Is microchipping my dog recommended?
In general yes, microchipping is a great idea. At Astoria Animal Hospital we routinely scan animals for microchips as part of the check in process. We scan all dogs and cats even if the owner reports that the animal doesn’t have one, as we have found animals that have microchips that the owner doesn’t know about. On occasion we scan other animals as well such as exotics and avian species. A microchip is a [...]
What is rabies, and why is vaccination important?
Rabies is a viral disease caused by the rabies virus. This disease is a serious problem in many parts of the world, including the USA. Humans and wildlife are infected by the bite of rabid animals and most often this disease leads to death. This article is intended to be an overview of this disease, with the hope of encouraging rabies vaccination. We have rabies in Oregon. According to the state veterinarian, there were [...]
What do I need to know about my aging dog?
Well yes, older dogs (and cats) are like older people—their healthcare requirements go up. Among other things, older dogs require more frequent visits to the veterinarian. This article is written for dog owners, but in many ways the needs of cats are similar though the problems may be different. The age groupings of dogs that Astoria Anima Hospital (AAH) uses are as follows: 0-1 puppies, 1-6 adult, 7-11 senior, and 11+ geriatric. Please note [...]
What is sugar diabetes and how is it treated in dogs?
Diabetes mellitus is the official name of the disease and it is considered a disease of the pancreas where the cells either can’t produce insulin or the body can’t use the insulin that is produced. The very basic concept of this disease is very simple, but the control and regulation is often complex and has very serious consequences. This article is not written to for owners to diagnose or treat—rather it is intended to [...]
Are there hazards that are summer-specific for dogs
Yes in fact there are, simply due to their humans’ lifestyle changes during nicer and warmer weather. If you spend some time and think of the activities that you do I’ll bet you can think of some that are not on my list. But reflecting back on the emergencies I have seen and been expected to fix, I will relate them to you as hazards. Travel During the summer we seem to do more [...]