Pekin Animal Hospital

12/13/2024

Today is National Day of the Horse

While we don't provide medical services to our equine friends, that doesn't mean we don't have interest. Several of our past or present employees have had horses and our DVMs and CVTs all got to do their time working on horses as part of their large animal education in school.

The horse below belongs to one of our current PAH staff members. Can you guess who?

https://www.bhc.edu/academics/programs/equestrian-science/

12/10/2024

Today is International Animal Rights Day

There are some differences between animal rights and animal welfare, but both are important to our pet and wild animals.

One of the most difficult things we have to see in our field is animal abuse and neglect. There are laws and regulations in place regarding our roles in maintaining quality of life for the animals we see, and we are very cognizant of those. We are willing to educate and offer advise, too, for those who may truly not understand what is best for the physical and mental well being of their pets.

"Animal rights and animal welfare are both concerned with the well-being of animals, but they differ in their approach and goals:
Animal rights
A philosophical approach that aims to protect animals' interests and prevent their use by humans. Animal rights proponents believe that animals should have the same rights as humans and should not be used for food, clothing, entertainment, or experimentation.
The Animal Welfare Act (AWA) requires that certain animals receive minimum standards of care and treatment. Animal welfare is assessed through animal-based measures, such as behavior and body condition."

Learn about International Animal Rights Day and why it matters. Find out how to get involved in protecting animals.

12/09/2024

https://www.bhc.edu/academics/programs/veterinary-technology/

https://vetmed.illinois.edu/2023/05/08/veterinary-symposium-rankings/

The Associate in Veterinary Technology prepares students to perform veterinary procedures under the supervision of a veterinarian.

12/09/2024

December is Safe Toys and Gifts Month

Let's start with a note on the "gift" section of this. We've all heard the warning about NOT giving a living creature as a gift. We agree with that in that it should never me a SURPRISE gift, however, adding a pet to a prepared, excited family can be the best gift ever received. What that means, basically, is communication and preparedness are both key. If your family is ready and able to care for a new pet, and Christmas is the time you decide to add one, we are all for that.

As for as toys FOR your pets, there are some key issues. Make sure any nylon and cloth toys are tough enough that your dog can't shred them, thus running the risk of swallowing some of that. There are some specific companies that make toys specifically for the tough chewers. Rope or stuffing-less toys are decent alternatives. Make sure balls or similar toys are large enough that your pet can't swallow them. For cats, we want to make sure there aren't any strings or ribbons that they can swallow. Some great options for cats are the track toys with the balls they can hit and chase. Wand toys with dangly bits they can jump at and catch are also a great way for a cat to interact with their families. Canvas cat nip toys or rope mice are another great feline option.

No matter what you choose, please make sure to always supervise your pets' toy play time until you are confident with the toy choices you've made, and never leave them alone with rawhide or similar chewing options.

We are including a few photos of toys you can get locally, at of a Bookworm, because we know what they sell has been chosen with thought to be considered safe toys when given appropriately.

Below is a quick link with some more information on what Humane Society of the United States recommends.

Happy Holiday Shopping. It can be such a fun time of year for our pets, too. Now for the question. How many of you buy gifts for your pets at holidays or birthdays? Do they have a stocking? Let us know, below, and share photos if you have them.

https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/safe-dog-toys

12/05/2024

Today is Celebrate Shelter Pets Day! Join us in celebrating our favorite shelter pets. Here are just a few cats from our PAH family that came from shelters.

Let's see yours! Dogs, cats, reptiles, ferrets, bunnies, we don't care, share them all if they came from a shelter.

12/04/2024

Tomorrow is World Wildlife Conservation Day. This is a relatively new addition to the "awareness" days, but one we need. Our wildlife is absolutely crucial to maintain a livable planet.

You can help by visiting one of the many zoos in our country that have a focus on conservation as well as parks such as our very own Wildlife Prairie Park. Need a gift for an animal loving person or family? Consider a season pass to the park. Or, you can also watch online or call the park on how to help donate meat or other needed materials the animals.

12/02/2024

Mongrel, hound, Heinze 57, mixed breed or mutt. Whatever you call them, today is their day!

Whether from a neighbors dog who found her way to the male dog down the street, a rescue from a devastated area or a local shelter, or any of our many, many Doodle mixes, we love them all!

Today is National Mutt Day. Show us your Mutts, big or small!

11/30/2024

Please help support our friends at our local small businesses, tomorrow. Lots of hard working folks are trying to make shopping small fun and rewarding. Not only all of the long term, and new, business supported by Pekin Main Street, but all along Court and Derby and beyond, you'll find great places for some every day items and even specialty ones, including our friends at TAiLS of a Bookworm. Any purchase from there is helping the displaced dogs and cats in our area, so that's a big bonus for us.

We hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and a wonderful weekend.

11/27/2024

Just a reminder that we will be closed tomorrow and reopen at 8am Friday.

If you have an emergency with your pets, PLEASE visit one of our closest emergency clinics, either https://www.tricountyanimalemergencyclinic.com/ in Peoria or https://animalemergencybloomington.com/ in Bloomington.

And one final reminder, your pets do NOT need to share your thanksgiving dinner. We promise, they won't hold a grudge for long. 🐾😼🐶

11/27/2024

November is Pet Diabetes Month. Diabetes is one of the most common, non curable diseases we see in our pet dogs and cats. If we catch it early we can often help these pets lead a long and happy life with at home treatments and regular checks at the clinic.

If you have any questions or want to see if your pet might be at risk, the following link is full of fantastic information and a quiz you can take to evaluate that risk.

https://usa.petdiabetesmonth.com/

11/24/2024

Today is National Border Collie Day! We know of a family that represents the amazing abilities, agility and joys of border collies... our next door neighbor Alycia, from Fancy Paws Grooming.

These animals are so much fun to watch doing what they do best, in the sheep fields and pastures, but since we don't have a lot of that going on around these parts, Alycia keeps her kids busy, happy and healthy in other ways, including dock diving, frisbee and agility. She has a room full of ribbons and awards not only for her grooming abilities, but also her work with her dogs.

Can you show us your Border Collies?

11/23/2024

Another simple and easy one. Today is Thankful for My Dog Day. Dogs are our friends, partners, confidants, therapists, body guards, and family members. Some of us don't want to think of a day that you don't have a dog in your life.

So, let's see them.

11/23/2024

Please help us offer a huge CONGRATULATIONS to Grace. We first met Grace when she came in to do her internship while finishing up her Veterinary Technology program at Blackhawk College. Grace fit in immediately with her abilities, confidence, friendly personality to both co workers and clients and is a natural with the animals.

This week she took her Veterinary Technician National Exam(VTNE) and, to no surprise of any of us, she smoothly passed this career changing exam! She is now our second Certified Veterinary Technician.

We are not only proud of Grace, but we are looking forward to many years with her helping us grow as a clinic.

11/22/2024

Happy Fun Friends Friday!

11/20/2024

Adopt a Senior Month

11/18/2024

This isn't an easy one. Today is National Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) Awareness, Research and Education Day. FIP is often called the parvo of the feline world. It's a confusing, horrible, mean, scary and historically usually a fatal disease. It's a mutation of a virus that most of our domestic feline population already carry, harmlessly, in their bodies. We don't know why it mutates in some and not others. There is so much research that has been, and will continue to be, done on this devastating disease.

However, we are thrilled to know that we FINALLY have a treatment available that isn't quiet as financially crushing as previous treatments. It's also more successful. It's a bit confusing and complicated, so we will provide some links below if you'd like to read up on it. We do not yet have it in stock, however we can get the treatment to our patients within 48 hours.

This is Ursala. She was a member of the PAH family, being the grandkitty to our senior tech, Shannon. She died two years ago, before any treatment was available in clinic. We know some of our clients have also been hit with this disease in their feline family. If you'd like to show us their photo, feel free.

It's exciting to see some hope for treatment for some of these horrible diseases. We support and appreciate the hard work that always goes into research for our veterinary diseases, just as for our human ones.

11/17/2024

National Take a Hike Day! Hikes with our dogs(or cats, snakes, etc, maybe?) can be a fantastic bonding experience not to mention the health benefits. Before the deep snow hits us, here, in central Illinois, maybe you can find time to take a hike!

11/16/2024

Today, on National Slobber Appreciation Day(no, really!) we have a question for you.

Without Googling, which breeds do YOU think are considered the most slobbery? Do you have one? If so... you know what to do, below!