Lake Brandt Veterinary Hospital

08/22/2024

Our employees really get into their work. Sweet Chloe had ACL surgery today with Dr Lofgren and is getting some love from Ashley.

08/22/2024

6 week old Jazmine loves cheese!!! Isn’t she adorable?

08/20/2024

Charlie came in for his first puppy shots today. He is gonna be a big boy when he grows up. He loved his squeeze cheese today while he got his shots.

08/13/2024

First puppy vaccines for this little cutie. She was so chill for her visit. ❤️

08/08/2024

After surgery and you can’t stop drooling the staff has to improvise. Henry is feeling no pain and doing very well.

07/29/2024

It was kitten day this morning at Lake Brandt Vet. They all got their first shots and lots of snuggles. 🥰

07/24/2024

Ranger was all kisses 😚 today. He was such a good boy for his check up.

07/23/2024

Our new website is up. Please go have a look at it.

Welcome to Lake Brandt Veterinary Hospital. We are committed to treating your pet as we would our own.

07/19/2024

It’s Oakleys last puppy visit. She is a huge fan of peanut butter & so brave for her shots 🐾🐾

07/18/2024

Please help us wish Dr Kimery a very happy birthday today 🎈🎉🎊🎁🎂🐾 We hope your day is as wonderful as you are.

07/16/2024

Cute little Annie Belle came in for her first puppy visit with Dr Kimery. She was such a sweetheart.

07/11/2024

Peanut came in today for his senior exam. This little guy is 16 years old and doing great 😊 Regular exams, including senior checkups, are important for your pet’s wellbeing.

07/06/2024

There are dog owners and there are dog parents.
You hear a lot about how dog parents aren’t the same as human parents, because they can’t truly understand caring for someone so much.
Let me tell you that no one thinks loving a child is on the same level as loving a dog.

But you can parent a dog. You can love him with your whole heart. You can value him, and see his worth. Your heart can be filled with so much love that it aches at times.

You bathe him, and make a game out of drying him off always sneaking in kisses as he makes a mess in your bathroom, all the while not minding because you love this sweet nugget. You read all of the nutrition facts and research the best food for him and always ensure he has more than enough, even though there are cheaper less-nutritional options.

You worry about if he has friends, and always makes sure he can have playdates or another little buddy to pal around with so when you’re not around you know he is content.
You train him. You teach him how to eat, how to play, how to be potty-trained, and feel a pit in your stomach when you have to chastise him for not following the rules.

You plan trips or days away based on who will watch him when you are away, sometimes foregoing extended trips because you know you won’t be able to stand being away from him that long. And you love showing him off to people, and brag about him as you proudly display pictures of him to family or strangers when you are away from him, while equally feeling guilty he is not with you. You boast on any of his talents and how smart and handsome he is.

You allow yourself to sleep in multiple contorted positions as he sprawls all over your bed because his comfort is more important than your own, and it melts your heart to see him so comfortably sleeping knowing he is feeling safe and secure with you.

You do without other things in life, because you would rather spend your money on your family, and he is your family. You plan Christmas presents for him, birthday parties, and thoughtfully pick out each toy you think he would love.

You take him to the doctor on time to make sure he has all of his vaccines, because the thought of him being sick breaks your heart. And when he is sick, you rush him to the doctor or the hospital because you cannot bear seeing him in pain or discomfort, not even asking for the numbers as you force over your credit card into the receptionist’s hand.
And you exhaust all options to keep him healthy. You demand any test be done to diagnose and treat anything that could possibly be wrong. You fight with insurance to see what all can be covered.

And when you are told the worst news, that no matter how much you pay, where you travel, or what doctor sees him, that there is no curing him this time, your heart shatters. It shatters into pieces and your world turns dark. You look into his eyes that have only known kindness and compassion, and you have to make the decision. No one else gets to but you. You have to decide that when the time comes, and it always comes too soon, that he will not be in pain or suffer. He is your dependent. You chose to look after him. You chose to be there for him, which includes the heavy parts.

So you schedule hospice and contact hospitals in advance to find the most comfortable way for him to leave this world, and put on a brave smile despite the fact that you’re still breaking inside. You want him to be as happy and content as possible. And he feeds off of your energy. You snap as many photos and videos of him as you can.

And when the time comes and he is in his last moments, you’re there with him. You hold him. You feel regret, anxiety, dread, and fear flood your entire body. You want to scream, but you don’t. Instead you look in his eyes and kiss his head, making sure your face…his favorite thing in the whole world, is the last thing he sees, as he is snuggled up with his favorite blanket. You watch him take his last breath, and then you finally unleash all of your emotion. You sit there screaming and crying, not caring how many people around you hear your pain. And you hold him.
You stay until the doctor comes back again and you plead and beg that the staff is gentle with him as they take him, and make sure he won’t be by himself even though logically you know it won’t matter at this point. And you grab his favorite blanket as you’re barely able to make it out the door so you can save it in an air-tight bag because you are afraid to lose his scent.

And you grieve. You cry a lot. You cry in the middle of the night a lot, because he isn’t there with you. You look through pictures and videos that initially make you happy, but leave you feeling cheated and empty all over again. You avoid driving down the street where he had his last moments because despite how long it’s been and how good of a day you’re having, there are too many emotions and memories tied to that place. You set up an area in your house that serves as a small shrine to his time here with you including his favorite toy, his tag, his prints you made in dough so you can always remember the size, and his ashes.

And you learn to live without him. You learn to think back on memories and not break down. You grow to appreciate his time in your life and are truly thankful of the type of person you turned into for caring for him. You still celebrate him on his birthdays, and make sure he has his ornament on the Christmas tree, this time as an angel. And you can reflect on your time together as the bitterness fades and is replaced with appreciation.

Is parenting a dog the same as parenting a human? I don’t believe anyone truly thinks that. Losing a human child would have to be the hardest, most difficult thing a parent could ever endure. No, a dog is not the same as a human. No, the loss is nowhere on the same spectrum. No, the relationship could never be the same.
But sometimes some people belittle others for calling themselves a dog-parent. All I think is that those people haven’t had the privilege of being connected with one of the world’s most loving, genuine, happy, and devoted creatures. And I hope one day they get to experience that kind of relationship, because despite the loss that we inevitably encounter, it is one of the most rewarding experiences one can go through.

07/02/2024

Charlie is our 🐾PET OF THE MONTH🐾

Charlie is a very joyful, sweet and happy boy. He was born in Oak Ridge, NC. Charlie loves to stop and smell the flowers and is curious about everything. Charlie is very social. He likes to play with other dogs and really enjoys meeting and being with people, too. He doesn't bark but he does yodel when super excited. He tries to speak sometimes, too. He loves to sit in high places, especially chairs. He has a toy box and rotates playing with all of his toys. His favorite stuffed animals are his puppy, teddy bear and hedgehog. He enjoys swimming in the river and going on outings to public places where he can be around people. He goes to get his collar and leash when he's excited about an outing. He smiles and wags his tail a lot!

07/02/2024

Ninja, a beautiful Bengal, came in today for her post op recheck with Dr Kimery. She is so super soft & sweet.

07/01/2024

Hoping for a Fear Free Fourth of July? While this time of year may be a time of fun and celebration for us, many pets have a different experience when it comes to firework festivities. With the unpredictable noises and flashing lights, many pets experience extreme fear, anxiety, and stress. Please give us a call for your pets anxiety medications as soon as possible.

06/30/2024

🐾 Signs of Ear Infections in Pets: Know the Symptoms! 🐶🐱

Hey Pet Parents! Keeping an eye on our furry friends' health is super important. Here are some signs your pet might have an ear infection:

🐾Common Symptoms🐾
➡️**Head Shaking or Tilting**: Frequent head shaking or tilting can indicate discomfort.
➡️**Scratching at Ears**: Excessive scratching or pawing at the ears.
➡️**Odor**: A strong, unpleasant smell coming from the ear.
➡️**Redness or Swelling**: Look out for any redness, swelling, or inflammation in the ear.
➡️**Discharge**: Presence of dark brown, yellow, or bloody discharge.
➡️**Pain or Sensitivity**: Your pet may react negatively when their ears are touched.
➡️**Balance Issues**: Difficulty walking or loss of balance can be a sign.

If you notice any of these symptoms, it's important to consult your vet. Early treatment can prevent more serious issues and keep your pet happy and healthy! ❤️

Feel free to share this post to spread awareness among fellow pet lovers! 🐾

06/28/2024

Khloe came in to get her final puppy shots today. She is such a good girl.

06/27/2024

Have you checked your town's schedule for fireworks this year? 👀
Not all places do fireworks on the 4th! 🎆🎆
Call in for your pet's calming meds so you can be prepared! 😃🌟 336-644-1522

06/25/2024

Happy Tongue out Tuesday from Maverick & Emily today. We would love to see your pets Tongue out Tuesday pictures 😁🐾🐾

06/22/2024

They tell you not to cry.
They tell you it's just a dog, not a person.
They tell you that the pain will pass.
They tell you that animals don't know they have to die.
They tell you that the important thing is not to make him suffer.
They tell you that you can have another .
They tell you that it will pass.
They tell you that there are more unbearable pains.

But they don't know how many times you've looked your dog in the eye.

They don't know how many times it's been you and your dog alone, staring into the dark.

They don't know how many times your dog was the only one by your side.

They don't know that the only one who has never judged you is your dog.

They don't know how scared you were the night their cries woke you up.

They don't know how many times your dog slept near you.

They don't know how much you've changed since the dog became part of your life.

They don't know how many times you hugged him when he was sick.

They don't know how many times you've pretended not to see how her hair turned whiter and whiter.

They don't know how many times you've talked to your dog, the only one who really listens.

They don't know how beautiful you were to your dog.

They don't know it was only your dog who knew you were suffering.

They don't know what feelings your dog made you try.

They don't know what it feels like to see your elderly dog ​​straining to come say hi to you.

They don't know that when things went wrong, the only one who didn't go is your dog.

They don't know that your dog trusted you every moment of his life, even in the last one.

They don't know how much your dog has loved you and how little was enough for him to be happy, because you were enough for him.

They don't know that crying for a dog is one of the most noble, meaningful, true, clean and sincere things you can do.

They don't know about the last time you moved him with difficulty... being careful not to hurt him.

They don't know what it felt like to caress his face in the last moments of his life...

~ Author unknown

06/19/2024

Please like & follow our page and invite all your facebook friends. We are trying to get to 1k followers!!!! We love our LBVH Family ♥️🐾🐾

06/19/2024

Living with a dog is 90% following each other around, watching each other go potty, and wondering what the other has in their mouth 😂🐾🐶🐕🐩🐕‍🦺

06/15/2024

Happy National Best Friends Day! ​

Today, we celebrate the unbreakable bond between pets and parents. We cherish every wag, purr, and cuddle shared. 🐾❤️ ​

Share a photo of your BFF in the comments below!​

06/14/2024

Welcome to goofy Friday at LBVH from Doc & Gigi 🐾🐾

06/11/2024

Have you noticed any of these symptoms in your pet? If so, it could be OA (osteoarthritis). We have once a month arthritis injections for cats & dogs that could be of great benefit. Give us a call today to schedule an appointment to discuss if your pet is a candidate for these.

06/09/2024

Help us wish Dr. Lofgren a very, very happy birthday. He absolutely loves taking care of all your furbabies!!! Thank you for everything you do Doc!!! 🎂🎉🐾🩷

06/07/2024

Oakley came in today to start her puppy vaccinations with Dr Kimery. She is so stinking adorable 🐾🐾♥️♥️

06/06/2024

Help us give a big welcome to Raquel. She is a wonderful vet tech that will be working with us.

06/04/2024

Josephine had a little accident yesterday with her toenail & had to spend the night with us. She is such a sweetheart. 🐾♥️