Animal Hospital of Syracuse

04/21/2025

It's Veterinary Receptionist Week! Our receptionists are some of the best in the industry and we are so thankful for them!

04/20/2025

Happy Easter! ✝️🐥🐰

04/17/2025

Decorating or gifting flowers is a popular tradition during the Easter holiday. Before bringing flowers into your home, check to make sure they will not be harmful to your pets if they happen to sniff or bite into any part of the plant. All varieties of Lillies are extremely toxic, potentially deadly to cats, causing acute kidney disease and/or failure!

04/14/2025

Did you know that the Leptospirosis vaccine is now considered a core vaccine? Meaning it should be given to all dogs on a yearly basis? This bacterial disease is prevalent in our area, and we have treated dogs with this disease at our hospital. There is still a lot of misconception surrounding the vaccine, with many breeders and even some older veterinarians stating "it's not safe" and "it causes a vaccine reaction". While any vaccine has the potential to cause a reaction, in the past decade vaccine manufacturer's have found a safer way to produce the Lepto vaccine, making it very safe to administer to pets with rare side effects. If you have any questions about vaccine safety our veterinarians will be more than happy to speak with you!

04/08/2025

Spring allergies are upon us! Is your dog constantly scratching? Frequent ear infections? Sneezing? While allergies mostly affect our sinuses and respiratory tract, allergies mostly affect the skin with our dogs. In recent studies, Benadryl, Zyrtec and other OTC human allergy medications are not as effective in dogs like we once thought. There are now allergy medications, such as Apoquel and Cytopoint, that are proving to be effective in dogs when battling allergies!

03/31/2025

We often hear "Why would I have you do my pet's surgery when I could take them elsewhere and have it done cheaper?". What most people don't realize is that not all vet clinics practice medicine the same way. Veterinary medicine is not closely regulated by the government or insurance agencies like human medicine. So how a vet clinic practices medicine is completely up to the veterinarians on staff. We hold ourselves to a higher standard, so safety and sterility is of the utmost importance to us when it comes to surgery.

03/24/2025

Did you know that most senior cats suffer silently from arthritis pain and it often goes untreated? Cats are known for hiding pain, so sometimes it can be rather difficult to determine if they aren't feeling well. Listed below are some examples of pain-related behavior:
🐱 Grooming themselves less
🐱 Hiding
🐱 Sleeping more than normal or less active
🐱 Overly licking or chewing themselves in a certain spot
🐱 Standing or walking in a hunched position
🐱 More vocal, especially when being petted

If you ever notice something is off with your pet, always consult with your veterinarian!

03/18/2025

Lets talk about Doodles. These dogs have become extremely popular over the last several years. Poodles being bred with Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Bernese Mountain Dogs, etc. - they're all cute! But what people may not realize is when mixing a poodle with any breed, they require a lot of grooming! Groomers have been reporting an uptick in matted dogs, and most of those dogs are doodles. Doodles need to be groomed on a regular basis of every 4-8 weeks with brushing in-between those visits to prevent matted fur. Matted fur can be very painful! Mats pull on the skin causing pain and can also lead to skin infections.

03/12/2025

Did you know that English Bulldogs are predisposed to developing Face-fold Dermatitis? Because of their smooshy faces and extra skin, skin folds form throughout the face creating a moist environment and the perfect breeding ground for yeast and bacteria. These folds can also rub together causing irritation. This results in the skin becoming red and itchy, leaving the dog feeling uncomfortable. Wiping the skin folds daily with unscented baby wipes or chlorhexidine wipes provided by your veterinarian can help keep those areas clean and dry 👍. Occasionally, skin allergies can play a role, so ask your veterinarian if your dog would benefit from allergy medication.

03/04/2025

We know that most animals dislike coming to see us. The vet can be a scary place with all of the strange smells, sounds and people. But when your pets are stressed they don't always allow us to touch them, which makes it rather hard for us to help them. We do not believe in forcing a pet down to "just get it done and over with" - that mentality is traumatizing for everyone involved. That's why in certain instances we prescribe PVP medication (pre-visit pharmaceuticals).

02/25/2025

What fruits do your dogs enjoy eating? And here's a safety tip: always remove any peels, leaves, stems, seeds, pits and cores before letting your dog eat these yummy treats. And, always cut them into bite sized pieces 🙂.

02/17/2025

Experts recommend washing your pet's food and water bowls at least once a day. If not washed often enough, a substance called "biofilm" (a combination of bacteria, fungi and algae 🤢) can grow on the surface of these materials which your pet can ingest every time they eat or drink. Ceramic, glass, and stainless steel are the recommended materials to use for feeding pets, because grooves can form in plastic that acts as a breeding ground for bacteria. So, how often do you wash your pets bowls?

02/14/2025

02/06/2025

February is Pet Dental Health Month! And while we think your pet's oral health is important every month of the year, we wanted to celebrate by offering a $50 discount! This will only apply for dentals scheduled within 30 days of our veterinarians making a dental recommendation at your pet's appointment now through the end of March. And, if your pet's dental is already scheduled for February or March, you can still partake in the discount! Give our office a call for more details!

02/04/2025

Everyone knows that when your pet is having GI issues that they aren't feeling well. But do you know the other signs that something could be wrong? If your pet is exhibiting any of the clinical signs listed below, make sure you have them seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible!

01/27/2025

Below are a few examples of vegetables that are safe for dogs to consume. Keep in mind that you should avoid butter, oil and other flavorings when offering these to your dogs! Remove stems and skin where necessary, and never feed your dog corn straight from the cob! Ingesting corn cobs can lead to a GI obstruction. Always remove the corn kernels prior to offering it to your dog.

01/21/2025

It can be life-threatening if your pet consumes Xylitol, so it is very important to have them seen by a veterinarian right away!