Shores Veterinary Emergency Center

08/04/2026

🍪🍫 National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day Reminder: Keep the Cookies for Humans! 🍫🍪

Today is the perfect excuse to enjoy a warm chocolate chip cookie—but please remember that chocolate can be extremely dangerous for pets.

Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, two substances that dogs (and other pets) cannot process the way humans can. Even a small amount can cause serious illness, especially in smaller pets or with darker chocolates.

Signs of chocolate toxicity include:
🐾 Vomiting or diarrhea
🐾 Restlessness or hyperactivity
🐾 Excessive thirst
🐾 Tremors or seizures
🐾 Increased heart rate
🐾 Collapse

Remember, dark chocolate, baking chocolate, and cocoa powder are the most toxic, but milk chocolate can still be harmful.

🍪 Keep cookies, brownies, candy, and baking ingredients well out of reach, and remind guests—especially children—not to share sweet treats with your furry family members.

🚨 If you think your pet has eaten chocolate, don’t wait for symptoms to appear. Contact your veterinarian or your nearest emergency veterinary hospital immediately. Quick action can make all the difference.

Celebrate National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day safely—by sharing the love, not the chocolate! ❤️🐾

08/03/2026

😻Meet Misty!! She came in for a swollen eye.

She was able to go home after we completed a fluorescein eye stain to check for damage to her eye, eye drops, and a special collar (cone of shame) placed to keep her from rubbing at her eye and potentially causing more damage.

Hope you’re feeling better soon sweet Misty!! 🐾

07/31/2026

🍇 Did You Know? Grapes & Raisins Can Be Toxic to Pets 🐾

A sweet snack for us can become a medical emergency for our furry friends.

Even one grape or raisin has the potential to cause serious kidney damage in some dogs, and there is no way to predict which pets will be affected. While dogs are the most commonly impacted, it’s safest to keep grapes and raisins away from all pets.

⚠️ Signs of grape or raisin toxicity may include:
• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Loss of appetite
• Lethargy or weakness
• Increased thirst or changes in urination
• Tremors or abdominal pain

⏰ Time matters! If you think your pet has eaten grapes, raisins, currants, or foods containing them (such as trail mix, baked goods, or raisin bread), don’t wait for symptoms to appear. Contact your veterinarian or an emergency veterinary hospital immediately.

The sooner treatment begins, the better the chance of preventing serious kidney injury.

🐶🐱 When in doubt, keep grapes and raisins safely out of reach—and share this post to help keep other pets safe!

Grapes, raisins, and even currants can be more dangerous to dogs than most pet parents realize. Even only a few grapes have been linked to sudden kidney failure that may not show up for days, and homegrown or organic grapes carry the same risk.

Veterinary medicine hasn't pinpointed why some dogs react and others don't, or confirmed what makes grapes so toxic, which is exactly why any known ingestion is treated as a potential emergency, not just the large ones.

If your dog gets into grapes, raisins, currants, or anything made with them, call or chat with our veterinary professionals at 800-213-6680.

07/30/2026

🐾 Congratulations on Your Next Adventure! 🐾

Today we’re celebrating another incredible member of our team as they take the next step toward achieving their dream of becoming a veterinarian!

As a veterinary assistant, you’ve already shown the compassion, dedication, and work ethic that make a difference in the lives of every patient and family you help. Watching you grow and pursue your passion has been an honor, and while we’ll miss seeing you around the hospital, we couldn’t be more excited for what’s ahead.

Veterinary school is no easy journey, but we have no doubt you’ll meet every challenge with the same determination and heart you’ve shown here every day. The future of veterinary medicine is brighter because of people like you.

Congratulations on this exciting new chapter! Keep learning, keep growing, and never stop chasing your dreams. We’ll be cheering you on every step of the way and can’t wait to see the amazing veterinarian you’ll become.

Best of luck—we’re so proud of you! ❤️🎓🐶🐱🐴

07/29/2026

07/25/2026

Meet Callie! She thought she found a tasty snack but didn’t realize it was intended for the fishes! She found a piece of a hotdog and scarfed it down, not realizing there was a hook inside. Thanks to her family realizing what had happened and quickly getting her to the ER we were able to remove the hook surgically without complications and Callie will make a full recovery! 💗

🎣 Fishing Season is Here…

A day at the lake can quickly turn into an emergency if curious pets get hold of fishing gear. Fish hooks, lures, sinkers, and fishing line can cause serious—and even life-threatening—injuries.

⚠️ Common dangers include:
• Hooks becoming lodged in the mouth, throat, stomach, or intestines
• Fishing line causing dangerous intestinal blockages or cutting through tissue
• Lead sinkers posing a risk of lead poisoning if swallowed
• Lures with multiple treble hooks causing severe injuries

🐶 Help keep your pets safe:
🎣 Store all tackle boxes securely out of reach.
🎣 Never leave fishing gear unattended on the ground or dock.
🎣 Clean up discarded fishing line, hooks, and bait before leaving.
🎣 Keep pets on a leash or supervised around fishing areas.

🚨 If your pet swallows a hook, lure, or fishing line, do NOT pull on the line or try to remove the hook yourself. This can cause far more damage. Seek veterinary care immediately.

Stay safe, enjoy the water, and have a wonderful fishing season! 💙🐾

07/21/2026

Meet Charlie! Charlie was previously diagnosed with Cancer and is undergoing treatment with an Oncology team. He wasn’t feeling well Sunday morning and didn’t want to eat breakfast which is very unlike him.

Turns out, he had a pretty high fever and needed some IV antibiotics and fluids to get him up and moving again.

He will continue his brave journey battling cancer. He was very happy to see his momma and to go home and sleep in his own bed tonight 💕 He is the bestest boy!!

07/16/2026

🚨 ⚠️ AIR QUALITY ALERT – CODE PURPLE ⚠️ 💜

The air quality in our area has reached Code Purple (Very Unhealthy) levels, and it’s not just people who are affected—our pets are too.

Poor air quality can irritate your pet’s lungs and airways, making it harder for them to breathe. Pets with asthma, heart disease, short noses (like Bulldogs, Pugs, and Persian cats), seniors, and young animals are especially at risk.

🐾 To help keep your pets safe:
• Keep outdoor time as short as possible—potty breaks only.
• Avoid walks, runs, and vigorous play outside.
• Keep windows closed and use air conditioning or an air purifier if available.
• Make sure fresh water is always available.
• Watch for signs of respiratory distress, including:
• Coughing
• Wheezing
• Excessive panting
• Difficulty breathing
• Lethargy or weakness
• Eye irritation or excessive tearing

If your pet is showing any signs of breathing difficulty or seems unusually tired or distressed, don’t wait—seek veterinary care immediately.

At SHORES Veterinary Emergency Center, we’re here for your pets 24/7 when they need us most.

📞 717-798-8500
📍 835 Sir Thomas Court, Harrisburg, PA

Please help keep your furry family members safe by limiting their exposure until air quality improves. 💜🐶🐱

07/15/2026

🔬 Less Invasive. Faster Answers. Better Care. 🐾

When your pet isn’t feeling their best, getting answers quickly can make all the difference. Veterinary endoscopy allows our team to look inside your pet’s body using a small camera—often without the need for major surgery.

Benefits of veterinary endoscopy include:
🐱 Less pain and discomfort after the procedure
💙 Faster recovery times
🔍 More accurate diagnosis
🧸 Removal of certain swallowed foreign objects without surgery, when appropriate
⏱️ Shorter hospital stays and a quicker return to the comforts of home

Our goal is always to provide the safest, most effective care possible while minimizing stress for both pets and their families.

If you have questions about whether endoscopy may be right for your pet, our team is here to help. 🐾❤️

07/12/2026

🇺🇸📸 Happy All-American Pet Photo Day! 🐾❤️

Yesterday was All American Pet Photo day, but every day is all about celebrating the pets that make our lives brighter, happier, and full of unconditional love.

Whether your best friend has fur, feathers, scales, or fins, we want to see them! 🐶🐱🐰🐦🐍🦜🐢🐹🐠

📷 Drop your favorite photo of your pet in the comments below and tell us their:
🐾 Name
❤️ Species
⭐ One fun fact or quirky habit that makes them special!

No matter what kind of companion they are, every pet deserves a moment in the spotlight.

We can’t wait to meet your amazing family members! 💙🐾