St Francis Animal Hospital

10/15/2024

Thankfully we don’t see too many West Nile cases in dogs and cats, but horses should be kept up to date in their vaccinations. Additionally, more mosquitoes means HIGHER RISK FOR HEARTWORM DISEASE! Please keep your dogs and cats current on their prevention, even if they are primarily indoors. These little flying bloodsuckers aren’t respectful of doorways!

https://www.wrdw.com/2024/08/30/west-nile-strikes-augusta-cases-soar-with-mosquitoes/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3iDBxb2Rkmd3QtngGETim8uET6ZUuHBn8D9IQQjPI8XDXaoGqGBPM2Az4_aem_WbqTzMKVeX7D8GsWrGKOOg

Cases of West Nile virus are growing across the state – including in Augusta. And it probably won’t get better, considering the boom in mosquitoes fueled by the standing water Tropical Storm Debby brought.

10/14/2024

Colby Jack has strong opinions about Mondays!

Regretfully, our phones and internet are still down, but we are in the clinic for you and your pets!

10/11/2024

My, what big ears! Unfortunately, they won’t help us hear you. Zhen wants to let you know that our phones and internet keep going in and out. If you can’t reach us by phone, we may be able to receive text messages. We’re so sorry for the inconvenience!

10/08/2024

Ugh! Our phone and internet is still down, but we are open and able to see patients. We CAN receive text messages, though! We will continue to be here 8a-6p this week.

10/07/2024

Our phone and internet went down 30 minutes after we opened our doors. Bear with us!

10/04/2024

Senior Shepherd, found in Harrisburg neighborhood. Currently being cared for at a private home. Please share to get this baby home. Must provide proof of ownership to claim.

10/04/2024

We hope you're holding up okay during this difficult time. We are pleased to report that the clinic has regained power, water, and phone/internet service. However, we did suffer some apparent structural damage. Until that is fully assessed, out of an abundance of caution we will not be able to have any clients in exam rooms.

Saturday, October 5: Open 11a-3p to take phone calls, prescription refill requests, and rebook any missed appointments. NOT SEEING PATIENTS. *Please note that we are anticipating higher than normal call volumes. If you are unable to reach us by phone, you may also text us. Please be patient as we work through the back-log of requests.

Monday, October 7 through Friday, October 11: Open 8a-6p, sick or urgent patients, walk-in basis

Our hope is to return to normal schedule by Monday, October 14, and we will update you once we are able to confirm that.

10/02/2024

We are still working on returning the clinic to functional status. At this time, the clinic has no phone or internet service, so we are unable to communicate directly with clients. Bear with us, and know that we are doing everything we can to reopen as soon as possible.

09/28/2024

To our SFAH clients and patients,
We know this has been an incredibly trying time, and hope you are safe. Unfortunately, the clinic is without power, and unable to provide services at this time. We hope to have more updates soon, and promise to open our doors as soon as it is safe to do so. In the event of an animal emergency, please consider contacting CVETS in Columbia. We have verified that they are open and have power. Blue Pearl Augusta is currently closed, and clients are encouraged to check with the Columbia hospitals first.

09/27/2024

FULL CLOSURE Friday 9/27 and 9/26. Due to conditions, St. Francis will be closed today and Saturday. We hope everyone is safe and dry. We will update you as we know more.

05/21/2024

Last, but certainly not least, of our hospital house cats is Colby Jack! An employee favorite, he is friendly, affectionate, and fearless. Colby loves to give comfort to anxious dogs, is a master hunter, and arrogantly roams the halls as if he runs the place.

05/14/2024

The second of our house cats is Plunder! He and his sister Pillage were brought in as strays and just never left. Pillage now lives a life of luxury with one of our managers, but Plunder has stuck around to make mischief! His skill set includes trying to fish needles out of the sharps containers and chewing on electrical cables. It’s a good thing he’s cute!

05/07/2024

Have you met our house cats? Any time you visit SFAH, there’s a strong possibility that you will see one of our roaming resident felines. Meet Margaret! She’s the newest addition to the team, and has adopted the reception area as her domain. Some days she’s sweet, and some days she’s salty. Most days she likes to parkour off the wooden columns near the hallway. Make sure to say hi next time you see her!

Stay tuned for the next house cat installment!

03/25/2024

Don't leave those medication refills until the last minute! Make sure to pick up any medications needed for ongoing care, stress-management, or parasite prevention! Please allow up to 48 hours for refill requests to be processed.

03/20/2024

Our second annual bunny day is coming on Wednesday, April 24th! We will be offering a limited number of the RHDV2 vaccines for rabbits! RHDV2 is a deadly virus that has been confirmed in the state of Georgia. It can be brought into your home on your shoes or can even survive on their hay for up to 3 months! The vaccine has a very high level of safety and has been approved for use in our state for several years. It does require an exam and initial vaccine, followed 3 weeks later by a booster vaccine. For rabbits who have not been vaccinated before, the cost for both visits, vaccines, and exam will be $132. For rabbits that were vaccinated last year, the exam and vaccine are $97. Microchipping is also available. So hop on the phone and get scheduled for these two visits today! The initial visit should be scheduled for Wednesday 4/24, and the booster visit (if needed) for approximately 3 weeks later.

https://oxbowanimalhealth.com/blog/rhdv2/

https://rabbit.org/resources/rhdv/

02/01/2024

FEBRUARY IS NATIONAL PET DENTAL HEALTH MONTH!

These images belong to a 14-year-old small breed dog. The owner reported that the pet had received routine cleanings every 12-18 months. Most recently, severe oral pain was reported, and she came to us for a second opinion. He didn't like to eat or drink, and wouldn't allow the owner to look in his mouth. On initial physical exam, he had severe dental disease with heavy tartar, and gingival recession (gums peeling away from tooth roots). Once we anesthetized him, we found this! The poor baby had such severe infection below the gum line that he had massive bone loss resulting in a fracture of his jaw. He must have had chronic oral pain leading up to the fracture, and then afterwards, every time the tooth shifted, it pushed on the fracture. The images show what the area of disease looked like both on the surface and on x-ray, as well as an x-ray of the same patient on the opposite side where the bone and tooth roots were normal.

This is a really excellent example of the importance of dental radiographs (x-rays). Even if the teeth are clean on the surface, significant disease can lurk below the gum line. This little man did fantastic under anesthesia, and the owner reports that he is recovering well.

11/11/2023

DOG FOOD RECALL
Multiple lots of Victor, Wayne Feeds, Eagle Mountain, and Member’s Mark dog foods have been recalled due to Salmonella contamination, with associated illness in both pets and children coming into contact with the products. For more information and a complete list of recalled foods, please visit

FDA, CDC, and state partners are investigating an outbreak of Salmonella Kiambu that is potentially associated with pet food made by Mid America Pet Food.

10/15/2023

National Veterinary Technician's Week is October 15-21! We are so thankful for every member of our team, and all the ways they help us care for your pets. If you've had an amazing interaction with one of our team members, remember to let them know. We'll be closing for lunch from 12-1p each day this week to make sure they get a break and some yummy treats.