Golden Valley Animal Clinic

10/21/2026

😂🐾 SHOW US YOUR ODD MAN OUT! 🐾😂

Gunther, Kathy, and Molly are showing us that every group has that ONE who stands out! 🤣❤️

Now we want to see yours!

🐶 Does your dog think they're a cat?
🐱 Does your cat act like a dog?
😂 Or do you just have one who is a little… extra special?

📸 Drop a picture of your household's odd man out in the comments!

Bonus points if you tell us what makes them so wonderfully weird! 😂👇

Let's see those lovable weirdos! ❤️🐾

— Golden Valley Animal Clinic

10/19/2026

🐾 TELL US ABOUT YOUR PET’S NAME! 😂

What’s your pet’s name, and is there a story behind it? 👀

Did you choose something sweet and meaningful… or did you name them something ridiculous that you now have to yell across the yard in front of your neighbors? 🤣

For example, we once heard of a dog named Kevin. Why Kevin? Because he waddled into the kitchen, knocked over the trash can, made direct eye contact with his owner, and walked away like he paid the mortgage. His family agreed that “Kevin” was the only appropriate name for a tiny, furry middle-aged man. 😂🐶

Maybe your pet’s name has a sweet meaning, a funny backstory, or absolutely no explanation whatsoever. Maybe you had big plans for a fancy, dignified name, but now they answer to Stinky, Wiggles, or Little Menace. No judgment here! 🤣

👇 DROP YOUR PET’S NAME IN THE COMMENTS AND TELL US THE STORY!

We want the cute stories, the funny stories, and the stories that make us question how your pet ended up with a name like that. 😂🐾

Bonus points if they have 17 nicknames and only respond to the sound of a treat bag. 🦴

10/16/2026

💊🐶 HOW DOES HEARTWORM PREVENTION REALLY WORK? 🐱💊

Have you ever wondered how heartworm prevention works? There is an important difference between preventing heartworms and treating an existing heartworm infection!

🦟 It works backward, not forward!

Most monthly heartworm preventives work by killing susceptible immature heartworm larvae your pet picked up from infected mosquitoes during the preceding weeks.

This means prevention is designed to eliminate an infection while the heartworms are still at an early stage of development, before they mature into adult worms.

🚫 Prevention does NOT provide a force field against future infections!

Heartworm prevention does not stop mosquitoes from biting your pet, and most preventives do not provide ongoing protection against larvae acquired after the medication's effective period.

Your pet can be exposed to new heartworm larvae after receiving a dose. That's why prevention must be given consistently on schedule.

🩸 What about microfilariae?

Microfilariae are tiny, baby heartworms that circulate in the bloodstream of pets with certain adult heartworm infections.

Some heartworm preventives have activity against microfilariae, but this does not mean they reliably eliminate an established adult heartworm infection. The way a product works depends on the medication and the stage of the parasite.

📅 Why are regular testing and prevention BOTH important?

✔️ Give prevention consistently as directed.

✔️ Don't skip or delay doses.

✔️ Keep up with recommended heartworm testing, even when your pet receives prevention regularly.

✔️ If you miss a dose, contact your veterinarian for advice about restarting prevention and testing.

❤️ Remember: Heartworm prevention is designed to kill susceptible heartworm larvae before they mature. It is not a treatment for adult heartworms, and it cannot guarantee protection against every future exposure.

Have questions about your pet's heartworm prevention? Give Golden Valley Animal Clinic a call at 660.885.7733. We're happy to help!

10/15/2026

Let's talk fleas...

🐾 FLEAS: How to Get Them Off Your Pet AND Out of Your Home! 🐾

Finding fleas on your pet can be frustrating, but treating your pet is only part of the solution! Fleas lay eggs that fall into your home, where they continue developing and can cause the infestation to come right back.

Here’s how to fight fleas on BOTH fronts! 🐶🐱

🐾 1. Treat EVERY pet in the home
All dogs and cats in your household need appropriate flea control. Treating only one pet allows fleas to continue spreading between animals.

🐾 2. Use flea prevention year-round
Consistent flea prevention helps control fleas and prevent infestations from becoming established. Ask us which product is best for your pet, and always follow the product's directions.

🐾 3. Tackle the home, too!
Flea eggs and immature fleas can hide in:
• Pet bedding
• Carpets and rugs
• Under furniture
• Along baseboards
• Shady outdoor areas where your pets like to rest

🧹 Vacuum indoor areas where your pets spend time, and wash pet bedding regularly to help reduce fleas and their developing stages.

🐾 4. Don't panic if you still see fleas!
Even after your pet has been treated, you may continue to see new fleas emerging from cocoons in your home. These developing fleas can survive in the environment and emerge over time.

Seeing a few fleas doesn't automatically mean your flea prevention isn't working! Keep treating every pet consistently and addressing the environment.

🐾 5. Be patient and stay consistent!
Moderate to severe flea infestations can take several months to fully control. It takes time to break the flea life cycle and eliminate the infestation.

If you're not seeing improvement, contact your veterinarian before changing products, combining treatments, or adjusting doses.

🐾 6. Remember why flea control matters!
Fleas can cause itching, skin irritation, and allergic reactions. Heavy infestations can even cause anemia, especially in young animals. Fleas can also transmit certain parasites and disease-causing organisms.

❤️ THE KEY TO FLEA CONTROL:
✅ Treat every pet in the home.
✅ Use appropriate flea prevention consistently.
✅ Clean the areas where your pets spend time.
✅ Be patient while breaking the flea life cycle.

Need help choosing the right flea prevention for your pet? Give Golden Valley Animal Clinic a call at 660-885-7733. We're happy to help! 🐾

10/14/2026

09/29/2026

What does it mean when your veterinarian says "Fluffy has Grade 3 Dental Disease"
Here is a helpful description and photo of the progression of dental disease.

Grade 1 — Mild gingivitis
Slight redness along the gumline, minimal plaque.

Grade 2 — Early periodontal disease
More obvious plaque and tartar, red/inflamed gums.

Grade 3 — Moderate/advanced disease
Heavy calculus, significant gingivitis, gum recession and periodontal pockets.

Grade 4 — Severe periodontal disease
Heavy calculus, marked inflammation, recession, loose/damaged teeth and areas of infection.

🦷 Home Dental Care: It Really Does Matter!

Plaque starts building up on your pet’s teeth within hours after eating. If it isn’t removed, that plaque hardens into tartar, which contributes to gingivitis and periodontal disease.

And unfortunately, giving your dog a dental chew once in a while doesn't replace brushing. 😉

So what can you do at home?

🪥 Brush their teeth regularly
Daily brushing is the gold standard for home dental care. Even brushing several times a week can be helpful. Use a pet-specific toothpaste—never human toothpaste, as some ingredients can be harmful to pets.

🦷 Use products with evidence behind them
Look for products accepted by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC). Not every dental chew, water additive, powder, or treat marketed for dental health actually provides meaningful plaque or tartar control.

🥩 Don't rely on "dental" treats alone
Some grocery-store dental chews may provide little more than a tasty snack. If your pet swallows the treat quickly, there may be very little mechanical cleaning happening.

🐕 Start young when possible
Getting puppies and kittens comfortable with having their mouths handled makes dental care much easier as they get older.

🏥 Remember that home care doesn't replace professional dental care. Once tartar and periodontal disease have developed, brushing at home cannot remove the hardened calculus or treat disease below the gumline. Professional dental cleanings allow us to clean areas you simply can't reach at home.

Think of it like this:
Professional dental cleaning = getting the teeth back to a healthy starting point.
Home dental care = helping keep them that way.

And yes… your pet may look at you like you're completely unreasonable the first few times you try to brush their teeth. 😂

But their future self—and their mouth—will thank you!

09/28/2026

🐾 LOOKING FOR HER FOREVER HOME! 🐾

This sweet girl has been through more than she ever should have. 💔 She was abandoned at a rental property, but despite that, she’s still hoping to find someone who will show her what a loving forever home feels like. ❤️

She is approximately 8 years old, spayed, house trained, crate trained, and up to date on her core vaccines! 🐶💉

She’s already got some of the important stuff down—now she just needs a family to give her the love, patience, and happily-ever-after she deserves. 🏡🐾

If you think you might be the person she’s been waiting for, please reach out to us for more information about adoption.

Let’s find this girl the forever home she should have had all along. ❤️

Contact 816.918.8177 for more information.

🐾 Please share to help her find her people! 🐾

09/28/2026

🦷 Are those “dental treats” actually worth your money?

Let’s talk about the giant aisle of dental chews at the grocery store. 👀

You see words like “dental,” “cleans teeth,” “fresh breath,” and “tartar control” plastered all over the package.

But here's the thing…

Not every treat shaped like a toothbrush actually cleans teeth. 😂

Some dental chews may provide some benefit simply because chewing creates mechanical action against the teeth. But if you're spending money specifically because you want help controlling plaque and tartar, we recommend looking for the VOHC Seal of Acceptance.

The Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) evaluates products based on evidence for their ability to reduce plaque and/or tartar. That gives you something much more useful than a picture of a sparkling set of cartoon teeth on the package. 😉

🧐 What about dental powders?

This is where it gets a little more complicated.

Don't assume a product is ineffective just because it's a powder — and don't assume it's effective just because it says “dental” on the label.

For example, ProDen PlaqueOff is a VOHC-accepted product, so it has evidence supporting its dental claim.

The important lesson is:

Look at the actual product and the evidence behind it—not just the ingredient list or marketing claims.

🦷 And dental treats aren't magic.

Even a good dental chew doesn't replace:

• Regular tooth brushing
• Veterinary dental examinations
• Professional dental cleanings when needed
• Treatment of existing periodontal disease

Once tartar has hardened onto the teeth, a treat isn't going to magically make it disappear.

And please don't assume “the harder it is, the better it cleans.” Very hard chews such as bones, antlers and other extremely hard objects can cause painful tooth fractures.

So…are dental treats a waste of money?

They can be if you're buying them based solely on the word “dental.”

If you're going to spend the money, we recommend looking for products with the VOHC Seal of Acceptance and choosing an option appropriate for your pet.

Because we'd much rather see you spend your money on something that has evidence behind it than on an expensive snack wearing a dental costume. 😂🦷

Want to see which dental products have earned the VOHC seal?

👉 VOHC.org

09/25/2026

🐾 PET INSURANCE 101: How Does It Actually Work? 💰

Pet insurance can be a little confusing, especially if you're used to how human health insurance works. So let's break it down!

Here’s the basic idea:

🏥 You visit your veterinarian like normal.
Your pet receives their exam, diagnostics, medications, surgery, or whatever care they need.

💳 You pay the veterinary clinic at the time of service.
Most pet insurance plans don't pay the veterinary clinic directly.

📄 You submit your claim to your insurance company.
You provide your invoice and any medical records they require.

💰 The insurance company reimburses you according to the specific policy you've purchased.

And this is where it gets important…

🔎 Not all pet insurance policies are the same!

Before choosing a plan, look at things like:

• Deductible – What you have to pay before reimbursement begins
• Reimbursement percentage – How much of eligible expenses the company reimburses
• Annual or lifetime limits – How much the policy will pay
• Waiting periods – How long you have to wait before certain conditions are covered
• Pre-existing conditions – Conditions your pet had before coverage began may not be covered
• Wellness coverage – Some plans offer optional coverage for routine care, while others focus primarily on accidents and illnesses

🐶🐱 One important tip: Don't wait until your pet is sick to start researching insurance.

Insurance is generally designed to help with unexpected future veterinary expenses, not conditions that have already developed.

💡 Think of pet insurance as financial protection for the unexpected—not a veterinary savings account.

If you're trying to figure out which policy might be right for you, we recommend checking out Pawlicy Advisor. It allows pet parents to compare different pet insurance options and see how coverage can vary between plans. Visit pawlicy.com/start to get started.

👉 Do your homework before choosing a policy! Read the details, exclusions, deductibles, reimbursement rates, and limits so you know what you're purchasing.

At Golden Valley Animal Clinic, we're always happy to help you understand the veterinary side of things. 🐾

Coverage varies by company and policy, so always read your individual policy for the specific details.

Compare top-rated pet insurance and see which quotes are best for you. Pawlicy.com makes buying the best pet insurance easy. 5-star reviews. Loved by vets.

09/24/2026

🔎 Diagnostic Detective: The Skin Scrape

When your pet is itchy, losing hair, developing crusts, or has irritated skin, sometimes we need to do a little detective work to figure out why.

One of the tools in our detective kit is a skin scrape.

🕵️ What are we looking for?
A skin scrape can help us look for microscopic troublemakers such as mites, including Demodex and Sarcoptes.

🩺 How do we get the sample?
We gently scrape the surface of the skin with a sterile blade. Depending on what we're looking for, we may scrape deeply enough to collect material from around the hair follicles. The sample is then placed on a microscope slide, prepared for examination, and examined under the microscope.

🔬 Then comes the detective work...

We search the sample under the microscope for evidence that could explain your pet's skin problems. Sometimes the culprit is hiding in plain sight—or rather, under the microscope!

And just like any good detective, we don't stop at the first clue. A skin scrape is just one piece of the puzzle, and your pet's history, physical exam, and other diagnostic tests may all help us figure out what's really going on.

Because when your pet is itchy, "I don't know, they're just itchy" isn't good enough. We want answers. 🕵️