The Holiday Season

As the Holiday Season approaches, veterinary hospitals see spikes in cases. Animals tend to get ill at this time of year for many reasons, as outlined below. Veterinary hospitals are often short-staffed and wait-times are longer at this time of year. Take extra steps and precautions to avoid these visits:

• Dietary Issues: There are more treats and rich foods available during the holiday season. Dogs and cats will hover around food-prep areas to lick food residue in the sinks and steal items left unattended. Symptoms can vary from vomiting and diarrhea to severe abdominal pain if pancreatitis develops. Keep the animals away from the human food! Countertops are never safe places. Clean up the dishes quickly or lock the animals out of the kitchen during prep-time. Avoid the table scraps! We are all too familiar with the cute faces and sad eyes. The rich holiday foods will not be well-received. Tell visitors and guests not to feed your animals as well.

• Toxicities: Beware of Christmas plants in the home and seasonal treats that are not safe for animals, such as chocolate and xylitol-containing products. And if you are medicating yourself for anxiety and stress, be sure to lock up your medications and put your edibles away in a super-secure location.

  Keep the poison control phone number close at hand: ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center Phone Number: (888) 426-4435.

  Veterinarians will often direct pet owners to call this number with concerns of toxin ingestions. Yes, it costs money, but it is money well spent and if performed promptly, it is possible the advice may mean treatment is not necessary. Be sure to record the case number for your veterinarian if the advice is to seek care.

• Foreign Body Ingestions: Animals are inquisitive by nature, so when the decorations and ornaments emerge from their boxes, our animals will be sniffing around these items and may ingest them. Monitor them closely. If you cat or dog seems especially interested in certain decorations, remove them. No one wants a trip to the emergency room for surgery!

• Injuries: Secure your Christmas Tree and ensure electrical cords are not accessible to your animals. Both dogs and cats will nibble on the electrical cords of holiday lights. Cats can take down a Christmas tree as they attempt to scale up the sides. With guests coming and leaving the homes, doors may be left open and animals may slide outside into traffic. Secure your animals before greeting visitors.

• Stress: We all feel it! Cats and dogs feel it as well. Cats often flare up with upper respiratory infections and urinary issues due to stress at this time of year. Keep schedules consistent and always give your animals room to sneak away to their private comfortable spot when visitors come over. If children are visiting, don’t force your animals to engage with them. Most animals would prefer to avoid children.

• Know when your veterinary hospitals are open and what emergency vet hospitals are in the area. If you need to go to the emergency hospital, be prepared for long wait times. Bring a book and a charger for your phone. Be kind to the emergency staff. These hard-working individuals are working shifts that prevent them from being with their families during the holidays. They have an enormous work-load and are there to advocate for your animals.

Boarding at Alameda Pet Hospital

Alameda Pet Hospital offers boarding for happy healthy dogs and cats. Our amazing kennel team loves and cares for your pets while you take time away to rest and relax. We also offer day-boarding. Our large, fenced backyard and one-on-one time with our caring team means your pet is getting tons of attention during their stay with us

Boarding pets must be established clients of Alameda Pet Hospital, and they must be current on their examination and vaccinations for boarding. Our staff will also perform a temperament test on new boarders or boarders who haven’t stayed with us for over one year. This is for their well-being, as we want to be sure they eat and drink properly during their stay and aren’t at risk of any self-harm due to stress. Extended stays and pets with ailments may be declined, as our boarding outfit focuses on healthy pets that are good boarding candidates.

Our team really gets to know your pet, and we do have our veterinary team available, should any surprise ailments or concerns surface during their stay.

Feel free to reach out to us for more information!

Our entire staff at Alameda Pet Hospital is proud to announce that we have passed our AAHA accreditation! Our hospital has been accredited for the past 19 years!

AAHA Accreditation for Veterinary Practices

The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) accreditation is a prestigious designation that certifies veterinary practices for meeting high standards of excellence. This accreditation is awarded to veterinary hospitals that successfully demonstrate adherence to over 900 standards, encompassing all aspects of veterinary practice.

The Benefits of Choosing an AAHA-Accredited Veterinary Hospital

1. Superior Care. Accredited hospitals are evaluated on stringent standards covering patient care, pain management, surgery, pharmacy, laboratory, exam facilities, medical records, and cleanliness.

2. Veterinary Team Excellence. The accreditation process encourages veterinary teams to adhere to best practices, engage in continuous learning, and remain updated on the latest advancements in veterinary medicine.

3. Trust and Assurance. Pet owners can feel confident knowing their pets are receiving care from a hospital that has been thoroughly vetted by an independent, third-party organization.

4. Comprehensive Services. Many AAHA-accredited hospitals offer a wide range of services under one roof, providing convenience and continuity of care for pet owners. For services not provided within the boundaries of our hospital, we are able to provide our clients top-notch recommendations for specialty services at other local practices.

How to Find an AAHA-Accredited Veterinary Hospital

If you need to find an AAHA-accredited hospital near you, visit the AAHA website’s “Hospital Locator” tool. Simply enter your location to access a list of nearby accredited facilities. When visiting a hospital that is AAHA-accredited, look for the AAHA logo. Veterinary hospitals that have successfully passed the accreditation process are very happy to display this placard within the building and on their website.

When you choose AAHA accreditation, you choose peace of mind for both you and your furry family members.

Appointments

Our lobby is now open for anyone not experiencing respiratory symptoms. If you or your pet are coughing, sneezing, have nasal discharge, or other cold, flu, or COVID-like symptoms, please call or text us at 510-523-1626 (option 1 if calling) to let us know you are here for your appointment and we will assist you curbside. Be sure to include your first name, last name, and your pet’s name. Everyone else is welcome to come inside and we will be with you as soon as we can.

Exams & Non-Urgent Questions

To schedule a non-urgent appointment, please text us to request an appointment. IF YOUR PET IS HAVING AN URGENT MEDICAL ISSUE, PLEASE CALL US AND CHOOSE OPTION 2 FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE.

We require 24-hour notice to cancel or reschedule an appointment to ensure we are able to provide care for as many patients as possible. If less than 24 hours is provided, there may be a late cancellation/no-show fee, even if we reschedule the appointment. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.

New clients are required to pay a deposit for the first exam for each pet. If less than 24-hour notice is given to cancel or reschedule the first visit, the deposit will be waived. If more than 24-hour notice is received, the deposit will be applied to the first exam.

Prescription Refills

Prescription food and medication refills may be called in or texted to 510-523-1626 (option 3 if calling). Please allow at least 2 business days to process refills. If the medication or food is a special order, we will let you know when it is available for pick up. If the prescription is from another pharmacy, including online, please let us know and allow a week to process since we need to get doctor approval. We appreciate your patience.