For some time now, Friendship has been evaluating telemedicine as another layer of providing care to our patients. There are benefits and limitations to any new procedure and the launch of this service will be exciting and challenging. Technology is expanding in ways that allow us to better visualize and assess patients remotely, in real-time.... Learn More
A lot has changed in our country since we wrote about COVID19 and your pets last month. Read below for the most recent updates from Dr. Cohen. What’s the consensus? Can pets be infected or transmit COVID 19? If you are worried that COVID-19 may harm your pet, the American Veterinary Medical Association and the... 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
This year marks the 25th anniversary of Dr. Bolch joining the Friendship family! Growing up outside of Pittsburgh, Dr. Bolch attended Penn State University, where she received her degree in Animal Bioscience. During that time, she worked at a veterinary hospital in her hometown with a veterinarian who encouraged her to pursue her dream. “The... Learn More
September 28 is World Rabies Day World Rabies Day was established in 2007 in an effort to raise awareness about rabies, highlight rabies prevention efforts, and facilitate cooperation in efforts to fight this disease. Rabies is a fatal but preventable disease spread by scratches or bites from infected animals. “Rabies: Vaccinate to Eliminate” is the... Learn More
What is a criticalist? Veterinary Criticalists are specialists in emergency and critical care medicine. The American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care is an AVMA-recognized veterinary specialty organization that approves residency training programs, sets standards for training, and administers the rigorous 2-day examinations required for board certification. How does a veterinarian become a criticalist?... Learn More
What is leptospirosis and why is it so important to be knowledgeable about this prevalent zoonotic disease? Leptospirosis is a disease of mammals caused by a spirochete bacterium that is unfortunately becoming quite prevalent. Leptospirosis is currently the most common infectious cause of acute kidney failure in dogs. Leptospira affects the kidneys and liver most... Learn More
You asked: Is there a cure for my Maine Coon of 10 months who is having a chronic teary eye accompanied with a blocked nostril? We have tried antibiotic treatment (which worked but that is clearly not a long term solution), homeopathic treatment and inhalations of essential oils, as well as topical antibiotic cream. She... Learn More
Georgie, a 4 month old Yorkie puppy, acutely became lethargic with vomiting and a decreased appetite. Initial lab tests performed with her primary care veterinarian were within normal limits. She was hospitalized to receive supportive care. Over the next 48 hours her health took a dramatic turn for the worse. Georgie became anuric, hyperkalemia, and... Learn More
All medication refill requests are now processed and filled entirely by our in-house Pharmacy staff. What you need to know:The most efficient way to request a medication refill is by contacting our pharmacy directly. Calls made into our main line will be transferred to our pharmacy. Prescription Refill Line: 202-363-7301Website: friendshiphospital.com/refillsEmail: refills@friendshiphospital.com Please allow up to 72 hours for refill processing.... Learn More
With the summer in full swing, one of the more common emergencies seen by the Urgent Care service at Friendship Hospital for Animals is heat stroke. Heat stroke is an illness that develops when the body temperature rises to dangerous levels. This increased temperature has effects on the entire body—it can cause shock, difficulty breathing,... Learn More
In our previous posts, we have talked about Fear Free Certification and helping our pets to become more comfortable prior to veterinary visits. This time we’ll take a look into the Practice Certification process itself. Practice Certification takes the components of the Fear Free certification one step further and asks the entire practice to work... Learn More
Previously, we discussed an overview of the Fear Free Certification program for veterinary professionals, including what the program is, how to find a certified professional, and why the program is valuable. This time, we will look into how we as owners can help to make our pets more comfortable prior to their appointments. I have... Learn More
When you make a commitment to an animal to be their caretaker, advocate, and have them become a member of the family, you make them a promise that you will do everything in your power to do what is best for them. That means having the best doctors and technicians involved in their care, gathering... Learn More
The Fourth of July is almost upon us, and as we prepare to celebrate America’s Independence Day, it is important to remember the potential dangers this holiday poses to our pets. The most notable of these dangers relate to fireworks, which may result in noise phobia/anxiety, poisoning upon ingestion, foreign body obstruction upon ingestion, and... Learn More
Poppy came to Armour Veterinary Ophthalmology for excessive tearing. She was diagnosed with lower lid entropion in both eyes. Entropion is an eyelid disease in which the eyelids turn inwards. The hairs on the outside edge are in contact with the corneas, causing squinting, tearing and irritation. If the hairs and resulting corneal ulceration is... Learn More
Does your older dog have a pesky eyelid mass that has started to bother him? Periocular eyelid masses are commonly seen in dogs on the upper or lower eyelid margins. The most common causes are meibomian gland adenomas and epitheliomas. These eyelid masses are generally benign; however, they can grow locally and start to cause... Learn More
Spring is upon us and many of us are starting to think ahead to the warmer days that are coming! With the increasing temperatures comes more time outside, going to the beach, campfires and the dreaded scourge of mosquitos. Heartworm disease is a potentially fatal condition in pets, spread by mosquitos, in the United States... Learn More
Dog are the most common pets owned by families. Our beloved pets bring much joy to our lives through companionship, physical exercise and their endless love and loyalty. On the other hand, our cute and cuddly four-legged friends can also cause harm, especially to young children, when we fail to recognize signs that a dog... Learn More
Hydrotherapy has become very popular in veterinary physical rehabilitation in the last 10 to 15 years. It is primarily used to enable early return to function after surgery or injury, improve muscle strength and improve range of motion in compromised joints. It is also becoming more frequently used in animals for athletic conditioning and weight... Learn More
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
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
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