Issues caused by cheatgrass If a dog inhales cheatgrass, it can go down the esophagus and will likely be digested. However, if swallowed and it makes its way down the trachea, it can become a migrating foreign body. That foreign body can then make its way to the heart, lungs, or abdomen and become an…

For the first time, Veterinary Referral Center will head out of Oregon to host a continuing education event. The dinner will take place in Richland, WA on May 25 and will include an hour of RACE-Approved lectures as well as free dinner and drinks. Space is limited so please register by May 20 by emailing…

The Veterinary Referral Center of Central Oregon is providing Service and Working Animals with free eye exams this May as part of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists® (ACVO) 14th National Service Animal Eye Exam Event, sponsored by Epicur Pharma®. After a hiatus due to COVID-19, the event is back at full strength this year,…

The Veterinary Referral Center of Central Oregon prides itself on providing the highest level of care possible and is continuing that dedication with the opening of a new 27,000-square-foot state-of-the-art hospital. The new facility will allow VRCCO to offer cutting-edge services with the only animal-dedicated MRI in the area, a bone and joint center along…

What to do if your pet ingests a toxin Decontamination is the most important part of toxin exposure. “It is important to get rid of the toxin as fast as possible,” says Dr. Tessa Cowser. It is highly recommended that decontamination is done with the supervision of a veterinarian professional. There is an old-school at-home…

RACE-approved lectures for veterinarians and technicians.

A CT Scan is one of the best tools we have at VRCCO in helping to diagnose what might be causing your pet’s pain. Hailey wasn’t feeling like herself so our talented staff went to work to find out why.

After slowly losing her ability to fetch her beloved tennis ball because of vision issues. Her pet parent, Sharon, brought her to see Dr. Kaese and she has returned to chasing tennis balls all over Central Oregon.

January is national walk your dog month, we know it can be chilly, to say the least, but Dr. Broadbent lets us know some of the reasons you may not have thought of, that make it worth braving the cold.

https://youtu.be/8wTyaluzt_4 Curious about what a chemotherapy visit looks like for your pet at VRCCO? Benny is here to show you! He was recently diagnosed with high-grade T-cell lymphoma, best treated with a multiagent chemotherapy protocol consisting of 16 chemotherapy treatments. Follow him through one of his treatments, as his oncology team dotes on him every…

Winter Weather Tips for your Dog Most of us are ready for spring, but it seems that winter isn’t quite done with us yet. In this video, Dr. Aja Norman gives us advice on how to keep our pets safe during the colder months. Even with cold weather and snow, our pets still love to…

Dr. Alice Morassi has joined our staff as an internal medicine specialist.

https://youtu.be/o5a1XgkSmwQ River presented with a fairly common injury, but her recovery was anything but.

Dr. Aja Norman has some tips on what you can do if your pet has a little too much holiday spirit and ways to limit those situations.

While it can be nerve-racking to visit our hospital or any veterinary clinic, certified veterinary technicians aim to make sure they can make it as lovely as possible.

Published on October 18, 2022, by Ryan Castillo Perhaps you live in a beautiful highrise apartment in Chicago, IL or are moving into a small studio apartment in New York, NY. Regardless, with the space constraints of apartments, creating a safe and comfortable environment for your pet can sometimes be a challenge. From sourcing the right pet products to creating easier access for your…

September is National Service Dog Month and when we see these special dogs it means just a little bit more because we know we are helping improve the life of someone who relies on them. Learn a little about Cash who came to see us all the way from Southern California to help Hailey maintain…

Tips to make your end-of-summer road trip easier.

Why Cheatgrass and other Wild Awns are Dangerous for Dogs Awns are sharp bristles that grow from the end of a seed in many wild grasses such as Cheatgrass and Foxtail. The stiff needle-like structures allow the awn to penetrate a skin surface and through normal movement may burrow deeper and migrate into a body…

The Veterinary Referral Center of Central Oregon (VRCCO) has announced they are breaking ground on a new location in Bend, Oregon. The spacious new state-of-the-art facility is designed to meet the growing demand for advanced medical care for pets in the Pacific Northwest. Features of the 26,000-square-foot medical facility include a bone and joint center,…

It’s summer, FINALLY! We all want to get out in the sun and cool off in the watersof our beautiful Pacific NorthWest, and our dogs do too. But be careful! There aredangers out there that are easily avoided if you know what to look for. Salmon Poisoning: This is an infectious disease caused by a…

With the addition of Dr. Heather Kaese who brings 15 years’ worth of experience to the VRCCO family and can’t wait to help the pets of Central Oregon! Get to know a little about Dr. Kaese.

Memorial Day Weekend is the unofficial start of summer and that means it’s time to start enjoying all the great outdoor activities that Central Oregon has to offer. No one wants to focus on or even think about something going wrong, but being prepared is the best way to avoid that situation going from bad…

As the warmer weather creeps into Central Oregon, now is a great time to start incorporating your pup into your outdoor activities. One popular activity in Bend Oregon is biking which can be done safely with your dog following some precautions. Here are VRCCO’s tips for how you can bike safely this summer with your…

It may not feel like it quite yet, but spring is in the air and the seasonal holidays are already here. Dr. Jennifer Bentley has some tips to share to ensure that our pets enjoy the celebration as much as we do. Food The biggest thing is also the most obvious, chocolate. Everyone likely knows…

Many owners are concerned about their pet’s exposure to common household disinfectants. While most of these disinfectants are considered safe when exposed to in low amounts, we encourage you to limit exposure by taking the following precautions: Keep pets out of the room while cleaning. After cleaning, make sure the area is well ventilated. Do…

Throwing a Super Bowl Party? Here are some tips on how to keep your pets safe during game day. Keep the food away from your pets. Try to avoid placing dips and wings on coffee tables where your pet can easily get to.  Guacamole: If you use onions and garlic in your dip these can…

On a hot day last July, Erin’s family rented a pontoon boat on Diamond Lake. After a day in the sunshine, and playing in the water, the family went to dock the boat at 4 p.m. and the unthinkable happened.

Ground Rules for Sharing Human Food with Pets: First, moderation is key when sharing people food with our pets. However, there are plenty of “no-no’s” and toxic foods you never want to share with your pets. Learn what we recommend about sharing human food with dogs and cats in this article.

Here come the holidays, and with them, all the food that celebrates the season! As we make merry, the team at Veterinary Referral Center of Central Oregon wants to remind pet parents that the feast we love can make our dogs and cats sick. The following is a short list of feeding don’ts for pets this holiday season and all year long.

While most pet parents are aware of the dangers of chocolate toxicity for pets, the perils of xylitol toxicity may be new to them. With Halloween just around the corner, it’s a good idea to bone up on the increased danger of accidental poisoning-by-treats. Emergency veterinarian Dr. Leanne Dileo of Veterinary Referral Center of Central Oregon discussed the issue on Facebook Live with veterinary dermatologist Dr. Jennifer Bentley.

Veterinary Referral Center of Central Oregon is now providing 24 hour emergency vet care, making it the region’s only 24/7 pet care facility. After months of not having 24/7 emergency dog and cat emergency care in Central Oregon, we are now making our emergency pet hospital available around the clock. More Pets Need More Vets…

Veterinary Referral Center of Central Oregon’s own veterinary dermatologist, Dr. Jennifer Bentley, offered some background and information via our Facebook video series about the issues surrounding grain-free pet diets for cats and dogs. While the facts are not all in and research is ongoing, the bottom line is that grain-free pet food is more marketing strategy than vet-approved nutrition.

As fire season takes its toll this year, a top of mind question is how to keep your pets safe in wildfire season. At Veterinary Referral Center of Central Oregon, we share your concern about the effects of smoke and other fire-related issues on your pets.

Your dog or cat is shaking her head, pawing at his ears, or trying to rub her ears on the ground. A pet with itchy ears can indicate inflammation of the extended ear canal and can cause distress. Dr. Jennifer Bentley weighs in itchy and infected ears in dogs and cats, and what pet parents can do about it.

Throughout the nation, pet owners are having difficulty scheduling timely appointments for their pets while pet emergency facilities are experiencing wait times of up to 12 hours. We have doubled our staff and plan to increase our physical space in the coming year, but the fact remains that there is a nationwide veterinary crisis. What does that mean for Central Oregon pets and their people?

For any pet parent, Lennon’s story is a tale of terror, at least at the beginning. Over the course of a year, Lennon, a healthy, active dog, grew increasingly lethargic. Then one day last in December, he was unable to walk.

It was a shock when Oso, young and otherwise healthy, experienced the sudden loss of the use of his back legs. With the support of family, friends, and a great veterinary network, Oso’s pet parents were able to be the heroes he needed to be up and running (and swimming, and playing) again. Here’s their story.

What does chemotherapy in pets really look like? Is it the same as for humans? In the event your dog or cat develops cancer, it’s helpful to know the differences between pet chemotherapy and treatment for humans.

Veterinary dermatologist Dr. Jennifer Bentley went live on Facebook to go deeper into the diagnosis and treatment of environmental pet allergies. In this most recent episode, Dr. Bentley explains how pets are tested for allergies, and how an allergy vaccine can help.

Dr. Stephen Stockdale sat down with VRC dermatologist Dr. Jennifer Bentley on this week’s Facebook Live video to talk about what minimally invasive surgery is, and how it can benefit your pet.

Pet Allergies: What to Know About Itching, Scratching, & Licking
What are they, and how can you help your pet feel better as the pollen flies this spring? Veterinary Referral Center dermatologist, Dr. Jennifer Bentley explains.

Learn about human foods that are toxic to dogs and cats. Plus, what to do if your pet eats chocolate, and toxic fruits and veggies.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease in pets involves inflammation of the wall of the intestine, possibly due to an intolerance of intestinal bacteria or as a reaction to antigens. VRC’s Dr. Vaughan weighs in on how vets diagnose IBD, and how it can be treated.

It goes without saying that most pet parents have the best interests of their dogs and cats at heart. Sometimes, though, even the best intentions can cause more harm than good. On this week’s FB Live video, Dr. Jennifer Bentley of Veterinary Referral Center of Central Oregon offered advice on what NOT to do when your pet has a problem.

Why is my dog vomiting? When is it time to take your dog to the vet hospital? Learn what to do when your dog vomits and when to be concerned.

Whether your best friend is tagging along on the backtrails or you’re just taking a walk in your neighborhood winter wonderland, protect your pet from potential winter hazards in Central Oregon.

Veterinary Referral Center of Central Oregon went live on Facebook to introduce Dr. Kristen Couto, veterinary oncologist, and talk about what to do when you discover a lump on your dog

Learn how to ski safely with your dog and avoid a trip to the veterinarian.

Keep those paws healthy during the winter months by checking out or top tips for paw protection from the snow and ice.

We compiled a list of favorite holiday gifts for pets from our veterinarians.

Find out what symptoms to watch out for after accidental chocolate ingestion.  Tips to keep your dog and cat safe during the holidays.

Join Doctors Dujowich and Stockdale as they discuss Total Hip Replacements in dogs and other treatments for hip dysplasia.

To help keep our pet community safe, we’ve put together a list of the top five things to avoid sharing with your pets this Thanksgiving.

VRC Veterinarian Jennifer Bentley and Sean Panella host a discussion about cheatgrass

VRC Veterinarian Jennifer Bentley hosts a conversation about pet dermatology and seasonal allergies.

Thea enlisted Jack in Veterinary Referral Center of Central Oregon’s Blood Donor Program.

Dr. Matt Vaughan and Dr. Jennifer Bentley discuss how your dog or cat can be heroes by donating blood at VRCCO.

Did you know that July is National Pet Hydration Awareness Month? Dehydration can be detrimental to your furry friends health, especially in the peak of summer.

5 myths about environmental allergies.

Up-to-date information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).

We have Central Oregon’s first and only 16-slice computerized tomography (CT or CAT) scanner for dedicated use on animals.

Information to keep in-mind during this time of love.

Enjoying the holidays with our families, friends, and a unicycle.

Warnings from the Veterinary Medical Board and FDA.

Veterinary Referral Center of Central Oregon’s dermatology department is excited to announce that we now have a CO2 laser for dermatological procedures.

Have you heard about our kegs? We have beer and kombucha on tap, available for clients during their pet’s visit.

Is your male cat excessively licking his hind-end/ prepuce, ‘walking funny’, yowling, posturing to urinate outside the box, and frequenting the litter-box often? If so, your beloved feline may have a urethral obstruction.

We are often asked, “Will my pet be receiving any pain medication?” The short answer is an emphatic, yes!

Wearing silly costumes is all our pets should worry about on Halloween.

How to put the pep back in our pet’s step.

Are grain free diets just another fad?