Veterinary Blog

What is a veterinary technician? By definition, a veterinary technician is a health care worker who is skilled in technical aspects of veterinary medicine and works as a professional assistant to a veterinarian or to any of various types of researchers and scientists....

It's 2020 and you were preparing to make it a great year. 2019 was a thing of the past and you were going to make 2020 a great year!.... Then a few months into the year the world shut down. Covid 19 had become a global pandemic. People were forced to work from home,...

–By Dr. Claire Beckmeyer ​Just when you think you have your male cat figured out, there he is standing there, squatting in the middle of your bedroom floor and staring oddly at you. “Boots, what has gotten into you?”, you say as you cock your head and stare back at him. Then he meows in a strange tone and leaves a drop of blood on the floor. You follow him to his litter box where he continues to strain with little to no urine production. If this is a scene you have never before witnesse […]

Hillside Animal Hospital’s veterinarians and staff are happy to announce that they recently enrolled in the  the American Veterinary Medical Foundation’s Veterinary Care Charitable Fund. This program was created to support veterinarians who provide medical services to the lost, neglected and abused animals that find their way into our hospital. The program also allows us to care for animals in our community when their owners face extraordinary hardships. By partnering […]

Spring is on the way. After a long winter, we all want to get out and enjoy the warmer weather. For many of us, that means we are starting to think about our travel plans. When making arrangements, do you find yourself not including your dog because he or she has a difficult time with car rides? Does your dog simply not like traveling? Does he or she become physically ill? Imagine being able to share more experiences with you canine friend without th […]

            At Hillside Animal Hospital, we are dedicated to ensuring all of our patients receive the best care possible. We tailor our approach to fit the needs for specific age groups, as well as identifying specific needs for the individual pet. Companion pets age at a much faster rate in comparison to humans. For this reason, it is important to have an established senior wellness protocol to help an aging companion live a longer, healthier, and a more comfortab […]

            Oral health and dentistry is an area of medicine that our veterinary hospital is extremely passionate about. This is for good reason too. It has been suggested that as much as 80% of pets have some form of dental disease. Many pet owners are unaware of the negative effects oral health disease can have on a pet’s overall health. Often, it can be shocking to pet owners when their veterinarian comments on their pet’s poor oral health. Luckily, […]

(Pet) Food for Thought –Matt, Hillside Animal Hospital RVTChoosing the right pet food for your pet can be a daunting task. You are expected to make an informed decision on a diet that is healthy, palatable, and cost effective for your pet. All of this while trying to balance your already busy schedule. “Which brand should I buy?”  “Is canned or dry food better?”  “What ingredients should even be in the food?” All of these are common questions that p […]

For many cats and their owners, a trip to the vet is a stressful experience. According to a 2013 survey, 44.9% of cat owners did not take their cats to the vet the previous year. One of the reasons cited was that owners believed their cats, especially indoor cats, became stressed when leaving their home environment. Does this sound like your feline friend?It is vitally important that your cat receives regular veterinary care throughout their lifetime. Recently veterinary medicine has begu […]

–Jayme, Hillside Veterinary TechnicianHave you ever found yourself in a vet clinic in pure shock? That’s exactly where I found myself one afternoon. I brought my dog, Woodrow, in for an examination because he got into the trash can and was experiencing vomiting and diarrhea. I fully expected him to have what we refer to in the veterinary world as “garbage gut”. I already had in my mind that we would probably do some fluid therapy, medications to help his gut, and a bland diet […]