Atascadero Pet Hospital & Emergency Center

06/24/2024

We recently had the pleasure of seeing this adorable Dalmatian, Auri, for her vaccinations and annual exam. She is so sweet and gentle! We don’t see too many Dalmatians, and it is always so exciting. We are ready to take care of your beloved pets at any life stage- give us a call at (805) 466-3880

06/22/2024

Does firework noise send your cat scurrying for a hiding spot? Do the scattered booms and pops send your dog into a scared and barking episode? You're not alone! Fireworks, though engrained in classic American tradition to celebrate Independence Day, can be scary and stressful for our furry family members.
Give Atascadero Pet Center a call to discuss if a temporary, anxiety-relieving prescription would benefit your pet in case of loud, scary noises and raucous celebrations. Many families find relief when their pet sleeps soundly through the fireworks or is unbothered during festivities.
Acquiring a prescription requires an up-to-date annual exam with a doctor. Give us a call at (805) 466-3880 for an appointment.

06/20/2024

Dogs and cats only sweat through their paws, making it easier for them to overheat. Signs of heat stroke include excessive panting and drooling, bright red gums, and lethargy. Never leave pets alone in a parked car! Heat stroke requires immediate medical attention. Call us at (805) 466-3880 if you need our help.

06/05/2024

As the weather continues to get warmer, pets are spending more time outdoors and that can expose them to not only fleas but ticks as well. Ticks can spread disease to humans and animals alike. Fortunately, our pets have prevention on their side. It is highly recommended for our pets to be on flea and tick prevention year-round to protect them from diseases. We have multiple prescription options, call us today to speak to our staff (805) 466-3880.

As the weather around the country gets warmer, our pets spend more time outside. However, being in the great outdoors can expose them to ticks and tick-borne illnesses.

06/01/2024

Today is California Adopt A Pet Day! Woods Humane Society is waiving adoption fees for today, now is the perfect time to find your family's next best friend! 🐾😽🐶

Pet adoptions are the heart of our mission. See available animals, learn more about the process and fees and sign up for pet alerts!

05/31/2024

Is your cat drinking enough water? It’s important all year round to keep your cat hydrated. With the weather getting warmer, it should be even more of a priority. Most cats do not drink enough water to stay fully hydrated, and chronic dehydration can contribute to the development of kidney disease and even pancreatitis.

⭐️Tips to help increase your kitty’s water consumption include incorporating wet food in its diet, using a water fountain, and offering diluted low sodium broth into the water bowl. If you have any questions about your pet’s water intake, call us to book an appointment! (805) 466-3880

05/29/2024

The other day, sweet Albus came into the clinic because he had hurt his paw. Albus’ owner put together a homemade “cone of shame”, while we all found it ingenious and humorous. Albus didn’t seem very amused! You never know what you might see in our lobby. Albus got all taken care of and was sent on his way home. For all your veterinary needs, we are open 24/7 and always ready to serve the community, call us at (805) 466-3880.

05/27/2024

Happy Memorial Day from all of us at Atascadero Pet Hospital! Thank you to all the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom we enjoy every day.

05/25/2024

A cat’s sense of smell is 14 times stronger than humans – so it’s important to keep litter boxes clean and scoop at least once a day! We recommend having one litterbox for every cat in the home, plus one extra. If your cat is not using the litterbox, give us a call at (805) 466-3880.

05/23/2024

Say hello to one of our incredible Registered Veterinary Technicians, Roxy! Roxy has been here at APC for 5 years, and in vet med since 2014. Roxy has been an animal lover her entire life, volunteering at veterinary clinics in high school, and has always had all kinds of pets. Currently, Roxy and her husband have two horses, three dogs, three chickens, and two aquariums with various fish, shrimp and frogs. Roxy is an accomplished athlete, a lifelong self-proclaimed “horse girl”, and she has spent her life show jumping and trail riding horses. Roxy has also completed 3 half ironman triathlons! Roxy always puts in 100% here at the hospital and is always ready to care for patients to the best of her ability. In her free time, Roxy loves to spend time with all her animals, riding horses, swimming, reading books, training her dogs, camping/traveling, and never being still! Thank you for everything you do, Roxy.

05/20/2024

Happy National Rescue Dog Day! What better way to introduce a new member of your family than to adopt a dog (or cat!) in need. Every year so many animals are placed in shelters, and every dog that finds a home is a blessing for the pet and family. Consider contacting our local rescue groups such as Woods Humane Society or Atlas Animal Rescue to find your newest companion. Pictured is Jake’s dog, Hank, who was rescued as a young dog.
https://woodshumanesociety.org/
https://www.atlasanimalrescue.org/

05/16/2024

Remember the endoscope we showed off in one of our medical minute videos? See it in action as we remove an interesting foreign object from the stomach of a labradoodle named Chloe. Chloe decided she'd be proactive about never getting lost and helpfully swallowed an Apple Airtag, so her parents would always know where she was. The team at our sister hospital, Cuesta Park Animal Hospital, found the Airtag using x-ray imaging. Working in collaboration with them, we were able to quickly and effectively care for Chloe. We love working with our sister clinics (Cuesta Park Animal Hospital and Paso Pet Care) to fully serve the community and our patients like this.
Though Airtags on pet collars are an excellent idea, but swallowing them is not! Dr. Cherbinsky successfully removed this piece of technology from Chloe's stomach without surgery thanks to the use of our endoscope, our incredible team, and his wealth of experience.
Can you spot the stomach's internal rugal folds surrounding the Airtag? Or the smooth pink esophagus as the Airtag was retrieved? Let us know what you think about this awesome procedure! Need an appointment? Call us at (805) 466-3880

05/16/2024

https://atascaderonews.com/lifestyle/animals/woods-humane-society-to-host-four-free-microchip-clinics-in-may/

The Atascadero News is your daily online news source and the only printed newspaper dedicated to Atascadero, since 1916.

05/14/2024

Last week we had some ADORABLE puppies, Ruby and Abby come in to the clinic. Kacey, Kylee and Kelsey were all so excited to see these two arrive in our lobby. We are always here for you and your animals, for every stage of their life. Please call us for an appointment at (805) 466-3880

05/14/2024

UPDATE: Timber has been found and is safe. Thank you all so much for your help.

🚨🚨MISSING DOG🚨🚨
Timber unfortunately ran off while being discharged after surgery today and we need your help finding him. Please call us at (805) 466-3880 if you see him or are able to bring him back to the hospital. Thank you so much for your assistance.

05/12/2024

Happy Mother’s Day from all of us here at Atascadero Pet Hospital! We would like to include a special shoutout to all of the moms that work here, you are all so appreciated. Pictured is new mom Berry and her puppy ❤🐾

05/10/2024

Today is National German Shepherd Day! These dogs are considered one of the most intelligent breeds. Share a photo of your German Shepherd with us in the comments below!

05/08/2024

Happy National Receptionists Day! Today we would like to take a moment to celebrate our incredible Client Services Representatives! They do an incredible job helping our clients, checking in patients for appointments and dealing with emergency situations to make them as smooth as possible, all while making sure the coffee bar is fully stocked! Our CSRs really go above and beyond, and we are so glad to have all of them on our team. Our CSR team includes Mel, Kelsey, Diana, Ashley, Shanna, Kacey, Jennette, Mark, and CSR Supervisor Jake.

05/06/2024

Meet Bob, a very handsome member of the Emerson Family. Bob was brought in to see us earlier this month because he was having difficulty breathing and was lethargic. Using our advanced diagnostic tools, such as CT scan and Ultrasound, our incredible medical team was able to determine the root of Bob's troubles: A foxtail! Bob accidentally inhaled a foxtail, which migrated into his lungs and burrowed through them to his heart. The plant seed lodged itself in his pericardium (the thin sac of tissue surrounding the heart), causing septic infection to flood the area and make Bob dangerously ill. We successfully removed this foxtail via surgery and got Bob back to the picture of health. We were all so happy to see Bob recover and go back home to his farm and the farm animals he loves. Remember to pay close attention to your pets during the coming months, as foxtails are all around us in this region. These tricky seeds burrow forward, with barbs that prevent their backwards escape from tissues, ensuring that once they're in, they're only moving forward. This means that they often need special care to find and remove these burrowing troublemakers. If you are concerned your pet may be struggling with a foxtail, give us a call at (805) 466-3880

05/03/2024

Meet Jennette! Jennette is one of our amazing Client Service Representatives. Jennette started with us in November 2023. In that short time, she has learned so much and become an incredibly strong CSR. Jennette lives in Atascadero with her husband Daniel, daughter Mackenzie, 15 chickens, Templeton the dog, and Sage the cat. In Jennette’s free time she enjoys hiking, going to the beach, fishing, kayaking and spending time in the garden growing her family vegetables. We are so happy to have Jennette as part of our team and look forward to watching her continue to grow and learn with us!

05/01/2024

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Pets can benefit our mental health in a multitude of ways. They add so much joy and meaning to the day to day. Animals are an incredible blessing in our lives!

04/29/2024

Spring has sprung! The weather is warming up and with that means allergies. If your pet is starting to itch and scratch, it may be allergies. We have a few different options for helping your pets feel relief this season. Give us a call at (805) 466-3880.

04/27/2024

Happy World Veterinary Day! Thank you to ALL the veterinarians and veterinary professionals who make our hospital run like it does. Every day we give our all to help your pets and serve our community. Meet our exceptional team of veterinarians at the link below!

Dr. Aaron Schechter received his Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from UC Davis. He graduated from UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in 1999. He joined the Atascadero Pet Hospital & Emergency Center in 2000, working alongside his father, Dr. Robert Schechter, to expand our facility.

04/26/2024

Many spring plants are toxic to pets including lilies, tulips, daffodils, and azaleas. When planting your flowers this spring, make sure to protect your pets from anything potentially hazardous, see the article below for more info! If you have any concerns or questions, call us at (805) 466-3880
https://www.ucdavis.edu/one-health/garden-plants-toxic-to-pets #:~:text=Rose%20and%20plant%20fertilizers%3A%20Some,dogs%20in%20very%20small%20amounts.

A veterinary pharmacist explains why some garden and household plants make our companion animals sick and what we can do to prevent poisoning.

04/24/2024

Microchipping your animal is one of the best things you can do to help them find their way home should they ever go missing. We often see animals reunited with their families due to having a microchip, and it is always so heartwarming to see an animal go back home! Call us today if you have any questions or would like to verify your current microchip information. (805) 466-3880

04/17/2024

Meet Dispatch! He is an adorable Dalmatian puppy that we cannot get enough of! While we see emergencies 24/7, we always love seeing a puppy come through the door for wellness and preventative care like vaccines. We are prepared to care for your pets at every stage of life! Call us for any of your veterinary needs. (805) 466-3880

04/15/2024

April is National Heartworm Awareness Month! The best way to keep your dog free of heartworm is to use a monthly prevention such as Simparica Trio or Interceptor Plus. Check out this infographic for more facts about heartworm prevention. Call us today to schedule an annual wellness visit so we can keep your pup up to date on their protection (805) 466-3880.

04/12/2024

We have entered kitten season! As spring continues, it is likely that you will encounter litters of kittens that seem like they may need help. Most of the time, our advice is to leave the kittens where you found them, as mom usually comes back after hunting for food. If a newborn kitten you find is seemingly healthy, do not bring them in. We cannot take healthy stray kittens or cats. Of course, if a kitten or cat is obviously injured or sick, we are happy to help coordinate with the Department of Animal Services to give the cat the care it needs.

04/10/2024

Happy National Sibling Day! Meet Koa. Koa came in the other day to give moral support to his sister, Kuma, who gets a little nervous at the vet. What a nice brother Koa is, and so handsome too! Kuma was a little too shy for the camera.

Need an appointment? Call us at (805) 466-3880

04/08/2024

Is it a Fox Tail or a Foxtail?

Foxtail season is here! Your pet may be shaking its head, sneezing, coughing, scooting or chewing on its paws. This can be very uncomfortable if an opportunistic foxtail (the plant version) is to blame.

If you think your pet has ingested a foxtail, or has a foxtail stuck elsewhere, give us a call! We are always here to help you and your pets. (805) 366-4880