Howell Animal Hospital strives to provide the highest quality preventative and therapeutic medicine
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West Nile Virus (WNV) was confirmed in a horse in Eaton County! It is not too late to update your horse's WNV vaccine to ensure they are protected against this serious disease.
Read more: https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/about/media/pressreleases/2024/08/16/mdard-confirms-first-case-of-west-nile-virus-for-2024-in-an-eaton-county-horse
Rabies is in Brighton! A bat has tested positive for rabies. This is an important reminder why it is necessary to keep your dog, cats, and horses up to date on a rabies vaccine - even if your pets are indoor only, bats can and do get inside homes. This disease is fatal to you and your pets. Immediately report any pet-bat interaction to your vet and keep the bat for testing when possible.
Read more: https://milivcounty.gov/rabid-bat-identified-in-livingston-county-2/
Remember, it's not too late to vaccinate your horse against EEE (Eastern Equine Encephalitis)! The concern is real as MDARD has confirmed the first EEE case in a horse in Michigan. The vaccine is 95% effective and the disease devastating, causing death 90% of the time.
Read more about how to protect yourself and your horse: https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/about/media/pressreleases/2024/08/07/mdard-confirms-first-case-of-eastern-equine-encephalitis-for-2024-in-a-van-buren-county-horse
From keeping cool to staying calm, there are a number of ways to ensure animals are protected throughout any celebration
Welcome "Bo Bo!" This was this sweet boy's first time here. He is so gentle and has such beautiful eyes!
Where was Dr. Fischer last month? Click the link to learn what international veterinary medicine looks like! We are a little jealous of her and her students' experience! https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089282855627&mibextid=ZbWKwL
Wallen is such a cute boy! He's still a baby but as sweet as can be to meet the doctor for the first time.
Do you like horses? What a silly question! Of course you do!
If you are an experienced horse handler and are interested in a job where you can help these wonderful animals feel better consider joining our equine team as a vet assistant!
For more information on the position call (517) 546-1340
Thanks for all who set aside today to participate in our staff training! We had fun learning about different personalities and how to use this new knowledge to work better as a team and when communicating with our clients. We also appreciate Bridget with Boehringer Ingelheim for leading us through this training.
We are looking forward to a staff training event we are having next Thursday, January 11th to help us take care of your pets even better! Unfortunately, this means we will be opening late at 1pm. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Horses are generally content and compliant animals—unlike humans, they don’t typically have “bad days” that negatively affect their personalities due to emotional duress. Furthermore, as a prey animal they are cognitively designed NOT to show stress or injury, or else they will be recognized as a target by a predator, or bumped down the herd hierarchy.
If a horse is acting differently, it is almost undoubtedly due to a medical issue. We can appreciate this as lameness, but typically the behavioral signs preclude an obvious gait abnormality. Sometimes these behaviors seem chronic (e.g., “He/she always pins their ears when we tighten the girth, or bites at my leg when I ask for more effort.”), but it is important to remember that many horses live with chronic pain. It is rare that a horse is angry or cranky as a result of its genetic nature. Admittedly, some horses “train” their people to back off if they demonstrate a particular behavior, but pain absolutely should be ruled out before coming to this conclusion.
Therefore, if your horse is acting differently, or comes out stiff or lame, it is necessary to consider medical reasons for this behavior, even if your equine friend “works out of it.” As pain is generated, the horse’s body releases pain modifying agents in order to perform its job—which once again goes back to being a prey animal.
As the guardians of these magnificent animals, it is imperative that we “listen” to what the horse is trying to tell us and at the very least get a medical expert’s non-biased opinion about what could be going on, in order to rule out injury or illness as a contributing factor. We owe it to the horse.
Brought to you by the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee
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Want to learn more? Watch the documentary based on Dr. Sue Dyson’s groundbreaking work on signs of pain in the ridden horse here: https://equimanagement.com/news/dr-sue-dyson-featured-in-new-equine-documentary-on-the-24-behaviors-of-the-ridden-horse-in-pain/
The clinic will be closing at 3:30pm today for a staff event! We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Eastern Equine Encephalitis AND West Nile Virus have been confirmed in horses in Michigan this year! We already knew it was in our mosquito population so it is no surprise we are seeing it in horses now. In both these cases the horses were not vaccinated.
Even if your horse has been vaccinated in the past, immunity lasts about 9 months which is why we recommend they receive the vaccine yearly to get them protected. Remember, EEE is 90% FATAL in horses but the vaccine is 95% EFFECTIVE!
Read more by visiting: https://tinyurl.com/53j9ejs4
Fall is fast approaching and so is leaf season! As your allergies start to act up again, be careful to not let your pet accidentally get a hold of your medication.
Pseudoephedrine, Phenylephrine, Decongestant Nasal Sprays, Redness Relief Eye Drops, and Cough Drops with Xylitol are all toxic to pets. If your pet starts exhibiting abnormal behavior, call your vet immediately.
Some allergy medications such as Benadryl (Diphenhydramine) can be given to pets safely but only under the direction of your veterinarian for a specific reason. Pet allergies are different than human allergies in symptoms and treatment.
Read more from the ASPCA: https://www.aspcapro.org/resource/allergy-medications-are-toxic-pets
Photo by: Галина Ласаева: https://www.pexels.com/photo/an-adorable-dog-with-a-maple-leaf-14309969/
Happy labor day! In celebration, Howell Animal Hospital will be closed Monday, September 4th.
If you have a horse emergency you can reach us at (517) 546-1340.
If you have a small animal emergency, please call one of these 24/7 emergency clinics:
Michigan State University: (517) 353 5240
Animal Emergency Center: (248) 348 1788
Greater Lansing Veterinary Center: (517) 708 2525
As always, we wish you and your furry family have a safe and relaxing holiday celebration!
There is a "stroke" that can threaten the life of any pet called heatstroke. It can hit quickly if pets do not have access to a cool place with adequate ventilation and water (e.g. being outside on a hot or humid day, in a house, and ESPECIALLY cars). First signs include excessive panting, excessive drooling, and difficulty breathing but can quickly progress to vomiting, seizures, and death. Be especially careful with short-faced dogs like this Boston Terrier as they cannot pant as efficiently as other breeds to cool themselves off. NEVER leave your pet in the car understanding that it can heat up as much as 20°F in as little as 10 minutes!
To learn more about symptoms and treatment, visit https://www.aaha.org/your-pet/pet-owner-education/ask-aaha/how-can-i-prevent-heatstroke-in-my-pet.
Or, read this statement from the state veterinarian: https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/about/media/pressreleases/2022/08/03/mdard-state-veterinarian-statement-on-pets-and-hot-vehicles
Photo by: freestocks.org: https://www.pexels.com/photo/white-and-black-short-coat-puppy-on-black-window-car-134392/
While rare, drinking too much water can cause an imbalance in your dog's electrolyte levels called water intoxication. It usually occurs on hot days when your pet has visited a pool or lake. You may notice abnormal behavior such as decreased energy (lethargy) and vomiting. Treatment by your vet includes restoring the electrolyte balance in your dog's blood. If you are ever concerned about your pet, please do not hesitate to give us a call at (517) 546-1340.
To read more, visit the ASPCA's website at: https://www.aspcapro.org/resource/treating-acute-water-intoxication-pets
Photo by: Roberto Nickson: https://www.pexels.com/photo/adult-tan-dog-about-to-jump-on-body-of-water-2791658/
Rabies was recently identified in a bat found in a Howell resident's home. Protect your pets by making sure your dog, cat, horse, and ferret are up to date on their rabies vaccine. As always, avoid any contact with bats. To read more about the Livingston County case, visit WHMI at https://tinyurl.com/ycy44edk. To learn how to protect yourself, visit the CDC at https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/index.html.
Image from: Local 4 WDIV Detroit news
Many of us are preparing to send our kids back to school and the holiday season does not feel too far away! In your preparations don't forget about your pets. Now is a great time to make sure they are up to date on their vaccines. Also, make sure you have enough heartworm and flea and tick prevention for your dog in the coming months. If you have questions on what your animal is due for, feel free to give us a call at (517) 546-1340.
Cats (indoor or out) should be current on their Rabies and Feline Distemper (RCP) vaccines. Outdoor cats also receive a Feline Leukemia vaccine.
Dogs should be current (at least) on Rabies, Canine Distemper, Canine Hepatitis, Parvovirus, and Leptospirosis.
Horses should have Rabies, Eastern and Western Encephalitis, Tetanus, West Nile Virus, Potomac Horse Fever, and Rhino Influenza.
Poison hemlock (easily confused with Queen Ann's Lace) is toxic for all creatures (including dogs, cats, horses, and humans). When eaten, it causes neurologic signs including drooling, trembling, paralysis, and diarrhea. Though animal ingestion is uncommon, because of its health risk to you and your pets it is important to be able to identify it (though a challenge) and to remove it from your property before it can spread.
To read more how to do this, MSU's extension office has a very helpful article: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/poison-hemlock-identification-and-control.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture also has a good article with excellent pictures (including the one featured here) https://www.mda.state.mn.us/plants/pestmanagement/weedcontrol/targetplants/elimtargetplants/poisonhemlock.
To read more about this poisoning in animals, visit the ASPCA's website (https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/poison-hemlock) or view this article from DVM360 (https://www.dvm360.com/view/plants-poisonous-horses-neurotoxic-variety - hemlock is listed 4th)
We don't want coming to the vet to be a traumatic experience for you or your cat. While we do everything here we can to make it a positive experience, training your cat to a carrier at home can make a HUGE difference!
First: You know your cat is smart - they always seem to know they're going to the vet when the carrier comes out of the closet. Instead, keep the carrier out ALL THE TIME (so your cat feels it's just part of the house).
Second: Let your cat use the carrier as a BED. If your carrier has a top that can be taken off, keep this open as well.
Third: FEED your cat its food or favorite treats in the carrier.
Finally: PLAY fun games with your cat getting it used to running in and out of the carrier.
Research has shown that the sugar content in grass actually changes throughout the summer day. At night time, grass is concentrated on growing instead of sugar production therefore when your horse is grazing they take in less sugar.
Decreasing sugar intake by only grazing your horse at night or at least between 6-10am is beneficial for all horses who don't need that many calories and for those with conditions that make it hard to process the sugar such as those with insulin resistance, Cushing's (PPID), or laminitis.
Sugar content however is high in cool weather (
Recently, a kitten in Oakland County was found to be positive for rabies. Rabies is spread through the saliva of an infected animal usually through a cut or bite in the skin. Bats are the most common carriers. Protect yourself and your pet by making sure your dog, cat, horse, or ferret is current on its rabies vaccine. If your pet is in an altercation with another animal, seek veterinary treatment immediately. Rabies is always fatal to animals. To read more about the kitten that was found, visit: https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2023/07/06/rabies-detected-in-stray-kitten-found-in-oakland-county-what-to-know/
To celebrate a staff wedding, we are closing early at 12pm!
Mosquitoes are testing positive for EEE (Eastern Equine Encephalitis) in Michigan! Because of this, it's not long before we will start seeing cases in horses. Even if your horse has been vaccinated in the past, immunity lasts about 9 months which is why we recommend they receive the vaccine yearly to get them protected before EEE arrives. Remember, this disease is 90% FATAL in horses but the vaccine is 95% EFFECTIVE!
To read more about EEE from UC Davis College of Veterinary Medicine, visit https://tinyurl.com/4wskdde5.
To read more about EEE in Michigan, visit https://tinyurl.com/527dbm9e.
If you have a horse emergency on tomorrow, July 4th, you can reach Dr. Fischer at (517) 546-1340.
If you have a small animal emergency, please call one of these 24/7 emergency clinics:
Michigan State University: (517) 353 5240
Animal Emergency Center: (248) 348 1788
Greater Lansing Veterinary Center: (517) 708 2525
As always, we wish you and your furry family have a safe and relaxing holiday celebration!
Just like people, poor air quality can impact the health of animals. Yesterday, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) released a statement suggesting that animals should stay inside with the windows closed. Instead, good ventilation can be provided via fans, AC, or air purifiers. Finally, avoid strenuous activity with any of your animals.
If your animals are acting sick including changes in their breathing or behavior, please call us immediately at (517) 546-1340.
To read more from MDARD, please visit https://tinyurl.com/3hxptf5e
Say hello to Theia (held by Rebecca one of our technicians)! She's such an adorable pug that was here for her puppy vaccines. Theia is unique where one eye is brown and the other is blue. Do you know what this is called? Post your guesses below!
Do you find yourself dreading the 4th of July just because you know how much the firework noises scare your pet? If so, try some or all of these tips so both you and your pet can enjoy the celebrations!
1. Give your pet a sanctuary away from activity and play classical music/white noise
2. Use dog/cat specific pheromones - you can find sprays for their bed or diffusers for a room.
3. Try a Thunder-Shirt/or Calming Coat - some pets find the pressure comforting like a hug.
4. Ask us for a veterinary prescription for relaxing medication if your pet needs extra help. Call us at (517) 546-1340.
Sam, one of our veterinary assistants, demonstrates with her new puppy Dutton how easy it is to get pets prepared for future vet visits. Every day she touches his paws, ears, mouth, and then celebrates with him!
215 E Highland Road
Howell, MI
48843
| Monday | 8am - 7pm |
| Tuesday | 8am - 7pm |
| Wednesday | 8am - 7pm |
| Thursday | 8am - 7pm |
| Friday | 8am - 5pm |
| Saturday | 9am - 2pm |
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Do you find yourself dreading the 4th of July just because you know how much the firework noises scare your pet? If so, try some or all of these tips so both you and your pet can enjoy the celebrations! 1. Give your pet a sanctuary away from activity and play classical music/white noise 2. Use dog/cat specific pheromones - you can find sprays for their bed or diffusers for a room. 3. Try a Thunder-Shirt/or Calming Coat - some pets find the pressure comforting like a hug. 4. Ask us for a veterinary prescription for relaxing medication if your pet needs extra help. Call us at (517) 546-1340.
Sam, one of our veterinary assistants, demonstrates with her new puppy Dutton how easy it is to get pets prepared for future vet visits. Every day she touches his paws, ears, mouth, and then celebrates with him!
Happy Foal Friday! Dr. Fischer took this video of this beautiful colt hours after he was born when she was performing his first exam!
Stefan was here yesterday to be neutered! He is such a sweet bunny. We could tell that he is well taken care of. This video was taken after his surgery. We were sharing little bits of fruit from our lunches to encourage him to eat - bananas were his favorite! In addition to only feeding safe fruits (e.g. grapes, apples, bananas) it is important to only feed a small amount as treats because they are so high in sugar. His mom feeds mostly veggies, hay and a small amount of fruit providing him with a well balanced diet!
Stitch came in this morning with a very serious situation after eating rodent poison! In these situations immediate treatment is key to recovery. Thankfully dad noticed him and jumped into action bringing him to the clinic right away. Dr. Kettel was able to start treating him within half an hour by emptying his stomach and giving activated charcoal which binds up any poison before it can cause harm. In this video he is loving his activated charcoal and actually begged for more. He was the perfect patient! We will continue to monitor him over the next couple of days but we are so thankful things are looking good for Stitch.
EEE case confirmed TODAY in Livingston County! For further information on this disease and how you can protect your horse, please visit https://www.michigan.gov/emergingdiseases or give us a call at (517) 546-1340.
Town Center Veterinary Associates
E Grand River Avenue
Red Barn Veterinary Medical Center
E Highland Road
