White Hall Animal Clinic

04/14/2025

Watch out for those Mommas!!

04/11/2025

Interested in becoming a client?

Our new client appointment times are very limited.

If you would like to snag a spot, use the link below to complete the form and a manager will reach out to you by email!

https://forms.gle/bA33QdPYPLqcrG2b6

04/09/2025

Enrichment for ALL pets is needed!

Dogs
Cats
Snakes
Birds
Other reptiles
And even most aquatic life

Not only does this help with exercise, it makes them happier and less bored. This opens the door for more bonding and time for teaching difficult tricks. It is also a great way to work on behavior modification and correct less than ideal behaviors (barking, eating the couch, chewing on the wall, etc!)

Good job sharing the knowledge The Doggie Den!

Knowledge is power! Use it.
🤓📚🌈🐾

TECHNICAL TUESDAY: Worthy Read…
This week there was a post from a well-known dog influencer claiming that "dogs don't need enrichment" and that we should focus on their "real needs" instead.

I'm not sure if this statement was made simply to create controversy and get a rise out of people, or if it reflects a genuine belief. Either way, it fundamentally misrepresents what enrichment is and why committed dog owners invest time and effort into it.

Let's get something clear: Enrichment IS meeting our dogs' real needs. It's not some frivolous extra - it's acknowledging the reality of who our dogs actually are.

At the end of the day, our dogs are animals living in captivity. Yes, they're domesticated, but we still ask them to live in ways that are profoundly unnatural to them.

Think about it:

❌ It's not normal for dogs to stay inside houses 22+ hours a day
❌ It's not normal for dogs to walk slowly on leash without pulling, sniffing, or interacting with their environment
❌ It's not normal for dogs to ignore other animals they see
❌ It's not normal for dogs to not forage, counter-surf, or dig up your garden

Our dogs actually make very big efforts to fit into our human world with all its arbitrary and weird rules. The least we can do in return is fulfill their natural needs as much as possible.

That's what enrichment really is: providing opportunities for species-specific behaviors like sniffing, chewing, licking, digging, shredding, and foraging.

In all my years working with clients, I've NEVER encountered a dog owner who spent "too much time" on enrichment. In fact, I've found the opposite - the more intentional enrichment a dog receives, the happier they are, the easier training becomes, and the better the relationship gets.

Why?
Because enrichment acknowledges dogs for who they are. We humans don't have innate needs to sniff, dig, shred things, or forage - but our dogs absolutely do.

When we don't provide appropriate outlets for normal canine needs, our dogs find their own solutions - which we often label as "bad" behavior.
The dog who shreds your couch cushions, digs up your flowerbeds, chews your baseboards, raids your garbage, destroys toys within minutes, or counter-surfs is actually just acting according to their natural needs. Enrichment helps bridge that gap by providing appropriate alternatives.

With my own dogs, I ensure they have several types of enrichment every day - chewing opportunities, licking activities, daily sniffing adventures, appropriate digging spots, and chances for shredding and de-stuffing.

To be clear, enrichment doesn't replace exercise, training, or social interaction. It's ONE important piece of a fulfilled dog's life.

The next time someone suggests that enrichment is unnecessary or superfluous, remember: It's not about mindlessly throwing toys at our dogs or creating Instagram-worthy snuffle mats.
It's about honoring their true nature within the constraints of our human world.

It's not a way to DISCOUNT what they need. It's a way to ACKNOWLEDGE who they truly are.

(BY the way: I am writing this as my own dogs are all eating their breakfast in the form of frozen slow feeders 😄)

Happy Enrichment!

04/03/2025

You want your dog to stay happy and healthy, but you're unsure of how often you should be visiting the vet. That's okay. We've made it easy. Learn more: bit.ly/vet_visits

03/31/2025

You're asking the right questions. We've got some answers. Check out the blog to learn more about how often you should pay your vet a visit. Learn more: bit.ly/vet_visits

03/28/2025

Marshall says, “All the cool cats love visiting WHAC!”

Happy Friday to all and have a great weekend!

03/27/2025

📢 We're Hiring: Full-Time & Part-Time Veterinarians
Location: White Hall Animal Clinic | Monday–Friday | No Weekends

White Hall Animal Clinic is expanding our team! We're looking for compassionate, skilled veterinarians—both full-time and part-time—to join our growing practice.

What we offer:
✔️ No weekend shifts – enjoy your work/life balance
✔️ Supportive, family-like atmosphere
✔️ Bonus potential based on performance
✔️ New, advanced technology to support high-quality care
✔️ A dedicated, experienced team that truly loves what they do

If you're looking for a clinic that values your time, your voice, and your future—let’s talk.

📩 Apply today by emailing HR directly (Please do not call the clinic) or share with someone who'd be a great fit! [email protected].

03/21/2025

Zesty Paw Recall:

RECALL ALERT - Petdine, LLC. is voluntarily recalling select Zesty Paws soft chews due to potential Salmonella contamination. These products were distributed to one consignee in Illinois, with no further distribution. For more information and affected lots, visit: https://bit.ly/4hFCrar

03/17/2025

Avian flu and cats update.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI, bird flu) was detected in two cats and a suspected third cat over the past two months in New York City after consuming raw food. Testing for these NYC cases of HPAI were performed at the Cornell Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, and confirmatory testing done by the U.S.D.A. National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVLS) is pending. The cats were hospitalized and two of them died as a result of their infection.

“We continue to closely monitor the situation involving the recent identification of two cats presumptively diagnosed with HPAI in New York City. We will utilize all of our resources to rapidly disseminate information pertaining to these cases to both veterinary professionals and the cat-loving public as we become aware of it. In the interim, cat owners can help protect their cats from HPAI infections by refraining from feeding their cats foods containing any raw dairy or meat (poultry and beef) products," says Dr. Bruce Kornreich, director of the Cornell Feline Health Center.

Tips for pet owners:
• Avoid feeding pets raw food or raw milk
• If you pet has eaten raw food and shows sign of sickness, call your vet immediately and isolate from other pets (see clinical signs below).
• Keep your cats indoors
• If you are walking your dog, avoid dead or sick animals

Clinical signs in cats may include the following:
• Loss of appetite
• Lethargy
• Fever
• Neurologic signs (ataxia, circling, tremors, seizures, sudden blindness)
• Copious oculonasal discharge
• Difficulty breathing

For more information visit the Cornell University Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Resource Center, linked below.
https://hubs.ly/Q03c92vF0

You can read the full NYC Health Department press release by clicking the link below.
https://hubs.ly/Q03c97kB0

03/15/2025

We are excited to announce the installation of the newest high-tech, in-house laboratory analyzer, the Idexx Invue.

We are the first in the region to have this installed and can’t wait to put it to use for our patients and our client’s peace of mind.

We love embracing technology and practicing the highest level of medicine. With our full suite of Idexx analyzers, the new Invue adds valuable data to samples, saving both time and money.

Check out their video!

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/18uqoZ23rE/?mibextid=UalRPS

03/10/2025

We are back up and running. But we will leave this post up for your viewing pleasure of the clinic sunshine- Randa. ❤️☀️

Our internet is out which means our texting and phones are out too!

We are here, though!

03/08/2025

We are getting a lot of questions, rightfully so, and wanted to help pass along this information.

Keep an eye on your pets and call your veterinarian if you are concerned about exposure and subsequent illnesses.

02/16/2025

🐾 Key Animal Health Update of the Week 🐾

USDA Grants Conditional Approval for Zoetis’ Avian Influenza Vaccine

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has granted conditional approval to Zoetis for the use of its avian influenza vaccine in poultry.

This decision comes in response to the ongoing H5N1 avian influenza outbreak, which has significantly impacted both animal and public health.

The conditional license indicates that the vaccine has met safety standards and shows a reasonable expectation of efficacy. This measure aims to control the spread of the virus among poultry populations and mitigate potential risks to humans.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) assess the current risk to the general public as low. However, the USDA is proactively updating its stockpile of avian influenza vaccines to match the circulating strains, collaborating with companies like Merck and Ceva, as well as government researchers.

Additionally, Moderna is advancing a human avian influenza vaccine, supported by substantial government funding and preparing for late-stage trials. 

Staying informed on developments in animal health is crucial for the well-being of both animals and humans.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has given a conditional approval to Zoetis to use its bird flu vaccine in poultry, the animal healthcare company said on Friday.

02/12/2025

Sometimes the neutrophil gods shine down on us just in time for Valentine’s Week.

This is a great photo of a neutrophil, a macroplatelet and several red blood cells from a blood smear.

Anytime we have abnormalities in blood work, we make a blood smear and look at the cells to confirm those abnormalities and look for causes - like platelets clumping or parasites living inside red blood cells. (Oh yes that’s a thing. Creepy, but real!)

Have a great week!

02/08/2025

Sometimes we have patients that are so happy to see us, they won’t sit still long enough for us to draw blood.

Sometimes it takes 5 people to get 3 drops of blood; meanwhile the tail is continuing to wag so hard the sound is echoing in the treatment room.

Head pats and peanut butter were plentiful for this patient, both during and after the blood draw.



*no veterinary technicians were injured in the making of this photo

01/27/2025

AVID’s official introduction!

All about us, our founder, our reason why, who we want to help, and different ways we can. Here for the local vets and pets of central and north central WV.

01/18/2025

Did you hear we had limited appointments this week due to new equipment training?

Did you hear what that equipment was?

Our staff is now fully trained in obtaining high definition CT scans of every region in every size dog and cat.

They can take beautiful 360 degree scans of an area in 24 seconds and then move on to the next. Each area scanned is about the size of a large dog head.

Not only will this be readily available to our patients, but our friends at Advanced Veterinary Imaging & Diagnostics will be operating as a referral imaging service for other local vets, ensuring both affordable and accessible diagnostics to the pets of Central and North Central West Virginia.

www.avidWV.com

Below you can see our system with a patient getting contrasts between her scans as well as some of our favorite skull and dental scans.

01/18/2025

We are so excited to be working with AVID making affordable advanced diagnostics an option for not only our patients but all of the community pets in our area. With slots available for referral scans, primary vets can send a referral and the owner will be contacted.

Check out some of patients who spent the day with us getting some pictures. is missing an eye— did you her? has a ton of inflamed and scar tissue through the central part of his right turbinates. is a young lab who is always happy to see us!!