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Common Winter Pet Emergencies: Why They Happen and How to Avoid Them
Winter is a dangerous time when it comes to pet emergencies – from slips on icy sidewalks, to frostbite, to ingestion of specific toxins and more – the ER sees many more patients this time of year. But take comfort in knowing that the team at The COVE is here around...
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Boutique, Exotic, and Grain-Free, Oh My!
By Andria Davis, LVT, and Merrilee Small, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology) If you’re a pet parent to a dog, it’s important to know that the FDA recently issued warnings about a possible link between grain-free diets and a serious heart condition called canine dilated...
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A Bitter Pill to Swallow: When Your Pet Won’t Take Medications
It comes to a point in every pet’s life where medication is needed. In a perfect world, your pet would simply open up and swallow a pill without any problems. No running away. No carefully eating everything in the food bowl BUT the pill. No spitting it out halfway...
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Thanksgiving Pet Safety Tips
Food, family, fun – did we mention food? Thanksgiving Day is here, and we have a few tips to help you keep your furry family members safe and happy this holiday weekend. 1. Resist the temptation to share food with your pet With all those delicious aromas floating...
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Would You Know if Your Pet Had Diabetes?
Approximately 1 in 200 cats and 1 in 300 dogs have diabetes. But, cats and dogs with the disease can lead long, happy lives with proper management. For Pet Diabetes Awareness Month, here at The COVE, we’d like to educate pet owners on how to recognize the signs of...
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Dias de Los Muertos: Remembering the Lives of Our Beloved Pets for Day of the Dead
Dias de Los Muertos is a traditional Mexican holiday for remembering the lives of family members and pets who have passed. The English translation of Dias de Los Muertos is Day of the Dead and it is celebrated after Halloween, from November 1–2. Families remember and...
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Keep Your Pets Safe from Rabies
September 28 is World Rabies Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness of the risk of rabies to humans and animals around the world. Rabies is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system and is spread by contact with saliva or blood of an infected animal....
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What is a Veterinary Cardiologist? And Why Would My Pet Need One?
Do dogs or cats ever need a cardiologist? Why, yes, they may. Just like humans, companion animals can have heart (cardiac) and lung (pulmonary) problems. These conditions fall into two categories: Congenital (present from birth) Acquired (they develop over time)...
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How to Remember Pets That Have Crossed the Rainbow Bridge – Pet Memorial Day 2018
Our pets are more than just animals; they are essential members of our families. And saying goodbye to a beloved dog or cat can be just as hard or sometimes more difficult than losing a friend or relative. That is why, more than 40 years ago, the International...
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How To Enjoy a Safe Road Trip with Your Pets
Labor Day Weekend is almost here – time for one last summer road trip! For many of us, no trip is complete unless our furry friends are with us. While many pets enjoy getting away as much as we do, keep in mind that some pets just don’t like car travel, or cannot...
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Emergency and Critical Care: When Your Pet Needs Care Immediately
Any time your furry family member needs emergency medical attention it can be overwhelming – from worrying about the severity of the injury or illness to finding a reputable hospital that can provide outstanding care. Take comfort in knowing that when minutes count,...
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Keep your Furry Friend Safe this 4th of July
The 4th of July is a day of celebration and festivities. While we might ooh and ahh over fireworks, it’s a completely different experience for animals. Fireworks can be frightening and disorienting to both cats and dogs, and can cause them to react out of fear. More...
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Count on The COVE in the Most Critical Moments
As a 24-hour emergency and specialty veterinary hospital, our primary purpose is to deliver advanced care for pets and their families whenever it is needed, day or night. Our emergency department often treats pets whose lives depend on immediate medical and critical...
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Keep Your Pets Cool This Summer: Heat Stroke Prevention Tips
Long summer days mean lots of outdoor activities, often with our pets. It also means its time to watch for signs of heat stroke. The combined heat and humidity of a Virginia summer is particularly dangerous for pets. Dogs and cats have to pant to cool their body,...
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Does Your Pet Have Allergies?
Spring has sprung. The days are long, the grass is green, the flowers have bloomed, and for many of us, the sneezing has begun. You may be surprised to know that it’s not just humans that suffer from allergies but animals too. Yes, cats and dogs can also experience...
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Breathe Easy Molly! A Case Study of a 10-year-old Boston Terrier with Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS)
Written By: Jacqueline Nobles, DVM, DACVECC A common reason pets visit the ER is difficulty breathing. This can be a symptom of several different diseases including brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS). BOAS is a condition caused by anatomic anomalies,...
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