Dogwood Pet Hospital
1440 E. Powell Blvd.
Gresham, OR
503-667-9457
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Use your Pet Portal to manage your pet's health care and medication schedule and much more.
As always, the one place I felt more at home, than I did at home :) The reason I wanted to become a vet, and the fond memories created there…
- Jennifer
Everyone’s favorite hospital cat, Casper, is celebrating his 20th birthday today, Jan 26th, between 5 and 7 p.m at Dogwood Pet Hospital.
Enjoy the company of your veterinary team and other pet owners, learn about senior wellness care, enjoy birthday cake, delicious food (provided by Agave Azul), beverages, prizes, and lots of birthday fun!
Has your pet entered the Golden Years and you’d like to learn more about his or her special senior needs? AAHA (the American Animal Hospital Association) has created a fun and informative quiz just for you!
Senior Pet Facts
30% have a hidden disease
62% of dogs age 10 years and older have symptoms of cognitive dysfunction
80% have dental disease
Patty's 14-year-old Irish Setter Penny
Over the last 15 years, our hospital cat, Casper, has been a common fixture around Dogwood Pet Hospital. He often spends his Golden Years comfortably nestled on the receptionist’s desk eagerly accepting and giving affection to all that stop to visit. As a pet ambassador, Casper has spent many years visiting and nurturing patients during recovery. At 20, we are enthused to report that Casper is still healthy and happy!
Celebrate Casper’s monumental 20th year at Dogwood Pet Hospital on Tuesday, January 26th, 5-7 p.m. Enjoy the company of your veterinary team and other pet owners, learn about senior wellness care, enjoy birthday cake, delicious food (provided by Agave Azul), beverages, and prizes!
Great! For some people, a bird can be a fantastic pet. However, for any potential bird owner, there are several things that are important to think about.
In the wild, birds thrive on a great deal of territory and many birds also thrive on a large community. In other words, most birds live to fly and to socialize. Unfortunately, these are often the very things we take away from a bird when we choose to have them live in captivity. Birds are intelligent, emotional animals with very specific needs different from cats and dogs. If you are thinking of getting a bird, please make sure you are prepared for a needy, long-lived (in some cases, over 50 years!) animal.
Much in the same way new parents buy all the baby supplies they can think of BEFORE the baby arrives, the same strategy is best for birds. Pre-purchasing will also decrease the likelihood of impulse buying. Make sure you have the set up, and then look around for your perfect feathered companion. It can be much more difficult to purchase a bird and then realize how many more dollars are needed just to house, feed and entertain this new pet.
First off, most pet stores do their best to not sell dangerous or unnecessary products to bird owners. However, some sales personnel may be under-informed or not as up-to-date as one would like. Make sure you do the research first and go into the store with a list of things you’ve decided you need. Better yet, consult with your veterinarian about what is best for your new bird! For example, did you know most birds do not actually thrive on an all seed diet? That some metal-based toys can be very dangerous? That adding vitamins to the water are not likely necessary? The good news is that there are many valuable resources available, especially if you are willing to take your time.
Stay tuned for Beginners Guide to Bird Set Up…
We at Dogwood would like to thank the Good Samaritan who festively decorated our mascot, Spirit! We were delightfully surprised to find Spirit adorned in gold garland, Santa’s hat, and a traditional red bow.
Spirit (a canine topiary) diligently sits in our front lawn under the sign while watching over the hospital and patients.
We are happy to celebrate our newest Pet of the Month, Joey! Joey, a charming cockapoo, was diagnosed with cancer a little over a year ago. His cancer treatment plan includes monthly acupuncture visits, Chinese herbs, natural supplements, and routine monitoring.
As of the last exam, none of Joey’s tumors have grown in size. In fact, he’s feeling much better than before his diagnosis!
The intestinal tract contains a complex, dynamic, and diverse population of healthy bacteria. There has been a lot of research focusing on the mechanisms by which un-healthy bacteria induce disease (like salmonella and E. coli); however, recent attention has focused on the natural, healthy microorganisms and the ways in which they may benefit the body.
Probiotics refer to live microorganisms which confer a health benefit when administered in adequate amounts. Familiar sources of probiotics include the acidophilus found in yogurts. Recently, sources of probiotics have become available in higher concentrations and without the lactose that is found in yogurt that can make our pets sick.
Prebiotics are defined as food ingredients that stimulate the growth and/or activity of healthy bacteria in the colon. In other words, prebiotics feed the probiotics. The most common prebiotic found in diets of dogs and cats is dietary fiber. Prebiotics and dietary fiber are also important in feeding colon (large intestine) cells, or, “colonocytes”. Examples of prebiotics include inulin, FOS, and beet pulp.
Providing the right types of bacteria and fiber in the diet helps the intestine maintain normal absorptive fuction, normal motility, and prevention of the overgrowth of “unhealthy” bacteria. Pre- and Probiotics may be given to help with recovery from illness and long term to maintain good health.
In a nutshell, Pre- and Probiotics are beneficial in promoting a strong defense system. By adding pre-and probiotics to your pet’s diet, you are doing your pet’s intestinal tract and overall health a great favor. Ask us about our supplements today!
Name: Durango
Breed: Malamute/Rottweiler Mix
Age: 5 years
Sex: Neutered Male
Vaccines: current
Durango needs a new home due to current owner’s inability to care for him. He loves to run and play, prefers human attention over treats, and a willing learner.
If you are interested in providing a forever home for Durango, please contact Geri at 503-658-7207.
*Sorry, we do not have a digital picture of Durango but we do have a photograph at a our office.
We have discovered a wonderful new shampoo for general baths of dogs and cats! Many shampoos are a bit stinky, and many of the pet shampoos in stores are really human products repackaged for animals. Dogs and cats have different requirements for healthy skin and coat than people, so they need special shampoos.
Aloe & Oatmeal Shampoo from Animal Pharmaceuticals is designed just for pets and is soap free. Infused with cucumber essence and ripe melon extract, it smells better than any shampoo we have ever recommended. 16 ounce bottle is only $12.65.
New Oatmeal and Aloe Shampoo
Dr. Prull recently wrote for The Rabbit Advocates’ Fall 2009 newsletter about the benefits of acupuncture for rabbits:
Because animals, especially prey species like rabbits, hide symptoms of illnesses from their caretakers, they can be difficult patients. Veterinarians are at a disadvantage because pets can’t say where it hurts, for how long, or why. Furthermore, sometimes illnesses are not easily treated with standard western medicine. When injuries or illnesses fail to respond to traditional treatments, acupuncture can be a valuable resource.
One day Rabbit Advocate Tonie Calabrese discovered her bunny Barley could not use his back legs. A series of x-rays showed that Barley had a luxation of his spine, so the vertebrae had moved against each other and were pinching his spinal cord. Desperate to help her bunny, Tonie treated Barley with medications to alleviate pain and discomfort and offered him a variety of foods to keep his digestive system going. Stable in every way except for his inability to pull his legs underneath him and hop, Tonie found Dr. Becky Prull at the Dogwood Veterinary Hospital in Gresham.
Dr. Prull is a doctor of veterinary medicine and is a certified veterinary acupuncturist. She treats many rabbits with traditional medicine, and has had some success with rabbit acupuncture as well. Dr. Prull uses acupuncture to treat a variety of illnesses and injuries in other pets, and has treated spinal injuries in dogs. She confirmed that Barley’s spinal luxation is frequently seen in rabbits. Barley, while unable to use his back legs, maintained an upright posture and had feeling in his back feet.
Prull, Dr. Rebecca. “Ancient Treatment Can Help Modern Day Bunnies.” The Rabbit Advocate. Fall 2009
<http://www.adoptarabbit.com/newsletters/Fall_09.pdf>.
