Dr. Terrence McCoy has been practicing at Animal Health Center since 1988 with areas of specialty in bovine nutrition and reproduction, small animal orthopedics, and soft tissue surgery. As a strong advocate of communication, Dr. McCoy wanted to share a few notable topics with the pet owners in our community.

“It’s been an honor serving the people and animals here in Union County, we’ve raised our family here for 25 years, and the practice is over 50 years old now,” Dr. McCoy said. “None of that is possible without the people that trust us and choose us to care for their animals. We wouldn’t be here without them. I want to express our gratitude to everyone that has been part of the family over the years.”

It’s important to know the specific and unique challenges that pets in our area face, and Dr. McCoy identified parvovirus as one of those issues that he wants to raise awareness about.

“Our county is unique in the fact that we have an increased rate of parvovirus. Typically, in the past this time of the year has been a higher risk period, and with many pets getting to the age of being susceptible it’s important to protect your pet.”

Dr. McCoy also mentioned that Animal Health Center has been collaborating with medical laboratories to help reduce the spread of parvovirus among dogs in Union County.

“We’ve seen vaccines that are failing, and we’ve worked hard with the laboratories who research the strains to help improve resistance. Parvo is a huge topic in the valley that comes up everyday, especially those with young puppies, so people should be aware of the risks posed to their pets.”

Another issue affecting our pet population is the prevalence of ticks. If you’ve ever experienced ticks or fleas before, you know how unpleasant they can be, and that they can actually be transmissible to your family.

“We’re seeing a longer tick season than we have in the past, as well as some tick borne diseases that we haven’t seen in the past as well,” Dr. McCoy said. “Knowing that, it’s important to make sure your pet is protected.”

When it comes to parasites, prevention is always easier and less expensive than treatment. Call us today at 541-963-6621 to learn more about parasite preventatives.

In addition to parasites, there has also been news about Equine West Nile Virus. Though the name sounds frightening, people can protect their horses by vaccinating and educating themselves about the virus.

“We haven’t seen any Equine West Nile Virus in the valley yet, but that doesn’t mean it can’t become an issue for our horse population. As a community that loves horses, we have a duty to stay vigilant and take the necessary precautions to keep our horses healthy. The vaccines are very effective and they’ve helped us to do that.”

Our mission at Animal Health Center is to provide our patients and clients with the highest quality of medicine and service alongside the most state of the art medical technology. We also believe in maximizing our availability to the community through 24/7 emergency service and a team of relief veterinarians to help support the needs of the valley’s pet population. We strive to practice compassion as well, as we take on emergency cases even from non-clients. Throughout everything, we are dedicated to improving our hospital in the hopes of providing you and your pet the best care possible.