Veterinary Blog in Amesbury, MA

Many dog owners may wonder whether or not it’s worth it to microchip their dog, and the answer is yes, it is worth it. A study of over 7,000 stray pets at animal shelters in the US showed that microchipped dogs were returned to their owners 52.2% of the time, whereas dogs without microchips were…

Dog neutering, otherwise known as either spaying or castrating, is a hot topic in the animal lover community. Many people have differing theories and opinions about how it should be done, if or why it should be done, and when it should be done. The term “neuter” encompasses both the male and female versions of…

Allergies are the bane of so many peoples’ existence. Springtime comes and you’ve got sinus congestion, your eyes are itchy and watering, you can’t stop sneezing, sometimes you can’t even breathe. Some people experience the same flare up in fall. And some people have problems year round. Allergens are present everywhere. In spring and fall,…

All devoted dog owners know how important good oral hygiene is to the quality of life that their pets lead. If you’ve ever owned a dog, and even if you haven’t, you are familiar with how bad and intense the smell of a dog’s breath can be. Stinky breath, however, is not the only consequence…

If you have an older dog, you are probably already aware that her health and wellbeing needs have change during this stage of her life. Senior and aging dogs require different care than younger dogs and puppies, and as a responsible pet owner, it’s important for you to keep up with these needs as well…

There are many causes of kennel cough, both bacterial and viral. Canine influenza virus (CIV) is one of the viral causes of kennel cough. This highly contagious respiratory disease has affected thousands of dogs in the United States. Because CIV is a relatively new virus, most dogs have not been exposed to it before. Dogs of…

The veterinarians at Pet Poison Helpline receive hundreds of calls this time of year from pet owners and veterinarians concerning cats that have ingested Easter lilies. “Unbeknownst to many pet owners, Easter lilies are highly toxic to cats,” said Ahna Brutlag, DVM, MS assistant director at Pet Poison Helpline. “All parts of the Easter lily plant are poisonous…

Merrimac Valley Animal Hospital stresses the importance of ongoing pet dental care for the health of your best friend. We advocate ongoing preventive care to help provide longer, healthier, and happier lives for our companion animals. Dental disease is a very common concern for pets and it often goes untreated for far too long. We…

At our animal hospital, we are always looking for ways to make veterinary visits less stressful for our patients. We want our patients to be relaxed and comfortable, not stressed and anxious! One of the ways we seek to combat this problem while your pet is at our animal hospital for a visit is by…