DO NOT under any circumstances purchase CBD products for your pets from a pot shop. The levels of THC in their products are a dangerous level for dogs and cats. It is impossible to find a CBD product with zero THC, however the product Sativa Valley Essentials, sold at Best Friend Nutrition, has a level of .003 compared to the .20 sold at most Marijuana shops. Sativa Valley is also formulated with products that can be safely consumed by your pets. I believe in the benefits of CBD oil for your dogs and cats, but I also want you to buy safe products that are made and sold by people […]

🐾 ATTENTION PET OWNERS AND ANYONE WHO SCANS ANIMALS FOR A MICROCHIP‼ 🐾 This is an X-ray of a dog’s flexed elbow (front leg). The tiny white shape on the forearm is a microchip that had been implanted at the dog’s shoulders. This is why it’s important to scan for your dog’s microchip at every vet exam. Microchips can drift, sometimes dramatically from where they are implanted. This chip was missed at the shelter this dog was pulled from, as it would be missed by many vets or shelters. Anyone scanning for microchips *should* be scanning the entire body, but this doesn’t always happen and microchips do, on rare occasion, go […]

Every year when summer arrives and the days grow longer and hotter, you can’t help but notice many people out walking their newly-shaved dogs. You might think dog shaving is a great idea and can help keep your dog cool. After all, you wouldn’t want to go around wearing a fur coat during the summer. However, it is not a good idea to shave your dog for the summer. There may be times when I have no choice but to shave a dog, although I do not like doing so on any occasion. The truth is, the guard hair — top coat — actually works as a ventilation system. In the winter, […]

I have had customers get frustrated when their dogs are not dressed when they get here. Early on in my career in the pet care industry I was warned about collar safety. This is why they stay naked until you come pick them up!!

WARNING! Foxtails are in full bloom all over the Olympic Peninsula! Empty lots where you might give your dog a potty break, fields you might pass through when walking your dog, along paved roads and paths, along fence lines where your dog may walk or play. They are everywhere this year! Right now they are green, but they are not benign. Green and fluffy or yellow and dry, they are sticky and track only one way: UP! Up into your dog’s skin, eyes, ears, mouth, between toes and up the nose. They are miserable and can even track up your dogs genitals. Foxtails demand veterinary intervention once they have even slightly […]

We all love spending the long, sunny days of summer outdoors with our furry companions, but being overeager in hot weather can spell danger. To prevent your pet from overheating, take these simple precautions provided by ASPCA experts: Visit the vet for a spring or early-summer checkup. Make sure your pets get tested for heartworm if they aren’t on year-round preventative medication. Pets can get dehydrated quickly, so give them plenty of fresh, clean water when it’s hot or humid outdoors. Make sure your pets have a shady place to get out of the sun, be careful not to over-exercise them, and keep them indoors when it’s extremely hot. Know […]

PSA: please help spread the word, we need all dog owners to be aware of this ‘new’ toxin. We need those who drop gum to know they are leaving a trail lethal to man’s best friend. We need vets to think immediately of xylitol, as well as warfarin, when dogs present with poisoning. We need food manufacturers to clearly label foods with xylitol as “lethal to dogs”.

It’s tick season which means you need to be even more diligent about checking your pets daily for ticks. No one wants their fur baby to be struck with the dreaded Lyme disease. Lyme disease (borreliosis) is an infectious, tick-borne disease first recognized in dogs in 1985. It is caused by a type of bacteria called a spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi. The Western black-legged tick, Ixodes pacificus, is the primary carrier of the B. burgdorferi bacteria in the western United States. Although Lyme Disease is uncommon in Washington State, it is most common in the Western half of the state. History and Occurrence Not all ticks are infected with the bacteria that causes Lyme […]

Lice are parasites that live on the skin of an affected dog. They are actually a small insect that feeds by chewing on the skin of the dog or by sucking the blood, depending on the type of louse. Left unchecked, they can grow to be an infestation on the dog’s body. Dog lice are not as common as dog fleas, and are most often seen in situations where sanitary practices are poor. NOTICE: Because canine lice is highly spreadable, I cannot groom any pet with lice. Please check your pets before arriving for your Sonny’s Spaw appointment. If I spot lice, I will not be able to groom your […]

Every year around this time, coyotes become active across Western Washington. The Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife is urging owners of small pets to keep a closer eye on them. As well, keep small pets, like dogs and cats, in at night year-round and don’t leave their food out. KOMO News reported on a dog attacked by a coyote in its backyard and what to do it you see a pet being attacked by a coyote, read the full story >>