High Desert Pets Blog
Welcome! Here is where we share expert tips, important reminders, and in-depth information to support the health and well-being of your beloved pets.
Stay connected for valuable insights to keep your pets happy and healthy.
What Your Pet's Mouth Is Telling You (And Why Spring Is the Perfect Time to Listen)
If your dog or cat could talk, their mouth might have a lot to say — and most of it wouldn't be good news.
Dental disease is the most commonly diagnosed health condition in adult pets. By age three, the majority of dogs and cats have some degree of periodontal disease. By middle age, many are living with significant inflammation, infection, or tooth damage — often without showing obvious signs that anything is wrong.
That's the part that catches most pet owners off guard. Dental disease is quiet. Pets are remarkably good at hiding oral discomfort, which means problems tend to go unnoticed until they're well advanced.
Ticks in Central Oregon: More Common Than You Think — And What to Do Before You Head Out
Ask most Bend pet owners whether they worry about ticks, and you'll often get a shrug. "That's more of an East Coast problem, right?"
Not anymore — and not here.
Tick populations in Oregon have been expanding steadily, and Central Oregon is no exception. Elevation and dry climate offer some protection, but if your dog hikes, hunts, camps, or even romps through brushy areas around Bend, tick exposure is a real possibility — and the diseases they carry are ones worth taking seriously.
Is Your Pet Eating for the Season? What You Should Know About Summer Nutrition
Nutrition is one of those topics that comes up at nearly every wellness visit — and for good reason. What your pet eats directly affects their energy, weight, immune function, coat health, and long-term organ health. And yet for most pet owners, it's also one of the most confusing areas to navigate.
Walk through any pet store in Bend and you'll face an overwhelming number of options: grain-free, high-protein, raw, freeze-dried, limited ingredient, breed-specific. Add in the volume of conflicting information online, and it's easy to understand why so many clients aren't sure what their pet is actually eating — or whether it's right for them.
Here's what we think is worth understanding heading into summer.
The Hidden Hazard on Every Trail: What Central Oregon Pet Owners Need to Know About Foxtails & Cheatgrass
Every summer, dogs across Central Oregon come into the clinic with a problem their owners never saw coming. The culprit is usually something smaller than a fingernail — a foxtail or a cheatgrass awn.
These two invasive grasses are among the most serious warm-weather hazards we treat, and they grow abundantly throughout the high desert — along roadsides, trailheads, open fields, and even in neighborhoods. They're easy to overlook. But for dogs (and occasionally cats), the window between "no big deal" and "emergency" can close faster than most pet owners realize.
Growing Old Together: Why Senior Dogs Make the Best Companions
Celebrating Senior Dog Adoption Month at High Desert Veterinary
There’s something special about a senior dog—the graying muzzle, the knowing eyes, the quiet joy that comes from simply being near their favorite humans. November is Senior Dog Adoption Month, a time to celebrate the deep rewards of giving an older dog a second chance at love.
Charlie’s Fund: A Legacy of Love
When longtime clients Mel and Judy said goodbye to their beloved Charlie, they wanted her spirit of kindness to live on. In her honor, they made a generous $1,000 gift to us at High Desert Veterinary to create Charlie’s Fund—a fund dedicated to helping pets receive the medical care they need when cost might otherwise stand in the way.
Stop the Sneaky Invaders: Proactive Deworming for Your Cat
At High Desert Veterinary, we adore cats for their curious, adventurous spirits—and just like expert window-chasers, they can end up picking up more than admiration for a sunny sill. Whether your feline friend is strictly indoors or sneaks around outside, intestinal parasites (the “worms”) are a surprisingly common and preventable issue. These unwanted guests can rob your cat of nutrients, cause vomiting, diarrhea, a dull coat, weight loss, or even pose risks to your family. Deworming removes internal parasites like roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms and helps protect both your pet’s well-being and your household’s health.
The Healing Needle: How Acupuncture Joins the High Desert Veterinary Toolbox
We’re thrilled to share exciting news with our Central Oregon community: at High Desert Veterinary, we’re expanding our care menu to include alternative medical treatments led by Dr. Jon Enyart—a certified veterinary acupuncturist and holistic medicine expert who recently joined our team. With his background in emergency, wildlife, and integrative veterinary care, Dr. Enyart brings a fresh and thoughtful approach that blends traditional healing methods with the high-quality veterinary medicine our clients trust. More than just adding a service, this expansion reflects our commitment to offering your pet the full spectrum of wellness—where modern diagnostics, compassionate medicine, and gentle healing therapies come together.
7 Tips to Keep Your Pets Out of the Spook on Halloween!
Halloween might be a blast for us humans—costumes, candy, doorbells ringing off the hook—but for our pets, it can feel like an invasion of tiny monsters. Here are our 7 tips for keeping your pets feeling safe and relaxed this Halloween, and out of the loose candy very likely to be strewn about.
Back to School, Bend-Style: Helping Your Pets Through the Fall Shuffle
You know it’s back-to-school season in Bend when the yellow buses appear, the mornings feel crisp, and you can’t find a parking spot at Trader Joe’s because everyone’s stocking up on lunch snacks. While you’re wrangling backpacks, packed lunches, and new schedules, your pets are also feeling the shift—and sometimes, they’re not too thrilled about it.
At High Desert Veterinary, we know pets thrive on routine. Summer often means extra walks, more ball tosses, backyard adventures, and the occasional ice cream run where they “accidentally” get a lick. When that suddenly disappears, your pets might wonder, Hey…where’d everybody go? That change in rhythm can bring stress, boredom, and even health changes.
August Is Prime Time for Your Pet’s Wellness Exam in Bend, Oregon
Summer’s winding down, the school buses are warming up, and here in Bend, the nights are just starting to whisper, “Fall is coming.” That makes August the perfect time to get your pet in for their annual wellness exam.
At High Desert Veterinary, I like to think of August as the sweet spot: the dust is still on the trails, the rivers are still inviting, but it’s early enough to check in on your furry friend before the cooler months (and holiday madness) hit.
Top 10 Ways to Keep Your Pet Healthy in the High Desert
Living in Bend means fresh air, big skies, and endless trails—but our high desert climate also brings unique challenges for pets. Here are the top ten things we encourage pet parents to stay on top of to keep their furry friends feeling great year-round:
Toxic Foods to Avoid for Pets
It’s a common scene—you’re chopping veggies or enjoying a snack and those hopeful pet eyes are begging for a bite. But some foods that seem harmless (or even healthy!) to humans can actually be toxic to dogs and cats.
Be Prepared: National Pet First Aid Awareness Month
It’s National Pet First Aid Awareness Month, a time dedicated to helping pet owners understand how to respond in an emergency. While most of us know the basics of human first aid, many pet parents are unsure what to do if their dog eats something toxic, their cat breaks a bone, or they notice sudden breathing issues.
April is National Heartworm Month: Protect Your Pet at High Desert Veterinary
April is National Heartworm Month, a time to raise awareness about this preventable yet dangerous disease that affects both dogs and cats. As the weather warms up and outdoor activities increase, it’s the perfect time to ensure your pets are protected from heartworms and other parasitic infections.
Facts About Obesity in Pets
Obesity in pets is a growing concern, affecting millions of dogs and cats worldwide. While a chubby pet might seem cute, excess weight can lead to serious health complications, reduced lifespan, and a diminished quality of life. Understanding the causes, risks, and misconceptions surrounding pet obesity can help owners make better choices for their furry companions.
Savoring magic moments, even at 6 am
Each morning I walk our three dogs. It’s not easy to walk three dogs at one time. Certainly not in the middle of a freeze-thaw cycle in the middle of winter, and definitely not easy when the dogs range in size from 10 pounds, tiny to 90 pounds, huge. So my solution is to get up well before dawn (before the other dogs and walkers), brew a hot cup of coffee to take with me, and hit the road to speed-walk my furry pack off-leash to the wide-open spaces adjacent to our neighborhood
Is There a Way to Tell If a Pet Is in Pain?
Pain in pets can be classified into two broad categories: physical pain and psychological pain. Both affect a pet’s behavior and overall health, and both can be challenging to detect. By paying close attention to changes in posture, appetite, activity levels, and temperament, you can determine if your pet might be suffering.
Celebrate National Pet Dental Health Month with High Desert Veterinary
February is National Pet Dental Health Month, a perfect time to focus on an often-overlooked aspect of pet care, your furry friend’s oral health!
Just like humans, pets require regular dental care to keep their teeth and gums healthy. Unfortunately, many pet owners don’t realize that dental disease is one of the most common health issues in cats and dogs.
At High Desert Veterinary, we are dedicated to ensuring your pet’s smile stays clean, bright, and most importantly, healthy. Our very own Dr. Post specializes in pet dental care.
Follow These Tips to Keep Your Pet’s Heart Healthy
With Valentine’s Day inspiring our thoughts to linger on all the people and animals we adore, we’ve got your pet’s heart health on our minds here at High Desert Veterinary.
As one of THE most important organs in their body, the heart works tirelessly to keep our fur babies happy, active, and full of life.
Just like humans, our pets can experience heart conditions that require attention and care. Whether you have a playful pup, a curious cat, or any other beloved companion, ensuring their heart health is essential for their overall well-being.
Veterinarians play a crucial role in maintaining and monitoring your pet’s cardiovascular health. Any of the below issues can be detected with the right know how and tools. The goal is to detect any issues early, and do all that we can to ensure your pet gets the preventative care that will go far to ensuring they live a long and happy life.