Animal Care Hospital - Apple Valley, CA

Animal Emergency Clinic is closed today and tomorrow.
If you experience an emergency outside of our business hours, please call:
-MarQueen Pet Emergency and Specialty (Upland)
-VCA California Veterinary Specialists (Ontario)
-Inland Valley Veterinary Specialists (Upland)
-Veterinary Emergency Center of Redlands

Happy (early) 4th of July!
Please make sure your pet's microchip registration is up to date and their collars have ID tags on them.
We suggest keeping your pets indoors during the evening of July 4th, with the lights on and the radio or TV volume up to drown out the lights and sounds outside.

We will not have a doctor in the office on Wednesday (but staff will be here 8-5, closed for lunch 12-1), and we're closed on Thursday.

Wishing everyone a fun and safe holiday!

Update: phones are back in working order! :)

Our phones are currently down. If you need to get ahold of us and we're not answering, please email us at [email protected].
We hope to have this resolved soon!

Our phones are currently down. If you need to get ahold of us and we're not answering, please email us at [email protected].
We hope to have this resolved soon!

We’d like to make you aware of a new concerning illness in dogs that we’re now seeing here in the High Desert. It’s called “Salmon Poisoning Disease,” but it’s not a poisoning, nor is it only carried in salmon. It’s actually a bacterial infection carried by a flatworm in infected fish. This is a disease we usually don't seen in California, but there have now been a handful of cases in the High Desert (and more seen in San Bernardino and LA counties); all local patients had eaten raw fish from Hesperia Lake. An expert veterinarian reached out to us yesterday, explaining that dogs can possibly fall ill from just swimming in or drinking the water.

Symptoms of the disease include lack of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever. If you visit Hesperia Lake with your dog, please monitor them closely for these symptoms and alert your vet that they've possibly been exposed to Salmon Poisoning Disease if they have symptoms. This disease is usually deadly if not treated, but dogs can make a full recovery if caught in time.

Wising you and your pups and safe and happy weekend!

Veterinarians sound alarm over a potentially fatal disease striking dogs in the High Desert Animal Care Hospital officials are sounding the alarm about a potentially fatal disease affecting dogs in Southern California and the High Desert.

Wishing you all a very happy holiday season from ACH!

Happy Spring!
With all the rain we've been having, the desert is COVERED in growth. Once all these plants dry out, many turn into thorns, stickers, and the dreaded foxtail. This spear of dried grass manages to burrow its way into our pets, under their skin, in between toes, into ears, up nostrils, and even into eyes!
While we're having such nice weather, please make sure you're getting your yard cleared before the summer heat comes. Even if your yard is clear, there's always a chance that foxtails can blow into your pet's play area; make a habit of checking feet, coat, and face every time they come back inside.
Please contact your vet at the first sign of a problem, as these become harder to find the deeper they travel!

We are so incredibly proud of Jasmin!! She has been studying so hard and just passed her boards to become a registered veterinary technician. This is a very difficult test but we knew she'd ace it!
Be sure to congratulate her when you see her :)

Let's see your pictures! Do your dogs (or cats!) love playing in the snow? Post them below :)

AEC listed some other good emergency options so we're sharing their post as well. Have a happy, safe holiday weekend!

Happy Thanksgiving!
We'll be closed for the holiday weekend Thurs 11/24 - Sun 11/27.
Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, Animal Emergency Clinic will also be closed Wed 11/23 - Fri 11/25.
If you need emergency care during that time, please contact California Veterinary Specialists in Ontario at (909) 947-3600

Be sure to keep your pets safe and secure during the holiday weekend and avoid toxic foods (chocolate, grapes/raisins, onions, alcohol, bread dough) as well as rich foods and treats that can cause GI upset and pancreatitis.

We're wishing you all a happy, safe Thanksgiving holiday! ❤️

Due to Dr Boyd and some of our staff being out sick with covid, we've had to make the difficult decision to close through the holiday weekend. Staff will be in the office for calls and med pick-ups through the end of today, but we will then be out of the office until Tuesday.

Our patients are so important to us and we look forward to getting back to them next week!
If you have any pressing questions, we will try to check emails Thursday and Friday. [email protected]

And thank you to all of our clients that have been so understanding this past week. We really appreciate you!

Have a fun and safe holiday weekend! ♥️

*If you have a true pet emergency overnight or over the weekend, please contact Animal Emergency Clinic 760-962-1122

We're having some internet and phone issues and may not be getting all of our calls. Please be patient with us as we try to get this issue resolved as quickly as we can. For non-urgent concerns, please email us and we'll try to respond as quickly as we can. [email protected]
Thank you!

"Take a picture with a puppy," they said. "It'll be easy!" they said. 😂

Let's see those snow pictures! :D Does your pet actually LIKE the snow?

We'd like to thank Mama Carpino's for hosting our staff Christmas party! We had a great time, the food was excellent as always, and Rylee rocked it as our server!
It's been another doozy of a year and it was great to relax and celebrate together.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of our wonderful clients!

Twyla always arrives in style! On this occasion, Marie got to be her chauffeur for the visit. :)

We've temporarily stopped accepting new clients but are still finding ourselves busy and booked out by a couple weeks. If you are an active client and have a sick pet, please call us in order to get scheduled.
We're so appreciative of our amazing clients that have been supportive during the past year and a half!

The happiest of birthdays to Dr Boyd today! We hope it was a wonderful day!
Here he is examining our adorable kitten patient, Twyla :)

We all know the dangers of leaving a pet in a hot (or even warm) car. But summers in the desert can be so harsh that even being outside can lead to heat stroke. Our first heat wave of the summer is upon us.

Brachycephalic pets (smooshed face pets like pugs, bulldogs, boxers, Boston terriers, and Persians) are especially at risk of heat stroke. Their anatomy does not allow them to cool themselves down as other dogs can. Brachycephalic dogs should be kept indoors at all times during the heat of the day, aside from quick potty breaks. Even a few minutes of playing in the heat can be deadly for these guys.
Other high risk pets include obese pets, very young or old, and those with respiratory or heart conditions.

That being said, with the temperatures we’re expecting, any pet is at risk! If possible, bring all pets indoors and provide air conditioning and/or fans to keep them cool. Always provide fresh water. Limit the length of walks and go in the early morning or evening. Also, be sure to put the back of your hand to the ground before walking your pet to ensure the surface isn’t too hot for their feet.

Be aware of the signs of heat stroke and take action as soon as you recognize them. Heat stroke is an emergency and only has about a 50% survival rate.

Have a great week and stay cool!

We'll be closed for the holiday weekend, Saturday through Monday, and we'll be back in the office on Tuesday.
Have a nice weekend!

Please don't leave your pets outside without supervision. We see occasional coyote attacks as it is, but mountain lions can be especially dangerous. Stay safe out there!

This mountain lion was captured on security cameras near Skyline Ranch and Sitting Bull at 3 am this morning. Animal Control is aware and will be out patrolling the area. If seen in a residential area call our non-emergency number @ (760) 956-5001 or Apple Valley Animal Control @ (760) 240-7000.

If you encounter a lion, remember the goals are to convince it that you are not prey and that you may be dangerous.

Follow these safety tips from the .s.forestservice :

*Do not approach a lion. Most mountain lions will try to avoid a confrontation. Give them a way to escape.

*Do not run from a lion. Running may stimulate a mountain lion's instinct to chase. Instead, stand and face the animal. Make eye contact. If you have small children with you, pick them up if possible so that they don't panic and run.

*Although it may be awkward, pick them up without bending over or turning away from the mountain lion.

*Do not crouch down or bend over. A human standing up is just not the right shape for a lion's prey. Conversely, a person squatting or bending over resembles a four-legged prey animal. In mountain lion country, avoid squatting, crouching or bending over, even when picking up children.

*Do all you can to appear larger. Raise your arms. Open your jacket if you are wearing one. Again, pick up small children. Throw stones, branches, or whatever you can reach without crouching or turning your back. Wave your arms slowly and speak firmly in a loud voice. The idea is to convince the mountain lion that you are not prey and that you may be a danger to it.

Ashleigh and Sheldon can finally put away their matching winter hats :)
(this picture was taken a few months ago when they were much needed!)
The doctors will be out of the office tomorrow, Thursday 4/1, and we're closed Saturday 4/3. Dr Clark will be in during normal business hours on Friday.
We hope you have a nice weekend and enjoy the warm weather!

Phew, what a year! We'll be closed Thursday, 12/31 through Sunday, 1/3 for the holiday weekend. We can't wait to see what the New Year brings! We plan to continue "curbside service" into next year until it's deemed safe to return to normal operations. Thank you to all of our wonderful clients this year that have trusted us with the care of your furry family members. See you next year!

Happy Thanksgiving! We will be closed for the long weekend (Thursday through Sunday) to give our staff some much needed time home with family. Please call Animal Emergency Clinic (760-962-1122) or California Veterinary Specialists in Ontario (909-947-3600). We'll be back in the office on Monday. We wish you a happy Thanksgiving

Dr Boyd and Daisy are ready for Halloween! How about you? Let's see 'em!
And if you're wondering if the staff played "Danger Zone" as he walked out at the end of the day, yes, yes they did 😄

We're closed for the weekend to give the ACH team some much needed rest. Have a fun, safe weekend!!

What goes on inside while you're waiting in your car? Lots of snuggles and treats 😄 Max was all for it!