Apple Valley Veterinary Clinic

🌫️ Air Quality Warning: Keep Your Pets Safe 🐾
With wildfire smoke affecting our air quality, it’s important to remember that our pets can feel the effects too.
Here are a few ways to help keep them safe:
🐶Hold off on walks for the time being.
🏡 Keep pets indoors as much as possible with windows and doors closed.
💧 Make sure they always have access to fresh water.
😺 Cats should stay indoors until the air quality improves.
❤️ Watch for signs of smoke irritation, including coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing, excessive panting, watery eyes, or unusual tiredness.
Pets with heart or lung disease, senior pets, puppies, kittens, and flat-faced breeds (such as Bulldogs, Pugs, and Persian cats) are especially sensitive to poor air quality.
If your pet is having trouble breathing or you notice concerning symptoms, please contact your veterinarian right away.
A little extra caution today can help keep our furry family members happy, healthy, and breathing easier. 🐾💕 See less

🐾 Do You Have an Emergency Plan for Your Pets? 🐾

Emergencies can happen when we least expect them. Whether it's a severe storm, a power outage, or an unexpected trip to the hospital, having a plan in place can make all the difference for your furry family members.

Ask yourself:
✅ Does someone you trust know how to care for your pets if you're unable to?
✅ Do you have enough food, water, and medications to last several days?
✅ Are your pet's medical records and vaccination information easy to access?
✅ Are collars, ID tags, and microchip information up to date?
✅ Do you have a pet emergency kit ready to grab if you need to evacuate?

A little preparation today can provide peace of mind tomorrow. Your pets depend on you—make sure they're part of your family's emergency plan.

Share in the comments: What's one item you always keep in your pet's emergency kit? 🐶🐱🐰

https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/pet-disaster-preparedness

Most pet owners have thought about what they would grab in an emergency, but not everyone has included their pets in the plan.

July 15 is Pet Fire Safety Day, which is as perfect a time as any to take a few small steps now that could make a big difference later. Place a pet alert sticker on your window so responders know animals are inside. Keep a go-bag with food, water, and medical records near the door. And make sure your pet is part of every practice drill. Protecting your pet is part of protecting your home.

Pet Fire Safety Day

Let's talk about the big three summer parasites and why prevention is your best defense. 🦟

FLEAS: One flea becomes 1,000 in just 3 weeks. They cause itching and allergic reactions and can transmit tapeworms. Once they're in your home? Nightmare to get rid of.

TICKS: These blood-suckers carry serious diseases: Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and Ehrlichiosis. One tick bite can change your pet's life.

HEARTWORMS: One mosquito bite. That's all it takes. These parasites live in the heart and blood vessels, causing permanent damage. Prevention is 100% effective. Treatment? Not guaranteed.

We recommend year-round parasite prevention for ALL pets. It's not optional in summer; it's essential.

Not sure what your pet needs? We'll create a personalized parasite prevention plan based on your pet's lifestyle, age, and health.

Your pet's summer depends on it. Let's protect them together. 🐾

Heatstroke can happen fast, even faster with this heat and humidity! Here are the signs to watch for. Be safe and just stay out of the heat the next couple days.

🚨 Watch for:
• Excessive panting
• Drooling
• Weakness or stumbling
• Vomiting
• Bright red gums
• Collapse

💡 Prevent heatstroke by:
• Providing plenty of water and shade
• Avoiding exercise during the hottest part of the day
• Walking early morning or evening
• Never leaving pets in a parked car

🆘 If your dog is overheating:
Move them to a cool area, offer small amounts of water, wet them with cool (not ice-cold) water, and seek veterinary care immediately.

A few minutes can make all the difference. Stay cool and keep your pets safe this summer! ❤️🐾

Have always been helpful and sweet to my cat Paisley when we came in! The staff is very warm and inviting and the atmosphere is open and calming for a vet office. Always willing to listen to my concerns and give me great advice on how to make her life better. The staff have also been very sweet and calm around Paisley since she is more of a shy girl! Definitely recommend this clinic!

-Abbie K.