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Friendship Hospital for Animals News

Apr 10

Dangers of Blue Green Algae

In the late summer of 2019, news reports and Facebook accounts from around the country were describing acute neurological signs and even death in dogs that had been out swimming in bodies of water.  Even here in the DMV, there were accounts in northern Maryland of dogs falling ill. Blue Green Algae, also known as... Learn More

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Apr 03

Telemedicine – Now Available!

For some time now, Friendship has been evaluating telemedicine as another layer of providing care to our patients. There are benefits and limitations to any new procedure and the launch of this service will be exciting and challenging. Technology is expanding in ways that allow us to better visualize and assess patients remotely, in real-time.... Learn More

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Mar 16

COVID-19 – Client Guidelines & Updates

Updated March 2023: Masks are OPTIONAL inside the hospital. Clients may use the first floor lobby and front patio to optimize social distancing Scheduled specialty appointments will remain curbside but clients are welcome to use the lobby and facilities, as needed. If you have questions about your pet’s specialty appointment, please contact the department directly.... Learn More

Jan 21

Drs. McMurphy and Moore take on VMX

Did you know that Friendship’s veterinarians are required to complete 20 hours of continuing education each year?  In fact, our board-certified specialty doctors provide free continuing education lectures for all DC-area veterinarians (and beyond!) every month at our hospital. In order to practice the highest quality of medicine, the majority of Friendship’s staff doctors actually... Learn More

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Oct 07

October Wellness Plan Giveaway

PetlocityAt Friendship, we believe great pet parents should be rewarded for taking care of their pets.  That’s why we’ve partnered with Petlocity, a program that lets us reward our clients for providing great pet care. Track Your Pet’s Health: Petlocity helps you stay up-to-date with your pet’s health, like prescriptions, vaccinations, and exams.Earn Rewards: Receive... Learn More

Canine Rabies Vaccine
Sep 28

World Rabies Day 2019

September 28 is World Rabies Day World Rabies Day was established in 2007 in an effort to raise awareness about rabies, highlight rabies prevention efforts, and facilitate cooperation in efforts to fight this disease.  Rabies is a fatal but preventable disease spread by scratches or bites from infected animals.   “Rabies: Vaccinate to Eliminate” is the... Learn More

dog in ER
Sep 10

What is a veterinary criticalist?

What is a criticalist?  Veterinary Criticalists are specialists in emergency and critical care medicine.  The American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care is an AVMA-recognized veterinary specialty organization that approves residency training programs, sets standards for training, and administers the rigorous 2-day examinations required for board certification.   How does a veterinarian become a criticalist?... Learn More

Golden Retriever in a puddle.
Aug 28

Leptospirosis

What is leptospirosis and why is it so important to be knowledgeable about this prevalent zoonotic disease? Leptospirosis is a disease of mammals caused by a spirochete bacterium that is unfortunately becoming quite prevalent. Leptospirosis is currently the most common infectious cause of acute kidney failure in dogs. Leptospira affects the kidneys and liver most... Learn More

Maine Coon cat with tear stains
Aug 08

My Cat Has Chronic Teary Eyes

You asked: Is there a cure for my Maine Coon of 10 months who is having a chronic teary eye accompanied with a blocked nostril? We have tried antibiotic treatment (which worked but that is clearly not a long term solution), homeopathic treatment and inhalations of essential oils, as well as topical antibiotic cream. She... Learn More

Aug 01

Friendship Successfully Treats Smallest Hemodialysis Patient

Georgie, a 4 month old Yorkie puppy, acutely became lethargic with vomiting and a decreased appetite. Initial lab tests performed with her primary care veterinarian were within normal limits. She was hospitalized to receive supportive care. Over the next 48 hours her health took a dramatic turn for the worse. Georgie became anuric, hyperkalemia, and... Learn More

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Jul 29

Medication Refills at Friendship

All medication refill requests are now processed and filled entirely by our in-house Pharmacy staff.   What you need to know:The most efficient way to request a medication refill is by contacting our pharmacy directly.  Calls made into our main line will be transferred to our pharmacy. Prescription Refill Line: 202-363-7301Website: friendshiphospital.com/refillsEmail:  refills@friendshiphospital.com Please allow up to 72 hours for refill processing.... Learn More

Dog alone in car
Jul 26

Beat the Heat! Avoiding Heat Stroke

With the summer in full swing, one of the more common emergencies seen by the Urgent Care service at Friendship Hospital for Animals is heat stroke.  Heat stroke is an illness that develops when the body temperature rises to dangerous levels. This increased temperature has effects on the entire body—it can cause shock, difficulty breathing,... Learn More

vet examining relaxed dog standing on table
Jun 24

The Fear Free℠ Practice

In our previous posts, we have talked about Fear Free Certification and helping our pets to become more comfortable prior to veterinary visits. This time we’ll take a look into the Practice Certification process itself. Practice Certification takes the components of the Fear Free certification one step further and asks the entire practice to work... Learn More

Pug dog sitting in front of american flag
Jun 24

4th of July Safety

The Fourth of July is almost upon us, and as we prepare to celebrate America’s Independence Day, it is important to remember the potential dangers this holiday poses to our pets. The most notable of these dangers relate to fireworks, which may result in noise phobia/anxiety, poisoning upon ingestion, foreign body obstruction upon ingestion, and... Learn More

Poppy hanging out at home
May 09

Lower Lid Entropion in an Exotic Shorthair

Poppy came to Armour Veterinary Ophthalmology for excessive tearing. She was diagnosed with lower lid entropion in both eyes. Entropion is an eyelid disease in which the eyelids turn inwards. The hairs on the outside edge are in contact with the corneas, causing squinting, tearing and irritation. If the hairs and resulting corneal ulceration is... Learn More

eyelid-masses
Apr 30

Eyelid Masses

Does your older dog have a pesky eyelid mass that has started to bother him?   Periocular eyelid masses are commonly seen in dogs on the upper or lower eyelid margins.  The most common causes are meibomian gland adenomas and epitheliomas. These eyelid masses are generally benign; however, they can grow locally and start to cause... Learn More

heartworm-awareness
Apr 22

Heartworm Disease

Spring is upon us and many of us are starting to think ahead to the warmer days that are coming!  With the increasing temperatures comes more time outside, going to the beach, campfires and the dreaded scourge of mosquitos. Heartworm disease is a potentially fatal condition in pets, spread by mosquitos, in the United States... Learn More

Pug walking on underwater treadmill
Mar 20

Hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy has become very popular in veterinary physical rehabilitation in the last 10 to 15 years.  It is primarily used to enable early return to function after surgery or injury, improve muscle strength and improve range of motion in compromised joints. It is also becoming more frequently used in animals for athletic conditioning and weight... Learn More

CBD Oil
Feb 26

What You Need to Know About CBD Oil and Your Pets

Cannabis and cannabinoids as therapeutic agents for pets is a very hot topic in veterinary medicine. Currently, there is little evidence-based information regarding the use, dosing, and side effects of these agents when used in pets. Making things more difficult are the varied number of products on the market with wide-ranging formulations, strains, and dosing... Learn More

Friendship provides state of the art, comprehensive services for our clients and patients. But, more than that, we provide a caring team who understand the unique human-animal bond. View Our Services