GVAH | Grand Valley Animal Hospital

03/18/2022

Important Advice to Protect Your Pet Against Tick Diseases and More

As excited as we are for the arrival of spring, we can’t forget about the hazards outside that can potentially harm our pets. Let’s learn about what we should be aware of when our four-legged friends are playing outside and how to keep them safe.

PARASITES & DISEASES

Ticks

Ticks and tick-borne illnesses, like Lyme disease, can be spread through humans and animals. Lyme disease left untreated can spread to the joints, heart, and nervous system and create painful arthritis. In addition to vaccinating your pet annually for Lyme disease, deter ticks and fleas with an oral medication such as Simparica TRIO™ or BRAVECTO® for dogs and BRAVECTO® PLUS for cats.

Fleas

Though fleas are small, they can cause big issues. Fleas can cause itching, hair loss, skin allergies, or infections and even pass on other parasites like tapeworm to your pet. Fleas tend to live in the same shady, protected areas where your animals love to lie down outside.

Once a flea infestation has taken hold of your pet’s fur, your home is likely to become a flea circus as well. Sanitizing your home and yard when infestations occur will help to break the cycle. However, treating your pet with an approved flea prevention is the best way to stop fleas in their tracks and will save you time and money in the long run.

Heartworms

Heartworms are parasitic worms that can affect the lungs, heart, and blood vessels of our pets. They can be painful and potentially fatal if not treated. Dogs, and occasionally cats, are susceptible to heartworm disease, which is passed through mosquitoes.

More time outside means more potential for mosquitoes to prey on your pets, but you can’t simply use insect repellents on animals since they can be toxic to dogs and cats. Instead, protect your furry friends against mosquito bites – and the risk of heartworms – by keeping them indoors during high-risk time periods, removing stagnant water in your yard, and keeping them away from marshy areas.

PREVENTION

What can you use to protect your pets from these pests and your pocketbook from costly treatment for these diseases? At Grand Valley, we work to find the best option for you and your animals. We offer the most powerful, convenient preventative medications available that will help keep your dog or cat safe and healthy from pesky parasites.

4DX Testing

GVAH recommends bringing in your pet yearly for 4DX testing. The 4DX test is a quick and simple blood test that screens for four diseases that affect our dogs: heartworm, Lyme, anaplasmosis, and ehrlichia.

Preventative Medications

We also recommend a year-round prescription preventative medication regimen to help protect your pet. For dogs, we offer heartworm and internal parasite preventatives like Interceptor® Plus to help stop heartworms, tapeworms, and other worms before they become an issue. For cats, we offer BRAVECTO® PLUS for protection from fleas and ticks, heartworm disease, and some intestinal worms.

Simparica TRIO™ provides your dog with the most advanced parasite preventative benefits in a single easy-to-give, liver-flavored monthly chewable that can be given with or without food. This simple solution prevents heartworm disease, kills fleas and ticks, and treats roundworms and hookworms in your pet. This medication is safe for puppies as young as eight weeks old that weigh at least 2.8 pounds.

BRAVECTO® PLUS protects your cat from fleas and ticks, prevents heartworm disease, and treats intestinal worms, including roundworms and hookworms. This premium product helps to ease the stress of treatment by offering convenient long-lasting, single topical doses that last two months.

To learn more about pet preventative medications we offer or to order prescription refills, contact our staff at GVAH. If you require a specific product, take a look at our online store. We offer a wide variety of options and are more than happy to assist you in finding the right items for your pet.

12/10/2021

Sit, Stay, Snap: Enter Our Holiday Pet Photo Contest

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, which means it’s time for our 11th annual Hoppy Howlidays & Meowy Catmas Pet Photo Contest! Enter a festive photo of your favorite furry, feathery, or scaly friend from December 13 – 27^th for a chance to win a $200 gift card to Harry’s Steak House in Grand Forks, ND.

How to Enter

1.

Snap a holiday-themed photo of your pet

2.

Upload it here before December 27th

3.

Vote for your pet (and encourage others to do the same!)

At the end of the contest, we’ll announce the pet portrait with the most votes as the winner Tuesday, December 28^th on our Facebook page. The prize will be ready for the winner’s human to pick up after the announcement at Grand Valley Animal Hospital during regular business hours.

We can’t wait to see your festive pet photos! Enter today and encourage your friends to vote and increase your chance of winning by sharing the post. Good luck!

11/30/2021

3 Ways to Help an Animal in Need This Holiday Season

’Tis the season of giving, and why not share the love with furry friends in need? We know there are endless ways to help others this holiday season and all year long, but here is a list of some that we truly believe will make a difference in the lives of those who leave paw prints on our hearts.

The Gift of Giving

If you love to shop, we have good news for you: helping an animal in need is as easy as online shopping! Some websites and stores are committed to giving a portion of your purchase price back to charities in need, including animal welfare organizations; it’s a simple and free way to give back.

More in the gift-giving mood? That’s great! Many animal welfare organizations also have wish lists, either online or in their office, where you can find an exact list of items that are needed that you can donate! Common items needed include food, treats, litter, leashes, toys, and cleaning supplies. If you have an excess of gently used pet toys, why not spruce them up and donate them to an organization in need!

Also, let’s not forget about military working dogs serving overseas; find out how you can give back to these deserving heroes here.

The Gift of Time

We understand that not everyone has the luxury of donating dollars to organizations they care about, and that’s okay; why not give some of your valuable time instead? From shelters where you can socialize and care for animals, to therapy camps that help both animals and children cope with neglect and abuse, every minute helps. You may even reap some volunteer benefits of your own, such as personal growth, skill development, and positivity for making a real difference to animals in need!

The Gift of Love

Last, but certainly not least, is giving a home to a shelter pet. Even if you aren’t able to adopt, you can still make a huge difference in the life and well-being of a pet by fostering. Foster families can be helpful in everything from socializing a pet, to helping them recover from illness and surgery, and even saving their lives in the case of overcrowding in a shelter. If you are ready to make a longer commitment, adopting a shelter dog, cat, bird, or pocket pet is a meaningful way to gain a new ever-loyal family member.

We know you have many options when it comes to making a difference in the lives of animals and other worthy causes across the globe, but we hope you find these options helpful when narrowing down your list of ways to give. As always, we are thankful for the support and friendship of our furry, feathery, and scaly clients and their pet parents – you make our work more meaningful every day. Happy holidays from all of us at Grand Valley Animal Hospital!

05/25/2021

Pet Pain – Why Animals Hide It and What You Can Do to Help

Would you know if your pet was in pain? Most of us would like to think so, but sometimes pets are exceptionally good at hiding their discomfort. Apparent signs of illness such as bloody stool, seizures or extreme weight loss are more obvious, but some are so subtle they can be unnoticed by their human counterpart.

While annual wellness visits help vets detect physical abnormalities or potential health risks, we must rely heavily on our patient’s owners when it comes to behavioral changes that could indicate your pet is experiencing pain.

Additionally, if you notice something is off with your pet, time is of the essence. This is especially true for small pocket pets such as guinea pigs, mice and rabbits whose illnesses can progress extremely fast.

Why do pets hide pain?

Even though they sense and process pain similarly to humans, hiding pain is a behavior animals developed long ago in the evolutionary process. This was necessary to protect themselves from predators during times of injury or sickness. Even though they’ve been domesticated for thousands of years, this adaptive advantage has remained ingrained in our pets to this day.

Plus, pets love to please their humans. Dogs have been known to fracture their pelvis and still get up eagerly to greet their owner with loving affection, making it hard for us to tell whether or not they are actually in pain.

Why it’s important to treat:

Despite the obvious reason of not wanting your pet to be in pain, it’s extremely important that their pain is managed and treated in order to improve their recovery process, whether it’s from illness, surgery or injury. Treating your pet’s pain will relieve them of stress, increasing their well-being, and help them live a longer, healthier life.

How can I tell if my pet is in pain?

When our pets are in pain, the signs they show tend to be very subtle and more behavior-related. This requires owners to be very observant of their pet’s daily activities and to monitor any changes to discuss with their vet.

Here are some common signs to look for:

Decreased Activity – Much like humans, when pets experience pain, they tend to decrease their level of activity and overall zest for life or play. This goes for all pets of all sizes, from cats and dogs to birds and gerbils.
Decreased Appetite – also true for pets of all shapes and sizes, if eating is significantly decreased or stopped altogether, you should visit your vet. Chronic mouth pain or dental disease in pets can be a cause of this.
Difficulty Standing After Lying Down – If your pet is slower to get up from a nap or cuddle session, this could be an early sign of osteoarthritis, which can be painful for dogs and cats.
Not Going Up or Down Stairs – Used to seeing your pet hop up the stairs with no problem? If you notice a change in the way they climb stairs, or lack thereof, this could be a sign they are experiencing joint pain or have an existing injury keeping them from their usual spryness.

Grooming and Appearance – Notice your pet excessively grooming a particular area? This could be a sign of referred pain, which is pain they feel in a part of their body that is actually different from its true source. Coats, feathers and skin can also show subtle signs indicating illness. Birds’ feathers get ruffled, pets like hamsters and rats experience a coarser coat and reptiles’ skin can become dull.
Posture and Stance – Smaller pets like birds and rabbits will frequently tilt or hang their head when they are sick. Additionally, birds tend to hang out at the bottom of their cage or on lower perches or stand in a huddled position when they are not feeling well.
Reluctant to Jump Up onto Surfaces – Especially true for cats who tend to like being higher up, the reluctance to jump up on their usual surfaces could be a sign that they are experiencing pain.

Every Pet is Different

An important piece to remember is that every animal is different. From cats and dogs to different breeds and circumstances, each pet’s body and potential pain experiences are unique. The best way to decipher if your pet may be in pain is the keen observation of signs or symptoms, and detailed tracking of any behavioral changes.

If your pet is acting differently or you suspect they are in pain, set up an appointment with your vet right away to discuss your concerns. For more information on pet pain and what you can do to care for your animal, give us a call today at 701.757.3500.

04/30/2021

Protect your Pet Against Heartworms, Fleas, and Ticks

As excited as we are for the arrival of spring, we can’t forget about the hazards outside that can potentially harm our pets. Let’s learn about what we should be aware of when our four-legged friends are playing on those green fields.

HEARTWORMS

Heartworms are parasitic worms that can affect the lungs, heart and blood vessels of our pets. They can be painful and potentially fatal if not treated. Dogs, and occasionally cats, are susceptible to heartworm disease, which is passed through mosquitoes.

Limit Exposure

More time outside means more potential for mosquitoes to prey on your pets, but you can’t simply use insect repellents on animals as they can be toxic to dogs and cats. Instead, protect your furry friends against mosquito bites by keeping them indoors during high-risk time periods, removing stagnant water in your yard, and keeping them away from marshy areas.

Testing & Preventative Medications

GVAH recommends bringing in your pet yearly for heartworm testing – early detection of this disease is the key to minimizing lasting damage that can be done to your dog’s quality of life. We also recommend a year-round prescription preventative medication regimen to help protect your pet.

For dogs, we offer heartworm preventatives like Interceptor^® Plus to help stop heartworms, tapeworms, and other worms before they become an issue. For cats, we offer Bravecto^® Plus for protection from fleas and ticks, plus prevents heartworm disease and treats intestinal worms. Contact us for more information about heartworms and necessary prevention.

FLEAS

Fleas may not seem like a big deal, but along with itching, scratching, and potential hair loss, your pet could receive skin allergies and other parasites like tapeworms from these pesky parasites. Fleas tend to live in the same shady, protected areas that your animals love to lie down in outside.

Once a flea infestation has taken hold of your pet’s fur, your home is likely to become a flea circus as well. Treating your home and yard when infestations occur will help to break the cycle but treating your pet regularly is the best way to stop fleas in their tracks before they make a new home on your pet’s fur. Oral or topical preventatives will save you money, time, and flea frustration in the long run.

TICKS

Ticks and tick-borne illnesses, like Lyme disease, can be spread through humans and animals. Lyme disease left untreated can spread to the joints, heart and nervous system and create painful arthritis. In addition to vaccinating your pet annually for Lyme disease, deter ticks and fleas with a topical or an oral medication such as Credelio^® for dogs and Bravecto^® Plus for cats.

PREVENTION

What can you use to protect your pets from these pests and your pocketbook from costly treatment for these diseases? At Grand Valley, we work to find the best option for you and your animals. We offer the most powerful, convenient preventatives available that will help to keep your dog or cat safe and healthy in the fight against pesky parasites.

Simparica Trio^TM provides your dog with the most advanced parasite preventative benefits in a single easy-to-give, liver-flavored monthly chewable that can be given with or without food. This simple solution prevents heartworm disease, kills fleas and ticks, while also treating and controlling roundworms and hookworms in your pet, and is safe for puppies as young as 8 weeks old that weigh at least 2.8 lbs.

BRAVECTO^®PLUS offers your cat protection from fleas and ticks, plus prevents heartworm disease and treats intestinal worms, including roundworms and hookworms. This premium product helps to ease the stress of treatment by offering convenient long-lasting, single topical doses that last 2 months.

To learn more about these or any other pet preventative medications we offer, or order prescription refills, don’t hesitate to contact our staff at GVAH. If you require a specific product, take a look at our online store. We offer a wide variety of options and are more than happy to assist you in finding the right items for your pet.

11/02/2020

Certified Vet Technician/Veterinary Assistant Position Available

Available Position:

Certified Vet Technician/Vet Assistant

Grand Valley Animal Hospital is looking to expand our team! A hospital with rapid growth, we are located in Grand Forks, ND, and open Monday—Friday from 8AM to 5PM. We are looking to add a Full-Time Certified Vet Technician or Vet Assistant to our animal hospital.

Job duties include, but are not limited to, assisting the doctor in appointments and surgeries, cleaning, and patient care. The position will be crossed trained and will be answering phones, making appointments, and checking patients in and out of surgery. Candidate should be able to multitask, be a team player, and have a strong work ethic. All experience levels are welcome. Previous experience working with small animals in a professional setting is required.

Pay depends on experience and benefits include; occasional weekend hours, vacation pay, uniform allowance, health insurance allowance, retirement plan, and clinic discounts.

Please email your resume to betseyp@grandvalleyvet.com or drop off your resume to apply.