Harmony Hill Animal Hospital is proud to serve Sterling, VA and surrounding areas.
Operating as usual
Remember our GIANT coloring poster gifted to us by MiVu? Well we work hard and then we decompress hard by doing lots of coloring, and we've finished it!
We've submitted it for the contest, but we'll have to wait until July for the results.
In the meantime we need to pick our next one, I'm torn between a unicorn, a sea turtle, or a very majestic elephant.
Thank you again to Mobile Imaging Veterinary Ultrasound for the stress relief. :)
Harmony Hill Animal Hospital updated their business hours.
Photos from The Cats at Longstreet's post
Photos from The Cats at Longstreet's post
Photos from The Cats at Longstreet's post
Photos from The Cats at Longstreet's post
Photos from The Cats at Longstreet's post
Here’s a question I get asked probably every day of my life…
What food should I feed my dog or cat?
The answer probably isn’t what most people expect to hear.
I think that most people expect me to say the VERY BEST YOU CAN POSSIBLY AFFORD. But that’s probably not the best answer.
Surprised?
Here’s my thoughts on the matter.
1) Eastern Medicine has long maintained that variety is critical to maintaining optimal health. Western Medicine finally (maybe?) seems to be catching on, contrary to the various fad diets that are out there. Hard science supports that eating a variety of foods promotes an ideal profile of gastrointestinal microflora, and that profile has been clearly shown to affect things such as autoimmune disease, diabetes, dementia, and a whole lot more. You are (literally) what you eat. That means that eating just protein or just fat or just carbohydrates leads to limitations in the microbiota and changes in the entire body.
2) At least 50% of calories that a cat or dog consumes needs to come from a balanced, tested diet so that their nutrient requirements are met. After that, I don’t care. And I mean it. My dogs always got random (low fat) table scraps and all the fresh fruits and vegetables they wanted, as long as it wasn’t poisonous or harmful to them. My cats, they get treats too, but obviously, they’re much more selective. I haven’t found a cat that will eat a tomato yet, but I’ll keep trying. I want them to have a variety of foods, but the bulk of their diet needs to be balanced.
3) There is no research to support that cats or dogs should only get meat. It’s bunk. And it’s dangerous for them long term. It’s very hard on the kidneys, limits the gut flora, and will lead to severe derangements in their vitamin and mineral profiles, causing problems like nutritional heart disease and bone problems like secondary hyperparathyroidism. Nobody wants that.
4) There is no research to support that cats and dogs should not have grain. In fact, **THE EXACT OPPOSITE HAS BEEN PROVEN TO BE TRUE** Diets formulated as grain free have been shown to cause nutritional cardiomyopathy, among other issues. We are killing our beloved pets because of what? Effective marketing, it seems. Media hype.
5) Food allergies absolutely do exist in cats and dogs. The vast majority are caused by allergies to specific animal proteins—beef, chicken, pork, and lamb. There will be some cats and dogs who have allergies to other kinds of proteins, but they are exceptionally rare. I can count on a few digits the number of dogs I’ve seen in my entire career who had food allergies to something other than the big 4.
6) Over-the-counter “limited ingredient diets”, often aren’t. Studies have shown that a very high percentage, some 75% or so, have measurable contamination with the big 4. These diets are NOT suitable for allergy diet trials. They may be suitable for maintenance after a proper allergy diet trial, but there are too many variables.
7) Super premium dog and cat foods, of which there are too many to count, are not tested and proven to meet the long term nutritional needs of cats and dogs. The money, it seems, is spent on the marketing and package design. And it’s very effective. If you look at the packages, most of them will lack the AAFCO certification label. If they have anything, it will state the diet was formulated according to AAFCO standards. What that means is that someone was paid to look at the diet recipe on paper and judge whether it should or should not be adequate. It was not tested. And the proof, as they say, is in the pudding.
8) I can’t begin to tell you how many dogs and cats I see with chronic diarrhea who do so much better once we downgrade the diet. The super premium diets are very often too intense for the average cat or dog gastrointestinal system. Think about a human eating rich, 5-star French cuisine for life. Most of us can’t handle that. And our gall bladders thank us for not trying.
So what do I feed my own animals? I feed them mid-grade diets from major companies that have been extensively tested and whose quality is constantly monitored. I feed (in no particular order):
Purina diets. ProPlan, One, Bright Minds, Fancy Feast
Iams and Eukanuba
Hill’s Science Diet
Royal Canin
What don’t I feed:
Junk foods like Little Cesars, Whiskas, Meow Mix, Old Roy, Dog Chow; there are exceptions to every rule, and if I have a cat or dog who won’t eat other things, or the owner can’t afford better, than this is better than starving or not being able to pay the mortgage!!
Super premium foods with pretty packages and little to no research to support their claims. I’m not even going to try to name these, because there are too many, and I can’t keep up with them.
I do think it’s worth mentioning that I went into Petco last week to pick up some ProPlan for my cats; I ran out due to poor planning, and needed some before the Chewy delivery could make it. I was astonished. Petco has made it company policy to not stock “normal” foods, featuring almost exclusively boutique and designer brands. I found a single, 4-lb bag of Proplan to try and buy my cats time until their shipment was going to get in.
I can tell you that until Petco shifts its company policy, I don’t have a reason to go back in there. They are unknowingly harming the health of our pets by falling victim to aggressive marketing and fad diets. They probably aren’t the only ones.
So there you go. My thoughts on what I feed my own cats and dogs, and the recommendations I make to pet owners who ask me what I think they should feed their cats and dogs. Don’t believe the hype.
Hey, all! We're closing a tad early tonight, Friday 1/28/2022, so the staff can get home safely.
We also just heard from our lab group that they're not going to be doing pick ups tonight. As such, we won't have any new lab work results tomorrow. They should be in by Monday.
Thank you and stay safe!!
As much we all enjoy winter weather, I am a bit tired of making these! 🥶 Once again, we will be opening late at 10am today (January 20th) due to inclement weather. We will be contacting any affected appointments so please keep a look out! Stay safe. 🌨
Good morning, hope everyone is warm and cozy at home! We will be opening late today at 10am on January 17th due to ice and snow, and to allow more time for our staff to get to work safely! Thank you!
Hello! Once again we will be opening late this morning at 10am due to snow and ice. We'll be reaching out to affected appointments. If you'd like to reschedule your appointment today please send us an email or call us after 10am. ❄ Thanks for understanding and give us time to get in safely. Stay warm and safe.
We will be opening slightly delayed, at 9am, this morning due to ice. As before, please be patient as we have staff out due to weather conditions. Stay safe and warm! ❄️
We will be opening at 10am today due to inclement weather, our phones will be off until that time as well. We will let you know if anything changes, and please give us time as we will likely be short staffed today. Thank you and stay safe! ❄️
COVID-19 Update ❗
We will be returning to curbside appointments for December and January. 🚘
Unfortunately, with rising case numbers we’ve made the decision to go back to full curbside service for the remainder of December and January. We will re-evaluate our protocols for February. We appreciate everyone’s ongoing flexibility with our appointment modifications, thank you for helping keep our staff safe so we can continue to provide the best care for your pets. 💕
Please see below for our appointment protocols:
🚗 We are offering curbside service for appointments with a few exceptions.
😷 If you have recently tested positive for COVID-19 or suspect you may have it, we request that a family or friend bring your pet in for you. Please let our staff know so we can take additional safety measures.
☎️ Please call from the car and let us know when you arrive. We will get all the history and information over the phone, then come out and get your cat/dog from you and bring them into the clinic. We’ll do the exam, call you back to discuss treatment and diagnostics, then move forward. We will bring your cat or dog back out to you when they are all done.
🐱 Please make sure cats are in a carrier and dogs are on a secure leash or harness.
🧰 Our house call service is currently suspended.
Thank you to MiVu (Mobile Imaging Veterinary Ultrasound) for the Christmas gift and a little friendly competition. We have until June to finish our poster and submit it for judging. We've got our work cut out for us! 🖌🖍
🍂 Wishing you all a happy and safe Thanksgiving holiday. There are some recommendations when it comes to Thanksgiving foods for your pets! Check out this article for what's OK to give your pets a bit of and what should be avoided. 🍁
🍗 https://www.embracepetinsurance.com/waterbowl/article/what-thanksgiving-foods-can-your-dog-eat 🍗
This is a PSA.
We are all only human. We have been more than fully booked since 8 am this morning, and I cannot possibly see more appointments without sacrificing all of our sanity and welfare, and compromising our quality of care.
Every veterinary practice is facing the same situation; 48 MILLION pets were added to the American population throughout COVID, and there are not enough veterinarians and support staff to go around.
These are facts. They are immutable.
No amount of straight up rudeness on behalf of clients is going to change facts.
It will, however, earn you a free pass to take your beloved cats and dogs to other practices. Those practices are all facing the same shortage.
Our staff is our family, and poor treatment of our staff members will not be tolerated, even if you have a personal relationship with the veterinarian.
My staff is my family. They will come first.
If we are not a good fit for you, please move on so we can devote our precious resources to clients and pets who will treat us with respect and kindness.
All my love and warmest regards,
Kathleen Werden, DVM
We will be opening late tomorrow, November 2, at 9:30am to allow our employees time to vote! 🗳️
One of our great success stories as of late
As National Veterinary Technician Week comes to a close I'd like to thank our vendors and our wonderful reps who helped provide some treats and fun for our staff this week.
A big thank you to Danielle, Sam, Lana, Azi, Jenny, and the Partnerd Group for providing breakfast, lunch, treats and fun stuff for our staff. It's great to have some help giving them a little some extra for all they do for us.
To all our clients, thank you for the kind words this week. The best thing you can do to support your veterinary team every week of the year is treat us with respect and kindness, learn more about the challenges we face in this field, and remember that we're all doing our best to help you and your family. 💛
For some fun going into this weekend, remember that The Cats at Longstreet is having an event at Twinpanzee Brewing Company, check out their page for info! Hope to see some of you there! Cats & Crafts BarBOOque Event
#nationalveterinarytechncianweek #VetTechWeek #vettechlife #HarmonyHillAnimalHospital #navta
23520 Overland Dr. Suite 110
Sterling, VA
20166
| Monday | 8am - 5pm |
| Tuesday | 8am - 5pm |
| Thursday | 8am - 5pm |
| Friday | 8am - 5pm |
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Dempsey Update! So far, we've raised $800 towards his care. We need about $3,000 in total to cover his 12 weeks of treatment. Thank you so much for donating and sharing his story <3 Dempsey is doing GREAT. He hasn't had a fever since the first day he was here and his enormous belly is visibly smaller. He's lost about a quarter of a pound, which tells us he's already starting to resorb the fluid in his belly. He's eating like a champ, is ridiculously social and affectionate, and happy as could be. He's not just another stray. He's a big lover boy who deserved his chance at life and we are lucky enough to be able to provide that chance. #GoDempseGo #FIPSucks #TheCatsAtLongstreet #HarmonyHillAnimalHospital
Meet Ambrosius. Ambrosius was orphaned at about a week of age. He was found screaming under a trailer, all by himself. We think his mom was interrupted as she was moving the litter to a better location and left him behind. Since then, Kristin Lassiter has been taking care of him. He came with a super snotty face and couldn't latch on a bottle, even though he wanted to. He's finally gotten better and can finally breathe, and he's doing well. Ambrosius is big enough that today, he's finally moved to a real crate. Did you know we give orphaned babies little stuffed animals to help keep them company? They'll snuggle with them, play with them, and often, groom them. Ambrosius will be staying with us for a while. If we can find a kitten and/or litter who is healthy and about the same size, we'll put him with them so he can learn how to be a cat. #KittenSeason #TheCatsAtLongstreet #HarmonyHillAnimalHospital
Kitten Mayhem! This is the first litter who will be ready to go in the next 2 weeks :-) #TheCatsAtLongstreet #HarmonyHillAnimalHospital
This may not look like much, but look again. This is Hallie, a tiny kitten barely 6 weeks old today. She came to us with her 2 littermates a couple of weeks ago. A few days after they got to us, they all got sick with feline panleukopenia, or parvovirus. Do you know what the survival rate for an adult cat who gets panleuk is? Pretty bad. Do you know what the survival rate is for kittens older than 8 weeks of age? Roughly 50% with intensive supportive care. Do you know what the survival rate for kittens under 8 weeks of age is? Close to 0%. You read that right. Almost nil. It gets worse and worse as they get younger. Doing some backwards math, these kittens were about 4 to maybe 4 1/2 weeks old when they got sick. It starts with lethargy and a decreased appetite, and if you're watching closely, often a fever. It progresses rapidly to vomiting and diarrhea as the intestinal lining is destroyed, followed by sepsis as the immune system is wiped out by the virus and all the gut bacteria and viruses pour into the blood stream through the destroyed gut barrier. You have to fight the dehydration from vomiting and diarrhea and not eating and the fever. You have to fight the low blood sugar from being a tiny organism without any bodily reserves who can't eat and expending enormous amounts of energy trying to fight death. And then, you have to fight sepsis. All this, in a tiny, tiny baby. These guys were 1/2 lb when they got sick. That's all. Just 8-9 ounces. After a long fight, we lost their brother, Curly, earlier this week. These 2 ladies, though, are still with us and are finally improving. Hallie is the one you see eating here. She was the first to get sick and she was very, very sick. She had an IV catheter for several days (til she pulled it out), and a nasogastric feeding tube for over a week. She's finally turned her corner, I think. The one you see at the end of the video is Annie, her slightly larger sister. Annie was the last to get sick and
EEEEEWWWWWW!!! An older kitten named Daisy was brought to us earlier this week. She'd been in foster care for another rescue for a while, and she was struggling with a nasty ear infection that wouldn't go away. Turns out, it wouldn't go away because Miss Daisy had an inflammatory polyp blocking her ear canal. Polyps start in the middle ear and grow in and down, through the Eustachian tube into the nose or back of the throat, or up and out into the external ear canal, or both. Because they start in the middle ear, the only way to guarantee removal would be to do a bulla osteotomy and scrape out the lining of the middle ear. This is a major, invasive, and expensive surgery. Experience has shown that at least 50% of cases can be cured with 'traction avulsion', also called plucking. So we are going to try plucking with Miss Daisy. The video attached is the grasping of the polyp with tissue forceps, and applying traction and a gentle twisting motion to rip it from the base. Because important nerves run through the middle ear, it's common to see temporary Horner's Syndrome for a couple of weeks afterwards as the nerves get irritated. Miss Daisy is now up for adoption. She's about 9 months old and very sweet. We are hopeful she won't have future problems, but there is a possibility she might. **Commentary provided by Devon Reed Cunningham #PolypPlucking #TheCatsAtLongstreet #HarmonyHillAnimalHospital
Clint Lazarus Eastwood Update: Clint is continuing to gain weight every single day. He's grooming, using the litter box, and he's even playing <3 His ultrasound a few days ago didn't give us any definitive answers. Still, he's very, very sick. Clint's red blood cell percentage a few days ago was only 10%. That's incredibly low and it's life-threatening. His body isn't making new cells, and we don't know why. He also has complete loss of all of his fur along his chest and belly with perfectly smooth skin left behind. This particular pattern of hairloss is characteristic for cats with one of a few types of cancer. That same cancer would explain the severe anemia, too. Even though we haven't found it on x-ray or ultrasound. The reality is that there is a very high chance he's dying of cancer. Or rather, he's living with it. You see, Clint is happy. And we aren't going to do anything to tell him differently. So, we'll keep him comfortable. Keep him happy. And see how long he wants to stay with us. He's welcome to stay as long as his body is up for it, but when he's ready, we'll let him go. I'm not going to lie, he looks better today than he ever has. In spite of everything. Let's hope I'm wrong and his hair loss has nothing to do with cancer. Let's hope he stays for years. #ClintLazarusEastwood #TheCatsAtLongstreet #HarmonyHillAnimalHospital
GUESS WHO IS JUST FINE?? HAHAHA #MaggotsLoseCatWins #TheCatsAtLongstreet #HarmonyHillAnimalHospital
BREAKFAST TIME!! Morning at Beth's Home for U***d Mothers :-) #TheCatsAtLongstreet #HarmonyHillAnimalHospital
Baby Watch 2020: Meet #2. His ears are still folded down, making him look entirely ridiculous.
Baby Watch 2020: One out, 6 more to go.
More Kitten-Vision! Okay, since we've gotten a gazillion requests already, we need to state that this little kitten is not currently available for adoption. She's not entirely well, and neither is her Momma. Both of them will be adopted out together, once they are healthy. They are GORGEOUS, and both of them have amazing personalities. #KittenSeason #TheCatsAtLongstreet #HarmonyHillAnimalHospital
MORE KITTENS!!!
Just a cute kitten, being cute, now that she's feeling better.
This young man is known as Sylvester, Stallone, and Ace. He also fell victim to the calicivirus outbreak but is faring much, much better than the other kitty for which we are caring. Sylvester/Stallone/Ace is officially up for adoption. He comes with a catch, though. This boy is positive for the feline leukemia virus. He is currently healthy, other than minor snots that are improving every single day, but we never know what leukemia virus positive cats are going to bring. We maintain a small colony of FeLV (+) cats, but it's currently past full and we can't bring in another cat. In our hands, these kitties live absolutely completely normal lives up until they suddenly do not. If we exclude one very young cat who came to us deathly ill, all of our FeLV cats do well for years and years. Our current record is a very special kitty named Othello who died the week before he would have turned 8. He contracted the virus from his mother in utero. Othello lived a completely normal cat life without any particular exceptions and no daily medications until the virus finally caught up with his bone marrow and destroyed it. Sylvester/Stallone/Ace reminds me a bit of Othello, but he's more demanding. He is goofy, he is outgoing, he is ridiculous, he loves to love bite when you aren't paying attention, and he's pretty great. If you'd like to consider adopting this very special cat or would like more information, please don't hesitate to reach out. #SlyStallone #TheCatsAtLongstreet #HarmonyHillAnimalHospital
This is the super sick kitty we've been caring for that has calicivirus. I am happy to say that he's continuing to gradually gain weight and eat well. After much discussion and debate, we're thinking about changing his name to Johnny. Johnny Depp. Because he's quirky and wiry and good looking if you can get past the scum (think Pirates of the Caribbean Johnny Depp, if you will). This boy still won't be up for adoption for a bit. He has a lot of healing to do, more weight to gain, and we need to start vaccinations once he's feeling better. More importantly, this stinky young man needs to be NEUTERED. But not till he feels better. #CalicivirusChronicles #TheCatsAtLongstreet #HarmonyHillAnimalHospital
Because. Cute.
Prinn loves her babies <3 #TheCatsAtLongstreet #HarmonyHillAnimalHospital
Baby Update: Mom is feeling better. She's starting to take interest and care for the babies. All of the babies are active, squirming, and latching and nursing. Again, I can't thank the entire village that came out yesterday to help. Every single person played a critical role to the incredible outcome. Thank you from the bottom of my soul. <3 #TheCatsAtLongstreet #HarmonyHillAnimalHospital
Just gonna drop this here... Guess who is doing GREAT?... ALL 5 BABIES!! No tube feeding needed ❤ #TheCatsAtLongstreet #HarmonyHillAnimalHospital
Harmony Hill Animal Hospital is new practice that opened June of 2019. We are proud to offer wellness care, pediatric and geriatric specialty care, dentistry, surgery, hospice care and end of life counseling, behavior counseling, pain management, and both domestic and international health certificates. We also offer house calls for assorted services and drop off appointments.
Our focus is on the relationship between pet parents and their furry ones while providing safe, friendly, and considerate care for cats and dogs of all sizes.
Built by a team of individuals brought together with the same dream, we hope you find this animal hospital is a bit different. Top-notch medicine, cutting edge science, and endless love and passion for what we do and who we help.
The practice might be new, but our team has decades of experience helping improve the lives of cats and dogs and their families.
That’s what makes us work.
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