Ridgewood Animal Hospital

08/20/2025

August is Itchy Pet Awareness Month — a time dedicated to helping you learn more about allergic itch. Sometimes, what looks like typical dog scratching may be a serious medical condition known as dog allergic itch or allergic dermatitis.
Have questions? Give us a call! 😊

August is Itchy Pet Awareness Month — a time dedicated to helping you learn more about allergic itch. Sometimes, what looks like typical dog scratching may be a serious medical condition known as dog allergic itch or allergic dermatitis.

08/18/2025

Myth-Busting Monday: ‘Indoor pets don’t need vaccines’—FALSE! Even indoor pets need protection from diseases.
●Long-Term Health and Improved Quality of Life: Vaccinated pets enjoy better health, suffer fewer illnesses, and can live longer, happier lives with less risk of sudden, severe disease.
●Protecting Public Health: Some animal diseases (like rabies and leptospirosis) can be spread to humans. Vaccinating pets lowers the risk of these “zoonotic” diseases, helping keep people as well as other animals safe.
Let’s keep ALL pets healthy, ask us about essential vaccines.

08/15/2025

Microchips reunite pets with families. Check the registration information for your pet's microchip once a year on Check the Chip Day.

If your pet isn’t already microchipped, make an appointment with your veterinarian now for microchipping. Register your pets chip immediately with the manufacturer, making sure all of your contact information is included.
Ask your veterinarian to scan the microchip during your pet's annual wellness exam every year.
Each year on Check the Chip Day, check your pet's microchip registration information and update it if it's incomplete or no longer correct.

Microchips greatly increase the chances that lost pets will be reunited with their families...but a microchip only works if its registration information is accurate.

08/12/2025

It's important to remember that age is not a disease. Although senior pets may develop age-related problems, you can help your pet live a happy, healthy, and active life in their senior years by providing for their physical, mental, and health care needs.

Older pets may develop age-related problems. Good care allows them to live happy, healthy, and active lives in their senior years.

07/31/2025

🐾 Happy National Mutt Day! 🐾

Mixed-breed pups are unique, lovable, and often overlooked in shelters. Let’s shine a light on their incredible personalities and the joy they bring to our families!

Adopt, don’t shop—your new best friend might just be waiting for you at your local shelter.

Share a photo of your favorite mutt and tell us what makes them special!

Support animal rescues and spread the word about the beauty of adopting mutts.

Whether your mutt is big or small, young or old, today is their day to be celebrated. Give them an extra treat, a belly rub, and lots of love!

07/29/2025

Does your cat have signs of food allergies?

If a cat vomits frequently, has diarrhea, irritated skin, a poor coat condition or hair loss, then they may have food allergies. The most common symptoms are digestive upset or skin irritation. These signs can be long-term, recurring and should be noted to your vet.

Learn the common signs of a skin condition in your cat, possibly due to her food or allergies, and how the right cat food can help alleviate these issues.

07/26/2025

Today is National Dog Photography Day!!
Here are some quick tips for great dog photos:

□Use natural light to bring out their eyes and fur texture.

□Get down to their eye level for a more engaging shot.

□Keep treats or toys handy to grab their attention.

□Be patient and capture candid moments to show their true personality.

□Use a fast shutter speed to freeze playful action.

These tips will help you capture the charm and spirit of every furry friend beautifully!
We'd love to see some pics of your pup!

07/23/2025

13 animal emergencies that require immediate veterinary consultation and/or care from the AVMA:
●Severe bleeding or bleeding that doesn't stop within five minutes
●Choking, difficulty breathing or nonstop coughing and gagging
●Bleeding from nose, mouth, re**um, coughing up blood, or blood in urine
●Inability to urinate or pass f***s (stool), or obvious pain associated with urinating or passing stool
●Injuries to your pet's eye(s)
●You suspect or know your pet has eaten something poisonous (such as antifreeze, xylitol, chocolate, rodent poison, etc.)
●Seizures and/or staggering
●Fractured bones, severe lameness or inability to move leg(s)
●Obvious signs of pain or extreme anxiety
●Heat stress or heatstroke
●Severe vomiting or diarrhea – more than two episodes in a 24-hour period, or either of these combined with obvious illness or any of the other problems listed here
●Refusal to drink for 24 hours or more
●Unconsciousness

07/21/2025

Noticing your dog slowing down or limping? Joint issues like arthritis and hip dysplasia are common but manageable! Early signs include stiffness, reluctance to play, or trouble with stairs.
Talk to your vet about weight management, gentle exercise, and supplements to keep your furry friend moving comfortably.

Learn how to spot signs of joint problems in your dog, what causes them, and how choosing the right dog food can help.

07/17/2025

July is National Lost Pet Prevention Month! 🐾
Did you know nearly 10 million pets go missing in the US every year, but less than 23% are reunited with their owners? The summer months see a spike in lost pets due to open doors, fireworks, and changes in routine.

How to keep your furry friends safe:

•Always use a collar with ID tags and get your pet microchipped (microchipped pets are 3x more likely to be found).

•Secure doors, windows, and fences, especially during parties or fireworks.

•Keep a close eye on pets when traveling or with pet sitters.

•Act quickly if your pet goes missing: search your neighborhood, post flyers, and check shelters immediately.

Let’s work together to keep our pets safe and bring every lost friend home! ❤️🐶🐱

07/15/2025

Today is feline leukemia awareness day.
FeLV is a retrovirus that infects cats and is mainly spread through saliva, close contact, grooming, bite wounds, and from mother to kittens. It doesn’t survive long outside the cat’s body. Kittens and outdoor cats are at higher risk.

After exposure, cats may:
Eliminate the virus (abortive infection)
Carry the virus without symptoms (regressive infection)
Become persistently infected and contagious (progressive infection)

FeLV can cause cancer, anemia, and immune suppression. Early on, cats may show no signs, but symptoms can include weight loss, poor coat, fever, pale gums, and recurring infections.
Have questions about your cat's risk? Give us a call.

07/12/2025

July is Pet Hydration Awareness month!
How to Check if Your Pet is Hydrated in Summer:
Moist gums: Shouldn’t be dry or sticky.
Skin snap: Gently pinch skin; it should spring back quickly.
Bright eyes: Not sunken.
Normal energy: No unusual tiredness.
Normal appetite: Eating as usual.

If you notice problems, offer water and call your vet if needed. Always provide fresh water in the heat!