Forsyth Veterinary Hospital

01/13/2023

To our valued clients and friends of Forsyth Veterinary Hospital:

It is with great sadness that we announce that Forsyth Veterinary Hospital (at 2556 South Stratford Road in Winston Salem) is closing its operations at 5:00pm on Tuesday, January 17, 2023.
Dr. Scott and Dr. Dawkins will continue seeing patients through that time.

We apologize for this very short notice you are receiving, but we have been trying until today to find a way to keep the practice open. The Covid-19 pandemic and especially the past year have been filled with challenges for us, and incredibly difficult.
As many of you know, Dr. Gillis has been dealing with ongoing, serious health issues, worsened by long Covid, and which are forcing her into an early retirement from practice.

Among many other challenges, it has been increasingly difficult, and has now become practically impossible, to find other veterinarians to consistently provide services during her absences, in this time of unprecedented staff shortages in the field
of veterinary medicine.

We have tried to find a buyer for the practice, to no avail. We have tried the best that we could to prevent the practice from closing, as it is the last thing that any of us wanted. We send you our sincere gratitude for trusting us with the care of your furry loved ones over the past 18 years. Thank you for the immeasurable number of
treasured memories. We are blessed to have had you as a part of our lives, and WE WILL MISS YOU.

MEDICAL RECORDS: Your pet’s veterinary medical records will be kept for at least three years from the date of last service. If you need a copy of your pet’s records, you may email your request to [email protected].

We wish you and your pets the best going forward.
Sincerely,
Dr. Ruth Gillis
Office Manager, Jill Shirley, and
Everyone at Forsyth Veterinary Hospital

01/06/2023

Cuddling releases oxytocin. This hormone alone has tremendous health benefits. Besides giving us warm and fuzzy feelings, oxytocin reduces pain. So when the cold has made those muscles and joints ache, cuddling can help reduce those aches and pains.

Oxytocin also helps reduce heart disease, lowers blood pressure, stress, and anxiety.

01/04/2023

Here are just a few of the reasons from the American Humane Society why you should participate in Walk Your Dog Month:

- Extra Bonding Time – When you walk your dog, it’s a great chance to give your undivided attention to your dog and let them know that you care for them. This is quality time spent together that can lead to greater trust and joy.

- Good Exercise – Did you eat too much over the holiday season? Walk Your Dog Month is the perfect opportunity to get in shape and shed off those extra pounds – for both you and your dog. A recent study found that 56 percent of dogs were found to be clinically overweight. This can reduce their life expectancy, overall quality of life and cause a multitude of other health issues. Good exercise not only has physical benefits, but it is also great mental stimulation and can decrease stress for both you and your pup. Additionally, it helps energetic dogs dispel some energy, which can make them calmer and prevent them from getting destructive out of boredom when in the house.

- Social Activity – Walking the dog means you are much more likely to meet other people in your neighborhood who are also out and about with their dogs. Both you and your dog have the chance to make new friends! Socializing your dog with other people and canines alike will help ensure no aggressive tendencies are developed.

- Training Opportunity – Walking your pup provides ample opportunity for training. A walk is a great time to focus on your dog and practice learning to heel, sit, stay or follow other basic commands. Practice makes perfect, so incorporating walks and practicing these skills during their everyday routine will make them even more successful.

01/02/2023

Do: Cook, Skin, and Debone Turkey

Don’t: Feed Pets Salty, Fatty, or Seasoned Foods

Do: Serve Safe Fruits and Vegetables

Don’t: Let Pets Overindulge

In the Event of an Emergency
If your pet has taken a bite of something dangerous, stay calm while closely watching for red flags. It should be immediately obvious if your dog or cat is choking, but look out for these other symptoms of illness or poisoning that may take minutes or hours to arise:

Aggression
Diarrhea
Excessive panting and drooling
Fever
Repetitive behavior
Vomiting

01/01/2023

Happy New Year!!

Here are 5 Pet Positive New Year's Resolutions for you to consider:

Resolution #1 Measure your pet’s food…. every time!
Resolution #2 Improve your knowledge of pet first aid
Resolution #3 Incorporate more playtime
Resolution #4 Schedule a check-up with us!!!
Resolution #5 Update your pet’s ID info

12/29/2022

Noisy fireworks and other celebrations can startle animals and cause them to run away; holiday foods can be unhealthy; and potentially dangerous debris can end up lying on the ground where pets can eat or play with it.

- Leave your pets at home when you go to parties, fireworks displays, parades, and other gatherings. Loud fireworks, unfamiliar places, and crowds can all be very frightening to pets, and there’s a great risk of pets becoming spooked and running away.

- Consider putting your pets in a safe, escape-proof room or crate during parties and fireworks.

- Keep horses and livestock in safely fenced areas and as far from the excitement and noise as possible.

- If you’re hosting guests, ask them to help keep an eye on your pets to make sure they don’t escape. Placing notes on exit doors and gates can help both you and your guests remain vigilant.
*avma

12/25/2022

We wanted to wish all of you a very Happy Holidays!
Enjoy your loved ones today and eat lots of good food :)

12/23/2022

It's "Safe Toys and Gifts Month" and we wanted to share an article from the humane society about safe toys for your pet!

https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/safe-dog-toys

12/16/2022

Survivor Cat Meets New Dog Sister And Instantly Falls In Love
“He was smitten the moment he saw her” ❤️️

They're forever friends.

12/13/2022

Equestrians love the spirit of competition that comes with riding in horse shows. Farmers need horses to manage everyday tasks. And plenty of people in between enjoy going for the occasional horseback ride. Horses bring a sense of enjoyment and camaraderie into the lives of people across the world.

12/10/2022

There are quite a few reasons why International Veterinary Medicine Day and pets, in general, are essential.

One reason is that animal disease is linked to human disease.

We need to be more vigilant about animal health, welfare, and engagement if we are to ensure a healthy human population. Ebola, Zika, and SARS all have animal origins and more diseases are likely in the future if we don’t alter the way we deal with animals.

12/07/2022

How many Cat Lovers do we have?

It's Cat Lovers' Month and we want to see some pictures of your lovely felines!