Big Lick Veterinary Services

06/25/2024

We have some very exciting news to share! The Big Lick Vet family has been blessed with a new veterinarian. Dr. Sadye Soffin will be joining the veterinary team at Big Lick Vet next week and we can’t wait for all of you to meet her.

Dr. Soffin is originally from Richmond, VA. She received her bachelor’s degree from Virginia Tech, as well as her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Soffin is excited to be staying in Southwest Virginia to practice. Her favorite aspect of veterinary medicine is supporting the connection between clients and their animals through medical and behavioral education. Dr. Soffin strives to work with individual needs of patients to lower their stress levels at the clinic. She lives in the Cave Spring area with her partner, Erik, and their dog Rory. Outside of work she enjoys reading, crocheting, traveling, and hiking.

We know you and your pets will love Dr. Soffin just as much as we do and hope you’ll join us in giving her a warm welcome to the practice and to the Roanoke Valley!

06/21/2024

SMILE - it’s Friday! 😁❤️🐾

06/21/2024

Update: The phones and internet are now working - thank you so much for your understanding!

Our phones and internet are temporarily down. We apologize for the inconvenience and we’re working diligently to resolve the issue.

If you have an emergency with your pet, please come to the clinic and we will work you in. For non emergencies, email us at [email protected] or text us at 540-739-2013 and we will reach back out as soon as we can. Again, we’re so sorry for the inconvenience.

06/20/2024

It's the first day of summer and with even warmer temperatures on the way, it's important to take steps to protect your pets from the dangers that hot weather can bring. 🥵 Here are some tips to ensure your pet stays safe and healthy this summer. ☀️ Feel free to share! 🐾

06/19/2024

Join us in wishing Vet Assistant Cheryl a Happy Birthday this week! 🥳

Cheryl has been with Big Lick Vet for about 11 years total, but took a small break in between (we're so glad she's back!). She also worked with both Dr. Amos and Dr. McLaughlin at a different hospital for several years before that! She has a lot of experience as a vet assistant and former groomer and she puts it to use everyday helping our clients and patients. She has such a huge heart for animals and people and is always doing thoughtful things for her coworkers. She's done a ton of work organizing, tidying, and making things pretty around here too! We are so lucky to have her as a part of our team.

Thanks for all you do, Cheryl! Happy Birthday! 🤩🎉🎈

06/14/2024

Join us in wishing Licensed Veterinary Technician Jess a very Happy Birthday today! 🥳

Jess joined the Big Lick Vet team almost 4 years ago in 2020 and now has about 16 years of experience working in veterinary medicine. If your pet has had surgery here at Big Lick Vet, then you've probably met Jess. As an LVT, she assists in surgery providing pre, post, and peri-operative care to our patients on top of a million other things like monitoring anesthesia and placing IV Catheters. She has a passion for pathology and cytology and is the go to for reading slides on the microscope. She's also a great teacher to the rest of the staff and is there to answer questions and elevate the rest of our team's skills. 💕

Thanks for all you do, Jess! We appreciate you! Happy Birthday!! 🤩🎉🎈

06/10/2024

‼️FOUND DOGS - Animal Control Called ‼️

If anyone is missing or looking for three dogs, one of our clients spotted these three running around near the entrance to Old Mill Plantation. They are currently waiting for animal control. Please share - thank you!

06/10/2024

Have you ever tried a chicken and rice solution for your dog’s digestive issues? While it may be a short-term alternative, it can often lead to serious nutritional deficiencies if used long-term.

So, before you start searching through the refrigerator as a long-term solution, reach out to us at 540-776-0700 for a consultation to ensure your pet’s full nutritional needs are truly met.

06/09/2024

Thanks to a microchip this missing dog was able to reunite with his family after two long years! Microchipped pets are three times more likely to make it home if they go missing but unfortunately only about 6 in 10 microchips are registered. Here at Big Lick Vet, registration is included in the price of every microchip AND we automatically register every microchip chip we implant! Call us at 540-776-0700 to learn more about microchipping your pet or to schedule an appointment for your pet to be microchipped!

"The microchip was a lifesaver," said owner Samantha Powers. "Without that, I wouldn’t have gotten my boy back."

The heartwarming moment was caught on video and showed the pair hugging as they finally reunited.

06/08/2024

Happy National Best Friends Day! ❤️ Here are some of our team members with their besties! 🐾 Post a photo of your best furry friend in the comments! 👇🏼

06/07/2024

Cookie came in for her first visit with us yesterday and decided she wanted to check herself in for her appointment! 🥰 Thankfully her people stepped up to sign the paperwork for her. 😆

06/06/2024

Join us in wishing Dr. McLaughlin a very Happy Birthday today!! 🥳

Dr. McLaughlin brings so much life and energy to Big Lick Vet and has dedicated so much of her time, energy, and heart to making Big Lick what it is today. She always prioritizes the client and patient experience and goes above and beyond to make clients and their pets feel welcome and at home when they're here. On top of being a phenomenal veterinarian, she is an activity community member and a mother, wife, daughter, mentor, and friend to many. We're so thankful for all she does for her clients, patients, and staff!

Happy, happy Birthday Dr. McLaughlin! We hope you have the best day today and appreciate all you do!! 🤩🎉🎈🎁

06/04/2024

Rabies is very real and this recent local alert is just a reminder of the importance of vaccinating your pets for Rabies. If your pet needs their Rabies Vaccine or if you’re unsure of their vaccine status, call us at 540-776-0700 and we’ll be happy to help!

Health Alert: The Roanoke City and Alleghany Health Districts has confirmed a case of rabies found in a skunk on Virginia Avenue in Salem.

To help prevent the spread of rabies, everyone should:

- AVOID contact with wild animals and domestic animals you do not know.

- REPORT unusual-acting animals.

- VACCINATE all of your dogs, cats and ferrets, and keep their vaccinations current.

- CALL your doctor and the local health department if you are exposed, or your veterinarian and local animal control if your pet is exposed to an animal with rabies.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/rab6324

06/03/2024

When you and your patient both have beautiful, long dark hair! 💁🏻‍♀️🥰🐾

06/01/2024

A friendly reminder that it's the first of the month and time for many of you to give flea, tick, and heartworm prevention to your pets! 🐾

05/30/2024

Next time you’re in, check out our Paws for Appreciation board in the lobby! 🐾 And if one of our team members left a good impression, touched you or your pet in anyway, or went above and beyond to help, leave a note letting them know. 🙏🏼

We know they’re awesome, but it means a lot when they hear from clients who feel the same! ☺️

05/28/2024

Join us in wishing Dr. Sheppard a very Happy Birthday today! 🥳

Dr. Sheppard joined the Big Lick Vet family in 2017 and we can't imagine Big Lick without her! She's a phenomenal vet and very thorough in everything she does. Her clients really appreciate her attention to detail and she does a great job at explaining things to clients in ways that are easy for them to understand. Our staff absolutely love working with her. She has the best sense of humor and brings such positive energy into work with her everyday - it's contagious. On top of all that, she has a beautiful family at home and while we know it isn't always easy, she does a great job at juggling all her roles.

We hope you have the best day Dr. Sheppard - you deserve it!! Thanks for all you do for your clients and patients! 🤩

05/27/2024

Big Lick Vet will be closed today in honor of Memorial Day. Today we remember and honor all those who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the United States Armed Forces. 🇺🇸

We will reopen tomorrow Tuesday, May 30th at 7:30am. In case of emergency, please contact Emergency Veterinary Services at 540-563-8575 or Town and Country Veterinary Clinic and Emergency Hospital in Christiansburg at 540-382-5042. ☎️

05/25/2024

A friendly reminder that Big Lick Vet will be closed on Monday, May 27th for Memorial Day. We will reopen on Tuesday, May 28th at 7:30am.

In case of emergency, please contact Emergency Veterinary Services of Roanoke at 540-563-8575 or Town and Country Veterinary Clinic and Emergency Hospital in Christiansburg at 540=382-5042. Thank you and have a safe holiday weekend!

05/24/2024

Koda, the most precious Saint Bernard puppy, did great for his 3rd Puppy Package visit with Dr. Sheppard today! 🐾 He’s already weighing in at 36lbs and is only 16 weeks old. 🐶 We can’t wait to continue to watch him grow! 🥰

Our Puppy Packages include everything a growing puppy needs spread out across 4 visits, 2-3 weeks apart. 🗓️ Each visit includes an exam, necessary vaccines, deworming, intestinal parasite exam, nail trim, and a dose each of heartworm prevention Sentinel and flea/tick prevention Bravecto. ✔️ The package also includes a discount on spay/neuter when the time comes! 👍🏼

05/23/2024

The Regional Center for Animal Care & Protection is holding a cat adoption event today from 3:00pm to 7:00pm! If you're looking for your next furever family member, today's event is a great opportunity to save a life! 🐱🐾

Cat Adoption Special!

We currently have 10 super friendly cats (with a few more being added tomorrow), that are all looking for their forever homes. All of our kitties have already been spayed/neutered, fully vaccinated, microchipped, FeLV/FIV negative, and current on flea medication.

* We may be able to accomodate a few dog m&g, but only if you do not currently have a dog in your home. We are still dealing with a doggy URI and do not want to risk your dog getting sick.

05/23/2024

UPDATE: Owner has been found! Thank you for sharing!! 🐾

05/21/2024

Our staff have the biggest hearts! 🥰 This little pup needed to be bottle raised and one of our team members stepped right up to take on the job. ❤️🐾

05/21/2024

RECALL ALERT - Mars Petcare US is voluntarily recalling 315 bags of PEDIGREE® Adult Complete Nutrition Grilled Steak & Vegetable Flavor dry dog food in the 44 lb. bag size only, due to the potential presence of loose metal pieces in the bag.
The affected products have a Best By Date of March 4, 2025 and Lot Code 410B2TXT02. This is a limited voluntary recall only affecting 315 bags of product that were sold by Walmart in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas. More info: https://bit.ly/4bsDQz8

RECALL ALERT - Mars Petcare US is voluntarily recalling 315 bags of PEDIGREE® Adult Complete Nutrition Grilled Steak & Vegetable Flavor dry dog food in the 44 lb. bag size only, due to the potential presence of loose metal pieces in the bag.

The affected products have a Best By Date of March 4, 2025 and Lot Code 410B2TXT02. This is a limited voluntary recall only affecting 315 bags of product that were sold by Walmart in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas. More info: https://bit.ly/4bsDQz8

05/20/2024

We loved getting to meet this sweet girl today! 🐾 Nothing beats those Basset Hound ears. 😍🥰

05/19/2024

Glad we were able to support our friends at Back Creek Fire & Rescue Company 11! Thanks for all you do for our community!! 🙏🏼

05/19/2024

We had a blast bowling at Lee Hi Lanes last night! 🎳 This group works so hard and it was nice to be able to get together and do something fun outside of work. 🥰 Some of us were better than others 😆 but we had great time either way! 😊

05/16/2024

Dr. Amos’ dog Cindy is what we here at Big Lick call “a mess”. 🤣 She is definitely a daddy’s girl - that’s for sure! 🐾

05/16/2024

Update: we have learned these two were adopted!!! Best news ever and their dad is surely smiling down knowing they’re taken care of. 🥰 Thank you to everyone who shared!!! Thank you Floyd County Humane Society, VA!

🐾 2 Adult Cats Need Homes - Owner Passed 🐾
Please share! 🫶🏼

We learned today that one of our dear clients passed away on Tuesday. This client was very special to our team and brought us so much joy every time he came in. He had a huge heart for everyone he met and more than anything in this world, he loved his cats. We feel it is the least we can do to try to help in finding his two beloved cats homes. We will update with more information if available.

Miya - 9.5 year old spayed female, orange and white, not up to date on vaccines currently but we would be willing to cover the cost of doing so

Lucky - 5 year old neutered male, gray tabby, up to date on vaccines

Please share and if you or anyone you know can take one or both cats, please contact us at 540-776-0700. 🙏🏼

05/14/2024

As you can see in the images below, this year is forecasted to be a bad year for Lyme disease in our area and 123,027 dogs have already tested positive for Lyme in the US so far this year. 🐶
So what can you do to protect your pet from Lyme (and other tick-borne diseases)? 💪🏼
1) Give your dog flea and tick prevention like Bravecto year-round
2) Make sure your dog receives their Lyme vaccine yearly
3) Ensure your pet gets annual or bi-annual bloodwork panels (depending on age and other health factors) that include testing for tick-borne diseases like Lyme, Anaplasma, and Ehrlichia

If you're unsure of your pet's vaccination status or need prevention, call (540-776-0700), text (540-739-2013), or email ([email protected]) us and we'll be happy to help! 🐾