NorthPaws Animal Hospital

03/03/2025

Spring is on it's way! We met some cute new friends in the month of February!💙🐾

02/17/2025

Navigating the treat aisles for your pets can be overwhelming. There are endless options, but how do you know what is best for your pet's dental health?
There is an organization known as Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) who has made finding great products much simpler!

VOHC recognizes products that meet pre-set standards of the effectiveness of slowing down the process of accumulation of plaque and calculus (tartar) in dogs and cats. Products are awarded the VOHC Seal of Acceptance following the review of data from trials conducted according to the protocols that VOHC has established.
VOHC asserts that the regular use of products carrying their seal will reduce the severity of periodontal disease in pets.

Some examples of VOHC food and treats are seen here with the VOHC logo.

Don't hesitate to give our office a call if you have any questions regarding what is best for your pet.

02/10/2025

The best way to stay on top of your pet's dental health is by brushing their teeth. Teaching your pet to allow their teeth to be brushed can take time. Here are some helpful hints on how to get started. Remember to use toothpaste formulated for animals- they come in a variety of flavors!

02/05/2025

Whether you plan to run FCATs or just want your pup to learn some basic tricks – February is dedicated to dog training. The American Kennel Club recommends 10 basic tasks all dogs should learn, known as their Canine Good Citizen program including: basic commands like sit, stay, and leave-it, and even training your pet to be used to grooming procedures (ear cleanings, nail trims, bathing).

Need help with training? We recommend Peaceable Paws, LLC ; Fitnacity Dog Training; and 4 Legged Friends.

02/03/2025

February is National Pet Dental Health Month!

Did you know:

The American Veterinary Dental Society reports that 80% of dogs and 70% of cats show signs of oral disease by age 3. Disease is often indicated by bad breath, a change in eating or chewing habits, pawing at the face and mouth, and depression.

Give our office a call for any questions you have regarding your pets' dental health needs.

01/30/2025

Just wanna "paws" to share these cuties that came in to see us in January! 🐾💙

01/20/2025

Our office will be closed from 11:30am-2pm today for a staff meeting.
On the third Monday of each month, we will close from 11:30am-2pm to allow our staff to meet and discuss ways to serve you better!

01/20/2025

We will be opening on time today. If you need to cancel your appointment because of the weather, please give us a call when we open. Everyone please stay safe and warm ❄️💚💙

01/06/2025

Due to the winter weather, NorthPaws Animal Hospital will be closed today. If you have a scheduled appointment or surgery today for your pet, we will be calling you shortly to reschedule that appointment. If you have a dog or a cat that needs emergency medical attention today, please call Mountain View Animal Emergency or Partners Veterinary Emergency. If your bird or other exotic pet needs emergency medical attention today, please call Blue Ridge veterinary Associates or Stahl Exotic Animal Veterinary Services. We plan to be open with regular hours on Tuesday, 1/7/25. Everyone please stay safe and warm!

01/05/2025

Today is National Bird Day. There are a lot of things to consider when getting a bird- including where to take them when they are sick. Did you know we have three doctors at NorthPaws who treat avian patients? Call the office to schedule a wellness or medical exam with Dr. Becker, Dr. Burkhart, or Dr. Mumma. Any domesticated bird, from tiny budgies to large macaws, even your favorite farm fowl (chickens, duck, and geese) -we see them all.

Our friends with The Phoenix Landing Foundation also have a great free newsletter each month with lots of great information – check them out at https://www.phoenixlanding.org/

Share your favorite photos of your feathered friends to celebrate!

​Phoenix Landing is a non-profit parrot welfare organization that serves Maryland, D.C., Virginia, North Carolina, Northeast Florida, and neighboring areas through our parrot adoption and education programs.

01/03/2025

Welcome to 2025! We hope it will be a good year for you and your families, as well as all parrots captive and wild. Here is our January newsletter, with information about our upcoming events. And please help us spread the word about adoption - it is the best way to make sure our captive parrots have a succession of good homes. https://conta.cc/3PjuJak

01/02/2025

Today is National Pet Travel Safety Awareness. Here are a few simple tips to keep in mind when traveling with your fur babies:

1. Keep your pets secured in a crate/carrier or utilize special harnesses. Just like us, you should buckle your pets in place.
2. Ideally travel with your pets in the back seat or on the floor behind the driver’s seat. Front seat airbags could cause injuries if deployed.
3. Pre-plan pet-friendly pit stops; look for places with a chance to stretch and potty, as well as pet-friendly restaurants and hotels for longer trips.
4. Make sure your pet has proper identification. This includes collars, tags, and/or microchips. Make sure your pet’s microchip is registered with up-to-date information.
5. Keep a physical or digital copy of your pet’s immunizations on hand if traveling long distances.
6. Make sure you know where emergency veterinary services are at your final destination just in case.

For more information and traveling tips check out the AVMA’s FAQ page:
https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/petcare/traveling-your-pet-faq

For information on domestic or international travel check out the USDA APHIS website:
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pet-travel

As a friendly reminder, we will make posts on our page regarding any closures due to inclement weather as well as trying to reach out to scheduled appointments individually to advise any scheduling changes as soon as possible regarding any inclement weather. If you ever have an appointment scheduled and feel you cannot safely travel to our office due to weather conditions, please call the office to reschedule. Your pet and your own safety is our priority!

01/01/2025

We hope everyone had a good start to the New Year! We'd love to see you and your fur-babies celebrating - drop a photo below of your festivities!

Speaking of celebrating - did you know we have a REFURRAL program? If you refer a friend or family member to us and they put your information down on their client forms, we give you a $10 credit towards future visits. We appreciate everyone's trust and confidence in our staff caring for your fur-babies and want to give a small token of appreciate back. Thank you for your support and we look forward to all the new faces 2025 may bring and the return visits from our established patients!

- Team NorthPaws

12/30/2024

Finishing out 2024 with these cuties! We look forward to seeing everyone in 2025! Have a Happy New Year!🥳🐾

12/30/2024

As a reminder, we will be closing early Tuesday, December 31s at 12 noon. We will be closed the full day on Wednesday, January 1st in celebration of New Years Day. We will reopen for regular office hours on Thursday, January 2nd.

If you have a medical emergency with a cat or dog, please contact:
Mountain View Animal Emergency at 301-733-7339 located at 13810 Crayton Blvd,, Hagerstown, MD 21742
Partners Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Center at 301-770-5225 located at 7330 Guilford Dr, Frederick, MD 21704
If you have a medical emergency with a bird or exotic patient, please contact:
Pender Exotic Veterinary Centre at 703-654-3100 located at 4001 Legato Rd, Fairfax, VA 22033

Thank you for a great 2024...here's to 2025!

12/23/2024

Our office will be closing at 12pm on Tuesday, December 31st. We will reopen on Thursday, January 2nd at 8am.
Please ensure you plan ahead for your pet's food, medications, and preventatives. Please let us know as soon as possible if you need refills; we kindly ask for a 24-hour notice to ensure we can accommodate your requests. A rush medication fill fee will apply for refill with less than 24-hour notice.

If you have a medical emergency with a cat or dog, please contact:
Mountain View Animal Emergency at 301-733-7339 located at 13810 Crayton Blvd,, Hagerstown, MD 21742
Partners Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Center at 301-770-5225 located at 7330 Guilford Dr, Frederick, MD 21704
If you have a medical emergency with a bird or exotic patient, please contact:
Pender Exotic Veterinary Centre at 703-654-3100 located at 4001 Legato Rd, Fairfax, VA 22033

12/23/2024

As a reminder, we will be closed tomorrow Tuesday, December 24th thru Wednesday, December 25th so our employees can enjoy the Christmas holiday with their families. We will resume regular office hours on Thursday, December 26th.
If you have a medical emergency with a cat or dog, please contact:
Mountain View Animal Emergency at 301-733-7339 located at 13810 Crayton Blvd,, Hagerstown, MD 21742
Partners Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Center at 301-770-5225 located at 7330 Guilford Dr, Frederick, MD 21704
If you have a medical emergency with a bird or exotic patient, please contact:
Pender Exotic Veterinary Centre at 703-654-3100 located at 4001 Legato Rd, Fairfax, VA 22033

12/18/2024

Construction delays!! They are currently paving the other lane of traffic on Leitersburg Pike (making it 1 lane in front of the clinic). If you can safely call or text and let us know if you will be late, we would appreciate it. Be safe driving.