Eagle River Animal Hospital

05/27/2026

🪰 Black Fly Season is here!

With warmer temperatures and spring showers comes the return of black flies — one of the first biting insects of the season. We’ve recently been seeing many dogs with black fly bites, and while they can look alarming, they are usually harmless and resolve on their own within a few days.

Black flies are tiny, gnat-like insects commonly found in grassy areas near lakes, creeks, and other bodies of water. They tend to bite thinly-haired areas such as the belly, groin, and ears.

Typical signs of black fly bites include:
• Small bright red or pink circular welts
• A pinpoint bite mark in the center
• A “bullseye” appearance as they heal
• Mild swelling or itching
• Often appearing in clusters

💡 Home Care Tips:
• Gently clean the area with warm water and a mild pet-safe soap
• Apply a cold compress or wrapped ice pack for 5–10 minutes to reduce swelling
• Prevent licking or chewing with a light shirt or e-collar if needed
• If your dog seems itchy, contact your veterinarian for more advise

The good news is that black fly bites do NOT transmit diseases like ticks can, and most dogs are minimally bothered by them.

⚠️ Please contact your veterinarian if you notice:
• Increased redness, swelling, discharge, or signs of infection
• Facial swelling, hives, vomiting, or breathing difficulties
• Lesions that do not improve within a few days
• Significant itching or discomfort

As always, if you are unsure whether your pet’s skin lesions are black fly bites or something more serious, feel free to contact us for guidance! ❤️

05/25/2026

🇺🇸 Happy Memorial Day from Eagle River Animal Hospital 🇺🇸

Today, we honor and remember the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. ❤️🤍💙

Please note that our office is closed today in observance of Memorial Day. We will resume normal business hours on Tuesday.

We hope you and your pets have a safe and peaceful holiday weekend! 🐾

05/22/2026

This week we are celebrating our amazing Veterinary Assistants for Veterinary Assistant Appreciation Week! 🐾💙
Our veterinary assistants are an essential part of our team and help keep the hospital running smoothly every single day. From comforting pets and supporting our doctors and technicians, to helping clients and keeping tails wagging, their compassion and hard work never go unnoticed.
Thank you to our incredible assistants for all the care, patience, teamwork, and love you give to every patient that walks through our doors. We are so grateful for everything you do for our patients, clients, and team! 🐶🐱✨
If one of our veterinary assistants has helped you or your pet, feel free to leave them some love in the comments below! 💕

05/14/2026

🚨 Porcupine Alert in the Northwoods! 🦔🐾

Porcupines are becoming more active around our area, and curious pups often learn the hard way that they are not new furry friends. Quills can cause serious pain, migrate deeper into tissue, and even lead to infection if not treated quickly.

If your pet encounters a porcupine:
❌ DO NOT pull quills at home if there are many or if they’re near the eyes, mouth, or throat
❌ Do not cut the quills
✅ Keep your pet calm and prevent pawing at the face
✅ Contact your veterinarian as soon as possible

Prevention tips:
🐕 Keep dogs leashed on wooded trails and near brush piles
🌙 Use a flashlight during nighttime potty breaks
👃 Watch for excessive sniffing near logs, trees, and dens
🦴 Practice a strong “leave it” command

Porcupine quills can lodge deep in the mouth, nose, and even chest area — early treatment makes a big difference!

If your pet has an unfortunate run-in with a porcupine, give us a call right away so we can help safely remove quills and keep your pet comfortable. ❤️

— Eagle River Animal Hospital 🐾

05/10/2026

05/07/2026

Refill Request Reminder

Most prescription refills (including heartworm preventatives, flea and tick preventatives, and prescription foods) take 24-48 hours to process and complete. Plan ahead if the prescription is due on a weekend or holiday and give us enough time to prepare the prescription.

Requests for same-day, walk-in refills may not be honored. Any request made after 4 pm will be considered a next-day request.

05/05/2026

We’re excited to share that next week our clinic will be transitioning to a new software system as we move toward a more efficient, paperless medical record system! 🐾💻

This upgrade will allow us to better serve you and your pets with improved record keeping, communication, and overall care.
As part of this transition:

- Our clinic will be closed Tuesday, May 12th at noon and will reopen Thursday, May 14th at 7:45am
- We ask that you please call ahead for medication, supplements, and prescription diet refills
- During this time, we will be asking for payment when items are filled and ready for pickup
- We will also be transitioning to a new credit card merchant

As with any big change, there may be a few bumps along the way while our team learns the new system. You may notice slightly longer wait times or minor delays, and we truly appreciate your patience and understanding.

Our top priority remains the same—providing the best possible care for your pets. ❤️

Thank you for your continued support as we grow and improve!

— Your Veterinary Team 🐶🐱

04/25/2026

🐾 Happy World Veterinary Day! 🐾

Today we celebrate the compassionate hearts and skilled hands behind every wagging tail, happy purr, and healed paw. At Eagle River Animal Hospital, we’re honored to care for your beloved pets through every stage of life—from routine checkups to life-saving treatments.

Veterinary medicine is more than a profession—it’s a passion. It’s early mornings, late nights, and a whole lot of love for animals who can’t tell us what’s wrong but trust us to help them feel better.

To our incredible team, thank you for your dedication, kindness, and unwavering commitment to the pets and families we serve. And to our amazing clients—thank you for trusting us with your furry family members. 💙

Give your pets an extra hug today in honor of the people who help keep them happy and healthy!

04/23/2026

It’s Veterinary Receptionist Week, and we’re celebrating the incredible team that keeps our front desk running smoothly—Margaret, Patty, and Katy! 🐾

These three are the friendly faces and voices that greet you, answer your calls, and help make each visit as seamless as possible. From scheduling appointments to supporting both clients and our medical team, they play a vital role in everything we do.

Their kindness, patience, and organization help create a welcoming experience for every pet and person who walks through our doors. We truly couldn’t do it without them!

Join us in thanking Margaret, Patty, and Katy for all they do—not just this week, but every single day! 💙

04/23/2026

This month we are celebrating several work anniversarys!!

First we have Ginger’s 3-year work anniversary! 🎉🐾

As our Lead Certified Veterinary Technician, Ginger brings exceptional skill, leadership, and compassion to everything she does. From supporting our team to providing top-notch care for our patients, she truly makes a difference every single day.

Her dedication, attention to detail, and genuine love for animals help set the standard for our entire clinic. We are so grateful to have her as part of our team and appreciate all the hard work she puts in behind the scenes.

She plays a vital role in managing our surgical cases, ensuring every patient receives safe, attentive, and high-quality care from start to finish.

Please join us in congratulating Ginger on 3 amazing years—we’re lucky to have you and look forward to many more! 💙🐶🐱