In people, itchiness is a symptom that we can easily identify and express. In dogs, the most common cause of itchiness is allergic skin disease; dogs however express their itchiness in behaviors unique to ours, which can make correctly identifying (and addressing) this behavior a challenge. Other than the obvious scratching behavior we know too... Learn More
The most common cause of excessive licking, biting, scratching, and chewing of the skin in dogs and cats is allergic skin disease. These diseases are not curable, but can be successfully managed and abated with targeted and diligent therapies. Intense, rapid-onset itch, as well as the formation of skin lesions in the absence of significant... Learn More
At this time of year we are all enjoying spring and looking forward to the summer. But with leafy trees, colorful flowers, and plants blooming, we are also very aware of the pollens! Many humans suffer from allergic disease and many pet owners can see their dogs and cats suffering as well. Cats and dogs... Learn More
Environmental allergies are a life-long problem for so many pets. What is especially hard is that we cannot easily remove environmental allergens. Most dogs and cats are NOT allergic to cleaning products, laundry detergents, or litter. Although many dog and cat parents would be willing to do anything for their pets, cleaning or filtering simply... Learn More
Finding out your pet has cancer can be a frightening and stressful experience for many reasons. One common source of anxiety is the idea that your pet may require chemotherapy treatment, which can be an intimidating prospect. The word “chemotherapy” often conjures images of severe side effects that nobody wants their pet to experience: things... Learn More
The General Surgery department at Friendship Hospital for Animals offers a wide range of surgical procedures, both on an elective and emergency basis Monday through Friday. Ovariectomy is the surgical removal of the ovaries in females and orchiectomy is the surgical removal of the testes in males, these procedures are commonly called referred to as... Learn More
Heartworm disease, caused by the parasite Dirofilaria immitus, is an all-too common and potentially devastating disease of dogs and cats. It is estimated that approximately ONE MILLION dogs and cats in the US are infected with this parasite, and many may not have symptoms of the disease until the damage has been done. This parasite... Learn More
Meet Luna: A young Rat Terrier who presented to Friendship Hospital for Animals for evaluation of urinary issues with the Internal Medicine service. While being evaluated by Dr. Stephanie Skinner, a loud heart murmur was heard and Luna was referred to see our Board-Certified Veterinary Cardiologist, Dr. Chris McLaughlin. Dr. McLaughlin performed a heart ultrasound,... Learn More
As winter brings a chilly embrace, it’s crucial to be proactive in ensuring the well-being of our four-legged friends. The frosty season brings not only joy, but also potential hazards for dogs and cats. Here are some winter safety tips to keep your pets healthy and happy. Beware of Common Toxins: One of the most... Learn More
What is CPR? How helpful is it from a pet owner’s perspective? Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, also known as CPR, is an emergency first aid technique that sustains blood flow to the brain and heart in the event of cardia arrest. CPR entails chest compressions, assisted breathing, and advance life support measures including medications and defibrillation. Cardiopulmonary... Learn More
Logan is a participant in a study called the Dog Aging Project. To enroll him in the study I had to complete information on Logan’s physical and nutritional health, and his lifestyle. Today I signed up to participate in the “access to stairs” survey as part of the study. The Dog Aging Project is looking... Learn More
Dr. Sara Lister is a veterinarian with ASPCA Animal Poison Control. Her previous work includes Oklahoma State University (class of 2007), followed by internship at Friendship Hospital for Animals. She continued to practice emergency medicine and general practice for the past 10 years, before joining Poison Control. If you think your pet may have ingested a... Learn More
It is quite an unfortunate fact that most cat owners are unaware of the health hazards of lily plants. Flower shops typically do not ask if the recipient of a floral bouquet has a cat in the house and despite educational campaigns from veterinarians, the public is still mostly unaware of just how dangerous lilies... Learn More
Losing your pet can feel devastating at any moment in the year. At the holidays, your grief can appear even greater as you try to find joy amongst your loss and are often contending with added family stressors. It’s normal to wonder how you may ever find happy holidays again when missing your loved one.... Learn More
Showing love through food can quickly become a problem for some pets. Commonly pet owners start off with a few small additional treats which over time expands to high calorie treats given more frequently. This quickly contributes to pets becoming overweight and even obese. In 2018, an estimated 60% of cats and 56% of dogs... Learn More
Survivor Pet Your survivor pet may exhibit signs of intense stress after the loss of a housemate. It can be two pets that have been together their whole lives, yet it can also be pets who have only been together a short period of time. This can also occur to a dog after the passing... Learn More
As the COVID pandemic picked up speed in mid-March, Friendship made the difficult decision to close our doors to our clients while leaving our doors open to our patients. We understood that this decision would change our daily routines with curbside check-in and without clients in exam rooms. What we didn’t expect was that it... Learn More
We write you today with some very exciting news. As of May 18th, Friendship has merged with Encore Vet Group. With notable cultural and philosophical alignment, and a shared passionate commitment to veterinary medicine, Friendship and Encore are excited to serve the DC community together. For the past 85 years, Friendship has been a Tenleytown... Learn More
You asked: I would love to know more about how to feed my dog unprocessed or minimally processed food. I’d like a guideline for calorie-density and appropriate volume, balanced sources of protein. What is the importance of variety of nutrition sources? For example, hard cooked or scrambled chicken eggs, salmon, red meat? What grains might... Learn More
A record number of new pet adoptions have happily taken place during the current pandemic. With ample time at home to train and care for a growing puppy, many have determined now is a great time to adopt. Additionally, dogs and cats that previously spent hours each day home alone, are undoubtedly a little perplexed... Learn More
With the recent report of a tiger at the Bronx Zoo testing positive for coronavirus, there may be renewed fear about the spread of coronavirus between humans and domestic cats. Multiple cats were showing symptoms The tiger at the Bronx Zoo that tested positive for coronavirus displayed symptoms of a dry cough. Several other tigers... Learn More
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
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
Ever since Winter was adopted at 7 weeks of age, she has dribbled urine. This leaking was constant- when she was sleeping but also when she was awake, walking, and playing. Spaying her produced no improvement in the incontinence, nor did any medication seem to help. Hoping to find a solution, Winter was presented to... Learn More
What is a coronavirus? Coronaviruses are named for their crown-like appearance. Most common coronaviruses cause mild symptoms of runny nose, sore throat, fever, and cough. Some can descend deeper into the lungs and cause pneumonia. Animals have their own common set of coronaviruses. It is rare but possible for a coronavirus infecting an animal to... Learn More
Einstein, a 12 year old pug, has had more bladder problems than most dogs. A year ago he was diagnosed with a bladder tumor that needed to be removed surgically. While the surgery was a success, it did take him some time to recover from anesthesia and get back to his normal self. Since that... Learn More
It is that time of year again, and winter is approaching! We want to make sure that you are able to enjoy this cold weather with your furry family members worry-free, so we have compiled the following list of recommendations to help you do just that! More dogs are lost during the winter than during any... Learn More
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
Who doesn’t love Halloween? Dressing up, trick-or-treat, pumpkin carving; so much fun. But the ringing doorbells, unfamiliar people, and frightening masks can create high anxiety for some pets. To help reduce your pet’s stress, try disconnecting your doorbell and using a motion sensor for the night. Or you could bring the fun to the trick-or-treaters... Learn More
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
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