http://www.orangehillvethospital.com/blog/rss/feedsWe are a full service veterinary hospital offering comprehensive exams, wellness care, digital radiography, dentistry, and safe anesthesia and surgery.Thu, 30 Apr 2026 16:54:21 -0700http://www.orangehillvethospital.com/blog/post/pet-safety-tips-for-4th-of-julyhttp://www.orangehillvethospital.com/blog/post/pet-safety-tips-for-4th-of-july The busiest day for shelters and animal control agencies across the country is July 4th. As we gear up to celebrate the 4th of July, it's important to not overlook the safety and well-being of our furry friends. Loud fireworks, crowded gatherings, and unusual smells and sounds can all be overwhelming and potentially harmful for our pets. With that in mind, here are some important pet safety tips to keep in mind for a stress-free holiday. First and foremost, it's crucial to ensure that your pet has proper identification in case they become separated from you. Make sure they are wearing their collar with updated tags or consider getting them microchipped. This will greatly increase the chances of being reunited with your beloved pet if they happen to get lost in the chaos of the holiday. It's also important to create a safe and comfortable space for your pet during the festivities. This can be a quiet room in your home or a cozy crate, where they can escape the loud noises and bright lights. Provide them with their favorite toys, treats, and a comfortable bed to make them feel secure. It's also a good idea to play some soothing music to help drown out the loud noises from fireworks. In addition to providing a safe space, it's important to keep your pet away from any potential hazards. This includes keeping them away from the grill, as well as any food or drinks that may be harmful to them. It's also important to keep an eye on them to ensure they don't accidentally ingest any harmful items, such as small fireworks or decorations. If your pet suffers from anxiety or fear of loud noises, consider consulting with your veterinarian about possible solutions to help keep them calm during the holiday. There are also natural remedies such as calming chews or sprays that can help ease their anxiety. Thu, 27 Jun 2024 16:18:00 -0700http://www.orangehillvethospital.com/blog/post/orange-hill-vet-covid19-update-for-aprilmay-2020http://www.orangehillvethospital.com/blog/post/orange-hill-vet-covid19-update-for-aprilmay-2020 Dear Orange Hill Vet friends and family,We hope this message finds you safe and healthy. 🙋🏼‍♀️ As the COVID-19 pandemic 🦠 continues to evolve😷, we wanted to take a moment to update you on our hospital policies and procedures. 🏥As declared by our state Public Health Department🏢, we are considered an ESSENTIAL SERVICE and will continue to function and operate with our normal business hours until further notice. 🙏 Monday-Friday 8-6pm and Saturday 8-2pm. ⏰🗓️Our precautionary measures include keeping our waiting area empty🚷, maintaining social distance🏠, extensive cleaning between patients,🧤🧼 and offering CURBSIDE medical care for your pets. ⚕️🐕🐈🏩🚗What to expect when you arrive at Orange Hill:✅ Please stay in your vehicle and have your pet on a leash or in their carrier*✅ Please call us when you are in our parking lot. (714) 639-6100✅ When admitting your pet to the hospital (for examination, diagnostics, and/or treatment, surgery) and then picking them up at a later time can be arranged if it is best for your schedule.✅ Our team will be out to escort your pet in for evaluation with Dr. Rana.✅ From there the veterinarian will call you to discuss his findings and recommendations.✅ After your pet has been examined and treated our team will bring your pet back to your car.🧡 We want thank our clients, patients, team members and community for all your support during this very difficult time. We appreciate your continued supported and trust in caring for your loved ones. We will ALWAYS offer compassionate care to our patients. Together, we will overcome this pandemic.Thank you,Dr. Jahan Rana and TeamFri, 01 May 2020 08:00:00 -0700http://www.orangehillvethospital.com/blog/post/back-to-school-how-do-changes-in-routines-affect-petshttp://www.orangehillvethospital.com/blog/post/back-to-school-how-do-changes-in-routines-affect-pets It’s that time again where the kids are heading back to school, leaving the house empty all day. But that’s not completely true if you have a furry little friend at home who is going to be waiting for someone to return. When the back to school seasons comes around, you need to be thinking about how this change in routine is going to affect your pets.You may notice that when you leave your pet alone, he or she may start to cry, chew things other than their toys or even try to escape the house. It is possible that your pet just needs to be trained a little more. However this behavior may also indicate distress, especially if your pet starts acting this way as you are preparing to leave the house. This may indicate that your pet is suffering from separation anxiety.Signs Of A Problem5 common symptoms of separation anxiety in dogs will include:Urinating/defecatingBarking/howlingChewing of furnitureDiggingTrying to escape the houseThey may target points in the houses like doors or windows and jump for them when they are left alone or when they think you are preparing to leave.It is likely that during the summer stretch as well as for holidays throughout the year that your kids have been home for a large portion of the day with your pet and they have become used to this routine. Once it’s time for your kids to go back to school, this can trigger an emotional reaction in your pet, leading to separation anxiety. You need to keep this in mind when your kids are heading off to school. Separation anxiety in pets can be a serious problems but there are ways to help your pet so that they are not in so much distress.What Should You Do?The first thing that you should do if you notice any of these signs is to take your pet to come see us at Orange Hill Veterinary Hospital so that they can receive a check-up and the best possible veterinary care. This is so you can rule out any physical medical conditions, such as a urine infection, and make sure that your dog is healthy. If our veterinarian does not find any physical problem with your dog you should then make sure that it is not the result of boredom in the dog, scent marking or just general destructive chewing.If you have concerns about separation anxiety in your pet, please do not hesitate to reach out to us via phone, 714-639-6100Tue, 25 Sep 2018 06:00:00 -0700http://www.orangehillvethospital.com/blog/post/7-ways-to-reduce-the-symptoms-of-pet-dander-allergieshttp://www.orangehillvethospital.com/blog/post/7-ways-to-reduce-the-symptoms-of-pet-dander-allergies Pets provide companionship and fun, but for some people a dog or cat can also trigger sneezing, sniffles and worse. Does an animal allergy mean a life without Fido? Not necessarily.There is a myth that pet allergies are triggered by animal hair, but they are actually caused by a protein found in pet skin (or dander), saliva and urine. Some dog breeds are labeled “hypoallergenic” as they shed less, but no dog is 100% hypoallergenic – even hairless dogs still have some allergen. Each animal is different, and a particular pet allergy sufferer may do better with one breed than another.If you’re allergenic and want to get a dog or cat, consider looking for shorter hair and less shedding, although there isn’t real scientific evidence this will help. Some allergists have suggested that a dog that tends to keep its coat throughout the year may be better for allergy sufferers. Dog breeds like bichon frise, poodle, and the Portuguese water dog come to mind. Other factors, such as your pet’s disposition, might make frequent bathing more feasible.No dog is 100% hypoallergenic. Even hairless dogs produce some allergens.Keeping pets out of the bedroom can help reduce allergy symptoms.About 10% of allergic individuals have allergies to pets. It can be as high as one out of five individuals with asthmaGet pet allergy testing and begin allergy treatment before you get a pet can help ease symptoms7 Ways to Reduce The Symptoms of Pet Allergies:1. Make your bedroom a pet free space, and wash bedding in hot water2. Use a HEPA air purifier/filter to trap dander.3. Clean carpeting frequently, or opt for wood, tile or linoleum flooring.4. Speak with your vet about a balanced diet for your pet, which can prevent skin and excess shedding.5. Keep your pet off the furniture – cover upholstered chairs with towels and sheets and wash them on a regular basis.6. If your dog rides in the car, use covers on the seats and wash them frequently.7. Have someone without a pet allergy brush the pet outside to remove dander as well as clean the litter box or cage.There’s no guarantee that someone who is truly allergic to pets (about 10% of those with allergies) will tolerate living with a dog or cat. If you’re thinking about getting a pet, but are concerned about allergies, consider trying one out on a trial basis. You can also begin allergy treatment before getting a pet, including allergy shots such as for cats.Sat, 01 Sep 2018 08:00:00 -0700http://www.orangehillvethospital.com/blog/post/5-tips-for-tick-removal-from-your-dogs-coathttp://www.orangehillvethospital.com/blog/post/5-tips-for-tick-removal-from-your-dogs-coat Ticks Suck!Ticks are a very serious threat to your dog’s health. There are ways to get rid of as well as prevent these tiny pests from threatening your dog’s health. The United States has about 200 tick species whose habitats include woods, beach grass, lawns, forests, and even in some urban areas.They have a four stage life cycle, egg, larvae, nymphs, and adult. Depending on its species, a tick may take less than a year or up to several years to go through its four stage life cycle. Adult females of some species lay about 100 eggs at a time. Others lay 3,000 to 6,000 eggs per batch.Infectious Disease That Ticks Can CarryTicks can carry various infectious organisms that can transmit diseases to cats and dogs as well as humans. The 4 primary diseases and their symptoms are:- Babesiosis – lethargy, loss of appetite, weakness, pale gums- Ehrlichiosis – high fever, muscle aches- Lyme disease – lameness, swollen joints, fever, poor appetite, fatigue, vomiting- Tick paralysis in dogs – gradual paralysis and poor coordinationOf the four diseases, Lyme disease is the worst, as it can also infect humans. Studies indicate that dogs are 50 percent more susceptible to this disease than humans. PreventionPrevention is best done with one of the many veterinary-approved flea and tick preparations available on the market — like NexGard. Dogs should be examined frequently for the presence of ticks on their bodies. Ticks prefer sheltered locations, such as inside the ears and between the toes of the host, but a heavily infested dog may have ticks anywhere on its body. Refrain from walking into grassy patches in endemic tick areas if you can. In areas where ticks are prevalent, yards where dogs exercise should be treated with appropriate chemicals to kill adult and immature ticks. When a tick is found it should be removed immediately. Keep grass mowed as short as possible.5 Tips for Tick Removal From Your Dog’s Coat1. Use fine-point tweezers2. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull gently3. If the ticks mouth parts remain embedded in the animals skin, you should try to remove them as you would a splinter.4. Alcohol or other disinfectants should be used on the bite site, the tweezers, and your hands if you do not wear gloves.5. You should flush the tick down the toilet or drown them in a small container of alcohol. Ticks can and will survive after they are removed from the host. You should never squeeze a tick as it will release toxins that may contain any of the diseases discussed earlier.VaccinationThere is a Lyme vaccine available that can help prevent disease. The vaccine is not 100% protective but is a worthwhile preventative for dogs in high-risk areas. Please contact us if you would like to discuss if Lyme vaccination is right for your dog. There is no vaccination available for cats at this time.Watch for the symptoms mentioned earlier, and if you suspect a tick-borne disease get your dog to the vet immediately. With early diagnosis, antibiotics generally work. If possible, dogs should be kept out of tick-infested areas.Tue, 07 Aug 2018 14:09:00 -0700http://www.orangehillvethospital.com/blog/post/rattlesnake-tips-that-could-save-your-dogs-lifehttp://www.orangehillvethospital.com/blog/post/rattlesnake-tips-that-could-save-your-dogs-life Spring is here! Exciting as this may be, it also means the beginning of rattlesnake season in Southern California and especially Orange and our canyon communities. Dogs are at risk for rattlesnake bites and are about 20 times more likely to be bitten by venomous snakes than people. In addition, dogs are about 25 times more likely to die if bitten. Snake bites are very painful, often life-threatening, expensive to treat, and can cause permanent damage if the dog survives. Most bites are to the head region but are occasionally to the shoulders, legs or thighs. Bites around the head increase the risk of severe complications since the venom are toxic and disrupt blood vessels. We have a vaccine that helps reduce the severity of the bite. The vaccine works by neutralizing rattlesnake venom but does not totally eliminate the need for treatment. It could, however, save your dog’s life by slowing down the spread of toxin and decreasing swelling and pain associated with the bite. We use the Red Rock Biologics rattlesnake vaccine and it has helped provide protection against venomous snakes and has become the standard of preventive veterinary.This vaccine—given in two doses one month apart the first year, followed by an annual booster— stimulates the immune system to generate protective antibodies against rattlesnake venom. These protective antibodies function by neutralizing the venom in the case of a bite. After vaccination, dogs are reported to experience less pain and have a reduced risk of permanent injury from rattlesnake bites. Testing has been performed to show that serum from vaccinated dogs and other animals neutralizes venom from a number of species of Crotalus found in the United States.If your dog has been bitten, you will notice these symptoms almost immediately:puncture woundsswellingpainpanting or droolingweakness and inability to walkmuscle tremorsdiarrheaseizuresDepending on the size of your dog and how much venom they received, death could take only a few short hours.What to do if your dog is bitten by a rattlesnake:Don’t panic, but act fast.Pick your pet up (if you can) and immediately drive them to the nearest animal hospital. Allowing them to run or jog back to the car increases their heart rate which enables the venom to spread more quickly through the bloodstream.Alert the hospital.On your way to the animal hospital, call them to let them know you’re coming and that your pet was bitten by a rattlesnake. Not all animal hospitals keep antivenin onsite, so they may direct you to another hospital that can help your pet. Contact Orange Hill Veterinary Hospital to learn more and schedule an appointment for your pet.Call (714) 639-6100Mon, 02 Apr 2018 13:26:00 -0700http://www.orangehillvethospital.com/blog/post/bone-treats-linked-to-dog-deathshttp://www.orangehillvethospital.com/blog/post/bone-treats-linked-to-dog-deaths The FDA warns giving dogs store-bought bone treats could kill themBefore you go out and buy bone treats for your dog this holiday season, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning for pet owners. The FDA has received 68 reports of pet illnesses, including 15 deaths related to these seemingly harmless treats. In total, around 90 dogs were involved in the reports (some reports included more than one dog). As most of you conscientious pet owners know that it's not a good idea to pass dogs turkey and chicken bones under the table, the FDA says what we vets have been saying for years that processed and packaged bone treats sold at pet stores and online can also lead to symptoms such as: gastrointestinal obstructionchoking, cuts and wounds in the mouth or the esophagus vomitingdiarrhea, and/or bleeding from the rectum.Although the FDA didn't mention specific brands, the illnesses have been linked to: ham bones, pork femur bones, rib bones and smokey knuckles bones. One of the most common conditions that I treat in my hospital is gastrointestinal inflammation caused by dogs (and cats) eating food/treats that they shouldn't have been consuming. And if you give your dog a bone treat, your dog may become ill and need unexpected treatment. Please heed this warning and keep these bones out of your pets mouth. To keep you pup safeKeep trashcans and dinner platters containing chicken, turkey and steak bones out of reach. Checking with your vet about which chew toys and treats they recommend.Always supervise your dog with any new toy or treat.~Dr. Jahan Rana Wed, 29 Nov 2017 17:04:00 -0700http://www.orangehillvethospital.com/blog/post/5-ways-you-can-help-during-kitten-seasonhttp://www.orangehillvethospital.com/blog/post/5-ways-you-can-help-during-kitten-season Bottle feeding kittens Bottle Feeding A Kitten As you guys know, we take care of A LOT of cats. And with kitten season underway, we're busy taking care of these lil babies! This is Daisy, our technician bottle feeding a kitty whose mom was too sick to nurse. We're working to get these babies off to a healthy start! The time between late spring and early autumn is known as “kitten season”. During this time of year, unaltered cats reproduce prolifically. A female cat can become pregnant as young as 5 months of age. Ways you can help out: 1.Spay or neuter your cats. 2. Help your local shelter during kitten season. 3. Care for homeless or feral cats in your area. 4. Become a foster cat parent. 5. Adopt a cat.Tue, 16 May 2017 03:11:06 -0700http://www.orangehillvethospital.com/blog/post/a-beeinsect-stung-your-dog-now-whathttp://www.orangehillvethospital.com/blog/post/a-beeinsect-stung-your-dog-now-what Dog Stung By A Bee We’re heading into Spring and with the change of season, our thoughts turn to Easter celebrations, spring cleaning and much-needed home improvement projects. Before you embark on seasonal chores, please be careful of potential sp ringtime hazards for your furry friends.Any insect or spider can cause problems if they bite or sting your pet. A bite or sting can cause swelling, redness, and itching. Some animals can have an allergic reaction to a sting or bite that may result in mild hives, facial swelling, vomiting, difficulty breathing or even collapse. What to Do:1. If the stinger can be found, scrape it out with a credit card or other stiff material. Alternatively, use tweezers by grasping the stinger, which is located below the venom sac. If the sting just happened, don't put pressure on the venom sac, as that would inject more of the venom into the pet. 2. Apply cool compresses to the area. 3. To help neutralize some of the acidic venom, apply a paste mixture of baking soda and water to the sting area. 4. Your pet should be examined immediately by a veterinarian if there is facial swelling, breathing difficulty or collapse. What NOT to Do:5. Do not administer any medications without first contacting your veterinarian or a veterinary emergency hospital. The veterinarian may need to examine your pet before recommending medications. Jahan Rana, DVMTue, 18 Apr 2017 07:00:00 -0700