Happy Holidays from Companion Animal Hospital! With the holidays fast approaching, we know what a busy time of year this can be.  By taking a few precautions, you can make sure that everyone in your family (including your furry friends) enjoys the holidays! Below are some ideas to help avoid […]

Why is it so hard to get an appointment with your vet right now?A client’s cat became sick one recent Sunday. She called five local veterinary emergency clinics but none were able to see her.COVID has taxed the veterinary industry in a way we haven’t seen before. In a short amount of time, the […]

The summer heat is officially here!While that means lots of fun activities outdoors, be sure to be extra careful when including your canine companions. Dogs can quickly suffer from “heat stroke” or extremely high body temperatures. A dog’s normal temperature is between 99-103 degrees; heat […]

How to prepare your pet for fireworksIn the midwest, summer is full of celebrations involving fireworks. We LOVE our fireworks! Unfortunately, most of our pets do not.  Some aren’t upset by the explosions, while others are so scared they may injure themselves.  We have seen pets that have […]

Two cats and a dog in the US have tested positive for COVID 19- what does this mean??Last week, we learned that two cats in different areas of New York tested positive for COVID 19 - then this week we learned that a pug in North Carolina tested positive as well. Many people are understandably […]

With new information still continuously coming out, our team of highly educated & trained veterinarians are here to keep you informed and help answer your questions regarding your furry companions and COVID-19. Can my cat or dog infect me with COVID-19?o      As of now, there is no proof […]

FACT OR FICTION A Dry Nose Means That My Dog/Cat is Sick. False!It is normal for dogs and cats to have a dry nose. In fact, their nose can vary from wet to dry depending on their activity level and environmental surroundings. Some breeds may have a drier nose than others but it does not […]

In Response to COVID-19: Companion Animal Hospitals offer new carside/curbside veterinary serviceWe know that pets need love and care no matter what is going on in the world - we also know that their human’s health plays a vital role in their overall well-being. In an effort to help keep our […]

At Companion Animal Hospital, the health and wellness of our clients and our team has always been our #1 priority. With the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 on the rise, we will be taking additional steps to achieve our promise of providing a clean, safe, and welcoming environment, while […]

Dental Care: The Root of Your Pet's Health            Who doesn’t love getting kisses from their better half?  No I don’t mean your partner, your dog of course!  It is all fun games until your dog has a mouth that could clear out a room while you are watching the Packers-Bears game […]

Why Spay? Why Neuter?It’s a topic that comes up with all puppy and kitten visits.  Pets do not leave a shelter until they have been altered.  Game show hosts have told us it was the right thing to do.  But, what is it and why?  The most common spay procedure includes removal of both ovaries […]

Fleas and Ticks in the Winter: Frozen or Flourishing?After the first frost of the season, it may be tempting to skip Fluffy’s dose of flea and tick prevention, but contrary to popular belief, fleas and ticks can still be a threat in the winter.Although near-freezing temperatures will kill adult […]

What your pet can (& can't) eat this ThanksgivingWith Thanksgiving this week, many of us are feeling extra grateful and are looking forward to sharing memories and food with family & friends - for most of us, this includes our furry family members as well! It may be hard to turn your pet […]

What to Expect When You’re Expecting…a Fur Baby!               The excitement of bringing home a new puppy is unrivaled to most, but there can be a lot of uncertainty and questions for new pet parents or if it has been awhile since a new four legged fur baby has been in your home! […]

Our very own Dr. Amanda Schnitker at Companion Animal Hospital River North was featured on CBS Chicago! Watch the video to learn more about pet allergies and what do do if your pet has a serious allergic reaction, also known as anaphylaxis. Severity of allergies in pets can vary, just like in […]

The summer heat is officially here!While that means lots of fun activities outdoors, be sure to be extra careful when including your canine companions. Dogs can quickly suffer from “heat stroke” or extremely high body temperatures. A dog’s normal temperature is between 99-103 degrees; heat […]

Thunderstorms and Fireworks are here!Noise phobiaNoise phobia is a common disorder in our pets, and is thought to affect one third of all dogs. Common signs of noise phobias can include; pacing, lip licking, panting, cowering, hiding, refusing to eat, trembling and shaking to name a few. Does your […]

Be Prepared - Microchip Your Pet! It is a heartbreaking event for any pet parent to have to endure. Even with our best intentions, pets seem to find a way to slip out and away. Their natural curiosity can get them into trouble. Have you taken the proper steps to assure your pet is identified? The […]

Ticks are a relatively common parasite in our area.  At times, they are a VERY common cause of concern (or even panic!) amongst pet owners.  If you have found a tick on your pet, here are some “Do’s and Don’ts" of removing the tick.Do:Part the fur so you can see where the tick is attached […]

Help your pup conquer seasonal allergies with Cytopoint!With warm weather right around the corner, allergies are starting to act up. Just like humans, many dogs are affected by seasonal allergies.  Allergies in dogs show up as skin problems, typically signaled by licking, biting, scratching, […]

The dog ate WHAT??I arrived at work one morning and was told by our receptionist that there was a client on the way with his 5 month old Shepherd. She said they thought had eaten nails that had been laying around in the garage. When they arrived, I told them the best way to visualize what is going […]

End of Life Care: Making Every Day CountBeing a veterinarian is often a rewarding job; we get to watch our patients grow and mature, perform preventative care to keep them healthy, and help heal them when they’re sick. However, being a vet also means that I sometimes have the unfortunate task of […]

Why is it so important to keep your pets on heartworm preventative year round? Check out this video to learn just what heartworm is and the importance of year round prevention!

A Zoonotic disease, is one that, by definition, “is transmissible from animals to humans under natural conditions and can also be an infection or disease that is transmissible between animals and humans”. This is particularly important as the strength of the human-animal bond continues to grow […]

What's the deal with worms?Picking up your animals' feces is often not a pleasant task, but did you know that there could be friends hiding out within?Roundworms This parasite is very common in puppies and kittens, they are infected while in the uterus as well as when they ingest milk. Adult worms […]