Molalla River Veterinary Center

06/02/2026

Oregon Health Authority is reminding the public that we are entering the season for harmful algae blooms. Not all Oregon waterways are monitored for cyanobacteria, so it's important to know what to watch for. A harmful algal bloom can look foamy, scummy, thick like paint, and pea-green or blue-green in color. It can look like a thick green or brownish-red mat, or bright green clumps suspended in the water. If you find thick, brightly colored foam, scum or mats in a lake, pond, river or stream—especially in shallow, marshy areas where cyanobacteria blooms can form—don’t let your pet drink or swim in the water.

Symptoms in Dogs
Exposure to a harmful algae bloom can result in:
* Weakness or collapse
* Nausea, vomiting
* Excessive drooling
* Weakness, fatigue, stumbling
* Abdominal pain
* Diarrhea
* Difficulty breathing
* Shaking, trembling
* Seizure like activity—tremors, rigidity, paralysis
* Liver failure

If your dog goes into the water:
* Don’t let your pet lick its fur.
* Wash your pet with clean water as soon as possible.
* If your dog has symptoms such as drooling, weakness, vomiting, staggering and convulsions after being in water, seek immediate veterinary care. Acute, life-threatening symptoms from cyanobacteria toxins often develop rapidly. Death can occur within minutes to hours after exposure.

Current advisories:
* Lost Creek Lake in Jackson County (Precautionary)
* Agency Lake in Klamath County (Precautionary)
* Upper Klamath Lake in Klamath County (Precautionary)
* Haystack Reservoir in Jefferson County (Precautionary)
* Ochoco Reservoir in Crook County (Precautionary)
* Willow Creek Reservoir in Morrow County (Precautionary)
* McKay Reservoir in Umatilla County (Precautionary)
Precautionary Status: A bloom has been sighted and water sampling is unavailable within 1 business day due to limited resources. Oregon Health Authority will issue pre-emptive public warnings following reports of dog illnesses or deaths possibly resulting from cyanotoxin exposure.

* South Umpqua River: The advisory covers the South Umpqua River from Canyonville downstream to the confluence with the mainstem Umpqua River, and the mainstem Umpqua River downstream past Elkton to Sawyers Rapids. Pools in the bedrock along the rivers edge are known to develop cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) blooms that can be harmful to pets and people if accidental ingestion occurs. (PERMANENT ADVISORY)

We post algae advisories on our Web site at: https://www.oregonvma.org/toxic-algae-advisories

05/31/2026

After losing my last dog to cancer at a younger age, I’m really looking forward to having this book as a resource. Dr. Erin Bannink was part of our journey.

So Your Pet Has Cancer… Now What? : An Integrative Veterinary Oncologist’s Guide to Empower You Through This Journey

05/25/2026

In observance of Memorial Day, Molalla River Veterinary Center will be closed Monday, May 26.

If your pet needs emergency care, please contact:
• Emergency Veterinary Clinic of Tualatin
• Bridgetown Veterinary Emergency + Referral
• VCA Northwest Veterinary Specialists

We remember and honor those who served and sacrificed. ❤️

05/15/2026

He is home❤️

05/06/2026

I went on a 1-hour hike and found a tick already embedded in my neck 😭
Gemma brought one home a few days earlier.

Tick season is BAD! Don’t forget to check yourself AND your pets after hikes. Ask us about flea & tick prevention options for your pets!

04/27/2026

Reposting our most shared info piece each year!

Get all the detailed information on preventing and treating heat injury in working dogs in our webinar in YouTube. (link in bio).

04/25/2026

Think all petting feels good to your dog? Not even close. Science shows a lot of what we call affection is actually overstimulation. Slow it down. Your dog doesn’t want a drum solo on their head. Slow strokes equal calm, fast pats equal stress.

A new peer-revied study surveying dog and cat owners looked at how touch relates to pet wellbeing and found clear differences between species. For dogs, gentle petting had the biggest positive impact, especially slow, calm stroking along the chest, shoulders, and sides. The more time and physical contact, the better, with added benefits when dogs lean on their owners or sleep close by. This type of touch mimics natural social grooming and helps reduce stress while promoting relaxation. In contrast, owner-initiated petting didn’t have the same effect in cats. What mattered more was cat-initiated contact, particularly head rubbing, also known as bunting. Gentle touch can improve wellbeing, but only when it aligns with the animal’s natural behavior and comfort level. Takeaway: If your dog leans into you, relaxes, or closes their eyes, you’re doing it right, if they pull away or get restless, adjust pressure or location.

04/25/2026

I’m always interested to see research on the biome & ways we can support the body from the gut. What a great trial Green Juju did. Have you used probiotics in your pets? What positive effects have you seen?

04/22/2026

We’re really proud of our team 🐾

These four team members spent Friday in an 8-hour hands-on dental wet lab, building their skills in advanced dental procedures and patient care.

This kind of training directly improves the care your pets receive—from anesthesia safety to the quality of dental procedures.

A big thank you to iM3 Dental for hosting such a great course, and to Pet Dental Specialists for their expertise and instruction.

We’re always working to get better—for you and your pets. 💙

04/22/2026