Grand Rapids Vet Clinic

10/29/2024

MDARD Encourages Owners to Help Keep Animals Safe this Halloween
Have a fab-boo-lous holiday without causing more scares or stress for animals

LANSING, Mich. – As Michiganders put the final touches on costumes, decorative displays, and plans for trick-or-treating, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) would like to remind owners of some of the best ways to keep their animals healthy and safe this Halloween.

"Considering the needs of our animals is important when making plans for Halloween to ensure they won’t have any unpleasant scares or additional stress,” said State Veterinarian Nora Wineland, DVM, MS, DACVPM. “From keeping them away from the candy bowl to ensuring they have up-to-date identification, there are many precautions owners can take to keep their animals safe this Halloween.”

Keep animals safe this holiday by following these five easy tips:

Unsafe Eats: Give Halloween candy to trick-or-treaters—not your animals.
Unfortunately, animals cannot enjoy all of the same treats and food we do. Be sure to keep candy or other sweets containing chocolate, raisins, and/or xylitol (an artificial sweetener found in many candies and gum) away from animals as these ingredients can be hazardous.

Search No More: Make sure animals have proper identification.
With opening the door for all the trick-or-treaters, it can be easy for animals to sneak out and get lost. Make sure animals have identification tags and/or up to date microchips with current contact information to improve the chances they are returned home.

Destress and Decompress: Have a quiet space for your animals.
Having a constant stream of visitors can be overly stimulating for animals. It is important to have a quiet space set aside for them to go if they are getting too stressed. Also, have the room stocked with their food, water, litter pan, etc. in case they would like to maintain their distance for an extended period of time.

Avoid Temptations: Keep Halloween decorations and wires out of reach.
Spooky decorations and lights not only make for a frightful display but also catch the eye of our animals. As these items can cause injury, be sure they are kept out of an animal’s reach, along with candles with an open flame, glow sticks, and potpourri.

Cautious Costumes: Be thoughtful when selecting a costume.
Our animals might not share the same enthusiasm for costumes we do. It is possible your animals cannot recognize you or others they may know because of your costumes, causing unexpected reactions and additional stress. Consider wearing pieces of your costume around your animal before Halloween to better acclimate them to the sight.

If your animals are the ones wearing the costumes, make sure they are comfortable in their outfit. The costume should not restrict their movement or breathing, block their sight, cause them to get overheated, or have small pieces that can be chewed off and become a choking hazard. Also, don’t leave a costumed pet unsupervised.

10/25/2024

What happens during your pet’s wellness visit? A typical visit
might include a physical exam, diagnostic screening tests, and
a subsequent review of results to track your pet’s overall health
and identify early warning signs of health problems.

10/21/2024

Don’t forget regular tick checks! If you find any, remove them
immediately and give us a call. It’s important to protect your pet
year-round and to test annually for evidence of tick-borne
diseases!

08/29/2024

MDARD Encourages Owners to Help Keep Their Animals Safe this Labor Day Holiday.
Keep animals happy and healthy as they enjoy the last days of summer fun.

LANSING, MI—As Michiganders prepare to celebrate the last days of summer, this Labor Day holiday, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) would like to remind owners of some of the best ways to keep their animals healthy and safe.

“When making any holiday plans, it is important not to overlook the needs of our animals,” said State Veterinarian Dr. Nora Wineland, DVM, MS, DACVPM. “From ensuring they are fully vaccinated to making sure they are cool and comfortable, there are many precautions owners can take to keep their animals safe this Labor Day.”

Protect animals this holiday by following these seven easy tips:

Vax & Relax: Keep animals up to date on routine vaccinations
Vaccinations are central to animals’ preventative care as the vaccines can protect them against common diseases, such as rabies and distemper. Contact your veterinarian to ensure your animals’ vaccinations are complete and/or to schedule an appointment.

Let it Flow: Provide unlimited cool, clean, fresh water
Just like people, animals can quickly get parched in hot temperatures. No matter the species, animals should have access to unlimited cool, clean, fresh water to prevent dehydration.

Happy Tummies: Avoid feeding animals people foods
While it may be tempting to toss your animals a few crispy nuggets from the grill, they cannot enjoy all the same foods and treats as we do. Salty, fatty, and/or highly seasoned foods (like chips, nuts, and meat fat) can cause digestive upset. Also, chocolate, grapes/raisins, onions, and xylitol (an artificial sweetener found in many candies and gum) can be poisonous to animals; and bones can cause injury and illness as well.

Know Their Limits: An animal’s ability to tolerate heat varies
An animal’s age, breed, type of coat, and health history can all play a role in their ability to tolerate the heat. Keep an eye on them for signs of heat stress—like increased panting or drooling and being more lethargic. If they are showing these signs, it is time to immediately move them to a cooler area.

Also, consider talking to your veterinarian. They will have a greater knowledge of your animal(s) and be able to give more specific guidance on how to best handle them in hot weather.

Look Before They Splash: Avoid harmful algal blooms (HABs) in bodies of water
HABs form due to a rapid growth of cyanobacteria, also called blue-green algae, which are naturally found in lakes, rivers, and ponds. To prevent illness in animals, keep them out of areas with scums or discolored water, rinse them off after contact with any lake water, and bring clean, fresh water for them to drink. If an animal becomes sick after contact with a suspected HAB, call your veterinarian right away.

Also, animal illness due to HABs is reportable to MDARD. To report cases, submit a Reportable Disease Form or call 800-292-3939.

Search No More: Make sure animals have proper identification
With all the summer fun and outdoor activities, it can be easy for animals to sneak away and become lost. Make sure they have identification tags and/or microchips that are up to date with your current contact information, ensuring a better chance they can be returned home.

Bug Off!: Take steps to prevent mosquito bites
Mosquitoes transmit a number of diseases that can make animals sick, such as West Nile virus and Eastern equine encephalitis. Both of these diseases were detected in horses from Michigan this year.

As these viruses continue to circulate, it is important to protect animals from mosquitoes by keeping animals indoors from dusk to dawn, using insect repellants on animals approved for the species, eliminating standing water, and for horses, talking to your veterinarian about vaccinating them against these diseases.

07/11/2024

Active cases of Leptospirosis have been reported in Kent county. Please take action immediately to make sure your pet is protected. Feel free to call us if you aren't sure if your pet is up to date on their Leptospirosis vaccine. We also have an app called Pet Health Network where you can link right to your account and check your pets' vaccine due dates. Find the app here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.idexx.communicator.mobile&hl=en_US&pli=1

Leptospirosis is a serious disease transmitted from pet to pet and can also pass from pets to people. Pet owners, please be certain your pet is vaccinated.

Symptoms of Leptospirosis include:

Loss of appetite
Vomiting
Lethargy
Abdominal pain
Diarrhea
Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes)
Dehydration
Drinking or urinating more than usual

07/01/2024

MDARD Reminds Michiganders to Help Keep Animals Safe While Celebrating Independence Day
From keeping cool to staying calm, there are a number of ways to ensure animals are protected throughout any celebration

LANSING, MI— The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is reminding Michiganders to keep their animals safe during the upcoming July 4th holiday. Beyond the summer heat, loud noises from fireworks and festivities can make animals scared and anxious – so, it is essential to take extra precautions during the holiday celebrations to keep them safe.

“When celebrating Independence Day, we need to be mindful of the health and safety of our animals,” said State Veterinarian Dr. Nora Wineland, DVM, MS, DACVPM. “The intense heat, unexpected sounds, flashing lights, and unfamiliar environments can all be a source of stress. Taking steps to ensure animals are cool, hydrated, and calm is essential to their overall health.”

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), more animals go missing around July 4th than any other time of the year. Fireworks can cause animals to become frightened and run away, making the days following Independence Day some of the busiest at local animal shelters.

Following these simple tips can help your animals stay safe and comfortable:

Make sure animals have access to unlimited cool, clean, fresh water and a place to cool down (shade, fans, cooling mats, etc.).

Keep your animals away from others that appear ill or have an unknown health status. Also, if your animals are showing any signs of illness, keep them away from other animals and people.

Ensure animals have ID tags or registered microchips with your current contact information.

Avoid shared bowls and toys.

Know your animal’s limits—how animals will tolerate stress and heat differ.

Keep animals indoors when people are likely to set off fireworks.
Open doors to the outside carefully, so an animal does not escape.
If an animal ever does escape or you find an animal without an owner, please contact local animal control or law enforcement.

Provide a separate space away from the noise to reduce stress – turning on a radio or TV may help to drown out loud noises.

Consider offering a special pet-friendly treat or new toy to help distract them from fireworks.

If dogs are taken outside, make sure they are kept on a leash, even if they are in a fenced area, as they could run due to an unexpected noise.

Keep horses and other livestock safely fenced in or in their barns.

Never set off fireworks near animals.

Check in on animals periodically, especially when sounds are the loudest, to see how they are doing.

Before letting animals back outside, check your yard, pasture, etc. for firework debris.

06/21/2024

06/17/2024

MDARD Reminds Owners to Help Keep Their Animals Cool and Safe as Temperatures Rise
Feeling hot? Chances are your animals are too

LANSING, MI—As temperatures rise into the 90s in many parts of the state, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is reminding owners on some of the best ways to keep animals cool and safe.

"When temperatures rise, keeping animals cool and hydrated is essential to their overall health," said State Veterinarian Dr. Nora Wineland, DVM, MS, DACVPM. "While it is important to recognize the signs of heat stress in animals, it is even more critical to prevent this stress from occurring. Michiganders can follow six easy steps to help keep animals cool and safe."

Keep animals safe from the heat by following these tips:

Let it Flow: Provide unlimited cool, clean, fresh water
Just like people, animals can quickly get parched in hot temperatures. No matter the species, animals should have access to unlimited cool, clean, fresh water to prevent dehydration. Also, if out in public, bring along some hydration options for your animal and avoid using shared/communal water bowls.

Know Their Limits: An animal’s ability to tolerate heat varies
An animal’s age, breed, type of coat, and health history can all play a role in their ability to tolerate the heat. Keep an eye on them for signs of heat stress—like increased panting or drooling and being more lethargic. If they are showing these signs, it is time to immediately move them to a cooler area.

Also, consider talking to your veterinarian. They will have a greater knowledge of your animal(s) and be able to give more specific guidance on how to best handle them in hot weather.

Happy Paws: Test surfaces to make sure they won’t burn paws
Surfaces like asphalt, concrete, and sand can really heat up in the sun, which can burn paws—or at least make a walk very uncomfortable. To test if a surface is too hot, touch it with the palm of your hand. If it is too hot for you, consider taking a different route that is mostly grass or waiting until the evening when everything has had a chance to cool.

Look Before They Splash: Avoid harmful algal blooms (HABs) in bodies of water
HABs form due to a rapid growth of cyanobacteria, also called blue-green algae, which are naturally found in lakes, rivers, and ponds. To prevent illness in animals, keep them out of areas with scums or discolored water, rinse them off after contact with any lake water, and bring clean, fresh water for them to drink. If an animal becomes sick after contact with a suspected HAB, call your veterinarian right away.

Also, animal illness due to HABs is reportable to MDARD. To report cases, submit a Reportable Disease Form or call 800-292-3939. In addition, to report any suspicious looking algae, please email [email protected].

Get in Gear: Parked vehicles are not places to park pets
Even when temperatures feel more moderate, vehicles can heat up very quickly, creating dangerous conditions for the animals left inside. Leaving windows cracked open and/or parking in the shade do little to improve the situation. In these conditions, it is best to leave pets at home when you need to go out and about.

A Place to Chill: Make sure animals have a place to cool down
Animals know when they are too hot and will usually try to find a place where they can cool down. Make sure they have access to shade, fans, misters, pools, cooling mats, and/or air-conditioned spaces to help them stay comfortable.