in pets, and refers to animals that have a genetic predisposition for developing reactions to allergens in the environment such as dust, pollen, and molds. Continue…

Did you know that Oakland Veterinary Referral Services runs its very own blood bank? The Buddies for Life Blood Bank has been a great success and has helped to save the lives of many animals. The products we keep benefit sick dogs and cats at our hospital and those in need at surrounding facilities. Blood products that we collect include:

• Packed red blood cells

This product contains only red blood cells, the cells that are vital for carrying oxygen throughout the body. Animals that are anemic, due to issues such as blood loss, infection, or autoimmune problems, can benefit. Continue…

Looking to have a little fun, maybe win a few fabulous prizes and help save the lives of pets in crisis? Then look no further. The Third Annual Bugaboo Whitt Memorial Bowling Fundraiser and Bugaboo Whitt Memorial Raffle are upon us! And with the proceeds of both events going to benefit TEAR Foundation, there’s really no way to lose.

What is TEAR?

Every year, hundreds, if not thousands, of families have to make the choice between providing life-saving emergency treatment for their beloved pet or saying goodbye before they’re ready. More often than not, the balance of that decision hinges on the financial considerations of the treatment needed and the realities of the family’s pocketbook.  Continue…

No one wants to hear that their pet has hip dysplasia. The term in itself is associated with images of a crippled, debilitated pet. It doesn’t always have to be that way, however. OVRS’s own Dr. Lucy Shields Henney, a board-certified veterinary surgeon, has a special interest in surgical treatments for hip dysplasia and continues to be on the cutting edge of treatment options for affected pets. Continue…

When your pet is sick, getting a diagnosis is an essential part of getting them well again. The faster an accurate diagnosis is achieved, the faster an accurate, effective treatment plan can be formulated. Continue…

At OVRS, we believe that a team approach works best for pet care, especially when more than one speciality is involved. You and your pet benefit from our team’s combined knowledge and skills for a more integrated care experience.

Frustrations of uncoordinated care

There is nothing more frustrating than having to bounce from doctor to doctor or to specialist and back in hopes of resolving a health issue. If they aren’t communicating with each other, and often they are not, you can end up confused, frustrated and with less than optimal care. Continue…

Did you know that at one point in time it was believed that pets didn’t feel pain. Can you even imagine? Today we know a lot better and make it a priority to provide the most effective pain control possible. We accomplish this by preemptively preventing pain, as well as utilizing multimodal techniques, which means we attack the pain from all angles. Continue…