East Market Veterinary Center

09/28/2026

🌎🐾 September 28th is World Rabies Day! 🐾🌎

Rabies is a 100% preventable disease, and prevention starts with education and vaccination. 💉🐶🐱

Rabies is a serious and fatal disease that can affect both animals and people. In Pennsylvania, rabies vaccination is also required by law for dogs and cats 3 months of age and older.

Keeping your pet’s rabies vaccination current helps protect your pet, your family, and our entire community. ❤️

📅 Is your pet due or overdue for their rabies vaccine? Give East Market Veterinary Center a call at 724-793-1779 to get them scheduled!

Let’s work together to keep our pets protected, vaccinated, and up to date! 🐾

09/26/2026

🩺❤️ Heart Murmurs in Dogs: What Pet Owners Should Know 🐶

Has your veterinarian ever mentioned hearing a heart murmur during your dog’s exam?

A heart murmur is an abnormal sound heard while listening to the heart and is caused by turbulent blood flow. While some murmurs may not cause immediate problems, others can be associated with an underlying heart condition—which is why routine wellness exams are so important! 🩺

If we detect a heart murmur during your dog’s exam, the next steps will depend on your pet’s age, health, symptoms, and the characteristics of the murmur. Additional monitoring or diagnostic testing may be recommended to help us better understand what’s happening with their heart. ❤️

At home, let us know if you notice changes such as:
🐾 Coughing
🐾 Difficulty or rapid breathing
🐾 Decreased energy or exercise tolerance
🐾 Weakness or fainting
🐾 Changes in appetite or behavior

Early detection gives us the opportunity to monitor changes and make recommendations based on your pet’s individual needs.

📚 Want to learn more? Check out this informative article from Hill’s Pet Nutrition about heart murmurs in dogs:

https://www.hillspet.com/dog-care/healthcare/what-causes-a-heart-murmur-in-dogs

❤️ Stay informed and proactive about your pet’s heart health!

09/23/2026

🐾🩺 Wellness Starts with Routine Care! 🩺🐾

Regular wellness exams are an important part of keeping your pet happy and healthy throughout every stage of life. ❤️

Even when your pet seems perfectly healthy, routine check-ups give our veterinary team the opportunity to:

🐶 Monitor changes in weight and overall health
🐱 Catch potential concerns early
💉 Keep vaccinations and preventatives up to date
🦷 Check teeth, gums, skin, ears, and more
🩺 Discuss any changes you’ve noticed at home
❤️ Make recommendations based on your pet’s individual needs

Preventive care today can help identify small changes before they become bigger concerns.

📞 Is your pet due for their wellness exam? Call East Market Veterinary Center at 724-793-1779 to schedule an appointment!

Compassionate care, trustworthy team, and hometown values: your pet’s health care partner. 🐾

09/19/2026

🍁🐾 Fall Is Almost Here—Is Your Pet Ready? 🐾🍂

The first day of fall is right around the corner! As we get ready for cooler temperatures, changing leaves, and all things autumn, it’s also a great time to brush up on some of the seasonal hazards that can affect our pets. 🐶🐱

Keep these fall safety concerns in mind as the season approaches:

🍄 Mushrooms & toxic plants – Keep curious pets from eating unfamiliar plants or mushrooms outdoors.
🐭 Rodenticides – Products used to control mice and rats can be extremely dangerous to pets.
🍫 Seasonal treats – Chocolate, candy, and other unsafe human foods should always stay out of paws’ reach.
🧴 Antifreeze & automotive products – As temperatures cool, be especially careful with products that can be toxic if ingested.
🦟 Fleas & ticks – Don’t let cooler temperatures fool you! Flea and tick prevention is important year-round.

A little preparation now can help your pets enjoy a happy, healthy, and safe fall season! ❤️🍁

📚 Check out the ASPCA’s guide to seasonal hazards for even more tips:
https://www.aspca.org/news/dont-fall-victim-these-seasonal-hazards

09/14/2026

A Practical Guide to Cleaning Your Dog’s Teeth at Home for Blairsville, PA Residents

Why Is Brushing Your Dog’s Teeth Necessary? Regular cleaning helps prevent dental disease, which is a common concern for many dogs in Blairsville, PA. Brushing at home removes plaque before...

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Why Is Brushing Your Dog’s Teeth Necessary? Regular cleaning helps prevent dental disease, which is a common concern for many dogs in Blairsville, PA. Brushing

09/07/2026

What Happens During a Typical Vet Visit for Pets in Blairsville, PA

Why Do Routine Pet Checkups Matter in Blairsville, PA? Routine pet checkups in Blairsville, PA are fundamental for maintaining animal health throughout the year, especially given the local climate’s seasonal...

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Why Do Routine Pet Checkups Matter in Blairsville, PA? Routine pet checkups in Blairsville, PA are fundamental for maintaining animal health throughout the year

08/31/2026

Navigating Dog and Cat Vaccinations: Reliable Schedules for Blairsville, PA Households

Why Are Vaccine Schedules for Dogs and Cats Recommended in Blairsville, PA? Veterinary vaccine schedules help protect pets and public health by preventing outbreaks of common animal diseases. For residents...

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Why Are Vaccine Schedules for Dogs and Cats Recommended in Blairsville, PA? Veterinary vaccine schedules help protect pets and public health by preventing outbr

08/24/2026

Preparing Your Pet for a Stress-Free Vet Visit in Blairsville, PA

Why Do Pets Often Feel Nervous Before a Vet Visit? Pets may appear anxious before a veterinary appointment because new environments, unfamiliar smells, and unusual handling can feel overwhelming. Many...

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Why Do Pets Often Feel Nervous Before a Vet Visit? Pets may appear anxious before a veterinary appointment because new environments, unfamiliar smells, and unus

08/18/2026

📢 **Upcoming Office Closures**

East Market Veterinary Center will be **closed on the following dates:**

🔹 **Friday, August 28th**
🔹 **Tuesday, September 1st**
🔹 **Monday, September 7th through Friday, September 11th** – Dr. Deforno will be attending continuing education. 🩺📚

**Please note:** On **August 28th and September 1st, our office will be completely closed and emails and voicemails will NOT be monitored.** Please plan accordingly for any medications, food, or records you may need.

During our **September 7th–11th closure**, we understand that pets don’t always get sick at convenient times and your pet may need to be seen elsewhere. We will have staff members available to assist with sending medical records to another veterinary office if needed.

Simply **send us an email or leave a voicemail** with your request. Our team will be checking messages a few times throughout the day during the September 7th–11th closure and will send records as needed.

Please plan ahead for any **medication or food refills** your pet may need during these upcoming closures.

We appreciate your patience and understanding! 🐾💙

**Team EMVC**

08/17/2026

🖤 Happy National Black Cat Appreciation Day! 🐈‍⬛

Today we're celebrating some of the most beautiful (and often misunderstood) cats around—black cats! With their sleek coats, striking eyes, and larger-than-life personalities, black cats make incredible companions.

Despite old myths and superstitions, black cats are every bit as loving, playful, and deserving of a forever home as any other cat. In fact, many spend longer waiting for adoption simply because of their color.

If you're lucky enough to share your home with a black cat, give them a few extra treats, some playtime, or a cozy nap in the sun today. And if you've been thinking about adding a feline friend to your family, don't overlook these wonderful companions—they just might steal your heart. 🖤

📸 We'd love to see your black cats! Share a photo of your favorite shadow-coated feline in the comments below.