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Friendship Hospital for Animals News

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

Feb 18

5 Chew Toys to Avoid

Did you know that some common dog chew toys (even some labeled as “dental health” products) can actually damage a dog’s teeth? Here are a few that we recommend you avoid: Hard plastic and nylon bones: These toys are often made of a material that is harder than the dog’s teeth, causing fractures as they... Learn More

Brushing dog's teeth
Feb 08

Pet Dental Health Month 2019

February is Pet Dental Health Month! As a member of the Friendship family you know Dental Health Month is an exciting time of the year for us – and this year is no different!  But we are switching things up a bit, by offering free dental health education in a way that is more accessible for most.  ... Learn More

Pug walking on underwater treadmill
Jan 28

Doggy Boot Camp – now enrolling!

Doggy Boot Camp Join us for a 6-week weight-loss challenge designed to start your dog on the path to a healthier lifestyle. Enrollment includes: 1 Water Treadmill Session per week Nutritional consults and support Weekly weigh-ins, goals, and tips Access to private Facebook group with live Topic of the Week info sessions and Q&As Plus…... Learn More

image description
Dec 04

The Season of Giving

As a small business, and leader in comprehensive animal healthcare, we pride ourselves on our commitment to community engagement and social responsibility. Friendship is proud to support these organizations throughout the year. Food & Friends 219 Riggs Road NE Washington, DC 20011 Food & Friends’ mission is to foster a community caring for men, women... Learn More

Nov 20

Travel Safety

What should I think about when deciding to travel with my pet? Make sure your pet is comfortable with travel. Some pets cannot handle travel because of illness, injury, age or temperament. If your pet is not good with travel, you should consider a reliable petsitter or talk to your veterinarian about boarding facilities in... Learn More

Nov 15

Cancer Treatment Options for Pets

November is National Pet Cancer Awareness Month While not many pet owners may realize it, there are a range of treatment options available for our beloved four-legged friends who end up as our veterinary cancer patients. Friendship has many years of experience helping thousands of pets fight cancer, with the goal of either improving an... Learn More

Nov 01

Cancer in Pets

November is National Pet Cancer Awareness Month What is cancer? Cancer is a collection of related diseases. It can start anywhere in the body. Cancer cells divide without stopping and may invade into surrounding tissues. Normal cells typically form and divide when they’re needed by the body, then die when they’re damaged or old. Cancer... Learn More

Sep 24

Rabies Vaccinations for Indoor Cats

You asked: I have gotten mixed information about rabies vaccine times. Should you vaccinate an indoor cat once a year after the booster or every 3 years? Dr. Diaz Answered: Great question! Rabies vaccination is an important and required vaccine for all cats. A common misconception is that indoor cats are not required to maintain updated... Learn More

Sep 14

Early Detection Lab Work

Why does my veterinarian recommend lab work? Your veterinarian may recommend early detection lab work even at the young age of 2 or 3 years old. Early detection lab work usually includes a blood test and may also include a urine test. The collection of these test often takes less than 10 minutes, and will... Learn More

Aug 29

Annual Wellness Examination

A yearly veterinary checkup is the best way to keep your pet as healthy as possible – because it’s much easier to prevent disease than to treat it. How your veterinarian can help you: The first part of a wellness visit is a health evaluation. This includes a thorough history including information about a pet’s... Learn More

Aug 27

Grain Free Diets and Heart Disease

The FDA has recently issued a statement advising owners about potential risk for heart disease in dogs fed grain free diets. While grain free diets are of emerging concern, the importance of nutrition in maintaining healthy hearts is well-known. In the 1980s, cats were being diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a condition involving poor heart... Learn More

Pyro and Dr. Block
Jul 18

Permanent Pacemaker Placement in Dogs

Pyro is a 12 year old female spayed chow mix who presented to Friendship Cardiology Specialists for recently diagnosed complete heart block. Complete heart block is typically caused by aging changes to the conduction system of the heart. This results in a very slow heart rate which can cause symptoms such lethargy and fainting. Dogs... Learn More

Jul 06

Canine Cataracts

It really is all about that moment. That moment when Sam is reunited with you after spending a night in the hospital. The moment he turns the corner, eyes bright, and he sees you as if for the first time, and almost pulls the leash out of my hands as he jumps into your lap.... Learn More

Echo image of dilated heart and thickened mitral valve
May 09

Congestive Heart Failure

Chloe is a 15 year old female spayed mixed breed dog who presented to the Friendship Cardiology Specialists for evaluation of episodes of collapse and labored breathing. On exam, she was found to have labored breathing and abnormal lung sounds (crackles). An echocardiogram was performed and showed a thickened mitral valve with a large leak... Learn More

Apr 09

Wash Away Your (Skin) Troubles

Bathing your pet can be important for reasons like general hygiene, the occasional unexpected mud bath, and de-skunking. Some pet owners may be surprised to know that for certain medical reasons, like bacterial infections, your veterinarian may prescribe a medicated shampoo as part of the treatment plan. With antibiotic resistance becoming an increasing global concern,... Learn More

Nutmeg CT
Apr 03

Traumatic Brain Injury

Nutmeg presented to Friendship Emergency & Critical Care Services after being hit by a car. Nutmeg suffered severe facial trauma, including facial swelling, nosebleed, the inability to close his jaw, scleral hemorrhage, and signs consistent with a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI; dull mentation). A traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs from a sudden and violent... Learn More

Mar 28

Boxer Cardiomyopathy

Meet Rocky!! Rocky is a 9-year-old Boxer who was immediately rushed in to Friendship Emergency & Critical Care Services after he collapsed following his morning walk. He was stabilized and quickly diagnosed with a life-threatening arrhythmia, ventricular tachycardia. Ventricular tachycardia arises from improper electrical activity causing the filling chambers of the heart (the ventricles) to beat... Learn More

irisrenalweekconference
Mar 27

IRIS Renal Week Conference

Friendship Hospital for Animals internal medicine doctor, Dr. JD Foster, was one of the organizers of the IRIS Renal Week conference, but also gave a number of lectures and labs: Drug dosing for patients with kidney disease Hemodialyzers, hemofilters, and plasma separators Water purification for hemodialysis Update on IRIS consensus guidelines for extracorporeal blood purification... Learn More

Mar 01

Problems of the heart: A puppy’s journey

Patent Ductus Arteriosus in a Puppy Lady presented to Friendship Cardiology Specialists for evaluation of a heart murmur noted by her vet at her first puppy exam. An echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart) was performed, and she was diagnosed with a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) causing severe heart enlargement. A PDA is a birth defect involving the... 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