Tally Oaks Veterinary Wellness Center

02/27/2025

We are excited to announce our new bathroom and dog wash station is up and running! We have a 48 inch stainless steel dog wash and a professional dryer so we accommodate any size of dog! Call us for more details and to schedule your dog’s next spa day!

02/24/2025

We know how devastating the loss of your pet can be. We are lucky to have a great resource provided by our pet services contractor. They have created a new and improved Pet Parent Grief Line for pet parents coping with loss. Pet Parent Grief Line is accessible 24/7 and staffed by Master’s- and Ph.D.-level clinicians with a minimum of five years of experience in the counselling field.

You can also check out free grief loss resources at: www.petparentgriefsupport.com.

If you need immediate support, please call our office and we will give you the number for the Pet Parent Grief Line.

02/21/2025

Voluntary pet food recall issued after Oregon house cat dies from eating product that tested positive for bird flu/ Published on CNN on December 25, 2024

A Portland-based pet food company, Northwest Naturals, issued a nationwide voluntary recall after a house cat in Oregon died from eating Feline Turkey Recipe raw frozen pet food after the product tested positive for the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus, also known as H5N1 bird flu.

The batch with the virus was sold across the United States through distributors in Washington, Arizona, Rhode Island, Georgia, Maryland and several other states, according to the release. The products were also distributed in Canada’s British Columbia.

Laboratory testing from the US Department of Agriculture and Oregon State University confirmed the cat died after consuming raw frozen pet food that tested positive for H5N1 in Washington County, Oregon, according to a news release from the Oregon Department of Agriculture.

“This cat was strictly an indoor cat,” Scholz said. “It was not exposed to the virus in its environment, and results from the genome sequencing confirmed that the virus recovered from the raw pet food and infected cat were exact matches to each other.”

The recall applies to products with “best if used by” dates between May 21, 2026, and June 23, 2026, according to Northwest Naturals.

Cats and dogs can catch bird flu from eating undercooked or raw meat, sick or dead infected birds or drinking unpasteurized milk, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.

02/20/2025

Carrageenan in Dog Food??

Carrageenan is a seaweed-derived thickener and stabilizer that is sometimes used in dog food.
Many wet and canned dog foods contain carrageenan, an additive derived from seaweed. It's used to thicken, emulsify, and stabilize food.

Where is carrageenan found? Firm wet foods like patés and "loaf" foods, Canned or refrigerated pet food

Safety Concerns
While carrageenan is generally considered safe for dogs in small amounts, some studies have raised concerns about its potential health risks. These studies have suggested that carrageenan may cause:
gastrointestinal inflammation, ulcers, and cancer.

However, it's important to note that these studies have been conducted on high doses of carrageenan, and the amount used in dog food is typically much lower.

The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has approved carrageenan for use in pet food. However, the amount of carrageenan that can be used is regulated.

Alternatives : If you are concerned about carrageenan in your dog's food, you can look for dog foods that do not contain it. Some alternative thickeners and stabilizers include: guar gum, xanthan gum, and pea starch.

Carrageenan is a controversial ingredient that may have some potential health risks. While it is generally considered safe for dogs in small amounts, some owners may prefer to avoid it. If you are concerned about carrageenan, you can look for dog foods that do not contain it or consult with your veterinarian for advice

02/20/2025

Remembering the greatest dog in my world. I miss you sooo much my Little Joe.

02/20/2025

Happy National Love Your Pet Day!
A great day to do a Paw Massage!

First start by gently examining the paws for hair discoloration, overgrown nails (don't forget the dewclaws if present), cracked or broken nails, skin between the toes and the pads for any cracks or abnormalities. If your pet is used to you handling it's feet, great, if not, you need to practice using positive rewards and patience. If painful, call your veterinarian to have a look.

Start with gentle compressions of the paw. Then gently grasp the paw with thumbs on top and fingers on the pads. Massage each toe from base to tip using a circular motion. Massage each paw pad with small circular movements. Take each digit through range of motion (flexion/extension). Take the entire paw through gentle range of motion (flexion/extension).

Finish with gently massaging the top and bottom of the paw and gentle compressions.

02/14/2025

Happy Valentines Day to all our wonderful patients!!

02/12/2025

Ultrasound has become an indispensable tool for screening as well as diagnosing causes of abdominal pain. Splenic masses are commonly diagnosed normally in middle aged animals but screening should begin earlier in life and be a routine procedure. This video demonstrates how the spleen is examined in an awake animal lying on its side.

Dogs can do just fine without a spleen and in many cases live a full healthy life if a splenic mass is detected early. Save your pet by detecting splenic masses early!!!

htpps://youtu.be/ivhdBUfNRv4?si=qvfLQhW-B1r0EF2E

Dr. Woerner discusses the ultrasound evaluation of the spleen in a healthy dog. The spleen has three regions that need to be evaluated: the head, the body a...

01/30/2025

February is Pet Dental Month . Does your pet have bad breath or bright red gums? We know that noone wants to put their pet under anesthesia to get their teeth cleaned properly so we want to share a secret with you - YOU CAN PREVENT DENTAL DISEASE by following our advice on at home care and products. Check out our dental video on our website https://www.tallyoaksvet.com/services/pets/pet-dental-care/preventing-dental-disease-dogs-and-cats

Be sure to schedule a free dental evaluation at our clinic if you suspect your pet is in need of dental care. All pets that sign up for a dental evaluation will go home with some free dental product samples in the month of February to encourage more prevention of dental disease.

01/27/2025

Avian Flu is making the news around the world. Here's what you need to know. “Highly pathogenic” avian influenza (HPAI) viruses are of particular concern because they cause severe disease and death in poultry. H5N1 viruses are the most notable in this regard. In domestic and wild birds the virus is transmitted through respiratory secretions or droppings, including via contaminated food and water. Ducks and geese can serve as carriers of the virus. HPAI viruses also have been detected in a variety of wild and domestic mammals in the U.S., including dairy cattle and cats. In 2024 there was an outbreak of H5N1 infection in dairy cattle in California.

Cats and dogs may become infected if they eat sick or dead infected birds, drink unpasteurized milk or cream from infected cows, or eat undercooked or raw meat, and there might be other ways the virus spreads, such as through exposure to wild birds and geese. Although the likelihood of dogs catching avian influenza continues to be very low, according Dr. Jane Sykes, who specializes in infectious diseases in cats and dogs at the University of California-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, more than 70 cats have contracted H5N1 since the outbreak in 2022. There are also reports of several barn/feral cats that have become severely ill from H5N1 infection since the outbreak in cattle began last year.

People also may become infected through exposure to infected animals. This is uncommon but does happen, typically involving close or prolonged exposure to infected poultry or dairy cows. At least one case of human H5N1 infection has been linked to exposure to sick and dead birds in backyard flocks. People with a weak or compromised immune system are more at risk of severe disease. The risk of people catching HPAI viruses from infected cats or dogs is considered extremely low.

What are the signs of avian influenza in backyard flocks and pet birds?

Sudden death with no prior signs
Low energy or appetite
Purple discoloration or swelling of various body parts
Reduced egg production, or soft-shelled/misshapen eggs
Nasal discharge, coughing, or sneezing
Lack of coordination
Diarrhea

What are the signs of avian influenza in cats and dogs?

Clinical signs of HPAI infection in cats are better known than in dogs.

Fever
Lethargy
Low appetite
Reddened or inflamed eyes
Discharge from the eyes and nose
Difficulty breathing
Neurologic signs, like tremors, seizures, incoordination, or blindness

Immediately contact your veterinarian if you notice any of these signs. Animals with severe illness may die.

Reporting avian influenza
Bird owners should immediately contact their veterinarian or call the USDA toll-free hotline (866-536-7593) to report sick birds, including backyard flocks and migratory birds like ducks and geese.

Because several of the listed signs are often encountered with common respiratory diseases of cats and dogs, your veterinarian likely will need to run some tests to help determine the cause. Be sure to let your veterinarian know if your pet may have eaten a dead bird or other animal, or consumed unpasteurized cow’s milk.

People are advised not to drink unpasteurized milk or eat unpasteurized milk-based cheese, and to properly handle and cook meat to an internal temperature of at least 165°F. This includes any meat used to feed pets.
For the most current information and resources on the H5N1 outbreak, visit the relevant webpages of the USDA-APHIS, FDA, and CDC.

Profession prepares for more devastation

01/15/2025

These adorable Chugs came into Tally Oaks today and are up for adoption as a pair. They are littermates and under 2 years of age - a boy and a girl! Read more about them on Home to Home.

https://home-home.org/pets/9ce2a6f8-d3ad-41c0-9391-86cebbd8b4b9

01/14/2025

The alternative to a cone after a surgery however she was not impressed, in fact I’m pretty sure she was totally embarrassed!!! Look at that face!!!

01/10/2025

Chihuahuas come in all colors and sizes but look at these ears!!! Soooo cute!!!

01/03/2025

We get alot of calls about our holistic services . Her is the link to our website where you can read more........
https://www.tallyoaksvet.com/services/pets/pet-holistic-medicine

01/02/2025

I recently visited Belize, including the island of Caye Caulker. There were free roaming dogs everywhere. Luckily on this island there are very few cars, mostly golf carts and motorcycles but most of the dogs were walking down the middle of the road. Then I ran across this "animal shelter". We don't realize how wonderful our animal shelters are in this country.

01/02/2025

This was our last patient of 2024! What a smile! Wishing everyone a very Happy New Year!