Whidbey Veterinary House Calls

22/11/2024

Today we are highlighting a joint supplement called undenatured type two collagen, also known as, UC-II!

UC-II is not only great for our senior cats and dogs already dealing with arthritis but it’s also good for our adult pets too! This is because preventing inflammation in the joint is an excellent way to slow the development of arthritis in the first place!

Our favorite product is Flexadin Advanced! Watch the video below to see how it works! Also, although the video doesn’t highlight this, Flexadin is also available for cats!

Learn how Flexadin Advanced works differently from other joint supplements with it's unique ingredient UCII.

21/11/2024

We’re back for ✨National Senior Pet Awareness Month✨ with some tips for when your senior pet is getting a little weaker:

🐶 Often senior dogs are able to move around on their own just fine when they are on their feet. But what if getting up is the hard part sometimes? What if your dog can’t maneuver the staircase and they are too big for you to carry? There are special harnesses to help! We love the Help-em-up harness for when your pet needs a little assistance getting their feet under them or help navigating certain situations.

🐱Nobody loves cleaning up pet messes. 😬 Sometimes our clients find themselves with a senior cat that urinates and/or defecates outside the litter box even after we have ruled out possible medical causes. This can be so frustrating! One thing to try is finding a litter box that is wider and shallower which makes it easier and more comfortable for them to get in and out of the box. Creating a ramp or small steps is also a great option!

20/11/2024

Boady really appreciated his 🏠 house call appointment 🏠 yesterday!

His mom said the traveling to and from the clinic really takes a lot out of him due to his significant arthritis. Having his vet visit at home avoids the days of soreness and exhaustion he would have after travel in the car!

We love you Boady!

20/11/2024

It’s Won’t Look Wednesday!

We’ve all been there… you’re trying to capture your pet looking cute and they just. Won’t. Look! 😩 Let’s see those “failed” photos!

19/11/2024

We have seen some great patients today! ❤️ Just a wonderful day of house calls before this crazy storm! 🌨️🌀🌨️

📣📣Remember to check your fence line and gates before letting your dogs out tonight and tomorrow!! Stay safe out there!!

19/11/2024

💃🏻We took some time this morning to celebrate Abby!! Her birthday was on Saturday but we celebrated today! It’s such a joy to have Abby on the team! 💃🏻

Happy Birthday!!! 🎉🎁🎈

19/11/2024

What do you do when your dog grows old?
When his feet are tired and the pads are worn?
When your words of praise are muffled in his ears,
and his eyes are milky from their years of use?
When his face is grizzled and his color isn’t as vibrant?
You love him.
You rub the feet that dutifully carried him by your side.
You speak your praises more loudly,
so everybody else can hear the words that he can’t.
You guide him the way he has guided you,
and prevent him from getting lost as you were before he came along.
You kiss his muzzle and admire the wisdom that has beset him in his later years.
And when it comes time to put him to his final rest,
knowing that an irreplaceable part of your heart will follow him,
you will do so knowing that you loved him.
And he loved you more.

By Jackie Short-Nguyen

18/11/2024

Have you ever been told any of the following? “Motion is lotion!” “Move it or lose it!” “Inflammation needs circulation!”

Well, we’re here to tell you this is not just advice for humans as we age! It applies to pets too! Regular, low-impact exercise is a key ingredient to keeping our pets comfortable. Keeping their muscles strong provides the joints with much needed support and the circulation stirred up by the motion helps with inflammation!

🐶 The number one recommended low-impact exercise for dogs is swimming! But we know not all of our canines like water! Short, frequent walks are also very beneficial! As well as easy hikes with mildly uneven terrain! There are also tons of videos of body conditioning tricks to train that are mini workouts in themselves if the weather is crummy. We promise old dogs can learn new tricks!

🐱Cats can be a little more tricky to keep in motion. Putting their food elevated somewhere (with easy stairs to climb up) on one side of the house and their litter box on the other side of the house requires them to move to do their necessary daily tasks. Hiding treats around the house for food motivated cats can also trick them into getting some motion. There are also interactive puzzle treat dispensers that require them to use their dexterous little paws! And of course, there is the traditional playtime with their favorite toy!

17/11/2024

“When your dog's face turns white, it's because all of the years of kisses have rubbed the color off.”

Show us those senior pups! ❤️🐶❤️

📷: Larry and Marge Grant Photography

16/11/2024

Our pets are living longer now thanks to the high quality care of owners like you! One thing that occasionally comes with long life in dogs is, unfortunately, cognitive decline.

Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CCDS) is a common age related change in the brain. Clinical signs include: disorientation, interaction changes, sleep-pattern changes, house-soiling, activity level changes, anxiety, and learning changes.

There is no cure for CCDS, much like Alzheimer’s, but rather it is a condition that is managed with decreasing novel activities, keeping a regular routine, making sure they get regular exercise, using medications to control anxiety or pain, and using supplements or diet to support brain function. It should be noted: pain can exacerbate the signs of CCDS but it is not a symptom of the disease.

Many of these symptoms are also common symptoms of other diseases. If you have any concerns please reach out for an appointment. Patience and understanding is a huge part of managing this condition but everyone’s quality of life is important when it comes to the health of your pet. We are here to help guide you as you navigate every chapter of your pet’s life.
📞 (425) 429-1510

15/11/2024

Let’s talk about ways we can help our senior friends get around the home easier!

🐶Often our canine oldsters struggle with the slick floors in our homes. Rugs, runners, and interlocking foam puzzle piece flooring are great ways to give them paths through the house that have great traction. There are also toe grips to put on their nails that help give some extra traction as well!

🐱Our cat roommates (😉) love using their ability to jump and climb to high places. As their mobility declines, adding ramps to their favorite spots, getting a senior friendly cat tree or adding additional steps to their existing cat trees make the jumps smaller. These are great steps to accommodate the changes in their abilities. Remember, cats are more subtle in showing signs of arthritis so you might have to be proactive in making adjustments for them!

14/11/2024

🦃 There’s two weeks to Thanksgiving! 🦃
(I’m not panicking, are you panicking? 🙃)

With the holidays comes all the planning, prepping, and sometimes even traveling! Make sure checking the stock of your pet’s medications is on your list and give us a call for any refills needed before the long weekend!
📞(425) 429-1510

13/11/2024

We’re back at it with our senior pet care tips and recommendations!!

💉Annual lab work!
As they age, our senior companion’s internal organs and body systems are prone to develop changes just as much as their joints, ears, and eyes are. The only difference is they often do so subtly and silently before you see any changes in their behavior.

This is where lab work comes to the rescue! We recommend annual blood work +/- urine once our patients reach their golden years.
🩸Blood work🩸is imperative to catching health issues early! It gives us insight into organ function, blood cell counts, thyroid levels, glucose levels and more.
💦Urine💦 provides a complete picture of your pet’s urinary system, which is especially important in our feline friends!

Want to get a baseline for your senior pet? Or do you have a concern about changes you’re seeing? Call for an appointment! We’d love to help!
📞(425) 429-1510

12/11/2024

Happy Tongue out Tuesday WVHC friends! Let’s see those tongues!

😂👅😂

11/11/2024

🇺🇸Happy Veterans Day!!🇺🇸

“We don’t know them all but we owe them all”

The WVHC Team wants to give a huge thank you to everyone who has served our country!🫡

10/11/2024

Happy Sunday! Let’s see those senior kitties!! 🐱

09/11/2024

November is National Senior Pet Awareness Month and boy do these patients deserve to be highlighted and celebrated! 🥰 This month we are going to share some tips for caring for your aging companions!

Just like us humans, our senior pets require more frequent medical care. We recommend bi-annual exams on all our seniors! A pet’s body changes fast (remember how fast they went from puppy/kitten to adult 😳) and more frequent exams allow our team to catch changes quickly! This allows for prompt treatment and a better quality of life!

08/11/2024

Alright, we’re curious what our patient’s favorite activities are! Dog sports? Hiking? Naps? Favorite toy? Let us know in the comments (we love pictures!)

Here is our pets favorite:

🏖️Lucy loves going to Long Beach and running on the sand!
🐇Renzo loves chasing the “bunny” at lure racing!
🫧Scout and Kylo love playing with bubbles!
🎾And Finn loves playing with his ball!