Dr. Siegle holds Mia, a French Bulldog who had a nares resection to treat her BOAS.

BOAS can spell trouble for Pugs, French Bulldogs, and more

For so many of us, the adorable snorts and snores of short-muzzled dog breeds—like French Bulldogs, Pugs, Boston Terriers, and Boxers, and even some cats, like Himalayans—are irresistible. In fact, the French Bulldog in particular is so beloved it recently overtook the Labrador Retriever as the number one most popular dog breed in the United States! At CHFA and BVAC, we love these dogs too, and some of our staff even have them as members of our families. 

Welcome to the team, Dr. Maia Godfrey!

Cascade Hospital for Animals and Breton Village Animal Clinic are proud to welcome Dr. Maia Godfrey to our amazing team of veterinarians! Dr. Godfrey joins us directly from her hometown of Seminole, FL, where she “pretty much grew up” in the veterinary field, spending her days after school helping out at her dad’s veterinary clinic. “I started doing kennel work in my mid-teens, and then technician work after that before school.”

Puppies are a joy for everyone! Be sure to do your research before adopting to make sure they come from a legitimate source.

Looking for a new puppy? Follow these tips to avoid scams

We love new puppy visits – it’s always an exciting time for the whole office to meet a client’s newest family member! We also know that adopting a new puppy can be a journey for some people, especially if they have a particular breed in mind. Puppies are costlier to adopt than adult dogs and sometimes the perfect puppy is difficult to track down. Once you’ve found your dream pet at a price you can afford, the impulse to buy is strong! But it’s important to remember that breeders, especially some that you find online, are not always what they seem.

Pet grooming at our Grand Rapids, MI, veterinary clinics is better than other locations.

Pet grooming at Cascade and Breton is a cut above

Grooming is an essential part of your pet’s overall health – that’s one of the reasons we offer it as a service at both of our clinics. It’s more than maintaining their coat and trimming their nails. Depending on the breed or lifestyle of the pet, it can include a bath (sometimes with medicated shampoo), brush-out, dematting, ear cleaning, ear plucking, and more. To make the most of your pets’ time with us, we do things a little differently at Cascade and Breton than other grooming facilities.

Dr. Wesselink holds a pug puppy. New puppy parents often ask many of the same questions.

What are the most common puppy health questions?

Summertime often means something fun for those of us in the veterinary field: more puppies! Our clients, both new and existing, will soon be bringing their new family members to us for first visits, shots—and loads of questions. It’s natural even for veteran puppy parents to have concerns for their pet’s health, and we’re here to help you understand the most common issues puppies face in their early months.

Dr. Solnik examines Stu in the prep and treatment area with the assistance of RVN Jamie.
Dr. Solnik examines Stu in the prep and treatment area with the assistance of RVN Jamie.

What happens in prep and treatment?

At Cascade Hospital for Animals and Breton Village Animal Clinic, providing the best quality care to our patients is our number one priority. We balance that with a need to serve each of our clients as efficiently as possible. That’s why you’ll find that we don’t always conduct your pet’s complete examination in the room with you. Instead, your pet will often receive some of his care in a well-equipped and spacious room we call the prep and treatment area.

Dr. Paplawsky pictured with Molly, a dog who participated in a clinical trial.
Dr. Paplawsky pictured with Molly, a dog who participated in a clinical trial.

What are clinical trials and why do we participate in them?

At Cascade Hospital for Animals and Breton Village Animal Clinic, we value staying at the forefront of veterinary medicine. Helping to advance new developments in this ever-evolving field means better care for our patients and better a prognosis for pets with serious illnesses. That’s why we have been participating in clinical drug trials for more than a decade.

Dory poses with Composure Pro, a chewable supplement that helps with anxiety.

Composure Pro: A supplement that helps with anxiety

Anyone with an anxious pet can attest that the experience can be an ordeal for the entire family. Whether it’s car rides, being around strangers, trips to the vet, or loud noises like fireworks or thunder, certain everyday experiences can be debilitating for some pets. We always recommend you work closely with your veterinarian to find the best solution to address the particular stressors in your pet’s life. One possible solution that has shown to help is a nonprescription supplement called Composure Pro.

Dr. Schaffer poses with the rest of the leadership team.

Dr. Becky Schaffer is now a part owner

Dr. Becky Schaffer recently shared the exciting news with the CHFA and BVAC staff that she is now a part owner of the hospitals. Her decision to join the leadership team came about not from a longstanding aspiration to be an owner of a clinic, but from the positive experiences she had taking on more responsibilities in recent years as Assistant Medical Director.

Licensed Veterinary Tech Aly holds Rosey, who recovered from bladder stone removal surgery.

Bladder stones in pets: what to watch for and how we treat them

Bladder stones can be just as much of a painful problem for dogs and cats as they can be for humans. A recent case Dr. Kyle Fuller treated here at Cascade Hospital for Animals showed just how big of a problem bladder stones can grow to be and how critical it is to treat them on time.