DERMASTROLOGY – Reading the Skin Signs Who is a veterinary dermatologist? Many owners, even those who work in human medicine, are surprised to hear that there are veterinarians who specialize in only dermatology. Dermatology is a branch of medicine that manages diseases affecting the skin, hair, and nails. Other human specialists may manage allergies, infections,... Learn More
Wellness Visits – So Much More than Vaccines! Veterinary medicine has changed a great deal over the past 40 years. As a child in the 1970s, I remember my parents taking our dog, Missy, to the vet for her “shots.” There was little focus on her overall health, and basically, she got several injections and... Learn More
Cats Need Exercise Too! Did you know that household cats, especially those who live exclusively indoors, have little to do and can easily become bored? This can lead to behavioral issues, excessive weight gain, and eventual health consequences. Although, it may be tempting to allow your cat outdoors, there are many safety and health concerns... Learn More
Veterinary Internship Friendship Hospital for Animals is a unique veterinary hospital because our hospital provides both primary care and advanced specialty care. Another unique feature of Friendship Hospital for Animals is that we are a teaching hospital. For the past 32 years our hospital has been committed to training and mentoring new veterinary graduates through... Learn More
Common Summer Dangers It’s (finally) summertime and the livin’ is easy – unless your dog jumps up on the picnic table, eats a plate of ribs, develops horrible diarrhea, and lands in the emergency room. Below are some common summer dangers we see with pets that everyone might not know about. Heat stroke is by... Learn More
Intervertebral Disc Herniation Smitty is a 9 year old Dachshund that came to Friendship when he was suddenly unable to walk. The day before, his owners noticed that Smitty was limping a little bit, but by the next morning, he was completely unable to walk. On exam, Dr. Nichols (Smitty’s urgent care doctor) and I,... Learn More
Hookworms and Preventative Medications During the Cold Weather Does your dog or cat receive preventative medications during the cold weather? If not, here is one reason you should continue your heartworm prevention year round. Heartworm medications also deworm for common intestinal parasites such as hookworms, roundworms, and sometimes whipworms. At Friendship, we’ve been seeing a... Learn More
Tails from the ER – Stone and Rocks Meet Stone! Stone is a handsome Akita puppy that was hospitalized in late November for vomiting multiple times. The breeder had noted he was licking some gravel that milk had been spilled on earlier in the day. We did not realize quite how much gravel he had... Learn More
Introducing a New Kitten Bringing home a new cat or kitten is an exciting event, but the addition of this new pet can be stressful for the existing feline family member. Taking some preparatory steps beforehand and planning a gradual introduction process can help make for a more peaceful integration process. Begin by making sure your existing... Learn More
Treatment Options for Veterinary Cancer Patients Cancer (a.k.a. malignancy, malignant tumor, neoplasia) is a group of diseases involving uncontrolled, abnormal cell growth with the ability to invade or spread to other areas of the body. If untreated, it can often lead to serious illness and sometimes life-limiting complications. An exact cause of cancer is rarely... Learn More
Holiday Dangers and Your Pet Thanksgiving marked the official start of the holiday season. Unfortunately, everyone’s favorite time of the year has many hidden dangers for our pets. Table scraps Whether you give your dog table scraps or he helps himself to the trash after Thanksgiving dinner, fatty meats or bones can cause serious gastrointestinal upset. ... Learn More
What Should You be Feeding Your Pet? The array of pet foods available today is overwhelming, especially with the amount of (sometimes contradicting) information available. Online retailers, large pet supply stores, pet food boutiques, and grocery stores are just a few potential vendors. There are dry diets, canned diets, frozen, diets and home cooked diets, to... Learn More
Toys and Treats for Your Dog’s Oral Health Selecting the best chew toys and treats for your dog’s oral health can be overwhelming. Pet stores and online sources offer thousands of options, many of which claim to “freshen breath,” “reduce plaque and tartar,” or “strengthen teeth”. The truth is that some of these treats and... Learn More
Frequently Asked Questions About Dogs and Bloat Do you have a Big Dog? I love big dogs and have grown up with them all my life. Currently, my family and I have 2 dogs, a female Rottweiler named Cleopatra and a 120 pound Bull Mastiff named Diesel. As you can imagine, our dog food budget... Learn More
Halloween Candy and Dogs Fall is upon us, and Halloween is right around the corner. Children love chocolate, but so do dogs. Unfortunately for dogs, chocolate ingestion can be lethal. Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, which, if ingested in large enough quantities can cause high heart rate, heart arrhythmias, seizures, agitation, and difficulty walking. The... Learn More
Marijuana Ingestion by Dogs on the Rise This past February with the passing of Initiative 71, Washington D.C. residents are now allowed to have up to two ounces of marijuana for their personal usage. Similar measures have been passed in both Colorado as well as Washington states in the last two years. Consequently, veterinarians are... Learn More
Fall Allergies and Your Pet – What You Need to Know! Cooler weather will soon be here in DC and with the change of seasons comes fall allergies. Many people don’t realize that dogs and cats are affected by the same allergens that plague humans. The difference between our pets and us is in how... Learn More
Losing a Pet: How to Help your Kids and Family through the Grieving Process Children often experience grief after losing a family pet, though they may show it differently than adults. Supporting a child through the grieving process in the right way is important and can set the stage for how they cope with losses... Learn More
How to Get Your Cat to Friendship Hospital for Animals An annual examination is key to your pet’s health; we do understand, however, that not all cats enjoy the journey to the vet’s office. Bringing your cat to the vet for yearly preventative health care allows cats to live longer and happier lives. Going to... Learn More
Client Education with Dr. Ashley Gallagher! Friendship Hospital for Animals knows that pet ownership can leave you with a lot of questions. Providing the best care for your pet is our number one goal. That’s why we offer Client Education seminars aimed to provide valuable pet-related information to our clients and community. Topic: Enrichment with... Learn More
Veterinary Acupuncture What is acupuncture? Acupuncture is the insertion of small, sterile needles at specific points in the body. It is used to modulate change in the pain, neurologic and autonomic (fight or flight vs rest and digest) systems, and to a lesser extent the gastrointestinal, endocrine, and immune systems. Who developed acupuncture? The first... Learn More
Way to Go Bo! Tales from a Veterinary Neurologist Bo is a 5-year-old, neutered male Dachshund that has been relatively healthy for most of his life. One day in late July 2015, Bo’s owner noticed that he wasn’t acting like himself. He was quiet and hiding with a decreased appetite- very unlike the usually happy... Learn More
Caring for Yourself After the Loss of a Pet Losing a family pet can take an emotional toll. Taking care of yourself after the loss of a family pet can allow you and your family to heal in a healthy way. “The purpose of healthy grieving is to integrate the experience of a pet’s death... Learn More
Bethesda Magazine’s “Best of Bethesda” Readers’ Poll is now LIVE! Every year, local feature and lifestyle publication, Bethesda Magazine, enlists the masses to decide the best of the best in Bethesda and it’s immediate surroundings. This year is no different. Montgomery County Washingtonians have until September 21st to submit their vote in categories such as Food &... Learn More
Tails from the ER – A Greenie Situation Lois is an 11-year-old spayed, female Pug who presented to the Urgent Care service for an episode of coughing/retching with bringing up white foamy material. She has been previously healthy with no health concerns. Xrays of her chest revealed a soft tissue opacity within her esophagus (on... Learn More
Tails from the ER – For the Love of Bones Kuro, a 9 year old black labrador retriever, presented to the Urgent Care service one evening with a marrow bone stuck around his lower jaw. He walked into the treatment area wagging his tail and looking pretty pleased with life, as many Labradors do, but... Learn More
Losing a Pet: How to Deal and Heal in a Healthy Way For many of us, our pets are our family members. Losing a family pet can be devastating for adults and children, alike. It can help to know what to expect. Some common reactions you may experience after losing a pet can be physical,... Learn More
Client Education with Dr. Mariana Fonseca! Friendship Hospital for Animals knows that pet ownership can leave you with a lot of questions. Providing the best care for your pet is our number one goal. That’s why we offer Client Education seminars aimed to provide valuable pet-related information to our clients and community. Join us Wednesday,... Learn More
Cats: Indoor versus Outdoor? The question to keep your cat indoors or allow he/she to explore the world outside is a longstanding debate. Cats are the most popular pets in the United States. Although the number of households owning dogs outnumbers that of cats; there are more cats per household. A 2012 study illustrated that... Learn More
Fighting Noise Phobia on 4th of July The fourth of July is this week, and for most of us that means cookouts, fireworks and fun. For owners of dogs that suffer from noise phobia, this particular holiday can be an absolute nightmare. Fireworks and other loud noises such as thunderstorms can cause panic in affected... Learn More
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