Powell Veterinary Center At Powell Blvd

10/27/2025

Still looking for pet costume ideas? Check out the suggestions from our friends at Oregon Humane Society!

Halloween is just around the corner, and we have curated a list of some playful, and safe, ways to include your pets in the festivities.

10/26/2025

Very important topic, especially with Halloween right around the corner!

This article breaks down the common household and environmental toxins, early signs of poisoning in dogs, and how to respond in an emergency.

10/26/2025

Best practices for calm cat visits!

Apply Feliway spray to towel or blankets to go in cat carrier, at least 10-15 mins prior to the pet needing to enter the carrier.

Upon arriving at the Hospital, please ask the CSR team for a carrier cover for your pet that has also been sprayed with Feliway. Place the carrier at an appropriate height as to not have your pet eye-to-eye with other animals.

New to Feliway? Give us a call to find out more about these awesome calming pheromone products.

10/24/2025

How to Show Your Cat Affection

Cats are unique and usually independent animals, so you want to understand feline behaviors and your cat’s specific preferences. Here are some tips to help you figure out the best way to show your cat how much you love them while respecting them and their preferences.

Be patient and let your cat come up to you. Many cats will nuzzle or rub up against you, making it clear they want an embrace or to be petted. They may brush their face against yours, for example.

Keep an eye out for distress or that your cat is not liking the interaction. Your cat may tense up their body, the pupils of their eyes may dilate, their ears may go back, or start hissing or crying out.

Try not to force your cat to be petted as they have limits just like we do. Cats tend to prefer short interactions that occur more often.

Let your cat determine when they are done being petted as they can become aroused if you pet them for too long.If it goes on too long, they will often nip or claw at you to indicate they have had enough.

Try giving them space, providing their favorite toy, and having a good play session if they are not up for receiving your affection at that time.

Pay attention to your cat’s cues. If your cat rubs up against you or an object nearby, licks your arm or leg, or curls up beside you, this is the time for a good petting session.

Know where to pet. Most cats prefer to be petted on the head and neck and may get upset when touched elsewhere. Most cats prefer not to have their feet touched.

Handle with care. When picking up your cat, please make sure that they feel secure by supporting their back legs and bottom. Also, try to keep your cat as close to your body as possible so they are not dangling in the air. Please avoid holding them with a tight grip and never lift your cat by their scruff as it may be painful for them.

10/22/2025

Great tips from our partners at AAHA on reducing stress for our kitty visits!

Vet visits can be overwhelming for cats, but with the right preparation, you can make the experience much calmer and more positive.

10/20/2025

Check out this easy 4-ingredient recipe for "Pupkin Biscuits" from our friends at MetLife Pet Insurance.

Ingredients

● 2 eggs
● 1/2 cup canned pure pumpkin puree
● 2 tablespoons dry milk powder
● 2 1/2 cups white or whole wheat flour

Directions

● Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl, stir together the eggs, pumpkin puree, milk powder and flour; add 2 tsp. water, or enough so that the dough just comes together.

● On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough 1/2 inch thick. Cut into shapes with 1-inch cookie cutters. Gather the scraps, combine, roll and form more biscuits; repeat until all the dough is used.

● Place the biscuits 1 inch apart on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes, then turn over and bake until hardened, another 20 minutes. Let cool on the pan for 5 minutes.

10/18/2025

Happy National Fetch Day! There's no better day to play fetch with your dog. Fetch may be one of the oldest bonding activities between dogs and their humans, and today is the perfect opportunity to celebrate and strengthen the bond.

10/16/2025

Cats are masters at hiding signs of illness and discomfort, as they don’t want to appear vulnerable to their enemies. This can make it difficult for you to recognize when they are sick or in pain. As caregivers, you are more likely to notice subtle changes in your cat’s habits and behaviors. To help you notice the changes, you need to know what is “normal” for your specific cat(s).

We suggest you start by writing down your cat’s daily routine. This will help you quickly identify when something has changed. Include general details (time of day, location, etc.) of their daily routine. Having these specifics will help you notice early signs that something may be wrong.

When you notice changes in your cat’s normal routines — even small changes — write it down. Then call your veterinarian, share your observations, and discuss the changes you’ve noticed. Your veterinarian is trained to evaluate these subtle behaviors and physical health changes.

10/14/2025

Five Items for a Secure Environment for Your Cat

Food – Provide your cat with predictable meal times. If you have multiple cats, make sure you have individual food bowls for each cat in your household.

Water – Cats need clean, fresh water. Use a location that is appealing to your cat.

Toilet – Provide a convenient, clean, and private litter box for your kitty, and be sure to scoop it at least once daily. As a general rule of thumb, the number of litter boxes should be one more than the number of cats in your household. Many cats prefer a larger litter box that is one and a half times the length of their body, and at least one and a half inches deep.

Safe Place to Sleep – Soft bedding, along with familiar smells and sounds, provides security for your cat. Some cats also like to be provided with soft, cozy places to hide.

Familiar Territory and Elevated Spaces – Face-rubbing and scratching surfaces leaves your cat’s scent and marks the territory with a personal touch. Be sure to supply plenty of scratching posts to encourage appropriate scratching. Access to an elevated area increases the cat’s vertical space and allows him/her to monitor their environment.

Meeting your cat’s environmental needs can help to avoid stressors that could initiate unwanted behavioral or medical consequences.

10/12/2025

This , we want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our amazing veterinary technicians at Powell Vet Center- Powell Blvd. 💚 We're grateful for all you do to nurture, support, and provide exceptional care to pets and clients.

10/11/2025

Cats are highly intelligent, naturally curious, and active animals. Many cats who live only indoors may not have all their needs met, but we have some tips to help your cat feel happy and secure in your home environment.

Pillar 1 – Every cat needs a safe and secure place where they can retreat to and feel protected, or that can be used as a resting area. Your cat should be able to enter and exit from this space from at least two sides if they feels threatened. Most cats prefer the safe space to be big enough to only fit themselves, have sides around it, and be raised off the ground.

Pillar 2 – Key resources for each cat in your household include food, water, toileting areas, scratching areas, play areas, and resting or sleeping areas. Each of these resources or areas should be separated from the other so every cat has free access without being challenged by other cats or other potential threats.

Pillar 3 – Play and predatory behaviors allow cats to fulfill their natural need to hunt. Play can be motivated with the use of interactive toys that mimic prey. Cats need to be able to capture the “prey”, at least occasionally, to prevent frustration. Using food puzzles or food balls can mimic the action of hunting for prey, and provides more natural eating behavior.

Pillar 4 –cat Social Interaction – Each cat has individual preferences which will determine how much they like human interactions such as petting, grooming, being played with or talked to, being picked up, and sitting or lying on a person’s lap.

Pillar 5 – Unlike humans, cats use their sense of smell to evaluate their surroundings. Cats mark their scent by rubbing their face and body, which leaves natural pheromones to establish boundaries within which they feel safe and secure. Avoid cleaning their scent off these areas. Some smells can be threatening to cats (i.e., unfamiliar animals, or scented products or cleaners) which may lead to problematic behaviors such as urinating outside of the litter box or scratching in undesirable areas.

10/10/2025

Happy World Mental Health Day! Pets have been proven to be good for your health. Want to learn more? Visit The Pet Effect program by HABRI (human animal bond research institute) to see all the ways pets keep us healthy and happy.