Clays Mill Veterinary Clinic

12/05/2023

This is the puppy that was wandering in our parking lot in the rain Friday (December first.) There is a microchip but the chip isn’t registered and animal control hasn’t been able to get any information from the number.

12/01/2023

Please share! Poor little puppy found out in the rain in our parking lot this morning! We're on Clays Mill Road across from Jessie Clark Middle School. No collar, microchipped but the chip is not registered. We are not putting up any of the puppy's identifying information at this time. Call or text 859-223-5215 if you've lost a puppy in the area. NOTE: We close at 6:00 but you can still TEXT (not call) after 6:00 if this is your dog. We will be monitoring the texts after hours in case someone is just getting home and realizing what has happened.

11/02/2023

Pictures with Dr Santa! Dr. Blair is putting on his red suit in time for Christmas cards! One day only: Saturday December 2, by appointment. Call or text 859-223-5215 now to save your spot; Appointments go fast! (All pets must be nice to people and other pets, and be current on rabies vaccine.) Photos are free, but we do accept donations to our Alex Helping Pets fund, 100% of which goes to treating injured wildlife, stray animals, or animals that couldn't otherwise afford care. Hope to see you there!

11/01/2023

Show us your Halloween costumes!

10/20/2023

Happy Vet Tech Week! We use this week to honor our whole support staff of vet techs, vet assistants, and receptionists. What an amazing crew! We know they always greet you with a smile, but, believe me, their jobs can be both back breaking and heart breaking. They can pick up your 150 pound Great Danes (not by themselves, don’t worry!) but can also gently draw blood from your tiniest kitten. From snakes to ducks to parrots, hamsters, turtles, tarantulas, oppossums…. you name it, they have to learn how to handle it. They never stop studying and learning to keep up with the latest in veterinary medicine. It’s hard to describe what all they may have to do in a day. But most of all, they’ll laugh with you and cry with you and take your pets home in their minds and hearts every night. Please tell them how much you appreciate all their very hard work. ❤️

09/21/2023

We are so sorry to post this, but someone has brought us a deceased cat from Clays Mill Road. We don't want to post a picture since it may be upsetting. It is a light grey tabby with white feet and a tipped ear. Please call or text the clinic at 859-223-5215 if you have lost a cat like this. 😥

09/06/2023

Save a life by fostering one of these little guys!

08/30/2023

Please help! Everyone got adopted but me and now I’m by myself! Does anyone have room for me? 🥹
Call or text the clinic at 859-223-5215 if you’re interested in having this sweet boy in your life. Update: Well, that was fast! One of our doctors has fallen in love and is taking him home. ❤️

08/29/2023

Attention hikers! It’s baby copperhead season. Dr. Blair was taking this picture in the gorge when a person with a dog (circled) was coming from the other direction. The population of copperheads in Kentucky is much higher between late August and the time it starts getting cold. Use extreme caution if you take your dogs hiking in these months. Even though Dr Blair is an avid hiker and hikes otherwise year round with his dogs, he does not take them with him this time of year. Copperhead bites are more dangerous to dogs than to humans, and dogs are also more likely to be bitten. Stay safe out there! (And obviously don’t hurt the snakes!)

08/28/2023

In honor of National Dog Day, show us some funny pictures of your pets. This is Tilly, who doesn’t quiiiite look her best when she’s sleeping. 😄

08/24/2023

Did anyone lose this little guy? Found on Memory Lane in Lexington. If he’s yours, call 859-229-3047 (not the clinic.) I’m sure he’s had a hard few days in this weather and would be glad to get home!

08/16/2023

Anybody in your family hate traveling? Don't worry! We will come to you! HOUSE CALLS NOW AVAILABLE! Call or text the office to schedule. 859-223-5215

07/14/2023

July 10 is National Kitten Day! Post a picture of your cats and kittens below!

07/10/2023

Oh my goodness!! Did anybody lose me? I fell into the pond off Lakeshore drive and couldn't get out! Some nice man saved me with a net! Can you please share this and help me get home?

07/03/2023

PLEASE SHARE! Beautiful Delilah escaped from her owner in the parking lot this morning when her carrier broke! She is the nicest girl and I'm sure she's terrified and confused, especially with all the fireworks! Please help her get back home. She does not have a collar or microchip. If you see her please call the owner at 606-386-1557, 859-553-4103 or the clinic at 859-223-5215 or 859-806-3470. Last seen off Clays Mill Road across from Jesse Clark Middle School.

06/30/2023

Kittens! These adorable little kittens are in Eastern Kentucky where it can be a little harder to find homes. The owner of the mama cat passed away, and when a kind relative took her in, she got surprised with six kittens! If you have room in your life for one of these little fuzzers, please contact the owner directly at 859-618-5476. We don't have the kittens here at the clinic and have never seen them, just passing along the message to help them find their homes.

06/30/2023

Poor air quality alert! Smoke from forest fires can affect our pets just like it can affect us. When the air quality is poor, keep your pets indoors as much as possible, particularly if they are elderly or have breathing or heart problems. Avoid vigorously exercising them outside until the air quality is better. If you don't have air conditioning, consider using an air filter. Be especially careful with pet birds; they are particularly vulnerable to lung irritants.

If you see any of these signs, consult your veterinarian:
Coughing or gagging
Difficulty breathing, including open mouth breathing and increased noise when breathing
Eye irritation and excessive watering
Inflammation of throat or mouth
Nasal discharge
Asthma-like symptoms
Increased breathing rate
Fatigue or weakness
Disorientation or stumbling
Reduced appetite and/or thirst

06/28/2023

Firework Phobia in Pets

Follow these steps to help deal with pet firework phobia. If your pet needs medication for the 4th, be sure to call your veterinarian a few days ahead of time.

1. Prevent Escape: Some pets completely panic when they hear fireworks. You’d be surprised what a pet will do to run when it is in full blown panic. Some pets have even jumped through glass windows, and they can certainly jump over fences that they normally don’t. Make sure your pet is securely inside, maybe in a crate if they are crate trained, has a collar with an ID and preferably a microchip. If your pet is prone to panic, put them on a leash when you go out, even when your yard is fenced.

2. Let them hide: Lots of pets feel more secure if they can hide when they are scared by loud noises. They usually will find a place they like themselves, but it doesn’t hurt to make them a couple of extra-cozy places. I add a few blankets to their normal place to help muffle the noise.

3. Muffle the sound: Interior rooms without windows are good if possible, and background noise can be very helpful. Use music or television that is not so loud it is annoying, but loud enough to help disguise the firework noises. You can also combine this with other background noise like a fan, noise machine or Alexa/Google with ocean sounds. If you do this when you aren’t home, make sure the noise won’t “time out” after a couple of hours. It’s best to start the background noise before the fireworks start.

4. Medication: If you have a pet that experiences extreme anxiety with fireworks (pacing, drooling, hiding, trying to escape), consider medication. It’s not fair to them to be terrified when we can’t explain to them what is going on. If your pet has never had medication for fireworks before, talk to your vet to get them early for a trial before fireworks night. Many vet clinics are closed for the holidays, so get your medication early.

5. Act early: Once your pet has already heard the fireworks start, they will listen for them. If possible, implement your strategies before fireworks even start and your pet might not notice the noise. Medicate them early if they need medication, and have them in their safe area with background noise playing before you hear any fireworks.

6. Play it cool: Your pets really do pick up on your mood. Be calm and cool. Talk in a normal tone, neither worried or extra-soothing. Don’t rush around, act alarmed, or do a lot of “It’s okay! It’s okay!” Just act like you would on a normal day.

7. Stay home if possible: Being terrified is bad enough; being alone and terrified is worse. If you can stay home through fireworks, please do. You might want to consider a pet sitter but be SURE the pet sitter is 100% aware of escape potential during fireworks and will be very conscientious about preventing your pet from getting out.

8. Inform guests: If you are home but are having company, be extra vigilant about guests leaving doors and gates open that can lead to escape.

9. Don’t be part of the problem: Don’t set off fireworks for days and weeks before and after the 4th, and even consider finding a quieter option entirely. For our pets, our wildlife, and our veterans it causes a lot of unnecessary anxiety.

10. Have a happy and safe 4th of July!

06/27/2023

Shoes clues? If you don't wear shoes in the house, your dog may watch your feet for clues that you might be about to leave. He may relax when he sees you in socks, but get nervous or excited when you put your shoes on. What clues do your pets use to predict what is going to happen? Post a picture with the clue if you have one!

06/24/2023

For the people who know it’s a bond like no other 🥺

Listen to my new album ‘Broken By Desire To Be Heavenly Sent’ here: https://lewiscapaldi.lnk.tt/BBDTBHS Listen to my new single ‘Wish You The Best’ here:h...

06/21/2023

First day of summer is here! As much as we all love to enjoy the summer sun, please be extra careful with your dogs in the heat. Remember, 50% of dogs who get heat stroke do not survive regardless of treatment. Prevention is key! See tips for preventing heat stroke in comments. Also, SURVIVAL ODDS ARE INCREASED IF YOU IMMEDIATELY POUR WATER OVER YOUR PET IF THEY START TO OVERHEAT. Always carry lots of water (cool but not ice cold!) with you when you are out with pet in this weather, not just for you and your pet to drink, but for cooling by pouring.

05/20/2023

Happy National Rescue Dog Day!! Barry was found in the woods by one of our employees (Sarah), very sick from a rare and potentially fatal disease. We always say he knew just where to go for help! Now he's all better and living his best life! Did you adopt a rescue? Post a picture below!

03/28/2023

Check before you mow! It's baby bunny season, and as you can tell, their nests are very hard to see, even in short grass. Check your yard for these nests and leave them alone if you find them. It's normal for the mother to be away all day. Keep pets out of the area until bunnies are old enough to leave the nest. (They leave at about three weeks.) Please share!

03/03/2023

Bring all pets inside! Severe weather warning for this afternoon with possibilities of severe storms and dangerous winds. Flying debris is a big danger for outside pets. An outdoor enclosure (like a dog house) is not enough protection from the high winds predicted. Stay safe everyone!

12/30/2022

Help! I was stuck in the top of a tree in the freezing cold, crying for hours and hours until this brave fireman came to save me! Does anyone know where I belong? I was found on Clarence Drive.

12/23/2022

We don’t have elf on a shelf. We have a little guy whose name changes based on where he is or what he’s doing. Can you guess his different names? They can be boy names, girl names, or pet names. And they always (pretty much) rhyme.

12/21/2022

State of Emergency declared for snow and extreme cold. Make sure you get any food or medication you need from the clinic before Friday, when travel will become hazardous. Pets should not be kept outdoors. It's a good idea to cover an area of grass before the snow and ice start, so you can uncover it for dogs to use when going outside, then let the dogs right back in. Extreme temperatures are more dangerous for small dogs, dogs with thinner coats, and older dogs. Stay safe and happy holidays!

09/14/2022

When you get an adorable new "nosy" neighbor!

09/08/2022

Dream hug!! Do you have a pet that sleeps in an adorable way? Post a picture below! ❤️

09/07/2022

Look at the camera? No, thanks. I think this is my best side.