Fox Valley Veterinary Clinic

Give your dogs some extra love on National Dog Day! ❣️

Grateful for the joy, laughter, and completeness our pets bring every day. 🐾💞

National Exercise Day helps to raise awareness about the importance of exercise in maintaining good health and preventing chronic diseases! Exercising is great for you and your animals ❣️

This World Rabies Day, let’s advocate for the elimination of rabies. Though rabies is a global issue affecting more than 150 countries and territories, we can still help prevent it with proper vaccination protocols and awareness programs. 🌎🐈🐕 . . #WorldRabiesDay

August is Itchy Pet Awareness Month!

Happy and safe Fourth of July to you and your pets! 🇺🇸 🎉 . . #HappyFourth #4thOfJuly

This is our week to hold our cute furry friends close and show them how much they mean to us! What’s your favorite way to pamper your pet? Let us know in the comments! 🐱🐶 . . #PetAppreciationWeek #PamperYourPet

Please enjoy the haunting sounds of Loons after dusk in the Boundary Waters. -Dr. Brooks DVM

Receive a customized gift box from KONG® when you buy 6 doses of HEARTGARD® Plus (ivermectin/pyrantel) and 3 doses of NexGard® (afoxolaner). Ask us for offer details!

Wonderful World

In spite of all the concern and distress these days, the world goes on, and what a wonderful world it is! Please enjoy these pictures taken in Texas during the past week by my son, Rob. Gorgeous sunrise, and then the Prickly Pear cactus flowers, not to be outdone, captured the orange of the sky for its flowers. I only wish I had taken them, but at least I can share them with you. And then, there is our little "Yellow rose of Texas", Freya, with her own version of orange! Take care. -Dr. Brooks DVM

Coronavirus has covered the earth, but take heart in the joy of other parts of life continuing as they have for our lifetimes, for recorded time, indeed perhaps for eons. I have shared the arrival of Spring at our clinic for several years, and this year it seems even more necessary. I hope you enjoy these images of crocuses, forsythia bushes, blue squill, daffodils and narcissus from our front yard and neighborhood. Stay safe, take care, and look forward to our lives getting back to the old normal! Dr. Brooks

Sock Project

Dr. Brooks is Scoutmaster of Troop 104 here in North Aurora. One of his Scouts is entering final stages of completing his Eagle service project and has asked we share his message on our page. If you feel you can help, or can share this forward, our practice will be a collection site for his project. Thanks for your consideration and your help.

Chronic kidney (renal) disease commonly affects older animals, but it can also occur in younger animals with congenital abnormalities. Feeding a low-protein diet is one of the mainstays of treating chronic renal failure. This is because the protein in the food needs to be broken down by the body to be used for energy, and one of the byproducts is blood urea nitrogen (BUN). Your pet will start to feel worse if their kidneys can't remove that BUN. A high-quality, low protein diet makes it easier for the kidneys. Sometimes a diet change alone and keeping them hydrated can help your pet feel better.

14 Brownies from the North Aurora Brownie Troop #2099 toured our clinic learning about pet care and the role of the veterinarian from Dr. Brooks and Dr. TAB.

I want to share a magical moment, an example of being in the right place at the right time. Canoeing on the Fox with Scouts last Saturday, came upon this shimmering sandstone wall. Enjoy as if you were there (but without the 25 mph headwinds)! --Dr. Brooks DVM

Launched in 1995, World Spay Day is an annual campaign that aims to encourage people to save animal lives by spaying and neutering companion animals and feral cats.The 23rd annual World Spay Day is February 28, 2017. Spread the message! Make Every Day Spay Day! There are many great reasons to spay or neuter pets, so don't wait until the last Tuesday in February to take action. Visit the resources below and start today! https://www.animalsheltering.org/worldspayday http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/spay_day/

Here are a few images from last week's trip to northern Minnesota. A sunset on Back Bay, a trail dinner of fish stew at our next camp, and a sunrise on Basswood Lake enjoyed by me and the beaver swimming across the view. God's country, for sure. - Dr. Brooks DVM

Use these tips to pick an appropriate scratching post to satisfy your cat's itch to scratch. 1. PICK THE RIGHT POST. Think about the places your cat scratches now. What's their preferred material? Scout out posts and coverings that mimic their favorite scratching surface, from sisal to cardboard to carpet-covered posts or even wood or leather. 2. STRUCTURE MATTERS. Does your kitty crave vertical scratching surfaces or horizontal ones? Some cats will enjoy a mix of both. 3. HOW HIGH? Does your cat stretch high and far above their head? They might like higher posts. Just be sure it's sturdy so it won't wibble, wobble, or fall while your cat's soothing their scratching urge. 4. LOCATION MATTERS. Just like real estate, where you place your scratching board counts. Your kitty craves your attention, so it's best to post their post in highly trafficked areas, where the family spend time together. This way their kitty "furniture" is on the scene, close to you - the one they love the best!

Your pet creates most sores by licking or scratching their skin to relieve such itchy problems as fleas, mites, or allergies. Skin infection also causes sores. Dogs may relentlessly lick their skin out of boredom and create sores called lick granulomas. These pets usually target their front legs, and the constant attention from the pet's wet tongue can eventually cause sores that resemble inflamed calluses. Pesky skin problems, such as flea allergies, can also cause pets to nibble at their tender hides. Raw infected sores called hot spots can occur in a matter of hours if your pet bites or chews her skin to ease the itch. If you see any of these signs, your pet should be seen by your veterinarian ASAP. Your veterinarian will examine the skin and decide on the best course of diagnostics and treatment to get your pet feeling as good as new!