Let’s start the new year on the right paw! Regular walks are a great way to keep your pup physically healthy, mentally stimulated, and emotionally happy. Whether it’s a brisk stroll through the neighborhood, a scenic hike, or just exploring the local park, your dog will thank you for the adventure!
What’s your dog’s favorite walking spot? 📸🐾
#NationalWalkYourDogMonth #DogHealth
What to do if your mental health is causing you struggles at work…talk to someone! 🗣️ It’s common to feel anxious or down occasionally, but if you’re experiencing mental difficulties regularly, it’s important to reach out for help. It can be difficult to talk openly with someone about your life, however, it’s critical to keep in mind that those who care about you want to help.
In honor of #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth, Veterinary Social Worker at our sister hospital in California, Alisha, is here to provide you with a few tips on how to guide the conversation about your mental health with your manager, supervisor, or fellow team member.
Remember: the bravest thing you can do is ask for help. 💚
To all our veterinarians, specialists, relief doctors, per diems, and residents – Happy World Veterinary Day! 🏥🐾 Sometimes this profession is anal glands, ear infections, and giving the pet insurance talk. But it’s also seeing your feline lymphoma patient go into remission, helping a spaniel with cataracts see again, that rewarding moment of extracting a tennis ball via endoscopy, and reuniting a dog with his owners after 6 nights in the ICU.
To all veterinarians today and every day, thank you for making the world a better place. 💚
“Why is the wait so long, it seems so quiet?” – this is something we hear a lot! 🏥🐾 Even when the front lobby is empty & there are no cars in the parking lot, “out back” in treatment can look very different. Between a crashing cat who isn’t breathing, a hit-by-car case requiring multiple team members, and hospitalized pets occupying every ICU kennel, our team behind those doors is determinedly saving lives.
We know waiting in the ER with your pet can be stressful, but rest assured we are working hard to get to you.
Something’s wriggling in this dog’s blood sample! 🔬🩸 Meet “microfilariae,” the larvae of the dreaded female heartworm. After roughly 6-7 months, these larvae will mature into adult heartworms, grow up to 14 inches long (😳), and reproduce more offspring. Left untreated, this dog could end up with hundreds of them in his body causing long-term damage to the lungs, heart, and arteries and even sudden death. Since it was caught, he will undergo treatment which involves several months of medications, exercise restrictions, and hospitalization days.
Luckily, this is preventable! 🥳 Keep your dog on monthly heartworm preventative all year round – put it in your calendar, and don’t miss/skip a dose. And if you’re rescuing a dog (especially from southern states like Tennessee, Arkansas, & Mississippi), talk to your veterinarian about re-testing them for heartworm. #NationalHeartwormAwarenessMonth #heartworm
Poison prevention week is still in the air, we have another marijuana patient case! This sweet 4-year-old Lab presented for stumbling and vomiting. Upon examination and further discussion with his owner, we discovered that Pacer ingested some of his owner’s marijuana. In our care, he was given fluids under the skin. As you can see here, Pacer was doing well…just a bit tired. 🥱 He was cleared to head back home with his owners for further monitoring and should come back if symptoms worsen.
We're so glad that this pup had a successful hemilaminectomy surgery! This surgery is performed to remove a herniated disc off of the spinal cord. The video below shows the pup getting their staples taken out as they heal. Happy recovery to this little one!
What makes you happy? 😄 We asked our veterinary staff members across the country and we're spreading some happiness for #InternationalDayOfHappiness! From dogs to snacks to rubber ducks, here's what makes us happy.
Premier Veterinary Group Grayslake: Cardiology Behind the Scenes!
Board certified Cardiologist Dr. Wessberg is available for cardiology appointments to help keep our pets safe in the Grayslake, IL area. Here's Sophie who visited for an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of the heart) and an electrocardiogram, or ECG! While her echo came back normal, her ECG showed frequent premature heartbeats. She will be started on medication and visit for a recheck with the cardiology team.
To learn more about Grayslake's cardiology service, visit the link below:
https://premiergrayslake.ethosvet.com/cardiology
Let’s walk the dog! 🦮🚶♀️ Those magic words “do you want to go for a walk?” are more important than you may think. Just 30 minutes of walking every day can increase cardiovascular fitness, strengthen bones, reduce excess body fat, and improve mental health for BOTH you and your dog! Be healthy together – you and your dog need each other! #NationalWalkingTheDogDay
Oh, and cats too. 😉
Nurse Julie showing off her moves with Milo! 💃
Milo, a 2-year-old Shih Tzu presented to the ER for acute gagging/hacking. Milo was given a raw t-bone last night and began gagging/hacking after. It is suspected that he had some esophageal irritation from ingesting some of the bone and he was treated with fluids under the skin. He will go home with medication to help coat/soothe his esophagus. Milo was a very good boy for his visit and impressed us all with his super sweet dance moves!
A little tip tap for some treats! 😍
This handsome older fella is Moose, a 10-year-old Labrador that presented to the ER after he was having difficulty getting up. On the car ride here he improved dramatically and is seen here tippy-tapping/dancing for treats. His owners elected to monitor him at home overnight given his speedy improvement and follow up with their veterinarian the next day. Moose was a charmer and will hopefully continue to do well at home!
Providing compassionate, specialty care to pets in the Northern Illinois area... We are here for you!
