Critterfixer's Mobile Veterinary Care

08/11/2024

Update on the new CDC requirements for bringing your dog back into the US after travel, starting August 1, 2024. The CDC has already changed the requirements after serious backlash from owners and veterinary professional organizations in the last month: Now travel to rabies free and low risk countries are exempt from needing the CDC's rabies certification form-initially it was everyone-this is huge! Owners can fill out the CDC dog import form online and it's free! Clients traveling with their dog to high risk counties, however, will have to have a USDA certified veterinarian give the rabies vaccine and issue the new rabies vaccination form. I can't just read a rabies certificate given by another practice and then fill out the Certification of U.S.-issued Rabies Vaccination (For Live Dog Re-Entry into the United States) form. Please click on the link for more information:

CDC issues regulations to control the entry of dogs into the United States from other countries. The

07/07/2024

Virginia is now the third state to ban declawing in cats as of July 1, 2024. 😻

06/28/2024

As of August 1, 2024 dogs entering or returning to the US must meet new specific requirements. Please read up on the changes if you plan on traveling with your pup (they are seriously a pain and vets are becoming less and less interested in staying USDA certified due to the amount of research/paperwork that has become too labor intensive over the years). Give yourself enough time to find a USDA certified vet and have the paperwork done before you travel. Here is the link to the new requirements,

Starting on August 1, 2024, dogs entering or returning to the United States must meet new, specific requirements depending on where they have been in the 6 months before entering the U.S. and where they received their rabies vaccines (if required).

06/19/2024

One of my patients has been entered into the Alexandria AWL 2025 Pet Calendar and is currently in first place. If you want to support the shelter and Barnabas, it's only $1 to vote. Barnabas was rescued from Tennessee and is one of the sweetest, mostly friendly pups you'll meet in Old Town Alexandria🐾 (posted with owner permission)

Show your support for Animal Welfare League of Alexandria by voting for Barnabas in 2025 Calendar Pet Photo Contest

06/14/2024

Please be mindful of the heat next week, the temperatures will put ourselves and our pets at risk. If your pup will tolerate it, try to wet them down with a little water before heading out for an afternoon walk, try to stay in shaded areas-the ground can become hot enough to burn pads (you won't see the burn through the thickness of the pads). And don't forget the wildlife-a little water can be a life saver for some (my frog pond usually is a popular watering hole during the hot days). Stay safe out there! 🫠 💥

Why are meteorologists concerned about next week's heat dome in the Eastern United States? Computer model analytics suggest it will rank near if not at the most intense level on record for the time of year. And this will be the case 3 or 4 days (Tues-Fri).

06/04/2024

I meant to post this a few weeks ago but life always seems to get in the way. I had my largest-an Irish wolfhound and my smallest-a dwarf bunny as acupuncture patients on the same day. They are both the sweetest boys and the best patients. 🐾❤️ (pics posted with client permission)

04/23/2024

I've signed up for Blue Rabbit (similar service as Covetrus) since it is supposed to be more customer friendly. Please let me know if you are interested and I can sign you up (just send me a PM) or if you want to take a look at their website and prices, here's the link: https://critterfixerva.bluerabbitrx.com They are having a sale on Heartgard/Nexgard/Apoquel/Rimadyl and others today and again April 30th.

04/15/2024

https://comicskingdom.com/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwp.comicskingdom.com%2Fcomicskingdom-redesign-uploads-production%2F2024%2F04%2FRhymes-with-Orange.cmyk_.ENG_.2024-04-15.jpeg&w=1920&q=75 Have the vet come to you 😁🐾

12/29/2023

A veterinarian just lost her pup after the pup ingested a used hand warmer, and with the colder weather coming in, I wanted to caution pet parents about the danger.

As the season’s change, crisp air and cozy nights are expected. But you should also be aware of potential toxins that your pet could be exposed to during the fall. Read more about common autumnal hazards.

12/05/2023

We are supposed to get between 10-20 inches of snow this season 😁❄️ What is the craziest thing you have done for your pets?

11/25/2023

Be mindful of a new potential upper respiratory outbreak in dogs (currently in parts of the country). There is a lot of misinformation out there and there isn't a definitive answer yet as to the cause. It's also the time of year we typically see more respiratory disease (owners traveling, pets spending more time indoors in daycare/training groups). Please make sure your dog is vaccinated for both Bordetella and Influenza if they are around other pups. If your pet is showing signs of an upper respiratory infection, please monitor closely for signs of lethargy (not interested in playing/running), decreased appetite, or increased respirations. When in doubt, take them to the vet. I'd rather see a pet with mild self-limiting clinical signs than hear about a pup in an oxygen cage at the ER. Here is a page you can follow for updated info: https://www.wormsandgermsblog.com/?fbclid=IwAR3DJUq4Si7Rzec267S5wG4Hpb3AQAhCbNt_MYErg89ks-RQV_hRFfBP2Lo

The Worms and Germs Blog authored by Drs. Scott Weese and Maureen Anderson covers animal health and diseases and is published by the Ontario Veterinary College University of Guelph.

11/11/2023

A long time ago I went into the Army for the promise of the GI bill and college fund to help pay for undergrad and then I went back in the military after vet school to help pay off student loans again. The first picture is from a concert I performed in while stationed at Ft. Sheridan back in 1987-can you find me? (I'll give you a hint, I played oboe) and the second was when I was stationed here at Ft. Belvoir in 1999 while Buddy was visiting and got to meet my previous pup Kyra (she's so damn young and adorable in this pic 🥹). Happy Veterans Day to all my fellow prior service folks out there!

10/04/2023

Got a wonderful google review from a client and an adorable birthday card from a client who has donkeys….it’s a good week to be a mobile vet! ❤️🐾

09/16/2023

I had a question from a client yesterday about which product was the flea&tick and which one was the heartworm protection. This has happened a few times now and I think it is because there are so many choices available. Don't hesitate to reach out to your vet to help clarify things, we want your pets to stay safe and healthy. 🐾❤️

08/26/2023

Today is National dog day, let’s see your favorite pics of your pup….here’s one of my favorites of Emma (my rescued cattle dog) 🐾❤️

07/18/2023

This has been talked about before but it's worth repeating since cases keep happening....

07/08/2023

For your information, hope no one's pet or wildlife is injured by this..... 😔

The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria is asking for the publics help in an ongoing investiation involving

06/07/2023

Not that many will see this in a timely manner but if you do, please be careful with pets with airway disease or older pets today and possibly the next few days. Air quality is very poor today because of the wildfires in Canada (I have asthma and ended up with an oxygen saturation of only 91% this morning, it’s supposed to be above 95) 😬

06/06/2023

1. Go to Google.com
2. Search cat or dog
3. Touch the paw icon
4. Touch anywhere

Isn't that amazing!!
🐾❤️

05/30/2023

❤️🐾

Today is International Hug Your Cat Day! Give your cats and kittens extra hugs and chin scritches for us today 😻

03/14/2023

Just found out about an upcoming puppy festival sponsored by Fairfax Parks&Rec. I'll have a booth there from 1-4pm if anyone wants to stop by (will probably have doggie ice cream and cookies for sale too). My new rescue pup Emma will there to offer free hugs to all the humans. The Ides of Bark is March 25th at Grist Mill Park, 4710 Mt. Vernon Memorial Hwy, Alexandria

02/27/2023

Yet another reason to make sure your pets are protected against ticks. There is a lot of drug resistance to the older preventatives and I recommend changing over to one of the newer products like Nexgard, Simparica, Bravecto or Credelio.

The 2021 death of man in his late 60s who had homes in rural Virginia and Maryland was caused by Heartland virus, according to a report published in the CDC's Emerging Infectious Diseases, and the findings suggest that the virus is spreading among ticks. More ticks were found at the man's Virginia h...

02/08/2023

My rescue pup Emma had another episode of collapse yesterday so she was fitted for a Holter monitor. It’s so hard being the owner and a vet since my brain keeps jumping to worst case scenario. Thanks to the staff at CVCA for trying to find the underlying pathology and hopefully we’ll be able to to stop/decrease the episodes going forward.

01/14/2023

2022 was a brutal year for pet loss for me, it's the hardest part of being a veterinarian. I lost my own pup in May and have lost 6 patients in the last 2 months to age and cancer. I would say the majority of my acupuncture patients are elderly, and I know time with them is limited, but I will cherish every moment I can to help them enjoy their senior years (and sob hysterically when they are gone.) This was such a beautiful article about grief and loss. 💔🐾

They lost one dog to cancer and another is nearing the end. How can they move on when there's guilt mixed into the grief?

01/02/2023

If you haven’t already heard, canine kennel cough and influenza are on the rise in northern Virginia. My pup Emma went to day care last week and started showing clinical signs over the weekend (she is vaccinated). It was bad enough last night that I picked up medications for her today. Please avoid day care areas and dog parks for now if your pup is at all immunocompromised.

12/11/2022

Holiday picture contest! The picture with the most likes will win an advent calendar (one for dogs and one for cats). Anyone can participate but only those folks who are in northern Virginia can win (within driving distance for me to drop it off). So let’s see your furry, fluffy, feathered and scaled munchkins all ready for their holiday photos.🎄🐾😁