Den Herder Veterinary Hospital

05/28/2026

Great news! Appointments are now available for tomorrow.📅 Call us at 319-232-5293 or book online through our website to secure your spot. Don't miss out on providing the best care for your pet! 🐾

05/28/2026

It's National Microchip Your Pet Month!

Did you know that only about 22% of lost dogs who enter animal shelters without a microchip are ever reunited with their families? For cats, that number drops to just 2% 🐱🐶

A microchip is a permanent ID that can’t fall off or be removed like a collar or tags. It’s about the size of a grain of rice and is inserted by a vet in seconds—similar to a routine shot. Once registered, that tiny chip connects your contact info to your pet for life.

Why microchip? Because life happens. Doors get left open, fences break, and storms or fireworks can send even the most loyal pet running. If your pet is found and taken to a vet or shelter, a quick scan reveals your information—giving you a much higher chance of a happy reunion.

Make it count:
✅ Get your pet microchipped if they aren’t already.
✅ Keep your registration info up-to-date, especially after moving or changing phone numbers.
✅ Ask your vet to check the chip at annual visits to ensure it’s still working.

It’s one small step that offers peace of mind for years to come. Already chipped? Share this to remind a fellow pet parent 📢

05/26/2026

Don’t let the chill fool you – pests don’t punch a winter clock. ❄️

It’s tempting to hit pause on flea, tick, and heartworm prevention when the first frost hits. But here’s the reality vets wish every pet owner knew: year-round protection is the only true protection.

Here’s why:

🦟 Heartworms: Spread by mosquitoes (yes, mosquitoes that can sneak into your warm home or emerge on a 50°F winter day). One infected bite can lead to a grueling, expensive, and potentially fatal treatment. There is no cure for the damage done to the heart and lungs.

🐾 Ticks: They don’t die in winter – they go dormant under leaf litter, snow, or inside unheated garages. A single “warm spell” wakes them up hungry. Tick-borne diseases like Lyme and anaplasmosis are serious, lifelong risks.

🐜 Fleas: Your cozy, heated home is a flea’s dream resort. Eggs can lie dormant for months, then hatch when you turn up the thermostat. One untreated pet = an infestation that takes months to beat.

The “gap” myth is dangerous. Skipping even 1-2 months creates a window for infection. By the time you see signs (scratching, lethargy, or a positive heartworm test), the problem is already advanced.

The good news? Prevention is safe, affordable, and easy (like the all in one tablet we offer, Credelio Quattro).

Bottom line: Protect them 12 months a year – because parasites don’t use a calendar. 🗓️❤️

05/20/2026

🐱 Pet Cancer Awareness Month: What Every Cat Owner Needs to Know About Fibrosarcoma

Most cat owners know to watch for lumps and bumps. But there’s one rare but serious type of cancer every feline family should understand: fibrosarcoma, including injection-site sarcomas (ISS).

Here’s what you need to know—without the panic.

🔬 What is fibrosarcoma?
Fibrosarcoma is an aggressive tumor that grows in connective tissue (under the skin). While any cat can develop one, a unique form called feline injection-site sarcoma (FISS) can rarely occur after vaccinations, antibiotics, or other injections.

💉 Wait—vaccines can cause cancer?
Yes, but rarely (estimates range from 1 in 1,000 to 1 in 10,000 injections). FISS is not a fault of the vaccine itself, but an overzealous inflammatory reaction some cats have to injected substances. The risk of dying from preventable infectious diseases (like rabies or panleukopenia) is far higher than the risk of FISS.

⚠️ The 1-2-3 Rule – What to watch for after any injection:
Check the injection site regularly. Call your vet if a lump:
1 – Is still present 1 month after the injection
2 – Has a diameter of 2 cm (about the size of a grape) or larger
3 – Is growing, changing, or painful 3 months post-injection

🐾 Other signs of fibrosarcoma (not injection-related):
A firm, immovable lump anywhere on the body
Lump that suddenly grows after being stable
Lameness or swelling if the tumor is on a limb

🩺 Why early detection is critical
Fibrosarcomas are locally aggressive (they invade deep into muscle). But if caught early, complete surgical removal (with wide margins) offers the best chance of success. Additional treatments like radiation or chemotherapy may also be recommended.

💙 What you can do today:
✅ Feel your cat gently all over once a month – know their normal lumps and bumps
✅ Don't skip vaccines – instead, talk to your vet about an individualized vaccine schedule

🐱 The bottom line:
Fibrosarcoma is serious, but it's also rare. Your cat needs vaccines. Your cat also needs you to be an informed, observant owner. Early vet visits save lives.

05/19/2026

Vaccination slots are filling up quickly! 🗓️ Don't miss out—our team will contact you soon to secure your appointment. Protect your pet today! 🐶🐱

05/18/2026

🐾 Pet Cancer Awareness Month: What Every Dog Owner Should Know About Osteosarcoma 🦴

Did you know that bone cancer is one of the most common cancers we see in large and giant breed dogs? This month, we’re shining a light on osteosarcoma—an aggressive but treatable bone tumor—so you can recognize the signs early.

⚠️ What to watch for:

Sudden lameness that comes and goes (often mistaken for a sprain)
Swelling at a specific spot on a leg, rib, or jaw
Reluctance to jump, climb stairs, or play
Yelping or showing pain when touched in a certain area

🐕 Who’s most at risk?
Osteosarcoma most often affects large and giant breeds like Greyhounds, Rottweilers, Great Danes, Irish Wolfhounds, and Labs. But it can happen in any dog, usually middle-aged to older (though a “young adult” spike occurs in giant breeds).

🩺 Why early detection matters
Osteosarcoma is painful and can spread quickly (often to the lungs). But with rapid diagnosis—via X-ray and biopsy—there are effective treatment paths:

Pain management (crucial for quality of life)
Amputation (dogs adapt incredibly well to three legs)
Chemotherapy to slow or prevent spread

💙 Hope is real.
While osteosarcoma is serious, treatment can give dogs many comfortable, happy months—sometimes years—beyond diagnosis. Many dogs run, play, and snuggle just like before, minus the pain.

What you can do today:
✅ Learn to feel your dog’s legs gently for unusual lumps or swellings
✅ Don’t dismiss “just a limp” – ask your vet for X-rays if it lasts more than a few days
✅ Share this post – you could help another dog owner catch it early

🐶 Let’s fight pet cancer together. If your dog has beaten osteosarcoma or you’re navigating treatment now, drop a 💙 in the comments to show support for others on the same journey.

05/13/2026

05/13/2026

Pet Cancer Awareness Month: Mammary Carcinoma in Cats – What Every Cat Owner Should Know

This Pet Cancer Awareness Month, we're talking about mammary carcinoma – a highly aggressive cancer in unspayed female cats.

What is it?
A malignant cancer of the mammary glands. Unlike in dogs, over 85-90% of mammary tumors in cats are malignant – meaning they are very likely to spread (metastasize) to the lungs and lymph nodes.

How common is it?
The third most common cancer in cats (after lymphoma and skin tumors).
Vast majority (85-90%) are aggressive carcinomas.
High-risk group: Unspayed female cats over 6 years old.
Siamese and Oriental breeds may have a higher risk.

The Power of Spaying
Spaying is incredibly effective prevention in cats:
Spay before 6 months of age: Reduces risk by 91%.
Spay before 12 months: Still offers significant protection.
After 2 years of age: Spaying provides little to no preventive benefit.

What to watch for
Any firm lump along the belly (cats have 8 mammary glands – 4 on each side).
Lumps that feel hard, fixed to the skin, or ulcerated
Redness or discharge from a ni**le
Multiple lumps (tumors often appear in multiple glands)

Prognosis – Why Early Action is Critical
Cat mammary carcinoma is aggressive. Tumor size is the #1 predictor of survival:
Tumors 3cm: Average survival only 4-6 months, even with treatment.

What to do
Spay your female cat early – ideally before 6 months.
Check your cat's belly regularly – especially if she's older and unspayed.
Remove any lump immediately – don't "wait and see." Small lumps have a far better outcome.
Aggressive surgery is key – full chain mastectomy (removing all glands on that side) gives the best chance.

Bottom line
In cats, mammary carcinoma is common, aggressive, and preventable. Spaying early saves lives. And if you feel a lump – go to the vet now.

05/11/2026

Pet Cancer Awareness Month: Hemangiosarcoma – What Every Dog Owner Needs to Know

This Pet Cancer Awareness Month, we’re talking about Hemangiosarcoma (HSA) – a silent and aggressive cancer in dogs.

What is it?
A cancer of the blood vessel walls. It most often strikes the spleen, liver or heart, creating fragile tumors that can rupture without warning, causing internal bleeding.

Why is it called the "Silent Killer"?
Because dogs show zero symptoms until a tumor bursts. One day they’re fine; the next, they suddenly collapse from massive blood loss.

How common is it?
Accounts for 5-7% of all canine tumors.
Makes up 12-20% of all splenic tumors.
High-risk breeds: German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Labradors, Boxers.
Typically affects middle-aged to older dogs (8-13 years).

Prognosis
Without surgery: Days to weeks.
With surgery alone: 1-3 months.
With surgery + chemo: 4-6 months (rarely 1+ year).

What you can do
Know your dog’s breed risk – talk to your vet about annual abdominal ultrasounds (visit Dr. Garrett!).
Watch for subtle changes – slight weakness, pale gums, or a distended belly.
Act fast – sudden collapse is an emergency. Immediate surgery can save lives.

This cancer is devastating, but awareness saves lives. Share this post – you could help someone recognize the signs in time.

05/08/2026

🐾 Mast Cell Tumors in Dogs: What Every Owner Needs to Know

Did you know mast cell tumors (MCTs) are the most common skin cancer in dogs?

They can look like almost ANYTHING – a tiny wart, a squishy lipoma, or a red, angry lump that grows and shrinks. That’s what makes them tricky.

🔍 Common signs of mast cell tumors:

A lump that changes size (swells up, then goes down)

Red, ulcerated, or hairless skin over the bump

Itching or irritation around the lump

Vomiting or stomach ulcers (in advanced cases)

🐶 Which dogs are at higher risk?
Certain breeds are prone: Boxers, Bulldogs, Boston Terriers, Labs, Golden Retrievers, and Shar-Peis. But any dog can get them.

✅ Good news? Many MCTs are treatable, especially when caught early. Treatment may include surgery, medication (like Palladia), or in some cases, radiation.

👉 Your action plan:

Check your dog regularly – run your hands over their body during cuddle time.

Note new lumps – especially if they change size or appearance.

See your vet for a fine needle aspirate – a simple, low-cost test that can save lives.

💛 Mast cell tumors are NOT an automatic death sentence. Early detection changes everything.

👇 Does your dog have any lumps or bumps you’ve been watching? Drop a 🐕 below and tag a fellow dog parent who should check their pup tonight.

Keep sniffing, keep loving, keep checking.