Salmon Brook Veterinary Hospital

06/03/2026

June is Pet Anxiety Awareness Month!

Just like us, our pets can experience feelings of stress, worry and anxiety. Anxiety in dogs and cats is far more common than some pet owners realize and without knowing what triggers/symptoms to be on the lookout for, it often goes unnoticed.

Common triggers include fireworks and thunderstorms, changes in routine such as new work hours or kids coming and going from school, vet visits, house guests, being in a crate, separation from their favorite humans, and even something as simple as a car ride.

Common signs of anxiety in dogs and cats include:

🐾Pacing and restlessness
🐾Hiding or withdrawal (especially common in cats)
🐾Excessive barking, whining or meowing
🐾Destructive behavior such as digging, chewing, scratching, or even excessively licking and biting at themselves

If you think your pet has been showing signs of anxiety, be sure to reach out to your veterinarian. Sometimes, a simple change of routine can make a world of difference. In other cases, anxiety meds or a personalized behavior plan can help keep your pets mental wellbeing in check.

Give Salmon Brook a call at 860-653-7238 with any questions!

05/28/2026

⚠️Don’t snooze on those tick checks!⚠️

Tick season is already in full swing thanks to the warm weather. Be sure to make a habit of doing a thorough tick check as soon as your dog is back inside from a walk, especially if they’ve been on trails, in wooded areas, or walking through long grass. These are all tick hot spots! Ticks that are not yet engorged are very tiny and can be easy to miss, especially on fluffy or long haired dogs.

Be sure to check these common hiding spots:
🐾In and around the ears
🐾Under collars and harnesses
🐾Under the front legs/armpits
🐾Groin area
🐾Base of the tail and through tail fur

Lyme and other tick borne diseases start with a single bite. Check your dogs thoroughly, and be sure to be consistent with your monthly tick and flea preventatives! Call Salmon Brook at 860-653-7238 with any questions.

05/21/2026

Just a reminder that Salmon Brook will be closed on Monday, May 25th in observance of Memorial Day. Please keep this in mind if you were planning on calling for an appointment or stopping in to pick up any medication for your pets!

Be sure to take some time this weekend to reflect on the brave men, women and military animals that made the ultimate sacrifice for our country's freedom.

If your pet is having an emergency and needs 24/7 care, Veterinary Specialists of CT in West Hartford can be reached 860-236-3273, and Pieper Memorial in Middletown can be reached at 860-347-8387.

05/20/2026

🌻🐝Happy World Bee Day!🐝🌻

Every year on May 20th, we take the opportunity to appreciate the difference that bees make in our world. These small but mighty insects do far more than make honey. They pollinate the plants that give us fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds, making them essential to a thriving ecosystem.

Did you know that Salmon Brook offers bee medicine? We’re proud to have Dr. Fitzpatrick offering specialized veterinary services for beekeepers. She is certified through the Honey Bee Veterinary Consortium (HBVC) and is an active member of the Beekeepers Associations in both CT and MA. Caring for honey bees demands very particular knowledge and attention, and we are so thankful to be able to offer this unique service! Regular hive checks help monitor colony health, identify queen loss, and manage challenges like viral diseases, bacterial infections, and the ever‑persistent varroa mites.

Whether you’re new to beekeeping or a seasoned pro, Dr. Fitzpatrick and the Salmon Brook team are here to support you. Most hive visits are available on Mondays and Wednesdays (weather permitting), and beekeepers must be present with their own tools to help prevent disease transmission.

Head to our website to learn more! https://salmonbrookvets.com/exotics-avian/bee-medicine/?fbclid=IwY2xjawR6sLNleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF6Q3hVRktaRGRheXBLclBpc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHn5fm66iuPbMgHI4v9BIq1y-DcaBRGsdkHONvrxSmbPfcIGkNeTpu_YK6Jr5_aem_X-DwOlAvvOqlrL3pA5l6Dg

05/18/2026

Starting to plan those summer getaways?

Make sure your veterinarian is in the loop before you head out! And no — not just so we can daydream about beaches and coconut drinks — but so we’re legally able to care for your pets while you’re away🌴😎

Even though HIPAA doesn’t apply to veterinary medicine, there are confidentiality laws in place that prevent us from treating or even discussing pet care with anyone other than the legal owner. That means if an emergency pops up while you’re out of town, your pet sitter or boarding facility can’t approve treatment unless you’ve given prior authorization. Without that permission, we must reach you first — and in an emergency, those minutes matter, especially if you’re somewhere with spotty service or in a different time zone.

Before you travel, send us a quick email or give the office a call so we can note the details on your account. Let us know your travel dates, who is allowed to make medical decisions for your pets, and even a treatment dollar limit if you’d like. We’ll always try to contact you first, but having your authorization on file allows us to begin stabilizing your pet right away if you can’t be reached.

Give Salmon Brook a call at 860-653-7238 with any questions, or to get the ball rolling on who is authorized to make treatment decisions for your pets.

05/04/2026

May is Mental Health Awareness Month💐

Mental health awareness is important for everyone, but it carries a special weight in the veterinary field. Every day, every professional in our field-doctors, technicians, receptionists, assistants, admin- juggle the medical needs of our patients with the emotional needs of our clients, all while managing a fast paced and often unpredictable workload. This constant need to find that balance can lead to:

-Burnout: Long hours, urgent cases, and constant multitasking can leave every member of the team mentally and physically drained.

-Compassion fatigue: Providing continuous care for sick or injured animals -and supporting their owners along the way- can wear down emotional reserves, making it harder to stay connected and empathetic over time.

-Emotional strain: Many in our profession feel pressure to set aside their own feelings the moment a shift begins. Carrying personal stress for 10–12 hours while staying fully present for patients and clients can make the weight of the day feel even heavier once they finally clock out.

-Work–life imbalance: After hours emergencies, weekend shifts, and unpredictable schedules often mean missing family time and having very little opportunity to rest and recharge before the next demanding day.

The harsh reality is that based on statistics, veterinarians are 2 to 4 more times likely than the general population to reach a point of emotional overwhelm where they feel they have no path forward. Financial strain, compassion fatigue, and the weight of constantly caring for others (without taking time to care for themselves) all contribute to this heightened risk.

We enter the veterinary field because we genuinely love animals and want to make a difference. That passion is powerful — but the emotional and mental toll that comes with this work is real and cannot be ignored. Mental health awareness isn’t something we acknowledge for just one month. It’s an ongoing commitment to supporting ourselves and one another, both within the profession and beyond it.

For more information or resources on mental health within the veterinary industry, check out https://nomv.org/

04/28/2026

Reminder that fleas, ticks and mosquitoes are no longer just a spring and summer issue-we are recommending preventatives year round. A lot of us have already been seeing ticks on our pets (and ourselves-yuck!) so these critters are all definitely out in full swing. Before stopping in to refill your pet's preventatives, please remember to give us a call ahead of time! A quick call allows us to:

🐾Confirm your pet's current weight
🐾Make sure your pet is up to date with their annual exams (remember, this is required to refill heartworm prevention)
🐾Ensure we have the correct product and size in stock

Want to save time and skip the phone call and extra visit to Salmon Brook? Don’t forget to check out My Vet Store! Go right to our website and select Online Ordering to be taken to our online pharmacy. You can purchase preventatives (as well as medication and prescription food) right from there and have them delivered to your door. Prices are comparable to other online platforms, and you can use certain rebates and coupons that other websites wouldn’t be unable to redeem.

https://salmonbrookvets.com/?fbclid=IwY2xjawRdrIJleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE1WU5yZ0R2bHlaWGx3cW9Ic3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHt5K6jBhKNA2ckSJ0VYpvJUV1IGmQsQTAalQrNHUib-tzl0aYVbjmRrSGisD_aem_YT3Xe62bwgWK8CYTfxoS5A

Salmon Brook Veterinary Hospital provides care for dogs, cats, exotic pets horses, llamas and cattle in Connecticut and West Massachusetts

04/20/2026

🐾Happy Veterinary Receptionist Week!🐾

This week, we're celebrating the amazing receptionists that act as the heart and voice to our hospital. They're the excited voice you hear on the other end of the phone when you make an appointment for your new pet’s first visit, the reassuring voice you hear when you make an appointment for your sick pet, and the comforting voice you hear when you make that final appointment that we all dread as pet owners. They keep schedules running smoothly, emails answered, medication requests handled, and everything in between.

Thank you for the resilience, compassion and dedication that you show to our clients, patients, and each other💙🐾

04/16/2026

If it feels like your house suddenly has extra fur on every surface and you’re left second guessing that all black wardrobe… you’re not imagining it. This time of year is when dogs and cats shed their heavier winter coats in preparation for summer!🐱🐶

Some pets can shed a lot, especially depending on their breed and hair type. That can make it tough to tell what’s normal vs what might actually be a sign of an underlying health issue.

Here’s what to keep an eye on:
🐶Patchy shedding
🐱Red, flaky, or irritated skin
🐶Bald spots
🐱Constant scratching or licking
🐶Dull or thinning coat along the sides of their body

Healthy shedding shouldn’t come with skin problems or discomfort. If your pet seems itchy, irritated, or you notice any of the symptoms listed above, give Salmon Brook a call at 860-653-7238.

May your lint rollers be ever in your favor🐾

04/14/2026

🌸Springtime allergies aren’t just a human problem!🌸

Just like us, dogs and cats can suffer from allergies too. While they can have allergies to food, flea bites or even certain types of shampoos, this time of year is when we often see their seasonal allergies start to flare up. But unlike us-who tend to show allergies through runny noses and weepy eyes- dogs and cats show allergy symptoms differently.

🐶Common dog allergy symptoms🐶:
-Itching /scratching
-Frequent ear infections
-Hot spots
-Red skin (especially around their feet from constant licking)

🐱Common cat allergy symptoms🐱:
-Over grooming (mostly on their bellies and the base of their tails)
-Ear infections
-Sneezing and watery eyes

Seasonal allergies in dogs and cats can be caused by tree and grass pollen, dust, dander, and mold. If your pet is showing signs of allergies, give Salmon Brook a call at 860-653-7238. We’ll work closely with you to determine the cause of the allergy (whether seasonal, environmental or food) and create a customized treatment plan to keep your pet comfortable all year long!