Salem Veterinary Emergency Clinic

09/06/2025

Veterinary toxicologists from Pet Poison Helpline have identified a serious new hazard found in popular migraine/headache cooling head masks and similar products!

Pets are at risk if they ingest the contents of these products which can lead to serious neurologic signs and in some cases, death.

If you have similar products in your home, be sure they are always stored safely out of your pet’s reach. Promptly discard any damaged or leaking items. Should an exposure occur, contact Pet Poison Helpline right away. We are here 24/7 to provide guidance and support.

Our team of veterinary toxicologists will be presenting new research at the upcoming North American Congress of Clinical Toxicology (NACCT) meeting in Chicago: Unmasking the Truth about Acrylamide: Chilling Findings from Pet Poison Helpline.

07/05/2025

Found a Dog During the July 4th Festivities? Here's What to Do

Fireworks and holiday chaos can scare pets into running away—but your kindness can help get them home safely. Here’s how to help a lost dog find their family:

✅ First, contact Marion County Dog Services to report a FOUND dog. If you’d like to bring the dog to the shelter, call 503-566-6988. Please note: the days after July 4th are among the busiest at local shelters.
✅ If you’re willing to help by holding onto the dog while searching for their owner, you can file a FOUND Dog Report at mcdogs.net under the Lost and Found Dogs section.
✅ If the dog is wearing a Marion County license tag, you can call the shelter at 503-566-6988 to help reconnect them with their family. Please leave a message if we do not answer-we check messages frequently if we miss a call and will return your call quickly.
✅ Take the dog to a shelter or veterinary office to have them scanned for a microchip—they’ll do it free of charge.
✅ Post Found Dog flyers on local bulletin boards and place a sign in your front yard. Visibility helps!
✅ Share the dog’s photo and info on social media, including , Nextdoor, and any neighborhood groups.
✅ Check social media and community boards to see if anyone has already reported the dog as missing.

If someone contacts you claiming to be the owner, kindly ask for proof—such as a dog license number, rabies certificate, vet records, or photos. You can also ask them to describe unique traits.

💙 Your efforts can bring peace of mind to a worried pet owner—and a happy reunion for one lucky dog.

07/04/2025

Lost Dog After the Fireworks? Don’t Panic—Here’s What to Do

If your pup bolted during the July 4th celebrations, take action right away. These steps can help bring them home:

✅ Start by searching your yard and neighborhood. Look under cars, in garages, sheds, and any quiet hiding spots. Call your dog’s name and use words they know—like “Treat!” or “Wanna go for a ride?”
✅ Leave out food, water, and a crate or bed near your home. Many dogs return when things quiet down.
✅ If your dog has a canine buddy at home, bring them along on your search. Familiar scents and sounds can help draw your dog out.
✅ Make a yard sign with a photo of your dog and your phone number—place it where people walking or driving by can easily see it. Post Lost Dog signs on community boards.
✅ Lay out worn clothing or used bed sheets in a wagon wheel pattern around your home. Your house is the hub, and the scent trails act like spokes to guide your dog back.
✅ Contact Marion County Dog Services at 503-566-6988 or visit mcdogs.net to file a lost dog report. You can also see which dogs are currently at the shelter. Please note: this number will not be monitored or answered on July 4th, but you can leave a message and our team will get back to you on July 5th when we are back in the office.
✅ Post your lost dog info and photo on social media. Try , and don’t forget neighborhood apps like NextDoor or Ring’s Neighbors app.

Don’t wait! If your dog is taken to Marion County Dog Services, he will be placed on a 3-5-day stray hold. If he is not claimed during that time, he can be placed up for adoption or transferred to a rescue agency. Begin your search immediately!

Be patient and persistent. Many dogs are found after a day or more—don’t give up!

07/04/2025

PSA: Here is a quick way to make a homemade do-it-yourself thundershirt for your dog for tonight:

https://www.k9ofmine.com/diy-thundershirt/

07/04/2025

Keeping Dogs Safe Over the Weekend of the 4th of July

Fireworks, parties, and parades can be overwhelming for pets—but with a little prep, you can help keep them safe and calm:

✅ Take your dog for a walk or play session before the fireworks start. Exercise helps release energy and gives them a chance to go potty before the noise begins.
✅ Keep pets indoors. A quiet, cozy space can make all the difference. Set up a hideaway in a bathroom or spare room with a comfy bed, a favorite toy or frozen peanut butter-stuffed Kong, water, and a radio or TV playing to mask the noise.
✅ Close all windows and keep interior doors shut. Dogs have been known to push through screens or bolt through open doors when startled.
✅ Skip the parade. As fun as it is for humans, loud and crowded festivities can be scary and unsafe for pets.
✅ Double-check your fence line for loose boards or gaps and consider keeping your dog leashed even in the yard—just to be extra safe.
✅ Make sure your pet has a current license, a properly fitted collar with a readable ID tag, and a microchip with up-to-date contact info.

A little extra care this weekend goes a long way in keeping your best friend safe and sound.

To view a list of lost/found dogs currently at the shelter, visit mcdogs.net and click on “Lost and Found Dogs”

06/30/2025

06/30/2025

Leave pets at home on hot days! Even with the window cracked, the temperature inside a car can quickly climb to more than 110 degrees. Heatstroke is life-threatening for animals. If not caught in its earliest stages, heatstroke can be fatal.

Symptoms of heatstroke include:
* Panting
* Dehydration
* Excessive drooling
* Increased body temperature - above 103° F (39° C)
* Reddened gums and moist tissues of the body
* Production of only small amounts of urine or no urine
* Rapid heart rate

To avoid heatstroke, it's best to leave your pet at home.

06/30/2025

Break out those sleeping bags, folks! Camping season is here! Get ready for a summer filled with hikes, campfires and s’mores. Before you head out on your summer adventure, for campers who bring along their furry friends, we have a few pet safety tips from our experts

06/27/2025

Precautionary harmful algae advisories have been issued by Oregon Health Authority for Lost Creek Lake in Jackson County (where a dog was reported to have died), Prineville Reservoir in Crook County and Devil's Lake in Lincoln County. (Precautionary status means a bloom has been sighted and water sampling is unavailable within 1 business day due to limited resources.)

UPDATE: Since this post, additional warnings have been issued for: Lake Billy Chinook in Jefferson County (cyanotoxins are above recreational use values for human exposure which means they are too high for animal exposure as well) and Fern Ridge Reservoir in Lane County. The decision to issue the advisory for Fern Ridge is based on a report of a toxigenic bloom from a partner agency. Results of testing in the days to come will either confirm the advisory or allow it to be lifted.

Additionally, an advisory was issued by Washington for the Columbia River shoreline at Cottonwood Beach in Washougal. This advisory is for benthic algae mats, which are often attached to the bottom of waterways in mats, blobs or spires, or detached and floating in clumps. They can occur anywhere in a fast or slow-moving water body, do not affect water clarity, and can feel slimy, gelatinous or slippery.

Read more about benthic algae mats and harmful algae blooms in the PNW: https://www.aaha.org/trends-magazine/publications/how-to-keep-pets-safe-from-harmful-algal-blooms/

When in doubt, stay out!

06/12/2025

“Time spent with cats is never wasted.” – Sigmund Freud

06/12/2025

Garbage and outdoor trash are more than just unsightly—they can also pose a major threat to our four-legged friends. Read the latest ASPCA Animal Poison Control Alert to learn about the dangers of mold on food.

05/24/2025

“Saving one dog will not change the world, but surely for that one dog, the world will change forever.” ~ Karen Davison