August 2022 Newsletter
General Housekeeping
Payment Policy
In an attempt to “keep up with the times” and streamline our check-out process - CAC will no longer be accepting cash or checks as payment. We do offer payment via credit/debit card, Care Credit, and Apple Pay. We appreciate your understanding in this transition!
Prescription Policy
In accordance with Virginia state law, Clarendon Animal Care is prohibited from allowing the return/refund of any prescription medication once it has left our facility. Additionally, all controlled substances are non-refundable once they have been prescribed. If you have old or unused medications, please visit the Arlington VA Government website for disposal location.
Pet's Photo on ezyVet
Please take a moment to upload your pet’s photo to the ezyVet portal so we have your favorite picture in your pet’s medical records. You can also navigate to the "MAKE AN APPOINTMENT / PET PORTAL" button on the homepage of the Clarendon Animal Care website.
Monthly Reminder
If you are no longer a CAC client, please contact us so we can deactivate your account and send records to your new hospital. You can also log into our Patient Portal to confirm and update information.
Allergies - Not Just a Summer Problem
As summer gets closer to its end many of us are looking forward to less pollen and allergy irritants; however, not all allergies are the results of seasonal changes! In fact, many pets in Virginia experience a wide range of allergies year round.
There are three big categories of allergy -- allergy to flea bites, allergy to food proteins, and allergy to environmental components (pollens, grasses, dust mites, molds, etc). If you find that your pet seems to be extra itchy, we recommend keeping an “itchy” journal, on a scale of 1-10, on a regular basis (daily to weekly, depending on how symptomatic the pet is) in order to get a sense of when during the year or season a pet’s allergies tend to be the worst. With this scale, 1 is minimal to no itchiness, and 10 would be nearly constant itching, including occurring overnight and interrupting normal behaviors.
If your pet is experiencing allergies or itchiness we do recommend reaching out to your Vet as we still find that every pet is different and likely to have different levels of responses to specific measures and their own combo of therapies to get them comfortable!
Don’t Dogs Just Pant? Yes - But Also No!
Most of us think of panting as just part of being a dog - similar to barking - but there can actually be underlying causes that may need to be explored or addressed!
Some of the reasons your dog may be panting include: heavy exercise, heat, anxiety, or injury. As well as other underlying diseases such as: arthritis, heart disease, or obesity.
Finding the cause of your dog’s panting is not always an easy task - we do recommend always first addressing heat/anxiety causes as these are typically the most common. If you find your dog panting excessively, we recommend offering them a cool, quiet space away from direct sunlight/heat and people, and a bowl of water to allow them to try and regulate their temperature or calm down. You can also check out this article for more information or reasons why your dog may be panting - and always reach out to your Vet if you have any concerns about your dog’s health!
DVM Blog Post Highlight - Cats Need Exercise Too!
For this month’s DVM blog post Dr. Carr focuses on the importance of feline exercise and indoor cat enrichment! You can check out the article on our blog for more information on important reasons to provide enrichment opportunities for your feline companion and many great ways to keep your indoor cat happy and to ensure a long, healthy life inside your home!
While our own CAC clinic cat, BamBam, spends some time getting outdoor enrichment please note there are many safety and health concerns that pose a much higher risk than keeping your cat indoors!
Fear Free Tip of the Month
When picturing a good car ride, most of us envision a cute dog with their head out the window enjoying the breeze; however, not all dogs (or most cats) enjoy car rides! Just like us humans, they can also have stress/anxiety from long trips, uncomfortable seats, sudden stops - and even experience motion sickness. Check out this article on the Fear Free website for tips and tricks to reduce stress and ease motion sickness in your pet for a more successful car ride!