Oakland Veterinary Referral Services Blog

The loss of a beloved family pet is probably the most difficult aspect of pet ownership. This is especially true when there are children in the home. Often, the loss of a pet is the first experience that young children will have with death and grieving, and may be especially difficult to understand. .

Everyone in the family will react to the loss differently, and it is important to understand that age, life experience, and personality all play a part in how a person handles grief.

As parents, it is important to understand how children handle grief, so that you can help them through this difficult time. Here are some insights when it comes to coping with pet loss in a family. Continue…

For many of us, giving back to our community is an important part of our life. But did you know that pets could be volunteers too?

Therapy animals are becoming more common and more active than ever before, and the demand for these special animals is growing by leaps and bounds. Volunteer pets have making the world a better place in senior centers, retirement homes, schools, and rehab centers for years, and their popularity is growing as their good works are proving to be effective.

If you’ve ever asked yourself, “How do I volunteer my dog?” then read on for an introduction to volunteering your pet. Continue…

This past year, the American Heart Association reported scientific evidence to support the notion that pets actually have the ability to improve our heart health.

And while there’s no denying that there are times our pets drive us a little crazy, and can cause us heart ache, most pet owners were not surprised by this “discovery”.

But for all the feel-good reasons there are when it comes to why pets are good for you, do you actually know the reasons that pets can help to keep us healthy? While the list could go on and on, here are the top two reasons that pet’s are (scientifically) good for you…  Continue…

When a dog undergoes a serious surgery, be it planned or as a result of an unexpected trauma, he or she needs life-saving blood donations just like we do.

But where does that blood come from? It’s not often that we see blood drives for pets, or the American Red Cross: Canine Division vans parked in front of local businesses. (No, there’s really no such thing, we’re just kidding)

Instead, blood donations for our four-legged friends often come from local owners volunteering their pets for the cause, and OVRS is one of the local resources for volunteer donations. These donations fuel our Buddies for Life Blood Bank, which helps dogs at both OVRS and throughout our community. Continue…

Your medicine cabinet is probably stocked with the things you need when you are sick or hurt. Bandages, antiseptics, tweezers, and medications for every ailment are commonly found in most people’s homes.

But do you have the things that you might need if your pet has a medical problem? If not, take a few minutes to stock your medicine cabinet or pantry with first-aid supplies for your four-legged family members. You never know when they might come in handy.

Here’s what you need… Continue…

As a country, many of us have learned to turn a blind eye to pets who are overweight. We coo and giggle over fat cats and pudgy pooches, when really there’s nothing funny about it. With over 50% of American pets tipping the scales, obesity in our nation’s pets has truly become an epidemic.

Even just a few extra pounds on your dog or cat can increase his or her risk for some very serious medical problems. Common problems that are directly influenced by weight include: Continue…

Cold winter weather, along with ice and snow, is never unexpected in Michigan come January and into early Spring. With cold, slippery conditions and the extremes of winter weather come unique dangers and concerns for our pets. Don’t risk your pet’s health and safety when the mercury drops. Be on the lookout for these common injuries and risks: Continue…

The New Year has finally arrived and already its days are ticking by. But if you’re still settling on what changes you’d like to make in your life this year, you’re not alone. We know that change can be hard. Even when it’s planned, and even when it’s for the best, change is never easy.

But with your pet by your side, many of the goals you’d like to achieve in 2014 don’t have to be nearly so daunting. Your pet can truly be your best friend and biggest champion when it comes to creating a better life.

Here are some examples…

• Lose weight
When it comes to weight loss, your pet is your judgment-free partner. They may not be able to tell you when your jeans are getting baggy (or tight), but they can be your sounding board, your walking buddy, and your motivation – they are truly your best friends when it comes to meeting this goal.

Continue…

The holidays aren’t the only opportunity for your cat or dog to get into trouble at parties. Here are a few reminders for keeping your pet safe at this year’s celebrations, family gatherings, and at-home affairs.

Party Safety Tips

Parties can offer plenty of fun for you and plenty of opportunity for your pet to do something he or she shouldn’t. Here’s how to keep your pet safe:

• Before you head out for the night or your party guests arrive, take your pet out for a walk to get some exercise. Not only will he or she enjoy the one-on-one time with you, but it will help to burn off any excess energy your pet may have for shenanigans later in the evening as well.

Continue…

When you weigh your options for worthy causes deserving of your charitable dollars this year, we know that there are many deserving organizations–locally, nationally, and worldwide–that are in need. But it is our hope that, as pet owners and animal lovers, you will also consider including donations to an animal-friendly cause as part of your giving.

Here are a few of our favorites…

TEAR —OVRS’s The Emergency Animal Relief Foundation (TEAR) is dedicated to helping Southeastern Michigan’s pets-in-need. From providing emergency financial assistance to pets in crisis, to helping pet owners afford potentially life-saving cancer treatments for their beloved companions, TEAR is dedicated to serving our community’s pets and their people.

Leader Dogs for the Blind —This outstanding Michigan-based organization helps to train and place free guide dogs with the blind, deaf-blind, and visually impaired individuals, nationwide. The service and outreach Leader Dog provides to the blind community is nothing short of spectacular, and the organization is worthy of your support. Continue…