Tawas Animal Hospital

09/04/2026

🦨✨ FANCY FRIDAY with Grace the Groomer! ✨🐾

Oh No... Your Dog Got SKUNKED!

You know the time of year! Wildlife is starting to move around more, our pets are spending time outside, and sometimes that innocent trip into the backyard ends with your dog meeting the wrong black-and-white friend. 🦨🐶

And if you've ever had a skunked dog run through your house, you know this is one smell you won't soon forget!

So for this week's Fancy Friday, Grace the Groomer is sharing some tips for getting your pet back to smelling their best.

🦨 Grace's First Tip: Don't Panic—and Don't Immediately Reach for the Hose!

Skunk spray contains oily sulfur compounds, which is part of the reason that smell sticks around so well. Simply soaking your pet with water isn't necessarily the best first move.

If possible, keep your pet outside, grab some gloves, and figure out where they were sprayed before bringing that smell into the house.

🛁 What Should You Use?

A commercial skunk-odor remover made specifically for pets is a great product to keep on hand, especially if you live in an area where skunk encounters aren't unusual.

You may also have heard of the traditional homemade mixture containing:

🐾 3% hydrogen peroxide
🐾 Baking soda
🐾 A small amount of liquid dish soap

This type of mixture can help neutralize skunk odor—but hydrogen peroxide needs to be used carefully around pets.

⚠️ Never use a peroxide mixture around your pet's eyes, nose or mouth. Avoid irritated, injured or sensitive skin, don't allow your pet to lick or swallow it, and remember that peroxide may also lighten some coat colors.

If you're unsure, call your veterinary team before using a home treatment.

And never mix up a batch and save it for the next skunk encounter. A peroxide-and-baking-soda mixture should never be stored in a closed container, because pressure can build.

👀 Did Your Pet Get Sprayed in the Face?

That's a different situation.

Skunk spray can be very irritating to the eyes and other sensitive tissues. If your pet was sprayed directly in the face, don't put a de-skunking mixture on their face.

Contact your veterinarian for guidance, particularly if you notice:

🐾 Red or painful eyes
🐾 Squinting or excessive tearing
🐾 Vomiting
🐾 Difficulty breathing
🐾 Significant facial exposure
🐾 Or your pet simply isn't acting normally

And while we're busting skunk myths...

🍅 Skip the tomato juice! It may temporarily cover some of the smell, but it doesn't actually neutralize the compounds responsible for skunk odor.

✂️ And When Your Bathroom Starts Smelling Like a Skunk, Too...

You know who to call. 😂

Grace the Groomer can help with a professional bath and coat care to get your furry friend back to looking—and, most importantly, smelling—a whole lot more Fancy Friday worthy!

🦨 + 🐶 = One very smelly adventure.

Hopefully it's a story you'll eventually laugh about...

Once you can breathe through your nose again. 😂

📞 Call Tawas Animal Hospital at 989-362-4601 to schedule with Grace the Groomer.

09/02/2026

Cats need vertical space, hiding spots, and scratching posts to feel secure. Environmental enrichment reduces stress and unwanted behaviors. 🐈

09/02/2026

Our mighty Captain decided Delaney could use a little extra help completing his medical records!

Captain carefully supervised every detail and made sure she stayed on task. We love a helpful dog—especially one who takes his responsibilities this seriously!

Great job, Captain! We think you may have a future at TAH.

08/31/2026

🩺 MEDICAL MONDAY
With Dr. Harrison & Dr. Marek

One Tick Can Cause a Serious—and Costly—Illness

At Tawas Animal Hospital, we are diagnosing more cases of Lyme disease and anaplasmosis. Both are bacterial diseases transmitted through the bite of an infected tick, and one tick can expose your dog to more than one disease.

🐾 What is Lyme disease?

Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. In dogs that become ill, signs may include:

Fever
Tiredness or decreased appetite
Swollen or painful joints
Limping that may move from one leg to another
Reluctance to walk, play, or climb stairs
Swollen lymph nodes

In rare but serious cases, Lyme disease can affect the kidneys and become life-threatening.

🐾 What is anaplasmosis?

Anaplasmosis is caused by Anaplasma bacteria and is also transmitted by infected ticks. Signs may include:

Fever
Lethargy
Loss of appetite
Joint pain, stiffness, or limping
Vomiting or diarrhea
Bruising, nosebleeds, or other bleeding concerns caused by low platelet counts

Some infected dogs may not show obvious symptoms.

Why do we recommend a 4Dx test at your dog’s annual visit?

The 4Dx test is a small blood test that screens your dog for:

❤️ Heartworm disease
🕷️ Lyme disease
🕷️ Anaplasmosis
🕷️ Ehrlichiosis

Many dogs exposed to tick-borne diseases may appear completely healthy at first. Without annual screening, an infection or exposure may go unnoticed until the dog becomes visibly ill or develops more serious complications.

Annual 4Dx testing helps us:

Detect exposure before symptoms are obvious
Identify dogs that may need additional testing
Look for possible exposure to more than one tick-borne disease
Evaluate whether the current prevention plan is working
Establish important information about your dog’s health from year to year
Begin treatment or monitoring sooner when medically appropriate

A positive 4Dx result does not automatically mean a dog is currently sick or that treatment is always necessary. It tells us that the dog has been exposed to a disease-causing organism. The veterinarian must interpret the result along with the dog’s history, physical examination, symptoms, and additional laboratory findings.

This is why the 4Dx test is an important part of an annual wellness visit—not simply an optional blood test.

How are these diseases treated?

Treatment commonly includes an extended course of antibiotics prescribed by your veterinarian. Depending on the pet’s symptoms and laboratory results, additional bloodwork, urine testing, pain management, supportive care, repeat testing, or hospitalization may also be necessary.

Prevention is safer—and usually much less expensive

The cost of consistent tick prevention is small compared with the potential cost of:

Sick-pet examinations
Diagnostic bloodwork and urine testing
Several weeks of medication
Follow-up examinations and repeat testing
Pain management or supportive care
Hospitalization for serious complications
Treatment for lasting kidney damage

No prevention can promise zero risk, but consistent tick protection greatly reduces your pet’s chances of being bitten and infected.

✅ Use veterinarian-recommended tick prevention consistently throughout the year.
✅ Complete the 4Dx screening at your dog’s annual visit.
✅ Check your pet for ticks after spending time outdoors.
✅ Remove attached ticks promptly and correctly.
✅ Keep grass and brush trimmed around your home.
✅ Ask whether the Lyme vaccine is appropriate for your dog’s lifestyle and risk.

There is a vaccine available to help protect dogs from Lyme disease, but there is currently no vaccine for anaplasmosis. This makes reliable tick prevention especially important—even for dogs vaccinated against Lyme disease.

Ticks are not only found deep in the woods. They may be present in yards, walking paths, parks, campgrounds, and areas with tall grass or brush. Pets can be exposed whenever temperatures allow ticks to remain active.

🩺 Prevention and annual screening are not just additional expenses—they are investments that may protect your pet from pain, serious illness, and much larger medical bills.

If your dog is not receiving consistent tick prevention or is due for an annual 4Dx test, please contact our medical team.

💬 What have you always wondered about ticks or tick-borne diseases? Leave your general questions below, and we may answer them in a future Medical Monday!

Stay tuned every Monday for more important medical facts, answers to your “I’ve always wondered why” questions, and practical advice to help keep your pets healthy!

This post is for general education and cannot replace individualized veterinary care. If your pet is showing signs of illness, please contact our medical team directly.

08/29/2026

🐾 WEEKEND WITH BOARDING: Labor Day Edition! 🐾

Staying Home for Labor Day? Your Pet Might Still Need a Getaway!

Labor Day weekend is almost here—and for many families that means cookouts, visitors, kids running in and out, boats, fireworks, yard games, music, and a whole lot more activity than usual.

It sounds like fun to us…but what does it feel like to your pet?

For some dogs and cats, a house full of people and unfamiliar activity can be overwhelming and stressful. Even pets who normally love company can struggle when their routine suddenly changes.

🏡 If your pet will be staying home during a busy holiday weekend, help set them up for success:

🐾 Give them a quiet escape. Create a comfortable room or area away from guests where they can rest without being disturbed.

🐾 Protect their routine. Try to keep meals, walks, medications, and bedtime as close to normal as possible.

🐾 Watch the doors! Holiday gatherings mean doors opening and closing constantly. Make sure everyone knows there is a pet in the house and double-check identification and microchip information.

🐾 Don't require them to socialize. Your pet doesn't have to greet every visitor. If they're choosing to move away, hide, or rest, let them.

🐾 Plan ahead for noise. Music, crowds, neighborhood celebrations, and fireworks can be frightening for some pets. If you already know your pet struggles with noise, talk with your veterinarian before the holiday about a plan.

💙 And here's something you may not have considered...

You don't have to leave town to board your pet!

Sometimes boarding can give your pet their own little Labor Day getaway while you enjoy yours at home.

If you're hosting a large cookout, family reunion, party, or a weekend full of visitors, boarding may provide your pet with something your house can't that weekend:

Routine. Predictability. A secure environment. And a break from all the commotion.

At Tawas Animal Hospital, our Fear Free Certified Boarding Professionals understand that boarding isn't simply about feeding pets and providing a place to sleep. We pay attention to each guest's emotional wellbeing, provide individualized care, walks and enrichment, and work to reduce fear, anxiety, and stress during their stay.

So while you're entertaining everyone at home, your pet can be enjoying attention from our boarding attendants, walks on our beautiful paths, enrichment, meals on schedule, and—most importantly—a little peace away from the Labor Day craziness. 🐶🌳💙

Sometimes loving your pet means including them in the celebration.

And sometimes it means recognizing they'd be happier skipping it altogether.

🐾 Labor Day boarding space is limited, so don't wait until the holiday weekend to make arrangements.

📞 Call Tawas Animal Hospital at 989-362-4601 to ask about Labor Day boarding.

Not leaving town? That's okay. Your pet can still have a getaway! 💙🐾

08/28/2026

🎉🎂 Happy Birthday, Ashley! 🐾❤️

Today we're celebrating a wonderful member of the Tawas Animal Hospital family!

Please help us wish Ashley, our amazing Boarding Attendant & Veterinary Assistant, a very Happy Birthday! 🥳

Ashley's love for animals shines through in everything she does. Whether she's making sure our boarding guests feel safe and loved, assisting our medical team, or sharing special moments with our feline and canine friends, she brings kindness, compassion, and a caring heart to every day.

Her dedication helps make Tawas Animal Hospital a place where pets receive not only exceptional care, but also plenty of love and comfort while they're with us.

Ashley, thank you for everything you do for our patients, our clients, and our team. We hope your birthday is filled with happiness, laughter, and lots of cuddles from your favorite furry friends!

🎈 Happy Birthday, Ashley! We hope you have an amazing day and an even better year ahead!

💙🐶🐱 Join us in wishing Ashley a very Happy Birthday in the comments below! 🎉🎁🎂

08/27/2026

🏒⚽ TAWAS ANIMAL HOSPITAL FAMILY — LU NEEDS YOUR VOTE!
Dr. Harrison’s son, Lucas “Lu,” has been nominated for Youth Athlete of the Year! Many of you know Lu plays hockey and soccer, but truthfully, he’d play just about any sport he could!
He’s currently 3rd place in the first round, and VOTING CLOSES TONIGHT AT 8 PM!
Let’s show him what our small-town Tawas family can do! ❤️
Please VOTE and SHARE before 8 PM!
👉 https://athleteoftheyear.org/2026/lucas-d505
Family cheers for family. Let’s go, Lu! 🏆

Lucas Leads With Heart, Lifts Up Every Teammate, And Reminds Everyone That Sports Are About Joy, Character, And Teamwork.

08/27/2026

Prevention is always better than cure. 💉 Keeping up with your pet's wellness visits is one of the best things you can do for their long-term health.

08/26/2026

UPDATE ON THE INJURED KITTEN FOUND ON US 23 — MEET “LUCKY” ❤️

First, we need to say thank you.

When we asked our community to share our post and help us find the family of the young kitten found injured on US-23 near the Oscoda Health Park, we could never have imagined the response.

Unfortunately, despite everyone's efforts, no owner ever came forward to claim her.

So, while she is with us, we have decided she needs a name.

Meet Lucky. ❤️

And we think that name fits her perfectly.

We believe Lucky was likely hit by a vehicle or experienced a similar significant trauma. She came to us with a broken pelvis, wounds on her body, a head injury, and an injury involving her spine. Our team has worked night and day to stabilize her, care for her wounds, manage her pain, and give this little girl every opportunity to recover.

And Lucky is fighting.

She is still very much in recovery and will likely remain hospitalized with us for approximately 10 more days, but we are beginning to see signs of healing and progress.

Lucky will most likely have some lifelong special needs. Because of the injury to her spine, we anticipate that she may always have some weakness in her back leg. Her vision is also beginning to improve as she heals from her head injury, but it is possible for her to have some vision impairment. Because of this, Lucky will need to be a strictly indoor cat.

What is most important is that we believe Lucky can heal, be comfortable, and have a life without ongoing pain. Her life may look a little different—but different certainly doesn't mean less.

And if there is one thing Lucky has already shown us, it is that she is a fighter.

We have already received calls from incredibly kind people asking if they can adopt her. We cannot thank you enough. Your willingness to open your home to an injured kitten says so much about the compassion in our community.

When Lucky is medically ready, we will work with the appropriate shelter to help find her forever home. She will need a very special person or family who understands that she may require additional care throughout her life and is prepared to give her a safe, indoor home.

If you are seriously interested in potentially giving Lucky that home, please email us at [email protected] rather than calling the hospital. This will allow our medical team to stay focused on caring for Lucky and our other patients while we gather information from those interested in her.

Please understand that Lucky is not ready to leave the hospital yet, and there will be a process to make sure her eventual home is the right fit for her needs.

For now, she has one job:

Keep healing. Keep fighting. Keep being Lucky. ❤️

It has been both amazing and humbling to see how many people shared her story, called with information, checked on her, offered to help, and simply cared about this little kitten they had never even met. Thank you, Tawas and Oscoda, for reminding us just how incredible a community of animal lovers can be.

08/26/2026

🐾💙 HAPPY NATIONAL DOG DAY! 💙🐾

Today might just be one of our favorite days of the year!

At Tawas Animal Hospital, we have the privilege of knowing some pretty incredible dogs. We meet the brand-new puppies taking their first nervous steps through our doors, the energetic dogs who can't contain their excitement when they see us, the nervous pups who need a little extra patience, and the sweet seniors whose gray faces we've had the honor of watching appear over the years.

They make us laugh.
They challenge us.
They comfort us.
They make our houses messier.
They somehow take up 90% of the bed. 😂
And they become such an important part of our families.

But today, we don't want to show you our dogs...

🐶 WE WANT TO SEE YOURS!

Let's fill our page with the dogs of our Tawas Animal Hospital family!

📸 Drop your favorite picture of your dog in the comments and tell us:

🐾 Their name
🐾 Their age
🐾 Their breed — or your best guess!
🐾 And ONE thing about them that always makes you smile.

Have more than one dog? We absolutely want to see them all!

And if you're remembering a special dog who is no longer here, you're welcome to share their picture too. Some dogs may leave our homes, but they never really leave our families. ❤️

From the entire team at Tawas Animal Hospital...

Happy National Dog Day to the dogs who make life a whole lot better! 🐶🐾💙

👇👇👇 NOW SHOW US THOSE DOGS! 👇👇👇