Oakland Veterinary Referral Services

10/22/2026

🩸 **New canine heroes needed!** 🐾

Some of our longtime blood-donor dogs have recently earned their retirement or moved, and OVRS is looking for healthy new donors to join our **Buddies for Life Canine Blood Bank**.

Donated blood helps dogs facing traumatic injuries, severe anemia, surgery, cancer, bleeding disorders, and other critical conditions. Your dog may never meet the patients they help—but their donation could give another pet the chance to go home again. 💙

Potential donors should generally:

🐶 Weigh more than 50 pounds
🐶 Be healthy and not taking medications
🐶 Be current on vaccinations and heartworm prevention
🐶 Have a calm, friendly temperament
🐶 Meet the program’s age and screening requirements

Could your dog become a Buddy for Life? Learn more and complete the donor form at:
https://www.ovrs.com/specialty-services/blood-bank.html

Questions? Email **[email protected]** or call **(248) 334-6877**.

Please share this post—you may help us find our next lifesaving donor!

10/21/2026

Halloween chocolate is already finding its way into candy bowls, kitchen cabinets, backpacks, and shopping bags. 🎃🍫🐾

Our pets noticed! Pets eating chocolate can lead to vomiting, rapid heart rate, tremors, seizures, and other complications.

Pets should not eat any type of chocolate, especially dark.

Keep candy inside a closed cabinet or pet-proof container—not simply on a high counter. If your pet gets into chocolate, save the packaging and contact your veterinarian, a pet poison-control service, or a veterinary emergency hospital immediately. Don’t wait for symptoms or try to induce vomiting without professional guidance.

OVRS provides emergency and critical care 24/7. Call us at (248) 334-6877 if you need help.

10/20/2026

A LITTER BOX that worked perfectly for years may become difficult for a SENIOR CAT to use. A few thoughtful adjustments can make the litter box safer and more comfortable—and may help you notice health or mobility changes sooner.

Help your senior cat use the litter box comfortably with low entries, accessible locations, nonslip footing, gentle litter, and frequent cleaning.

10/19/2026

It's Vet Tech Week and we love the words in this post. "Shining a light on what you might not know about the Vet Tech in your life..

This week is for those who do the work few truly see - the calm hands, quick thinkers, the ones who hold it all together with heart.

To every vet tech: thank you for your skill, your compassion, and the quiet strength that keeps this field moving forward.

💚 Happy Vet Tech Week from a team who believes the best pet care comes from these amazing people being seen, supported, and appreciated for all that they are.

Better pet care through better people care. 🌿"

10/16/2026

Friday Mood: ON!

🐶 Friday mood: ON 🐾

Time to shake off the week, turn up the tunes, and slide into the weekend like a happy pup with zero responsibilities 😎

More waggin’, less workin’… that’s the vibe! 😍🎯

Who’s ready for walks, sunshine, and good times? 🙌

10/15/2026

Dogs and cats can have seasonal allergies too, but they usually experience itchy skin.

If your pet has severe allergies, OVRS's dermatology and allergy services can provide relief. Our Dermatologists will thoroughly research your pet’s issues to find the cause and the right treatment. For more information on our specialty services or to schedule an appointment, please call (248) 334‑6877.

10/13/2026

Picking up 💩 is not the best part of pet ownership, but it provides a valuable opportunity to monitor your dog’s or cat’s health.

Changes in stool color, consistency, frequency, size, or contents can be simple or a sign of something serious. P**p can offer useful clues, and we explain what to watch for.

Changes in your pet’s p**p can provide clues about digestive health. Learn what to watch for and when stool changes require veterinary care.

10/12/2026

Are walking, climbing stairs, jumping into the car, or playing painful challenges for your dog? It could be a torn cranial cruciate ligament.

TPLO is an orthopedic procedure that our surgery team performs regularly. It stabilizes the knee, helping dogs move more comfortably. To help you understand it better, we've added a new TPLO Surgery page to our website. Let us know what you think!

🐾 Signs of a CCL injury
🐾 How TPLO stabilizes the knee
🐾 What to expect before and after surgery
🐾 Recovery, rehabilitation, costs, and follow-up care
🐾 How OVRS’s board-certified surgeons support each patient

Explore the new page:
https://www.ovrs.com/specialty-services/tplo.html

OVRS board-certified surgeons provide TPLO surgery for dogs with CCL injuries, from diagnosis and surgical planning through recovery.

10/09/2026

Quick pet health check: Do you know what your PET'S GUMS normally look like? 🐶🐱 Knowing what is normal for your pet may help you recognize when something is wrong.

Healthy gum color varies—some pets naturally have dark pigmentation—but a sudden change matters. Gums that appear unusually pale, white, blue, or purple can accompany a serious emergency, especially if your pet is weak or has trouble breathing.