Banks Veterinary Service

06/23/2026

In observance of Independence Day, we'll be closed on Friday July 3rd. Please ensure you plan ahead for your pet's food and medications - and let us know as soon as possible if you need more!

Remember that pets are often very scared of fireworks. Please make sure your pets have a safe place to go where they will not hear or see fireworks. An escape-proof room with the curtains drawn and background noise from a TV or radio works well.

If your pet has an emergency, please call:

Banks Veterinary Service at 503-324-6060

Tanasbourne Veterinary Emergency at 503-629-5800

Veterinary Emergency Group at 503-751-2082

We hope you and your pets have a fun and safe holiday.

The team at Banks Veterinary Service

06/23/2026

🐾 National Pet Choking Prevention Day 🐾

Choking emergencies can look very different depending on the
species—but they should always be taken seriously.

🐶🐱 Dogs & Cats (Airway Blockage)
Choking in dogs and cats is an immediate, life-threatening emergency.
An object lodged in the airway can prevent breathing and requires
action within minutes

Common hazards include:
• Bones, rawhides, balls, toys, sticks, and table scraps
• String, ribbon, hair ties, and yarn (especially in cats)
• Always supervise chewing and choose appropriately sized toys and treats

🐴🐐🐄 Large Animals (Esophageal "Choke")
In horses and livestock, "choke" usually means an obstruction in the
esophagus—not the airway. While animals can still breathe, choke is
still an emergency and can become life-threatening if not addressed
quickly.

Common causes include:
• Dry feed, pellets, hay cubes, apples, or carrots fed too quickly
• Whole ears of corn, whole apples, beets, potatoes, or turnips
• Accidental ingestion of ropes, baling twine, plastic, or other debris
• Ensure feed is properly prepared, provide access to clean water, and
keep barns and pastures free of hazards

⚠️ Warning signs may include:
• Coughing, gagging, drooling, or distress
• Stretching the neck
• Difficulty swallowing
• Feed or saliva coming from the nostrils (especially in horses)

If you suspect your animal is choking, contact your veterinarian
immediately. Quick recognition and prompt treatment can save a life.

06/22/2026

06/22/2026

🌼🐝 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭: 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬 🦋🌸

Did you know that many beneficial insects help naturally reduce parasite and pest populations? Predatory insects such as lady beetles, lacewings, parasitic wasps, and predatory flies can help keep harmful pests in check, reducing the need for chemical interventions and supporting healthier ecosystems.

When pesticide use is necessary, choosing pollinator-friendly options can help protect bees, butterflies, and other valuable pollinators:

✅ Apply treatments only when needed and according to label directions.
✅ Avoid spraying blooming plants whenever possible.
✅ Treat during evening or early morning hours when pollinators are less active.
✅ Consider targeted products with lower toxicity to pollinators, such as insecticidal soaps, horticultural oils, or other integrated pest management (IPM) tools when appropriate.
✅ Preserve flowering habitat and nesting areas to support beneficial insect populations.

Healthy pollinator communities contribute to biodiversity, crop production, and natural pest management. By combining biological control with thoughtful pesticide practices, we can help protect both livestock and the pollinators that support our environment.

06/19/2026

🐈It's Garfield the Cat Day! 🧡🐾

Today we’re celebrating everyone’s favorite lasagna-loving feline and all the cats who keep us laughing, cuddling, and occasionally knocking things off the counter.

Give your kitty some extra love today with treats, playtime, and plenty of purr-worthy snuggles! Share a photo of your own “Garfield” in the comments - we’d love to see them! 🐱

06/17/2026

Happy Bring Your Pet to Work Day! 🐾💼

Today is the perfect excuse to let your furry coworker join the team - even if their main qualifications are stealing snacks, demanding attention, and sleeping through meetings. 😴🐶

Pets in the workplace can help reduce stress, boost morale, and make the day a lot more fun. Just make sure your office is pet-friendly before your four-legged employee clocks in for their shift!

06/15/2026

𝐕𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞
Plan ahead for your time away!

𝐕𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞! As travel plans start filling your calendar, our schedule fills up quickly too.

𝐁𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐩, 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚 𝐟𝐞𝐰 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬:

💉 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐯𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞.
💊 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝/𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝
📝 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐭 in case we need to reach you while you're away.
🩺𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐮𝐬 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝/𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐟 𝐰𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧'𝐭 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮?

📋𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐟 𝐯𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐛𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐫 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲? You can request and access your pet's vaccine records from your Banks Veterinary Service App anytime. Simply open our app and request a "Vaccination Summary" from the "about" tab under your pet's profile. This will generate a shareable PDF that will be delivered immediately to the email of your choice.

We hope this speeds up your check-in process with your boarding, grooming, and day-care facilities.

As always, we thank you for trusting us with your pets and farm animals, and wish you all a wonderful summer.

06/11/2026

The 4th of July may still be weeks away, but now is the perfect time to start preparing your pets for the holiday. 🐾

Fireworks and loud celebrations can be stressful for pets, and every year many frightened animals go missing after panicking and escaping from homes or yards. Planning ahead can help keep your furry family members safe and comfortable.

Tips to help keep your pets safe:
🐾 Make sure collars and ID tags are up to date AND on your pet
🐾 Keep pets indoors during fireworks or events with disturbing noises
🐾 Create a quiet, secure space for them to relax
🐾 Double check gates, doors, and fences before festivities begin
🐾Register your pet with your city, which will provide your pet with a unique number they can be identified through
🐾Practice recall training with your pet to help insure they will return when called out to

If your pet struggles with anxiety during fireworks, don’t wait until the holiday week to request sedatives or calming medications. Calling early helps ensure we have time to discuss the best options for your pet before the holiday rush begins ❤️