Veterinary Care Clinic of Smokey Point

04/15/2026

🐾 Pet First Aid Kit: Quick Guide for Owners

Emergencies can happen anytime, knowing basic first aid and being prepared can help save your pet’s life before you reach veterinary care.

📞 Essentials

Vet + emergency clinic numbers
Poison control contact
Medical records & pet photo

🩹 Wound Care

Gauze & non-stick bandages
Adhesive tape
Saline (eye/wound rinse)
Antibiotic ointment

✂️ Tools

Scissors (blunt tip)
Tweezers
Digital thermometer + lubricant
Syringe/dropper

🧤 Safety & Handling

Gloves
Towel/blanket
Muzzle
Leash/carrier

❄️ Extras

Cold pack
Slip Leash

👉 Reminder: First aid is temporary, seek out Veterinary care as soon as possible following an accident.

04/13/2026

🐾 Did you know any dog can bite, even the sweetest family pet? Understanding why dogs bite is the first step in preventing it. Dogs may react out of fear, pain, or when protecting food, toys, or their space, and millions of people are bitten each year
many of them children. The good news is that most bites are preventable with education and awareness.

💡 Simple steps can make a big difference: always supervise children around dogs, learn to recognize body language, and avoid approaching unfamiliar dogs without permission. Respecting a dog’s space, especially when they’re eating, sleeping, or not feeling well, helps keep everyone safe. By understanding our pets and teaching safe interactions, we can protect both people and the dogs we love. 🐶💙

Want to learn more? Check out his great article from our friends at AVMA
www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/dog-bite-prevention

04/11/2026

🐾 Is your pet’s microchip up to date? It could be the reason they make it home. 🐾

Did you know that 1 in 3 pets will become lost at some point in their lives? The good news is that microchipping dramatically increases the chances of a happy reunion but only if the chip is registered and your contact information is current.

According to the AVMA:
✔️ Microchipped dogs are more than twice as likely to be reunited with their families
✔️ Microchipped cats are significantly more likely to come home
✔️ Yet, only about 60% of microchips are actually registered, meaning many pets can’t be traced back to their owners

A microchip is a simple, quick procedure that provides permanent identification but it only works if your information is accurate and up to date.

💛 A happy story from our clinic:
Our patient Pumpkin was missing for an entire month, surviving outside on his own. Thankfully, he had a microchip and most importantly, it was registered with current information. When he was finally found and scanned, we were able to quickly contact his family. The reunion was emotional, joyful, and a powerful reminder of just how important microchips truly are. 🐱✨

📌 Take a moment today to:
• Confirm your pet is microchipped
• Check that your contact info is current
• Update any outdated phone numbers or addresses

It only takes a few minutes, but it can make the difference between heartbreak and a safe return home.

If you’re not sure whether your pet’s microchip is registered or need help updating it, give us a call, we’re happy to help! 🐾

04/08/2026

Heartworm disease isn’t just a “southern problem”—it’s been diagnosed in pets in all 50 states, meaning every dog and cat is at risk no matter where you live. Transmitted by mosquitoes, just one bite can spread this potentially serious (and even deadly) parasite.

The good news? Prevention is safe, simple, and highly effective. Veterinary guidelines recommend keeping pets on heartworm prevention year-round, because mosquitoes—and therefore risk—can be unpredictable. Staying consistent with prevention is the best way to protect your pet from this disease.

And don’t forget about cats—they can get heartworm too, even if they live indoors. Feline infections often go undiagnosed and can still cause serious illness, making prevention just as important for cats as it is for dogs. Protect every pet, all year long!

Have questions? Give us a call at 360-548-8500

04/05/2026

🐣🌷 Happy Easter from all of us at the clinic! 🌷🐣

We hope your day is filled with joy, family, and a few well-deserved treats. As you celebrate, don’t forget that some Easter favorites can be dangerous for our furry friends.

⚠️ Keep pets away from:
• Chocolate (especially dark and baking chocolate)
• Xylitol (found in sugar-free candies and gum)
• Easter grass (plastic can cause intestinal blockages)
• Lilies and other toxic plants
• Fatty table scraps

Even small amounts of these can cause serious health issues for pets. If you think your pet has gotten into something they shouldn’t, don’t wait—contact your veterinarian right away.

Let’s keep Easter safe and happy for every member of the family—two-legged and four-legged alike! 🐾💛

04/04/2026

April 4th is Every Day Is Tag Day - a great reminder of how something as simple as an ID tag can help bring a lost pet home. Even the most well-trained pets can slip out a door, get startled, or wander farther than expected. Having a collar with a current ID tag is one of the quickest and easiest ways for someone to help reunite you with your pet.

Take a moment today to check your pet’s tag and make sure the contact information is up to date and easy to read. If your pet’s tag is worn or outdated, consider replacing it. A small tag can make a big difference when it comes to getting your furry family member safely back home. 🐾🏷️

04/04/2026

04/02/2026

April is Canine Lyme Disease Awareness Month, a great reminder to think about tick prevention as pets and people start spending more time outdoors.

Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and is transmitted through the bite of infected ticks. Ticks usually need to be attached for 24–48 hours before the bacteria can be passed to a pet.

Dogs are most commonly affected, and symptoms may include lameness, joint pain, fever, or low energy although some pets may not show signs at all.

In 2025, Washington State reported 537 positive Lyme disease cases, highlighting that tick exposure can occur in our region.

Prevention is the best protection. Regular tick checks and keeping pets on consistent parasite prevention can greatly reduce the risk of tick-borne disease.

While many over-the-counter products are available, they often provide less reliable protection compared to veterinary-prescribed preventatives designed to kill or repel ticks quickly.

If you have questions about the best option for your pet’s lifestyle, your veterinary team can help you choose safe and effective protection so your pets can enjoy the outdoors all season long. 🐾🌿

03/30/2026

At Veterinary Care Clinic, our friendly, dedicated team is here to treat your pets like family. We take pride in creating a warm, welcoming space where you and your pet feel comfortable, heard, and cared for every step of the way.

We’re also proud to be a Cat Friendly practice, which means we go the extra mile to keep our feline patients calm and stress-free. With gentle handling and a quieter, more relaxed approach, we help make vet visits easier on cats and on you, too.

03/28/2026

Spring is here! And with that comes a warning about Leptospirosis, a disease caused by infection with Leptospira bacteria.

All dogs are at risk of leptospirosis, regardless of age, breed, lifestyle, geographic location, time of year, and other factors. The following situations can increase that risk:
➡Exposure to or drinking from slow-moving or stagnant water sources, like ponds, rivers, lakes, or streams
➡ Roaming on rural properties (because of exposure to potentially infected wildlife or farm animals or urine-contaminated water sources)
➡ Exposure to wild animals (especially rodents) or farm animals, even if in the backyard
➡ Contact with other dogs (such as in urban areas, dog parks, or boarding or training facilities)

Fortunately, vaccines are available to protect dogs from this potentially life-threatening disease. Because of the risk and severity of leptospirosis, experts recommend that all dogs be vaccinated. This can help protect people from infection, too. An initial series of two vaccinations spaced 4 weeks apart is typically recommended, followed by annual boosters. This series can be started at 12 weeks of age or later.

Contrary to some beliefs, leptospirosis vaccines are no more likely to cause side effects than are other common vaccines.

For more information on the signs of leptospirosis, how to prevent it, and more visit: https://bit.ly/4rHvtrq