While California is currently screwworm-free, recent detections in Texas and Mexico mean it’s time to stay vigilant!

Unlike common houseflies, screwworm flies lay eggs on open wounds of living animals (pets, horses, livestock, and newborns). Eggs hatch within 24 hours into larvae that burrow into healthy tissue.

What to watch for:

⚠️ Scratches, bites, or wounds that rapidly worsen

⚠️ Visible maggots or white eggs in/around wounds

⚠️ Unpleasant odor or extreme licking, biting, and discomfort

3 Ways to Protect Your Herd & Pets:

1️⃣ Clean & cover wounds: Treat scrapes, bites, and surgical sites right away.

2️⃣ Stay protected: Keep up with vet-approved flea, tick, and fly preventatives.

3️⃣ Check daily: Inspect traveling animals and newborn umbilical sites regularly.

🚨 What to do if you suspect screwworm:

·         DO NOT flush maggots or throw them in the trash!

·         DO collect a sample from deep within the wound and seal it in 70% rubbing alcohol.

·         CALL US IMMEDIATELY. Screwworm is a reportable condition, and quick action is crucial.

Have questions or notice a suspicious wound? We're here to help keep your animals safe and healthy!

Has your feline friend reached the age of eight or older? If so, they are officially entering their senior years. While their daily itinerary of napping, eating, and looking adorable might not change much, their underlying needs will.

As they age, senior cats benefit from extra TLC and a more tailored approach to wellness to keep them happy, comfortable, and healthy. As your holistic and integrative Sonoma County vet, Wise and Wonderful Integrative Veterinary Center is here to partner with you in providing the best possible care for your aging companion.

Here’s what to focus on as your cat enters their golden years.

Avoid giving your pet turkey meat, especially fatty dark meat and skin (a small amount of unseasoned white meat is okay), and never give them any leftover bones. Garlic, onion, leeks, and chives are common in many Thanksgiving dishes and are toxic to dogs and cats.

Arthritis in cats includes more than difficulty jumping. Bony changes in a joint cannot be reversed, but treatments to reduce inflammation can make your pet more comfortable, including: weight loss, joint supplements (glucosamine-chondroitin-msm, fish oil), anti-inflammatory (NSAID), gabapentin, SOLENSIA (frunevetmab), Adequan, Chinese medicine, Chinese herbs, cold laser, acupuncture, chiropractic, and Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy (PEMF). Wise and Wonderful Integrative Veterinary Center, your holistic and integrative Sonoma County vet is here to help!

With advancements and the broader availability of veterinary medicine, our pets are living longer, healthier, and happier lives. While this is wonderful for our relationships with our senior pets, pet owners should be aware of normal aging changes and things we can do to make life more comfortable for our companions. Wise and Wonderful Integrative Veterinary Center, your holistic and integrative Sonoma County vet, has some tips for caring for your senior pet.

Arthritis in cats includes more than difficulty jumping. Bony changes in a joint cannot be reversed, but treatments to reduce inflammation can make your pet more comfortable, including: weight loss, joint supplements (glucosamine-chondroitin-msm, fish oil), anti-inflammatory (NSAID), gabapentin, SOLENSIA (frunevetmab), Adequan, Chinese medicine, Chinese herbs, cold laser, acupuncture, chiropractic, and Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy (PEMF). Wise and Wonderful Integrative Veterinary Center, your holistic and integrative Sonoma County vet is here to help!

Halloween Safety Tips for your Pet
Halloween is nearly here! There will probably be many more trick-or-treaters this year than in the past several years. While we are all eager to get our pets in on the fun, but to keep them safe this Halloween, here are some tips and tricks from Wise and Wonderful Integrative Veterinary Center, your holistic and integrative Sonoma County vet.

Holistic Medicine

Holistic medicine focuses on the whole body, which is made of interdependent components. Holistic veterinary medicine is concerned with the connection between the physical, mental, and spiritual health of pets and their environment.

Chiropractic care offers many of the same benefits for pets as it does for people. It can help our furry patients enjoy better mobility, reduced pain and stiffness, and overall improved quality of life.

October 1 is national Fire Pup Day!