Eastern Oregon Animal Health

06/01/2026

🚨The One-Way Design of Cheatgrass 🚨

Did you know cheatgrass seeds are designed like tiny arrows? 🏹

Each seed has microscopic backward-facing barbs that allow it to move only one direction: forward. That means every step, shake, or scratch can push the seed deeper into your pet’s skin. 😬

While it’s clever for the plant, it can be dangerous for pets. Cheatgrass commonly gets stuck in:
🐾 Paws & between toes
👂 Ears
👁️ Eyes
👃 Noses

As Eastern Oregon grasses start drying out, now’s the time to start doing quick post-walk checks for cheatgrass in your pet’s fur, paws, and ears.

Catching it early can help prevent painful infections — and even surgery.

Have you spotted cheatgrass popping up yet this season? 👇

05/29/2026

05/27/2026

☀️🐾 HOT PAVEMENT CAN BURN PAWS 🐾☀️

As temperatures rise, pavement gets HOT fast — much hotter than the air temperature. Sidewalks, asphalt, truck beds, and artificial turf can all cause painful burns to your pet’s paw pads. 💔

🐶 Signs of burned paw pads:
▫️ Limping
▫️ Excessive licking or chewing at feet
▫️ Redness or blisters
▫️ Darkened or peeling paw pads
▫️ Refusing to walk

🌡️ Did you know?
• 77°F outside = pavement around 125°F
• 87°F outside = pavement around 143°F

That’s hot enough to burn paws in minutes. 😳

🐾 How to protect your pet:
✔️ Walk during cooler morning/evening hours
✔️ Stay on grass or shaded paths
✔️ Test pavement with the back of your hand for 7 seconds
✔️ Bring water on walks
✔️ Consider protective booties for sensitive paws

If you think your pet may have burned paw pads, give us a call 541-889-6711 ❤️🐾

05/25/2026

From all of us at Eastern Oregon Animal Health, we wish you a safe and meaningful Memorial Day as we remember those who gave everything for our freedom. 🇺🇸

Reminder: We are closed today, but will be back to regular business hours tomorrow.

05/22/2026

Is Your Pet’s Microchip Actually Protecting Them? 🐾

A microchip only works if the information attached to it is accurate and up to date.

Every day, shelters and veterinary clinics pick up “stray” pets that are actually beloved family animals — but their owners can’t be reached because the microchip was never registered or the contact information is outdated. 💔

📌 Here’s how you can help keep your pet safe:
✔️ Make sure your pet is microchipped
✔️ Register the microchip after implantation
✔️ Update your phone number, address, and emergency contacts anytime they change
✔️ Check your pet’s chip information yearly to make sure everything is current

Microchips are one of the simplest and most effective ways to reunite lost pets with their families. A few minutes updating your information could save your pet from spending days — or even weeks — in a shelter.

Let’s work together to keep pets safe, reduce shelter overcrowding, and help lost animals get home where they belong. 🐶🐱❤️

541-889-6711 Call us today for any questions or to set up an appointment to get your pet(s) microchipped.

05/20/2026

❤️ Some cases stay with us forever 🐾

In veterinary medicine, there are moments that become part of who we are.

The patient who fought so hard.
The goodbye that came too soon.
The scared rescue who finally learned to trust.
The family we cried with after a loss.

Veterinary teams carry these moments long after the appointment ends—not because we have to, but because we care deeply.

This Mental Health Awareness Month, we want to remind our community that compassion has an emotional cost, and kindness matters more than ever.

Thank you for trusting us with the lives that mean so much to you.

05/18/2026

🐾 **WHY NEUTER YOUR CAT?** 🐾Neutering does more than just prevent unwanted litters—it can also drastically improve your cat’s overall health, behavior, and lifespan. 💙

**Benefits of neutering include:**
✔️ Reduced spraying and strong urine odor
✔️ Less urge to roam, escape, and fight
✔️ Lower risk of injuries from territorial behavior
✔️ 100% prevention of testicular cancer
✔️ Reduced risk of spreading feline diseases (like FIV and FeLV)
Beyond the benefits for your own pet, neutering helps reduce overpopulation and the number of homeless cats in our local communities. 🐱

Have questions about the procedure or want to know the best age to schedule it? Our team is always happy to help!

📞 Contact Eastern Oregon Animal Health today to schedule an appointment: 541-889-6711

05/15/2026

🐐🌿 FUN FACT FRIDAY 🌿🐐

Did you know goats have rectangular pupils? 👀

Unlike humans and dogs, goats have horizontal, rectangle-shaped pupils that help them see a wide panoramic view of the world around them. This gives them an amazing ability to watch for predators while grazing. 🌾

Their unique eyes also help them:
▫️ See nearly 360 degrees around them
▫️ Stay aware of movement
▫️ Navigate rough terrain more safely

Nature gave goats some pretty incredible built-in survival tools! 💚

Next time you’re up close with a goat, take a look at their eyes—you’ll never unsee those funky rectangle pupils!

05/14/2026

🕷️🐾 LYME DISEASE AWARENESS 🐾🕷️

Ticks may be tiny, but the diseases they carry can have a big impact on both pets and people. 🫣

Lyme disease is spread through tick bites and can cause serious health problems if left untreated.

📋 Signs of Lyme disease in pets may include:
▫️ Limping or shifting leg lameness
▫️ Fever
▫️ Lethargy
▫️ Swollen joints
▫️ Loss of appetite

The good news? Prevention goes a long way. 😁

Here are a few ways to help protect your pets:
🐶 Use veterinarian-recommended tick prevention
🌿 Check your pets for ticks after outdoor adventures
✂️ Keep grass and brush trimmed around your home
🩺 Stay up to date on wellness exams and discuss Lyme prevention with your veterinarian

Ticks are very active in our region, especially during the warmer months, making now the perfect time to make prevention part of your routine.

📍 If you have questions about tick prevention or your pet isn’t acting like themselves, we’re here to help. Give us a call at 541-889-6711