Steveston Blog
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Your pet's well-being and comfort is always our primary concern. We are committed to helping animals live the best lives possible by providing quality, compassionate, and professional health care as a full service veterinary hospital.
Steveston Blog
5M ago
When it comes to spaying or neutering your pet, the old adage "you get what you pay for" often holds true. While it's tempting to choose the lowest-cost option, it's crucial to understand that not all spay and neuter procedures are created equal. Your pet's health and well-being before, during, and after the surgery can vary significantly based on several factors. To ensure your furry friend receives the best possible care, here are some critical questions to ask when comparing veterinary services.
Do they use pre-medication?
Pre-medication or pre-emptive pain management refers to the administ ..read more
Steveston Blog
5M ago
Have you ever taken your pet in for a surgery…even a seemingly minor one…and your veterinarian requested “pre-anesthetic bloodwork” first? Some pet owners are leery of this and the extra cost that typically accompanies it; but before you decline it, you should know how important it is.
Pre-anesthetic bloodwork is often recommended for all animals that will undergo anesthesia, no matter how major or minor the procedure is. This allows your vet to assess your pet’s overall health and will often give indication of any underlying conditions that may not be seen on physical examin ..read more
Steveston Blog
3y ago
Have you ever taken your pet in for a surgery…even a seemingly minor one…and your veterinarian requested “pre-anesthetic bloodwork” first? Some pet owners are leery of this and the extra cost that typically accompanies it; but before you decline it, you should know how important it is.
Pre-anesthetic bloodwork is often recommended for all animals that will undergo anesthesia, no matter how major or minor the procedure is. This allows your vet to assess your pet’s overall health and will often give indication of any underlying conditions that may not be seen on physical examin ..read more
Steveston Blog
3y ago
Many people outside the veterinary world are not aware that fluid therapy is actually one of the most common therapies provided in small animal medicine. Patients can be given fluids by several different methods and for many different reasons. The number of available fluids is also growing. Understanding the basics of fluid therapy may help you feel more at ease if it is ever ordered for your pet in a veterinary setting.
Fluid therapy may be administered for many reasons, including: correction of dehydration, expansion and support of intravascular volume, correcti ..read more
Steveston Blog
3y ago
Gastric dilatation volvulus or GDV is a life-threatening condition that affects dogs. It is also known by the term “BLOAT”. The term “dilatation” refers to the stomach becoming engorged with air and froth, swelling to many times its size. The term “volvulus” means the stomach actually flips and twists around. When these two things happen together, the accumulated air and froth are prevented from escaping into the rest of the gastrointestinal tract, placing significant pressure on the great vessels of the abdomen and preventing blood return back to the heart. This will l ..read more
Steveston Blog
4y ago
Ringworm is a fungal infection that can affect both cats and dogs, as well as other small animals. So that’s the bad news. Now are you ready for the worst part? Ringworm is not only contagious between pets, but it also highly contagious to humans too! That’s right…you can, unfortunately, get ringworm from your beloved pet. So that right there should be enough incentive to keep a close look-out for it!
Ringworm is transmitted through fungal spores that infect the skin, hair, objects, and soil. The fungi can live on stray hair follicles and skin cells making i ..read more
Steveston Blog
4y ago
Are you aware that your pet can have heart problems just like you? Know the symptoms of congestive heart failure so you can get your companion the help they need before it’s too late.
Heart disease can lead to congestive heart failure, when your dog’s heart has trouble pumping blood to the rest of its body. This disease can affect one side or sometimes both sides of the heart. It can progress slowly and may take years to spot.
Some dogs are actually born with a heart defect, but old age, injury, infection, diet and exercise may also be contributors. Symptoms ..read more
Steveston Blog
4y ago
We’ve all had that annoying and painful hacking cough before…but have you ever heard your dog do it? No, your dog did not catch your cold…but he may have caught his own type of “cold”! If you’re a dog owner, you have probably heard of kennel cough before, especially if you ever take your dog to a grooming or boarding facility. If your dog is hacking or making constant noises that sound like they are choking, they may have a case of kennel cough, or as it is also known, canine infectious tracheobronchitis.
There are actually multiple causes of kennel cough, but one of th ..read more
Steveston Blog
4y ago
Never heard of anal glands?? Well, you are in for a treat today! Haha! Ok, so it’s not usually a favorite topic; but if you have a pet, especially a dog, they’re something you need to know about.
Anal glands are scent glands. They are located between the muscle layers of the rectum, and when all is working correctly, they are naturally expressed through ducts each time a dog defecates. This is another way for a dog to “mark their territory” and leave a signal to other dogs that may pass by.
Cats have anal glands too, but it is fairly rare for them to h ..read more
Steveston Blog
4y ago
We all know that a visit to the veterinary clinic can be expensive. It’s completely understandable to want to try to save money wherever and however you can. Unfortunately, when it comes to your pet and their medications, that is not a good idea. Some people think that when their pet is prescribed a medication, they can just use it until they see an improvement in the animal and then save the rest in case it’s needed at a later date. Others will continue to give a medication longer than the suggested amount of time. We’re going to tell you why both of these can be ..read more