Hall Veterinary Services

18/07/2025

Grease Isn’t a Treat, It’s a Troublemaker

Remember how we said Frank’s very motivated by snacks? Well, here’s Exhibit A on this week's edition of Friday's with Frank.

A couple of years back, Frank pulled off a high-stakes heist: he jumped on the counter, popped the lid off a fryer, and helped himself to half a gallon of oil. He was riding high…until about 2am, when the oil made a dramatic exit from both ends, full force.

If your dog pulls a Frank and gets into grill or fryer grease, it may seem like a tasty snack, but it can quickly lead to serious health issues. Grease is extremely high in fat, which dogs’ digestive systems aren’t designed to handle in large amounts. Here's what you should know:

Potential Dangers:
🔹Gastrointestinal Upset: Even a small amount can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
🔹Pancreatitis: Larger quantities of fat can trigger inflammation of the pancreas. This condition is painful and can be life-threatening if untreated. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, loss of appetite, and abdominal discomfort.
🔹Bacterial Contamination: Grease that has been sitting out may harbor harmful bacteria, potentially causing further digestive distress or infection.

If Your Dog Eats Grease:
🔹Monitor closely for signs of illness such as vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, or behavioral changes.
🔹Withhold food for 1-2 hours if your pet vomits to allow the digestive system to rest.
🔹Provide fresh water, but limit rapid intake to avoid vomiting.
🔹Introduce a bland diet (boiled chicken and rice in a 1:1 ratio) once symptoms improve.
🔹Consult your veterinarian if symptoms are severe or persist. Bloodwork may be needed to rule out pancreatitis or infection.

Prevention Tips:
🔹Keep pets away from grill and fryer areas during and after cooking.
🔹Properly dispose of grease in sealed containers out of your pet’s reach.
🔹Don’t leave used pans or drip trays unattended outdoors.

Even one indulgent lick can lead to serious consequences, so keep cookout and kitchen leftovers off your dog’s menu. Believe me, memories of the clean-up will linger for eternity!

16/07/2025

Chocolate is delicious, just ask any human or dog! Here is some follow-up info on our Fridays with Frank post from last week, showing some examples of how much chocolate it takes to see symptoms in dogs of different weights.

As always, if your dog gets into something they shouldn't, reach out to us or to poison control for assistance!

15/07/2025

National Pet Fire Safety Day is July 15

Today is a reminder to protect the furry members of your family in case of a fire emergency. A few simple steps can help keep them safe:

Include pets in your evacuation plan: Make sure all family members know how to safely remove pets from the home.

Practice fire drills with pets: Use a leash or carrier so pets don't panic and hide.

Pet-proof your home: Keep pets away from open flames, electrical cords, and stove k***s.

Display a pet alert window cling: Let firefighters know how many animals are inside.

Have fire prevention measures in place: Make extinguishers and fire blankets easily accessible for everyone in the home.

Keep collars and leashes by the door: This saves precious time during an evacuation.

Preparing ahead can make all the difference in an emergency. Stay safe and plan for every member of your family, including the four-legged ones!

14/07/2025

Did you know most cats prefer to sleep on their left side?

Cats that sleep on their left side perceive their surroundings upon awakening with their left visual field, which is processed in the right hemisphere of the brain. This hemisphere is specialized in spatial awareness, the processing of threats, and the coordination of rapid escape movements. If a cat sleeps on its left shoulder and wakes up, visual information about predators or prey goes directly to the right hemisphere of the brain, which is best in processing them. "Sleeping on the left side can therefore be a survival strategy," the researchers conclude.

Please check your cats to see if this is confirmed in your household!

11/07/2025

Lesson 2 Fridays with Frank: CHOCOLATE

Has your dog ever gotten onto the counter? Frank has, and when he does, he's ready to fill his belly with the best snacks from the cupboards. Yes, he knows how to open them. Today, we're talking about one of the most common toxin ingestions in dogs: CHOCOLATE!

Chocolate has varying levels of toxicity depending on what kind of chocolate it is. Dark chocolate, baker’s chocolate and semi-sweet chocolate contain the highest levels of theobromine, the toxic component of chocolate. Milk chocolate and white chocolate contain the least and have the lowest toxicity risk for your dog. While Frank likes all chocolate, on this particular date, he was most interested in semi-sweet and scarfed down a full bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips, a 6-pack of double chocolate muffins, and a bag of instant mashed potatoes.

Lucky for Frank, a toxicologist from Pet Poison Helpline was available at his disposal to provide care info to help keep him from getting sick from this ingestion, and after vomiting, he was just fine! This is not always the case, as ingestion of chocolate can cause things like seizures, increased heart rate, agitation, vomiting, and diarrhea. Large ingestions can even be fatal, so take them all seriously!

There are many resources available to help in cases like this, including animal poison control and online calculators to provide basic information on how toxic the ingestion may be. If your pet ever eats anything that may make them ill, we recommend using one of these resources to determine if an urgent vet visit is needed. Check out the links for each below!

Pet Poison Helpline: petpoisonhelpline.com
ASPCA Animal Poison Control : aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control
Merck Chocolate Toxicity Calculator: https://www.merckvetmanual.com/multimedia/clinical-calculator/chocolate-toxicity-calculator

09/07/2025

07/07/2025

Kicking Monday blues to the curb (again!), we’ve got the adorable Shaunka reporting for duty. He’s not just a pretty face, he’s a pro-level patient with a million-dollar smile and a nose that can detect snacks from ten truck lengths away.

Shaunka takes greeting responsibilities very seriously. If you're on the truck, you will be acknowledged. Bonus points if you’re holding something edible.

04/07/2025

Happy 4th from HVS!

03/07/2025

Planning to head out to the lake with your pet on the 4th? Take a peek at this helpful article for some safety tips!

Cruising on the lake while dressed in red, white, and blue makes for a nearly perfect Fourth of July — and having your furry friend by your side makes the