Blog | Ash Veterinary Clinic

Forgetting Feline Friends

Posted by Roni Coatley on May 14, 2018 in Blog | 0 comments

Why is it that cats make up the majority of household pets in America, but dogs are seen more at veterinary clinics? Many people have the misconception that cats take care of themselves, but they rely on us for more than just food, water and shelter. Their emotional and physical needs are just as important. Many people consider their cat as a member of the family; however, some cats are strictly barn cats and live outdoors. Even these can need healthcare, too. Our goal is to make owners aware of the importance of feline...

Know Your Four Legged Laws

Posted by Roni Coatley on May 7, 2018 in Blog | 0 comments

With summer approaching, we think about vacations, which many times include taking furry family members too. Often, this includes a road trip and when you take your pets, you should be aware of the laws and the safety of your pet while traveling. One of the most important and potentially dangerous things you can do is driving while distracted. Everyone knows you should never text while driving, but have you ever thought of your pet as a distraction? Anytime you travel in a vehicle with your pet, they should be restrained...

Why is My Pet Shedding?

Posted by Roni Coatley on Apr 25, 2018 in Blog | 0 comments

Spring, for many people, is the beginning of good things to come. We look forward to more sunshine, nicer weather, picnics and fun. What we don’t look forward to is picking up tons of hair from our shedding pets. No matter what breed or kind of pet you have, shedding is a normal daily event, and in areas that have seasons, pets “blow their coat” starting in spring. Shedding is a continuous process. Pets lose their winter coats in the spring when it is replaced by a shorter, lighter one. In the fall, this cycle is reversed, as the...

What you need to know about Lyme disease!

Posted by Roni Coatley on Apr 23, 2018 in Blog | 0 comments

While the infection we know today as Lyme disease has been around for at least a century, public awareness and confusion didn’t really occur until the late 1980s. Media exposure of this infection virtually exploded, leaving the public with some basic knowledge and concern about this infection as it pertains to themselves and their dogs. The canine experience of Lyme disease is very different from the human infection; however, both species get the disease from the deer tick. Deer ticks are the largest transmitter of Lyme disease in the...

Itchy, Itchy, Itchy

Posted by Roni Coatley on Sep 22, 2016 in Blog | 0 comments

Why are pets so itchy lately? That seems to be the most frequent question asked over the past 3 weeks and will most likely continue until November or December. More often than not, the itching is related to allergies. Allergies to what you may ask? That is the million dollar question. General allergies are some of the most frustrating disorders for owners and doctors to diagnose, treat and manage. It obviously is difficult at home to listen and watch your dog (and cats too) scratch, thump, lick, rub, and in many...

Helping Children Deal With the Loss of a Pet

Posted by Roni Coatley on Sep 12, 2016 in Blog | 0 comments

From the goldfish won at a school carnival that did not make it home alive to the hamster that escaped from his cage and was never seen again. If it is time for the cat or dog that has been in the family for years to now take a final trip to the veterinarian’s, the death of a pet can be a wrenching experience for a child. Though the death of a pet can be a sad and perhaps scary experience for a child, it is also a chance for parents to set a model for grief and death. For most children, this will be the first time they deal with death,...

Add Trimming Pet Nails to Your To-Do List

Posted by Roni Coatley on Apr 5, 2016 in Blog | 0 comments

Trimming your pet’s nails is often not pleasant for you or your pet. Because of that, many people leave the task to their groomer or veterinarian. The thing is, seeing these professionals more frequently will help your pet be more comfortable during this process. We have a process in which two people are involved trimming nails. Not only does it allow for the trimming to be done quickly but it allows the pet to be distracted during the trimming. Long nails can make walking uncomfortable and can even cause lameness. At Ash...

How Does Tainted Water Affect Pets?

Posted by Roni Coatley on Mar 10, 2016 in Blog | 0 comments

Many people drink bottled water or filtered water from the refrigerator while your cat, dog or other pet’s water bowl is filled from the tap. Why should our furry (or scaly) companions drink lower quality water than us? First, it was the people of Flint that were found to have been tainted by lead. The area’s toxic water is the source of this potentially fatal contamination. Now, there are dogs that live in the vicinity of the Michigan city that have tested positive for lead toxicity. These are the first two pets that are confirmed with...

Choosing to End an Animal’s Suffering is a Final Act of Love

Posted by Roni Coatley on Mar 3, 2016 in Blog | 0 comments

It is the question every pet lover dreads, “When is the right time to say goodbye?” There is never an easy answer to this question. Choosing to euthanize your pet is the hardest decision to make and we can tell you from decades of experience that it is a decision that never gets easier. We at Ash Veterinary Clinic and Emergency Center can offer you advice and support, and friends and family can offer you sympathy, but no one can make the decision for you. When you live with an elderly or terminally ill pet, you look in your...

Brushing Your Dog’s Teeth Is Not As Hard As It May Seem!

Posted by Roni Coatley on Feb 18, 2016 in Blog | 0 comments

Of course, February is not the only month you should be concerned about your pet’s oral care, but it is a time for us to bring attention to such an important part of your pet’s health. What would happen if you stopped brushing your own teeth altogether? Even if you only ate hard food, as most dogs do, there still would be problems such as bacteria and tartar which lead to halitosis (bad breath). Like humans, it is recommended to brush your dog’s teeth twice daily. Here at Ash Veterinary Clinic and Emergency Center, we understand that...