Bassler Veterinary Hospital

06/19/2024

Please remember with high heat temperatures there is always the possibility of heatstroke. Cats and dogs should be on a brief outside schedule, especially these next few days! Signs to look out for are, unsteady on feet, drooling, rapid panting or breathing, lethargy and a hot to the touch body. If you think your animal is experiencing heatstroke, we have a few tips that could be critical for safety. It's important to get your pet into the shower and start cooling the entire body off with ROOM TEMP water. Cold to freezing water can shock their body, make sure it's warm or lukewarm. If you can't lift, wet a towel and lay it on them. If water isn't an option, getting your animal to a cool area of a house/building with a fan, even an AC'd car would do. Call your vet, or an emergency hospital and let them know the situation. Your dog should be seen no matter what. Hospitals should be able to supply oxygen, fluids and other medication to help stabilize your pet.
Everyone stay cool and be mindful of their pets in this heat.

05/24/2024

We are very excited to say Dr. Bassler has been nominated for a national level, veterinarian appreciation award, for "Veterinarian of the Year"! Today is the only day to enter! Please click the link below to cast your vote. Share with your friends and family, because every vote counts! Thank you all in advance, best of luck to Dr. Bassler! We will hear news on June 18th, we will happily keep everyone posted.

Click on a photo to explore 2024’s nominees for Veterinarian of the Year and Veterinary Professional of the Year, presented by Trupanion. Voting closes on May 24!

03/13/2024

Arthritis is common in cats and dogs, especially as they age. Our pets are stoic creatures and are good at hiding symptoms. We may think they are just getting older, but limping is not normal and a stiff gait is their way of saying, "Ouch, it hurts." Check out the photo below and ask yourself, "does my pet have any of these signs?" If yes, please give us a call, we'd love to chat. We can help!!! We have a lot of options, and there is also a new, safe, low-maintenance medication that can give your pet a much greater quality of life! Please help share your story in the comment section!

12/22/2023

We'd like to take the time and wish all of our amazing clients a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! We will be closed Christmas Day and New Years Day but back Tuesday the 26th. If there is anything urgent, clients can always reach out to Dr. Bassler through email. Happy Holidays everyone, stay safe and healthy! Here's the team out at our Christmas party!

12/07/2023

If you've heard about the "new doggy kennel cough" and have concerns for your pooch's health, rest assured, we are here to help! CIRD (Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease) may be caused by multiple viruses and bacteria. Although a new organism causing these more severe outbreaks has not been identified by researchers, they offer recommendations to help keep dogs protected and healthy. Dogs at greatest risk include those that attend daycare, visit groomers, play in dog parks, are kenneled, or otherwise interact with other dogs. If this describes your dog's lifestyle, give us a call and we'll make sure your Fido is up-to-date! The team would love to take the time to explain current recommendations and how they can keep your canine family happy and healthy!

11/22/2023

Dear Clients, we are thankful for you all and for your confidence in us with your pet's medical care! The hospital will have a small shift in hours this Thanksgiving week: Wednesday (11/22) we are closing at 4pm instead of our normal 8pm. Thanksgiving Day and the Friday following (11/23-24) we will be closed for the staff to spend some quality time with friends and family. We will be back Saturday, normal hours (8a-12p). Please plan accordingly to pick up any medication, supplement or food. If you are experiencing an emergency, please go to your nearest emergency veterinary facility. As always, you may contact Dr. Bassler after-hours by email. We wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving!

10/31/2023

Don't be tricked on this Halloween! Fleas and ticks are still very much alive and trying to find a host while the cold weather creeps in. Remember, winter doesn't mean they die off, fleas and ticks go dormant! We have been seeing all kinds of critters lately and it only took a few nice days to do so! Please stop in and pick up your monthly preventable!

10/27/2023

Happy Hallo-weekend from the Bassler team! 🎃 Please remember to keep the candy stash away from your pets! Be safe and have fun! If you have any 'Boo-tiful' photos of your animal dressed up, please leave a picture in the comment section! We'll start with our chocolate lab Ritter! Can you guess what he is?

10/21/2023

Last, but not least, Cait.
Cait is our always-happy receptionist! You surely recognize her whether calling the office or seeing her smiling face when walking in. She started as a young dog walker, then moved up to boarding and daycare attendant, and eventually realized that animals are her career, so she entered the Vet-World! Cait is a cheerful, outgoing assistant, who knowns to put the clients’ feelings first. When she was asked what she loved about working at the veterinary hospital, she couldn’t decide on just one reason. In a nutshell, her job is also her hobby. Lucky Cait! Each day is different and there is always new information to learn. She loves her coworkers and her boss, working at a place with ones you enjoy, makes the hard days much easier. Most importantly, she appreciates working in a single doctor practice and getting the opportunity to form relationships with the clientele. Four-legged or two-legged, she is there for you. We love you Cait, thank you!

10/20/2023

Day five, here’s more jive!
Finn is our amazing technician student, currently working toward his certification. We refer to Finn as the King Charles Cavalier of the practice because of his constant calm demeanor. When asking Finn what his favorite aspect of being a technician was, he gave a broader answer. He enjoys the initial intake appointments, when he gets a moment of downtime to understand the client along with their pet. He truly knows how to connect with clients and give a personable experience. The funny thing is, is that Finn originally embarked on a veterinary tech career in hopes of staying away from people. LOL! Working here, with all our wonderful clients’ help, he now admits that the people portion of the animal world is awesome after all. Keep going Finn! We appreciate you!

10/19/2023

Day Four, here’s more.
Robyn may not be in the exam rooms where the action happens, but she is very hands on with the process of getting your pet an appointment. Robyn is one of the lovely team members at BVH who juggles the schedule so that your pet can be seen when needed. In years past, Robyn worked in animal shelters and attended Veterinary Technician schooling! Although her life took a different career path, she finally chose to revisit her past interests of working with animals. Thank goodness she did, with her motherly approach she makes others feel very welcome at our Practice. When asked what area she loved most about the veterinary field, her answer was “having pets bring in these amazing owners and getting to know each of them.” Thank you, Robyn, you’re an amazing C.S.R and help the hospital flow!

10/18/2023

Day three, hey Carly!
Carly is our extravagant Veterinary Technician! With a background in music and theater, you can catch her joyful face singing and tappin’ around the hospital. She started thinking her career was in the human medical field but soon found out that animals are her passion. Carly has been with the BVH team for several years. She quickly became a certified “cat friendly veterinary professional (CFVP) and our hospital’s pet whisperer. Carly has excellent handling skills, no matter the size of the animal and is so compassionate! Her favorite areas of practice include client communication, offering nutrition advice, and veterinary phlebotomy; whether it is drawing the blood herself, or assisting in getting it, she always looks forward to the process of collection. She’s good at it too! Thank you, Carly!

10/17/2023

Day two, let’s start with someone new!
Colleen is our newest assistant who has taken this horse by the reins. Prior to BVH, she had owned her own business in dog walking and pet sitting. Eager to learn more, she found us, and we are delighted to have her! She shines in all areas around the hospital, but what she enjoys most is the fast-paced environment. Not every appointment is the same routine, making it so there is constant information for her. Being fast paced gives Colleen a chance to indulge in new situations. In her words, it’s “fascinating” being a part of a new world she thought she knew, but is learning how extensive veterinary medicine is! Whether it be big or small, she is dedicated and that’s all you can ask for. Welcome to the team, Colleen! We also have to shoutout her four year old for taking such a great photo of her and their dog Mellow!

10/16/2023

Happy Veterinary Technician Week! We thought it was only appropriate to start with our Certified Veterinary Technician, Dawn, who has been working with Dr. Bassler since BVH was born! Dawn began her journey in the veterinary world fresh from high school and attended Essex Agricultural and Technical School with the intention of becoming a technician. About 25 years later, she is your trusted Certified Veterinary Technician star. Did you know that a CVT is licensed by the Board of Veterinary Medicine in Massachusetts? She is also certified as a Cat Friendly Veterinary Professional (CFVP) and embodies our AAHA credentials. Dawn is outstanding in all aspects of her job but her favorite area is safe anesthesia. She enjoys continuing education to keep up on the newest information. In fact, she even participated in a veterinary anesthesia photo which was published in the British Veterinary Association Journal. This photo is frequently used in veterinary lectures and webinars. Way to go, Dawn! We wouldn’t want it any other way!

10/15/2023

Veterinary Technician Week is approaching. At BVH, we work together as a team to make sure each pet receives tip-top care, because we know how important your pet is to you! Please check back daily next week for more about your trusted and favorite veterinary staff and what areas in the hospital they enjoy most!

10/06/2023

This week the Bassler team got to celebrate a few milestones! The Hospital celebrated its 10-year anniversary at our beautiful facility here at Crossroads Plaza! We'd like to take the time to thank our clients and your patronage from the bottom of our hearts. We appreciate you and without you all, there would be no us! We also got to celebrate the 5th birthday of our sweet, chocolate mascot, Ritter! We all love you Ritter, thank you for showing us all unconditional love each day we see you❤️

09/29/2023

At Bassler Veterinary Hospital, staying current and up-to-date on the best care for your furry friend is a priority! This past weekend, the BVH gang traveled to the annual New England Veterinary Conference for a few days of continuing education. Of course, being in Portland, the team had to take advantage of the city for at least one night! Dr. Bassler was nice enough to take everyone out for some team-building, along with food, drinks and lots' of laughs.

09/11/2023

Every second Sunday in September we honor all the pets that have crossed over the rainbow bridge. 🌈🐾

While all animals carry a special energy, there are always a select few that truly leave their paw prints etched into our hearts. Spend some time today reflecting on the memories & bond you shared with furry loved ones.

09/07/2023

Some before and after action! We believe your animals should have the best quality of life, that being said, teeth are a very important factor. Periodontal disease is common in domesticated animals, along with tarter build-up, over grown gums and cracked teeth. In some of theses occasions, bacteria buildup can even cause a tooth to abscess which can be very painful to your animal. Dr. Bassler performs thorough oral exams, where she can identify these problems in the mouth. Even better, our dental x-ray machine can show us even more, right down to the roots! Here is one of patients, coming in for a routine cleaning. Amazing before and after, right!

08/30/2023

*Adopted*
Hi everyone! Wow, what a post turn out! Thank you to everyone who has reached out, whether interested or just happy for the puppy! We may have a potential adopter... already! We are working with assistance to make sure he goes to a perfect home. In the mean time, he will recover with a foster in veterinary care. 🙂

Attention dog lovers! This sweet puppy needs your help! His name is Boogie and he is a five month old bulldog. He was surrendered after being diagnosed with a fractured elbow. This was the second broken bone in his short life; this poor little guy is likely a victim of abuse. Our fabulous surgeon, Dr. Clark, was his hero and stayed late last night to perform surgery and fix his leg. Thank you Dr. Clark! We are on a mission to give this boy a second chance at an amazing life! Please spread the word and call us if you have any questions.

06/29/2023

This is a noisy season upon us. With what feels like constant rain and thunder-storms along with people celebrating with fireworks, it may be a stressful time for your pet. That being said, BVH wants the owners to know that you are not alone and we are here to help! Signs to indicate anxiety are actions like shaking, crying, barking, excessive panting, frantically running, hiding and, or cowering. If you notice any of these problems, fear not! With an array of new "chill" medicine, we have options that can destress the household. Give BVH a call to get more information. Cait's dog, King, is one of many who is treated for noise induced anxiety, but how cute is he?!

06/19/2023

Today we want to wish a special happy birthday to our enthusiastic tech, Carly! Carly brings such great energy to our team. It's exactly what we need to keep us going throughout our days. With a large background in theater, you can only imagine the sing and dance-a-longs that go on in our treatment area. When Carly is not here, you can find her being a foodie at new restaurants or exploring along side her kitty-partner in crime, Tallulah. Happy Birthday Carly!

03/29/2023