Village Vet

07/01/2025

“Are they on any medications, supplements, or vitamins?”
We ask every pet parent this question - for a very important reason.

Even if it’s just a joint supplement, fish oil, CBD oil, or a calming chew, these products can interact with prescription medications. Sometimes they make a medication less effective. Other times, they can increase side effects or create completely unexpected reactions.

Timing, dose and formulation all matter in avoiding interactions.

That’s why we always ask. It’s not just routine - it’s how we keep your pet safe.

So if your pet is taking anything at all - prescription, over-the-counter, herbal, or home-made - please let us know. You’re helping us protect your pet’s health.

We’re in this together. And the information you provide helps us give your pet the safest, most effective care possible.

06/30/2025

4th of July Pet Safety & Holiday Hours (Closed Friday)

As we celebrate Independence Day, please take a moment to prepare for your pet’s safety and well-being. Fireworks, crowds, and festive foods can be stressful or even dangerous for our furry companions. Here are some important tips to help keep them calm and safe:

General Safety Tips
⦿ Keep pets indoors during fireworks. Even outdoor pets can panic and escape.
⦿ Create a calm space with their favorite bed, toys, or blankets. Soft music or white noise can help mask loud sounds.
⦿ Exercise them early in the day so they’re more relaxed in the evening.
⦿ Talk to your vet if your pet experiences anxiety. There are safe medications and calming aids available - please contact us early in the week.
⦿ Avoid fireworks and sparklers around pets. Even unlit ones can be harmful if chewed or ingested.
⦿ Keep ID tags and microchips updated in case they get scared and run off.
⦿ Secure windows, doors, and gates to prevent escapes.
⦿ Avoid party foods and drinks - many common items (like chocolate, grapes, onions, and alcohol) are toxic to pets.
⦿ Keep decorations out of reach, as they can be harmful if ingested.
⦿ Stay calm yourself - pets often take emotional cues from their humans.

Holiday Hours
Village Vet will be closed Friday, July 4th and reopen Monday July 7th so our team can celebrate with their families.

Emergency Care:
If your pet has an emergency over the long weekend, please contact:
Emergency Veterinary Care Center (EVCC) – Westville, IN
Phone: 219-785-7300

Wishing you and your pets a safe, happy, and peaceful holiday

06/25/2025

This is Monkey - and his story is a powerful reminder of how devastating tick-borne illnesses can be for animals of all kinds, including dogs, horses, and cats.

Monkey began with just a lack of appetite. Soon after, he developed a high fever, extreme stiffness in his hind end, and severe swelling in his back legs. Bloodwork revealed he was extremely anemic, with critically low platelets, red blood cells, and white blood cells. Because he also has a genetic condition called Immune Mediated Myositis (IMM), he was referred immediately by his veterinarian at Two by Two Animal Hospital to MSU for further evaluation.

There, he was diagnosed with anaplasmosis - a tick-borne illness caused by Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Although anaplasmosis is treatable, the single tick bite that infected Monkey triggered a serious immune response, flaring his underlying condition and causing significant muscle loss.

Below you can see before and after photos - the effects on Monkey’s body, especially the muscle wasting, are a sobering visual of what can happen when a tick-borne illness goes undetected or escalates quickly.

Important Takeaways:
Tick-borne illnesses don’t just affect dogs. Horses, cats, and even people are at risk.
Symptoms can be vague at first - appetite changes, stiffness, swelling, fever.
Early detection and year-round tick prevention are critical.
If something feels off, trust your instincts and contact your vet.

Monkey is now on the road to recovery, regaining strength day by day. His journey is a reminder: it only takes one tick bite.

06/19/2025

Starting Monday, July 7th the Downtown Streets Paving Project will begin. Paving will be segmented so only 1-2 roads will be worked on at a time to limit detours and disruption. Access to downtown will remain open throughout the project. This could take up to 1 month to complete.

In addition to repaving all the streets indicated below in red, the project will add street parking spaces, upgrade storm drainage at Kimmel & Berrien, and update sidewalks to meet ADA requirements.

Thank you for patience and cooperation during this project.

Keep up-to-date with this and other Village road projects at www.villageofstevensville.us/roads.

06/18/2025

Help Us Help Your Pet Have a Stress-Free Summer

Summer events like fireworks, parties, and travel can be overwhelming for pets, especially those with noise or social anxiety.

If your pet experiences anxiety or takes medication to help with stress, please don’t wait to reach out. We’re receiving a high volume of requests, and we want to ensure our veterinarians have enough time to review and approve all medication refills and treatment plans.

Please text or call us as soon as possible if:

🔹️Your pet has anxiety around noise, crowds, or travel

🔹️You would like to discuss treatment or calming options

🔹️Your pet is currently on anxiety medication and needs a refill

We’re here to help you prepare so your pet can stay safe, calm, and comfortable all summer long.

06/13/2025

Tick Alert for Pet Owners! The Asian longhorned tick has been found in Berrien County, and it’s a serious risk to dogs and outdoor cats.

🕷️ This invasive tick multiplies fast and feeds heavily - putting pets at risk for illness, irritation, and even blood loss.

🔹 ️Common Symptoms of Tick-Borne Diseases in Pets
Fever:

Lethargy or weakness
Loss of appetite
Lameness or stiffness (sometimes shifting from leg to leg)
Swollen lymph nodes
Pale gums or anemia (due to blood loss or red blood cell destruction)
Bruising or unexplained bleeding
Joint swelling or pain
Weight loss
Difficulty breathing or coughing (less common)
Neurological signs (such as seizures, head tilt, or behavior changes; rare but serious)
Excessive thirst or urination (can occur with some infections)
Skin irritation or rash near the tick bite (less common in pets than humans)

🔹 ️Common Tick-Borne Diseases & Their Symptoms:

Lyme Disease: Fever, lameness, swollen joints, lethargy

Anaplasmosis: Fever, lethargy, pale gums, bruising, joint pain

Ehrlichiosis: Fever, weight loss, swollen lymph nodes, bleeding disorders

Babesiosis: Severe anemia, weakness, jaundice (yellow gums or eyes)

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever: Fever, rash, joint pain, neurological signs

🔹️ What to Do if You Suspect Tick-Borne Illness:

Contact us immediately. Early diagnosis and treatment improve outcomes.

Keep a sample of the tick (if possible) for identification.

Follow your veterinarians advice on testing, treatment (often antibiotics), and monitoring.

Ticks can transmit diseases that sometimes take days or weeks to show symptoms. So, if your pet has had tick exposure, even if they seem fine, keep an eye on them and maintain regular tick prevention.

Tick clusters are usually found around ears, neck, or between toes after outdoor time.

We’re here to help - call or Text (269)235-9380 with any questions or concerns.

News: Asian Longhorned Ticks Discovered in Berrien County. This is the first detection of Asian longhorned ticks in Michigan

06/12/2025

Healthy Teeth, Happy Pets!

Over 70% of cats and dogs show signs of dental disease by age 3. Dental hygiene is more than just fresh breath, it’s essential to your pet’s overall health!

Common signs of dental issues include:

Bad breath
Drooling
Difficulty eating or dropping kibble
Red or bleeding gums
Yellow or brown buildup on teeth

Left untreated, dental problems can lead to serious infections, heart, kidney, or liver issues. That’s why regular dental care and checkups are just as important for your pets as they are for you!

At Village Vet, we offer professional cleanings, exams, and tips to keep those tails wagging and whiskers twitching!

Call or Text us to schedule your pet’s dental checkup and give them a reason to smile!

06/06/2025

Happy Work Anniversary Sarah!

We're proud to celebrate Sarah, one of our amazing licensed veterinary technicians here at Village Vet and Rehab!

Her teammates say it best:
✨ “Sarah is a great team member to collaborate with!”
✨ “She’s a great tech and I’m very grateful for all her hard work!”
✨ “An invaluable resource for the team and works so hard!”
✨ “LOVE working with her - reliable, knowledgeable, and always growing!”

As an LVT focused on rehabilitation, client education, and mentoring, Sarah plays a vital role in helping our patients heal and thrive. Whether she's guiding pet parents through treatment plans or supporting fellow team members, her dedication and expertise make a difference every day.

Thank you, Sarah, for your compassion, leadership, and the calm confidence you bring to the clinic. We’re lucky to have you!

06/02/2025

Annual Heartworm & Lyme Disease Test Results Are In

So far this year, 7 pets have tested positive for heartworm and 32 have tested positive for Lyme disease at our clinic. These numbers are a powerful reminder of why annual testing and preventative care are so important.

We keep a board in our lobby updated with this year’s totals and the most recent monthly results. Stop by and take a look.

If your pet hasn’t been tested in over a year year, or hasn't been on year round heartworm and flea/tick prevention, now is the time to test!
Heartworm and Lyme disease can be serious, but with early detection and prevention, they’re manageable and often preventable.

📞 Call us today to schedule your pet’s annual heartworm and tick-borne disease screening - 269-235-9380

05/30/2025

Undercoat Blowout Season: A Behind-the-Scenes Look with Quincy the Keeshond

Spring is shifting into Summer, and with that, comes shedding season - especially for double-coated breeds like this Keeshond. Quincy, a beloved patient here at Village Vet, recently began blowing his undercoat in full force.

What does that mean? Dogs like Quincy have a thick, insulating undercoat that naturally sheds in large amounts once or twice a year to prepare for seasonal temperature changes. This process is completely normal but can be quite a challenge for pet owners!

During Quincy's recent grooming session, his owner spent over two hours carefully brushing and deshedding his coat.

Regular grooming during this time is essential - not just for keeping your home hair-free, but for your pet’s skin health, comfort, and temperature regulation. Matting, hot spots, and skin infections can occur if loose fur is not properly removed.

Coat maintenance is important, especially for breeds like German Shepherds, Huskies, Pomeranians and Golden Retrievers.

Here are a few grooming tips for coat-blowing season:
Brush frequently - ideally several times a week.
Use the right tools (a slicker brush and undercoat rake can be lifesavers).
Watch for signs of matting or irritated skin.

Consider professional grooming or a veterinary check-up if shedding seems excessive.

Remember, double-coated breeds are beautiful and full of personality - but they do require extra commitment when it comes to grooming. Quincy looks like a happy healthy walking cloud of fluff, thanks to some dedicated coat care.

Do you have questions about shedding, coat maintenance, or your dog's skin condition? We’re happy to answer your questions.

05/30/2025

Berrien County pet parents - Don’t skip this test!

Heartworm and Lyme disease are on the rise in Berrien County, Michigan – and your dog could be at risk even if they seem perfectly healthy.

📈 Did you know?
Berrien County ranks among the top 3 in Michigan for confirmed Lyme disease cases.
Heartworm cases are also increasing across Michigan due to warmer weather and longer mosquito seasons.

That’s why their heartworm test is more important than ever. This simple blood test screens for:

● Heartworm
● Lyme disease
● Ehrlichiosis
● Anaplasmosis

️🩸Why test BEFORE starting or restarting heartworm prevention?
Giving heartworm prevention to an infected dog can be dangerous. Some preventatives can cause severe reactions or complications if your dog already has heartworms. Testing first ensures it’s safe to give heartworm prevention medication and protects your pet from harm.

Take action today:
🔹️ Ask us about our heartworm and tick borne disease test
🔹️Test before starting or restarting your dog on heartworm prevention meds
🔹️Protect your dog year-round with heartworm and flea & tick prevention medication

Your dog relies on you, give them the health check they deserve.

05/21/2025

Memorial Day Weekend Hours

We will be closing at 3:00 PM this Friday (May 23rd) for Memorial Day weekend and will remain closed through Monday. We will reopen at 8:00 AM on Tuesday, May 27th.

If your pet needs medical care during the weekend, please contact the Emergency Veterinary Care Center (EVCC) in Westville, IN.

Important: If your pet needs prescription food or medication refills, please contact us at least 24 hours in advance to ensure we can have it ready for you.

Wishing everyone a safe and peaceful Memorial Day weekend!