Grand Rapids Veterinary Clinic

11/15/2024

November marks National Pet Diabetes Month. Diabetes affects 1 in 300 dogs and 1 in 230 cats in the United States.

Signs of diabetes include excessive thirst and urination, weight loss, decreased appetite, cloudy eyes (particularly in dogs), and chronic/reoccurring infections.

A diagnosis is usually made with a urine sample and blood testing. Once a diagnosis is made, the lifelong treatment is insulin, glucose monitoring, attention to diet and exercise, and regular veterinary checkups.

Diabetes is a lifelong condition, however early detection and proper management allow pets to live a long healthy life.

To reduce your pets risk of diabetes, you should encourage exercise, help maintain an ideal body condition, and provide proper nutrition. With your help, your fur babies can live a longer and happier life. 🐾🐾

11/11/2024

Thank you Veterans!

11/07/2024

November is Pet Cancer Awareness Month and today is National Canine Lymphoma Awareness Day. 1 in every 4 dogs will develop cancer in their lifetime. For cats, the risk of cancer varies between 25-35%. The most common type of cancer in both dogs and cats is lymphoma.

Common warning signs of cancer include palpable lumps/bumps, sores that do not heal, weight loss, bleeding or abnormal discharge from body opening, difficulty eating or swallowing, lethargy, persistent lameness or stiffness, and difficulty urinating or defecating.

Treatment of cancer in pets varies on the type, stage, and special considerations for the pet. It's not uncommon to use multiple treatments in pets such as surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.

Providing a healthy lifestyle, including a nutritionally balanced diet and preventative care, can help in early detection of cancer in your furry friend. Also, pet owners should examine their pets for any lumps or bumps on a regular basis. We're pretty sure Fido won't mind the extra love. 🐾🐾

11/02/2024

10/31/2024

Scooby and Stevie say "trick-or-treat!" Happy Halloween!

10/31/2024

Happy Halloween! Whether your plans are a scary movie marathon with your cat or trick-or-treating with your pooch, we want to wish you a safe and happy Halloween! Now, let’s see those HOWLoween pups and MEOWloween felines! 🎃👻

10/28/2024

Halloween is upon us! While trick-or-treating can be fun, there are some pet hazards that can come with this spooky holiday! Beware! 👻🎃

10/25/2024

Ears up! GRVC will be closed Saturdays in November. We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your continued support! Please plan ahead for food/med pick up. We will still be open our regular business hours, Monday-Friday 8am-5pm.
If an emergency should arise please contact Blue Pearl in Duluth or Red River Emergency in Fargo.

10/22/2024

The end of summer marks the time of year when we replace swim suits and sunscreen with jackets and boots. As we prepare for the cooler temperatures, it's important to keep in mind the fall toxins that are less common in the dog days of summer.

Cooler temperatures and the upcoming holiday season means a lot more baking for some of us. While the occasional chocolate chip shared with your furry friends may not be a big issue, the concern for chocolate poisoning is due to the type of chocolate (the darker, the more risk) and the amount ingested.

Other table scraps that may be an issue this holiday season include fatty foods (bacon, gravy, turkey skin), corn-on-the-cob, desserts made with xylitol (natural sugar-free sweetener), and grapes/raisins. When in doubt, an extra biscuit will work for Fido!

When you're outside enjoying the fall weather, it's also important to remember that some kinds of mushrooms can cause issues if ingested and please keep your pets away from compost bins/piles and fire pits!

Unwanted critters may find their way into your house as the cooler temperatures creep in. Some rodenticides can be fatal if ingested by your pet. We encourage people not to use poisonous rodenticides as newer products do not have treatment options for our pets if they accidentally ingest them. Additionally, the rodenticides can be moved around by critters to areas accessible by pets and any small mammals that do die after rodenticide ingestion are now toxic to scavengers, including pets and wildlife. If you must use poisonous rodenticides, place them where pets and other animals can't reach them. There are 4 common categories of baits on the market and they all have different modes of action, so keep the wrapper/box if you are placing baits around your house. If you suspect your pet has ingested rodenticide, time is of the essence!

Fall is great for bonding with your furry friends. Just keep in mind some of the dangers that can be lurking during this autumn season!

10/18/2024

Thank you for the delicious treats! Great way to end tech week! And thank you again to all of our amazing techs! We appreciate you!

10/17/2024

It's National Pet Wellness Month!
Our pets fill our lives with so much joy and this month is a reminder to ensure our furry friends are living their best and healthiest lives.
During this month there are many ways to engage with your pet and promote their wellbeing such as schedule a veterinary check up to ensure they are in optimal health and up-to-date on vaccines, review their diet to make sure the are getting the proper nutrition, increase exercise and playtime, groom and pamper them, and even teach them a new trick!
Adding some fun and creativity to their daily routine can ensure our pets are not just healthy but are also enjoying life to the fullest. A happy pet makes for a happy home!

10/15/2024

Heads up! GRVC will be closing at 4:00pm on Friday, Oct 18th. Please plan ahead for med/food pick up. We are sorry about the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding!

10/14/2024

We want to celebrate all our fantastic technicians during National Veterinary Technician Week! During this week we want to recognize them for their commitment to compassionate, high-quality veterinary care for your animals. Watching technicians use their education, skills and innate qualities is truly amazing and inspiring. They share in the entire life cycle of our pets using their almost magical talents to calm a nervous pet or to comfort those during times of sadness. Veterinary Technicians undergo significant academic training and are able to help administer medications, manage chronic diseases and help alleviate your concerns when you call the clinic with an emergent question. They genuinely make a world of difference each and every day they are at work. At the Grand Rapids Veterinary Clinic, we are extremely fortunate and blessed to have so many technicians to celebrate this week! THANK YOU TECHNICIANS, for EVERYTING you do EVERYDAY and make it look easy! We love and appreciate you!!

10/09/2024

While its common to chuckle at chubby cats and plump pups online, the battle of the bulge is NO laughing matter!!

Giving your pet treats can be a great bonding experience for you and your furry friend. However, a few extra pounds can have negative effects on your pets health. Treats should make up no more than 5-7% of the total diet.
Commercial treats can be high in calories.
Here are some "healthy" treat ideas: fresh fruits and veggies (apples, bananas, carrots, green beans, watermelon), marshmallows, and Cherrios.