Seven things send Portland dogs and cats to a veterinarian every year, and most of them keep a calendar. Here is what to watch for and when.
The highlighted column is this month.
| Hazard | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raw salmon and troutDogs | September | October | November | December | ||||||||
| Foxtails and grass seedsDogs | June | July | August | September | ||||||||
| Wild mushroomsDogs | October | November | December | |||||||||
| River algaeDogs | July | August | September | |||||||||
| LiliesCats | March | April | May | |||||||||
| AntifreezeDogs and cats | January | February | November | December | ||||||||
| FleasDogs and cats | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
The colored label is the speed: go to the emergency hospital, call us today, or book a visit this week.
Fall is when the fish run and when carcasses wash up on the banks of the Willamette, the Clackamas and the Sandy. We wrote a full page on salmon poisoning in dogs.
Check ears, between the toes and under the collar after every summer walk. Dogs with long coats and floppy ears pick up the most.
No one can tell a safe mushroom from a dangerous one by looking at a chewed stem. Clear your yard after the first week of rain and keep dogs leashed under big trees.
The Oregon Health Authority posts advisories by water body. When the water looks green and still, pick a different swim spot that day.
Spring bouquets are the usual source. If you live with a cat, ask for a bouquet with no lilies, and check the label on any gift plant.
Wipe up drips, store the jug closed and off the floor, and keep cats out of the garage when you top up the car.
One missed month in winter is usually how a spring flea problem starts. Some dog flea products are toxic to cats, so check the label before you share.
General guidance from a neighborhood clinic. It cannot examine your pet. For a possible poisoning, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center answers at (888) 426-4435, and a fee may apply.
Fall. Salmon and trout are running, mushrooms come up with the first rain, and antifreeze shows up in driveways. Summer is second, for foxtails and river algae.
Very. Every part of a true lily or a daylily is toxic to cats, including the pollen and the water in the vase. A cat that chewed or licked any of it needs an emergency hospital right away.
Yes. Winters here are mild and homes are warm, so fleas keep breeding. A missed winter month is usually where a spring problem begins.
Check before you go. In late summer, slow water around Ross Island can grow toxic algae, and the Oregon Health Authority posts advisories by water body. Skip the swim when the water is green or scummy.
Tell us who is coming and why, and the front desk calls back within two business hours to set a time.
Monday to Friday 7:30 AM to 6 PM, Saturday 9 AM to 2 PM. After hours, call DoveLewis at (503) 228-7281.