News and AnnouncementsDr. Wagener will have a relief veterinarian filling in for him during most of February. Dr. Linda Schilkowsky has been doing relief work for many years and comes with excellent reviews. Dr. Wagener will be staying home to help his wife care for their new daughter, and he will be back at work the beginning of March. Please know that your pets will continue to receive the best of care from our staff, and Dr. Wagener will be available for consultations even if he can't be present in the hospital.It is not unusual for people to bring in dogs and cats they find, wanting to know if we know who they are. This is usually impossible unless the pet has a microchip implanted; if they do, they can be immediately identified and returned home before they ever reach the animal shelter. If your pet doesn't have a microchip, please call us. The chip is implanted through a simple injection. Once the chip is implanted your pet can be identified any where they travel in the world.
Blue Ridge Animal Hospital Inc. continues to recommend Canine Influenza vaccinations for those dogs that will be in contact with many other dogs. This is especially important for those dogs traveling to Florida, or other places experiencing outbreaks.
If you worry about hip dysplasia, Blue Ridge Animal Hospital is one of the few hospitals offering the new Penn Hip evaluation. With this method of radiographing your dog's hips, we can give you the information you need to know concerning showing or breeding your dog when your dog is as young as 4 months of age. You no longer have to wait 2 years to get the information with the old OFA method.
Many of you know that we have coyotes in the area. Many clients have lost their cats to these predators. Please try to keep your cats from roaming loose; they are members of you family and their loss can be devastating.
Finally, rabies is in the area. The recent rabid fox found in Black Mountain is a reminder that all dogs and cats need to be vaccinated against this deadly disease. Also remember, if your pet is involved with an animal that may be rabid, your pet must get a rabies vaccine booster within 72 hours of the altercation. |