Animal Hospital of Syracuse

11/05/2025

🩺 We know trips to the vet can be stressful — not just for pets, but for their owners, too! That’s why we’re committed to Fear-Free veterinary care. Fear-Free visits focus on reducing fear, anxiety, and stress for your pet. From gentle handling to quiet exam rooms and lots of treats, every step is designed to make your pet’s experience as positive as possible. By making your pets feel safe and comfortable, it allows for easier visits in the future and more thorough exams and diagnostics. Our goal is to build trust with your pet so they'll feel safe and loved at each visit 🩵.

10/31/2025

👻 Happy Howl-o-ween! 🎃 If your pets are dressing up in costumes, we'd love to see them! Feel free to share pics in the comments 👻

10/30/2025

🐾✨ Meet Kangaroo, our Gentle Leader pro! ✨🐾

Kangaroo is showing off how a Gentle Leader can make walks safer and more enjoyable for both dogs and their humans.

💡 Why Gentle Leaders are great:
✅ Reduce pulling without choking or gagging
✅ Give you more control in busy or stressful situations
✅ Encourage polite, positive leash manners

💜 Tips for success:

Introduce it slowly and let your dog sniff it first

Use treats and praise to make it a positive experience

Adjust the fit so it’s snug but comfortable — not tight

Gentle Leaders aren’t a punishment — they’re a training tool that helps walks be calmer, safer, and more enjoyable for everyone. 🐶

Kangaroo is such a sweet and happy boy — he’s a perfect example of how training tools can make walks fun and stress-free!

10/29/2025

🐱 Happy National Cat Day! 🐾

Today we honor the true rulers of our homes — the ones who knock things off counters, demand food five minutes after eating, and act like we’re lucky to share the same air.

To all the cats out there: thank you for keeping us humble, entertained, and slightly covered in fur.

Post a photo of your feline overlord in the comments so we can properly admire their majesty! 👑🐾

10/27/2025

🐾✨ Patient Spotlight: Sparkles ✨🐾

Sweet Sparkles visited us recently after developing subcutaneous emphysema, a condition where air becomes trapped beneath the skin. In her case, she had a small puncture wound that wasn’t visible under her fur. When her groomer used a high-velocity dryer, air entered through that tiny opening and spread under the skin, causing her to puff up.

💜 It’s important to note that the groomer was not at fault; this was an unfortunate and unpredictable situation. Even with excellent care, air can enter under the skin if a small wound is present but hidden beneath the coat.

The radiograph below shows the air trapped under the skin in the middle of her back, which appears as dark (black) areas where air isn’t normally found. These pockets of air can move beneath the surface but are typically reabsorbed by the body over time with proper care.

We’re happy to report that Sparkles is feeling much better and recovering beautifully!

🐶✨ A few takeaways:
✅ Always check your pet’s skin for small wounds before bathing or grooming.
✅ If you notice swelling or a “crackling” sensation under the skin, contact your veterinarian right away.
✅ Subcutaneous emphysema can look alarming, but it is often treatable when identified early.

10/23/2025

🚧🐾 Exciting News! Our Parking Lot is Getting an Upgrade! 🚧

We’re repaving and expanding our parking lot to better serve you and your pets! 🐶🐱

🗓 Phase 1: October 30th & 31st
🗓 Final Phase: November 4th & 5th

During these dates, sections of the parking lot will be closed as work is completed. There will still be parking available, but spaces may be limited. Our team will be happy to help guide you when you arrive!

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we make these improvements to create a smoother, safer, and more spacious parking experience for everyone. 💜

Thank you for your continued support. We can’t wait to show you the finished result!

Send a message to learn more

10/21/2025

It’s not unusual for dogs to develop lumps and bumps as they get older—but not all of them are benign. So, how do you know if it's something that we can monitor vs schedule surgery and remove it as soon as possible? Your vet will perform a physical exam but also do what is called a Fine Needle Aspirate (see picture below).

Catching things early makes all the difference when it comes to treatment and your pet’s health. So if you’ve noticed something new under your dog’s fur, don’t wait—call us to schedule an appointment. We’re here to help keep those tails wagging!

10/15/2025

🎃 Keep the Treats Away from Your Pets This Halloween! 🍫🐾

As we dive into the spooky season, it’s important to remember that many Halloween treats can be dangerous for our pets! 🍬

🍫 Chocolate – Even small amounts can be toxic, especially dark or baking chocolate.
🍭 Sugar-free candy – Xylitol (a common sugar substitute) can cause dangerous drops in blood sugar and even liver failure in dogs.
🍬 Candy wrappers – Curious pets may swallow them, leading to choking or intestinal blockages.
🍫 Raisins and grapes – Even a few can cause severe kidney damage.

👻 Keep all candy bowls, treat bags, and trick-or-treat stashes well out of reach of your pets. If you suspect your furry friend got into something they shouldn’t have, call us right away or contact the Pet Poison Control Helpline at 855-764-7661.

10/13/2025

🐾 Happy Veterinary Technician Week! 🐾

This week, we’re celebrating the incredible veterinary technicians who are the heartbeat of our clinic. 💚

Our vet techs do it all — from nursing care, lab work, anesthesia monitoring, and radiology, to comforting nervous pets (and sometimes their humans, too). They are multitasking masters with endless compassion and skill! 💉

What many people don’t realize is that becoming a veterinary technician takes years of education and training. Vet techs complete an accredited veterinary technology program, pass the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE), and maintain their state licensing through continuing education — all to ensure your pets receive the very best care possible. 🩺✨

Their knowledge, hard work, and dedication make a huge impact every single day. We couldn’t do what we do without them!

10/06/2025

👀 See those white shapes within the red circle? Those are bladder stones in a dog's bladder!

Bladder stones can form for a variety of reasons: ph imbalance, excess bacteria (UTI), overabundance of minerals, and even genetics. 💦 When these stones form, your pet may exhibit painful urination, blood in the urine, frequent accidents, or even a life-threatening blockage if left untreated. The stones pictured are quite large, but some can be a lot smaller and can travel to the urethra causing a urinary blockage.

The good news? It's treatable! Surgery is the only way to remove bladder stones. But with diet changes and close monitoring of your pet's urinary habits we can help to greatly reduce the chances of recurrence.

10/06/2025

Meet Agnes 💕

Back in July, Agnes developed a fever, stopped eating, became lethargic, and began hiding. Despite supportive care with antibiotics, pain medication, and close monitoring, she continued to decline—losing weight and energy.

Her dedicated owner pursued every diagnostic step we recommended, and together we arrived at the difficult diagnosis of FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis). For many years, FIP was considered a fatal disease in cats.

In August, we began Agnes on a new treatment for FIP, and the results have been remarkable. Over the past few months, she has steadily improved—she’s eating and drinking well, is active again, and has regained her lost weight. Her owner shared that she’s “back to doing cat things,” and we couldn’t be happier to see her thriving once more.

We’re so proud of Agnes’ progress and grateful to her owner for trusting us throughout this journey. Stories like hers remind us how far veterinary medicine has come and how much hope there is for cats facing this once-devastating disease. 🐾

10/03/2025

🎉 CLOSING EARLY today (Friday, October 3rd at 4pm) for a company-wide party. We appreciate your understanding as we take this time to celebrate the amazing people who care for your pets every day. Normal business hours will resume on Monday, October 6th. Thank you! 🐱🐶