Eastside Animal Clinic

03/12/2025

National K-9 Veterans Day!

03/12/2025

5 Tips for Getting the Most out of an Urgent Care Visit

(((Urgent Care is not the same as Emergency care)))

URGENT CARE
can see your pet for issues such as:
Lacerations
Diarrhea /Vomiting
Skin issues /Allergies
Poison / Toxin ingestion
Limping
Etc

🩺 🩺 🩺 🩺 🩺 🩺 🩺 🩺 🩺 🩺 🩺 🩺
1. The urgent care clinic will work with you and your regular veterinarian to provide the comprehensive care your pet needs. If you have recently seen your regular vet for the same medical condition, or if your pet has other medical conditions or is on medication.
The urgent care team will forward a report about your visit. Your pet may be transferred to your regular veterinarian for continued care.

2. Urgent care centers treat patients that are between 3 – 5 on the Patient Severity Index excluding those that require surgical intervention. Veterinary emergency rooms work just like their human counterparts. Patients of all levels of illness and injury require care and our teams must help them in order of need.

3. Call ahead and describe your pet’s symptoms if you are not sure of his or her condition. A member of the urgent care team will give you an estimated arrival time based on capacity, remaining appointment slots, and your pet’s condition. In some cases, you may be diverted to a local ER.

4. If a pet arrives at urgent care that is in need of medical attention that the urgent care cannot provide, the medical team will stabilize the pet for transfer to a veterinary emergency hospital.

5. Veterinary urgent care medical teams are comprised of experienced veterinarians and technicians with extensive training in emergency and urgent veterinary care. The clinics have limited diagnostic and therapeutic equipment, often only radiography (x-rays) and point-of-care ultrasounds. Most veterinary urgent care clinics do not have a surgical suite or surgical equipment on-site, so they cannot perform surgery in the clinic.

Skip the urgent care if you think your pet needs surgery urgently. Go to the ER immediately.

Eastside Animal Clinic

03/10/2025

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) recommends against feeding pets raw meat or poultry, including raw chicken or turkey, due to the risk of H1N1 and other infectious diseases.
Why the AVMA recommends against raw diets.

• Risk of infection: Raw meat can contain dangerous microorganisms, including viruses like H1N1, that can make pets and humans sick.

• Transmission of disease: Raw meat can transmit diseases between species, a process called zoonosis.

What you can do to protect your pet

• Keep pets indoors
• Keep pets away from wild birds, poultry, and cattle
• Prevent pets from eating dead animals
• Avoid feeding pets raw meat or poultry
• Avoid feeding pets unpasteurized milk
• Practice good food handling and hygiene practices
• If your pet gets sick, tell your veterinarian about their diet

What you can do to protect yourself.

• Practice good sanitary habits, like washing your hands with soap and warm water after touching an animal

• Avoid close contact with other people and pets when you're sick

PLEASE CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION ON RAW DIETS
239-774-6400
[email protected]

03/09/2025

03/09/2025

An E-collar, also known as an Elizabethan collar or "cone of shame," is crucial because it prevents pets from licking, biting, or scratching at surgical wounds, injuries, or sensitive areas on their body, thus allowing proper healing and minimizing the risk of infection or further damage; therefore, it's important to keep the E-collar on as directed by your veterinarian until the wound is fully healed.

Key points about E-collars:

* Wound protection:�The primary function of an E-collar is to act as a barrier, preventing a pet from reaching and disturbing a surgical incision or other sensitive areas, which can lead to complications like infection or delayed healing. �
* Post-operative care:�Most commonly, vets prescribe E-collars after surgeries to protect the incision site. �
* Eye and ear injuries:�E-collars can also be used for pets with eye or ear injuries to prevent them from scratching or rubbing the affected area. �
* Skin conditions:�In some cases, E-collars may be used for pets with severe skin irritation or wounds on their head or neck to prevent further damage from licking or scratching.

Important considerations:

* Proper fit:�Ensure the E-collar fits correctly, allowing enough space for your pet to eat and drink comfortably while still preventing access to the targeted area. �
* Veterinarian guidance:�Always follow your veterinarian's instructions regarding how long to keep the E-collar on. �
* Monitor your pet:�Keep an eye on your pet while wearing an E-collar to ensure they can navigate easily and access food and water.

03/09/2025

Nexgard offers! Get a free Kong toy!

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03/08/2025

Heartgard OFFERS!
Heartgard PLUS 12 month $15 INSTANT rebate!
In Office only!

Save when you purchase your monthly heartworm disease prevention from HEARTGARD®. Get the latest offers available now.

03/02/2025

Dogs are considered loyal because they are naturally pack animals, meaning they have an instinct to belong to a group and be devoted to their "pack leader" which, in the case of domesticated dogs, is their human owner; this loyalty is further strengthened by thousands of years of selective breeding where humans favored dogs with strong bonds and social behaviors, creating a deep emotional connection between dogs and their people.

Key points about dog loyalty:

• Pack mentality: Dogs evolved from wolves, which live in packs where loyalty to the group is crucial for survival; they naturally view their human family as their pack

• Selective breeding: Humans have intentionally bred dogs for traits like loyalty and companionship, further reinforcing this behavior.

• Oxytocin: The "love hormone" oxytocin plays a significant role in strengthening the bond between dogs and humans, increasing when they interact.

• Shared history: Over generations, dogs have lived alongside humans, developing a deep bond based on mutual dependence.

03/01/2025

Ever have that “Lazy Saturday” vibe like Samual and Bette Ruffner?
Have a great weekend!

02/28/2025

🐾 🐶 POEM OF A LITTLE DOG 🐶🐾
I am the one who always waits for you.
Your car has a special sound, engraved in my senses—I can recognize it among a thousand.
Your footsteps carry a magical tone.
Your voice is music to my ears.
Seeing your joy makes me happy!
Your scent is the finest.
Your presence awakens my every sense.
Your waking stirs me from sleep.
I watch you as you sleep, and to me, you are my God; I am happy guarding your dreams.
Your gaze is a ray of light.
Your hands on me hold the gentleness of peace and the purest expression of infinite love.
When you leave, an immense emptiness fills my heart.
Yet I wait for you, again and again.
I am the one who will wait for you my whole life—today, tomorrow, and always:
I am your dog! 🐶🐾

Credit to respective owner

02/20/2025

***Notice***

02/19/2025

A revolutionary new cancer panel for dogs that detects lymphoma earlier than ever.

🩸 Detect and specifically identify lymphoma with a simple blood specimen.
🩸Can be affordably and easily incorporated into testing for sick pets and IDEXX Preventive Care profiles for at-risk dogs.
🩸Actionable next-step guidance from world-class oncologists.
🩸According to early data, IDEXX Cancer Dx testing can detect lymphoma before clinical signs are present.

We recommend screening at-risk dogs, including all dogs aged 7 or older and dogs of high-risk breeds aged 4 or older, particularly in the following breeds:


Labrador retriever
French bulldog
Golden retriever
German shepherd
Beagle
Rottweiler
Boxer
Pembroke Welsh corgi
Great Dane
Miniature schnauzer
Siberian husky
Bernese mountain dog
Mastiff

Contact us for more information
239-774-6400
[email protected]

02/19/2025

Senior pets should visit the vet twice a year for checkups, as their health can change rapidly and more frequent examinations are crucial to catch potential issues early on.

Key points about senior pet vet visits:

Early detection:
Twice a year checkups allow for early detection of health problems that could become more serious if left untreated.

In-depth exams:
Senior pet exams often include more comprehensive testing like bloodwork and urine analysis compared to younger pets.

Monitoring changes:
Frequent visits enable the vet to monitor any changes in your pet's health over time.