Calm Animal Care Veterinary Clinic

12/22/2025

'Tis the Season! Please try to be aware of the toxins and added stress for your pets, during your holiday celebrations.

The holidays are in full swing and, as always, it’s best to keep your furry friends safe while you celebrate.

12/22/2025

While most people clear pathways and spread salt to melt ice, pet owners might want to be more cautious about what they use in that process.

11/04/2025

Please be on the lookout for Skye! Young Beagle missing from the Kila area. If seen, please call Aaron (406)407-2608. Skye's family is missing her terribly.

09/17/2025

Today we say goodbye to Dr. Rachel, who has been with us since March of 2020. She is moving to Portand, where she will continue to work in veterinary medicine.

We will miss your infectious giggle, your radiant smile, as well as your compassionate care for clients and their pets. Best of luck to you in your new adventure!

09/17/2025

Edited: We are in need of gently used twin fitted sheets and twin microfiber style (not fuzzy) comforters. If you are upgrading and have any spares, we would love to take them off your hands. We are good on towels now nThank you!

06/27/2025

Here's some news!
After 41 years of leading Calm Animal Care from its humble origins in a barn up Truman Creek Road to our current home in beautiful downtown Kila, it's time for Dr Calm to hand over the reins.
We are committed to being an independently owned practice, never a corporation run for the benefit of private equity investors. Dr. Karen Hartle and Dr. Meg Gordon have both been integral to Calm Animal Care for over 20 and 10 years respectively. As its new owners, they will continue the level of compassion, service and professional expertise that has made Calm Animal Care what it is today.
To our amazing clients and their unforgettable pets, to our incredibly talented and hardworking staff, to our wise and wonderful doctors, and to Kari who herds all of us cats,
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. It's been a great honor and privilege, and I have loved almost every minute of it.
~ Barbara Calm

06/14/2025

This is great information from our friends at Whitefish Animal Hospital, regarding traveling to Canada with your furry friend.

As many of us are planning summer trips, we wanted to remind those traveling to and from Canada of the following travel requirements for your canine companions:
• Age: dog must be at least 6 months old
• Microchip: the dog must be microchipped, and the microchip should be detectable by a universal scanner.
• Rabies Vaccination: a valid rabies vaccination is required. If it’s the dogs first vaccination, there should be a 30-day waiting period between the vaccination and border crossing.
• CDC Dog Import Form: this form needs to be completed and submitted online and you’ll need to have a receipt.
• Health: the dog should appear healthy upon arrival.

Happy Trails from all of us here at Whitefish Animal Hospital.

06/14/2025

Come on down to the Summer Shindig at The Humane Society of Northwest Montana and visit us, have lunch, listen to some music. You can also try your luck at a raffle or bid on a silent auction item. It's a beautiful day in Montana 😁🐾

06/10/2025

Pets and fireworks don't mix! The 4th of July is just around the corner, and while it can be a fun time for a lot of people, it isn't the case with some of our furry friends. We encourage you to contact us now about medication options if needed, since the majority of fireworks will be set off over the weekend this year when our office is closed. We can prescribe medication that can help your pets get through the stress.

Additionally, we suggest the following tips:
Make sure your pet is wearing a collar with correct contact info (and make sure your microchip contact info is up to date);
Keep them busy with special treat toys like Kong toys;
Keep pets indoors and on a leash when outside;
Have a current photo on hand in case they do get out;
Consider walking/exercising your dog earlier in the day, when it is quiet;
Play soothing music or turn on the TV to block out the loud crackles and booms;
Get an anxiety wrap specially made for pets to help calm them;
If it is really noisy at your house, consider temporarily relocating pets to a quieter friend/relative’s house

06/09/2025

Pets and fireworks don't mix! The 4th of July is in a few days, and while it can be a fun time for a lot of people, it isn't the case with most of our furry friends. We encourage you to contact us now (like today) about medication options if needed, since the majority of fireworks will be set off when our office is closed. We can prescribe medication that can help your pets get through the stress.

Additionally, we suggest the following tips:
Make sure your pet is wearing a collar with correct contact info (and make sure your microchip contact info is up to date);
Keep them busy with special treat toys like Kong toys;
Keep pets indoors and on a leash when outside;
Have a current photo on hand in case they do get out;
Consider walking/exercising your dog earlier in the day, when it is quiet;
Play soothing music or turn on the TV to block out the loud crackles and booms;
Get an anxiety wrap specially made for pets to help calm them;
If it is really noisy at your house, consider temporarily relocating pets to a quieter friend/relative’s house or board them.

Watch for signs of stress/anxiety:
Excessive panting
Dilated pupils
Sweating paws
Raised heart rate
Whimpering/barking
Loss of appetite
Trembling
Won’t settle
Attempts to escape the room/home
Digging at the floor/carpet
Pacing the room

More pets get lost during this holiday than any other time. Please keep them safe and inside!

05/21/2025

There are current outbreaks of Canine Parvovirus (CPV) in Flathead County. This highly contagious virus can spread quickly and is often fatal if left untreated.

CPV is a dangerous illness that affects dogs, especially puppies and unvaccinated pets. It spreads through contact with infected f***s (sniffing or eating infected f***s), contaminated surfaces, or even on your shoes and clothing. Dogs that get infected with CPV can develop potentially fatal complications. It is a very hardy virus and can survive in the environment (indoor and outdoor) for more than a year!

Symptoms of Canine Parvovirus Include:
• Vomiting
• Severe, often bloody diarrhea
• Lethargy and weakness
• Loss of appetite
• Fever and dehydration

If you see these signs, call your veterinarian immediately. Do NOT just show up there, and do not get out of your vehicle when you arrive at the clinic. Clinic staff may prefer to come to you and test your dog in your vehicle, to avoid contamination of clinic grounds.

How to Protect Your Dog:
• Ensure your dog is fully vaccinated—especially puppies under 1 year old
• Avoid areas with unknown dogs or recent outbreaks (dog parks, shelters, kennels, pet stores)
• Wash your hands and change clothes/shoes after contact with other dogs
• Clean and disinfect surfaces regularly (see article below on disinfection techniques)

Canine Parvovirus is preventable. The best defense is vaccination and awareness. Help us keep our community's pets safe, and please share this information with other dog owners. Treating a dog that has CPV, can cost over $1000, depending on how sick they are. There is a Canine Parvovirus Monoclonal Antibody (CMPA) available. Dogs treated with CPMA tend to have a higher chance of survival and experience faster resolution of vomiting, inappetence, and lethargy.

Resources:
Parvovirus: How it Happens - Veterinary Partner – VIN:
https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951461
Parvovirus Infection: Diagnosis - Veterinary Partner – VIN:
https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951462
Parvovirus in Dogs - Veterinary Partner – VIN:
https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951463
Parvovirus: Vaccination and Prevention - Veterinary Partner – VIN:
https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951468
Sanitizing and Disinfecting the Environment after Parvovirus in Dogs - Veterinary Partner – VIN:
https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=10259151
Parvovirus: Caring for the Recovered Dog - Veterinary Partner – VIN:
https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951465
10 Facts About Parvovirus:
https://idahovethospital.com/hospital_news/10-facts-about-parvovirus/
Dog Parvovirus – What You Need to Know:
https://www.sweetwatervet.net/site/blog/2024/02/29/dog-parvovirus

04/23/2025

‘Tis the season! Ticks are out and about and crawling all over your dogs and cats (and then on you!). We have already had 3 cases of tick paralysis this month, so this is your PSA to get your pets on preventatives! Meanwhile, we have a tick farm started.