Veterinary Medical

Your pooch dread vet visits?

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Post contributed by FVH Veterinary Assistants: Help my dog hates the Veterinary Visit! As staff of a veterinary hospital, we strive to create and maintain an environment with few stressors: We minimize contact between our patients, we use as little restraint as necessary for procedures, we remain calm and gentle in our tone and movements, and we avoid situations that may cause emotional trauma to our patients. Usually our patients have had enough good experiences with us (or maybe just enough treats) that they no longer become fearful when we handle them for less-than-comfortable procedures. Sometimes though, we meet a … Read more »

Puppy’s first vet visit…make it a good one!

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Post contributed by FVH Vet Assistants: Preparing your puppy for their veterinary visits: So you brought home your new bundle of joy, all playful barks and fluffy cuteness. You know they need to see a “dog doctor”, but how do you prepare them? We are so glad you asked! Believe it or not, every veterinary staff member has a wish-list of training we hope you do at home to help your pup (and us) have the very calmest clinic visits possible. During essentially all appointments, doctors, technicians or assistants must touch areas of the young pup they would find strange … Read more »

Dermatology in Veterinary Medicine

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    Dermatology, as you may know, is the study of the skin and all structures of the skin such as hair and toenails. It’s not the most exciting part of veterinary medicine. We don’t get to play with a lot of shiny new gadgets – usually just our eyes and a microscope…and our noses. Yes, dermatology is smelly, sticky, and often downright gross! And I love it. The number of diseases that can affect the skin is enormous! Not only parasites and other infections, but allergies, cancer, and endocrine diseases play big roles. Auto-immune diseases can affect animals just … Read more »

Holiday Hazards…So Many More Than You Think!

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Thanks to Dr. Wendy Zawoysky for this latest blog addition! We at Fairhaven Veterinary Hospital want to be sure that you and all of your pets have a wonderful holiday season. Here is great advice, courtesy of Pet Poison Helpline. The holidays bring a large amount of hazards for pets, in addition to those that are always present in their environment. So here are some things to be sure to keep away from your pets while you are enjoying yourselves at this time of year! PLANTS HOLLY: English Holly or Christmas Holly can result in severe GI upset thanks to … Read more »

Travelling with your pet?

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Written by Dr. Mark Kummer Canada by car: All pets greater than 3-months of age must be accompanied by a current Rabies vaccination certificate. No health certificate is needed. Remember, also, that all individuals over 16 must have a passport or passport card when crossing the border by car. Children travelling by car may utilize alternate documentation, check http://travel.state.gov/ for more details. Alaskan Ferry: All pets must have a current Rabies vaccination certificate (if over 3-mos of age), AND a health certificate issued at a veterinary exam within 10 days of travel (regardless of age). Pets will be turned-away from … Read more »

FVH Spring Promo Raises Funds for WHS!

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FVH once again ran our spring flea prevention promotion. Clients earned valuable FVH Bucks by purchasing Revolution and Comfortis to protect their pets from fleas. The FVH Bucks could be used just like cash on future veterinary services at the hospital. Many clients elected to donate their FVH Bucks directly to our sponsored non-profit, Whatcom Humane Society. This year FVH contributed $325 to this worthy organization on behalf of our generous clients! Look for more great ways to earn FVH Bucks throughout the year and consider donating your FVH Bucks to our sponsored non-profits.  

Arthritis and Our Pets

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FVH Senior Pet Handout Arthritis in Dogs Arthritis (also known as Degenerative Joint Disease or “DJD”) is one of the most common diseases of older animals affecting both dogs and cats. Pets are now living longer than ever. Many conditions, such as osteoarthritis, occur with aging and can be difficult to manage. With recent advances in veterinary medicine and surgery, there are now many things that can be done to help your pet with osteoarthritis. DJD is especially common and often devastating in large breed dogs over the age of 8. Sadly, DJD starts out mild but over several years … Read more »

Oral Health and Your Pet, Does it Really Matter!?

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The answer is an unequivocal yes! According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, nearly 80% of dogs and 70% of cats demonstrate signs of oral disease by age 4. The health of a cat or dog’s mouth directly contributes to the overall health of the animal. Following veterinary advice on regular oral exams, digital imaging and dental prophylaxis is a great pathway to a happier and longer life for your beloved companion. At FVH we perform comprehensive oral care under general anesthesia beginning at age 3 for small dogs and age 4 for all cats and all other sizes of … Read more »

The Pet Food Dilemma

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Contributed by Dr. Kris Johnson There’s no doubt about it, people are passionate about pet food! Opinions on feeding strategies get as heated as some political or religious discussions. This is because people love their pets and desperately want what’s best for them. It is also because there is a LOT of information out there, and wading through it all can be difficult and confusing. With this article I hope to shed some light on this topic. I recently went to a local store that sells pet supplies to peruse the aisles of dog and cat food. I was amazed … Read more »

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