Welcome to Sierra Veterinary Hospital!

Due to short-staffing, PLEASE CALL FIRST if you have an emergency to check availability !!! 

About Us   Sierra Veterinary Hospital is located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada’s between Yosemite and Kings Canyon across from the Auberry post office. We serve the communities of Auberry, Prather, North Fork, Tollhouse, North East Clovis, Oakhurst, Shaver Lake, and Huntington Lake.  Doctor Sallie and staff strive to provide the best possible medical, surgical, and dental care. We treat every patient as our own pet and every owner as family. We all work our hardest to give the highest quality medical care with compassion and empathy. Our entire team is ct library:

DUE TO WEATHER CONDITIONS AND ROAD CLOSURES. 

PLEASE CHECK OUR FACEBOOK PAGE FOR HOSPITAL UPDATES AND AVAILABILITY

Below is the form to print and bring with you on Spring Vaccine Clinic day. 

9 worthwhile tips for the wellbeing of your pet as we wander into winter

While unexpected illnesses and injuries can happen at any time during the year, some are more prevalent seasonally. Keep reading to learn about a few potential pet problems to be mindful of this winter.

Bundle up this winter

Leave your dog’s fur longer during the winter to keep them warm. If you have a puppy, kitten, or a shorthair-breed pet, consider purchasing a coat or sweater to cover their back and underside — fleece is a great option!

Protect those paws!

The cold snow and ice can be a pain in the paw. Make sure to wash and completely dry your pet’s paws after time outside (especially if they came in contact with any salt or chemical de-icer). Look out for snow and encrusted ice that can cause cracked, bleeding paws. If you notice any bleeding, call your veterinarian. Petroleum jelly is a safe way to protect those paws—you can also look into dog boots.

Winter diet

In the cold winter, your pet will burn more calories to keep warm. If your pet exercises outdoors a lot, think about increasing their food intake by a little bit. You should be able to feel, but not see, your pet’s ribs.

Tips from our Director of Veterinary Services, Denise Petryk, DVM: Depending on where you live, a change in season can result in a dramatically different exercise schedule and therefore a corresponding change in the number of calories your pet needs to consume. It takes more energy in cold weather to keep your body temperature regulated, so sometimes additional calories are necessary. For example, if you spend more time outside with your dog walking in the cooler weather, your pet may need more food. Similarly, if your dog spends some time in an outside run or kennel with falling temperatures, they may need more food. However, if you and your pet are spending more time curled up by a warm fire and are only playing indoor games of fetch, they may require less food.

Troublesome toxins

Keeping walkways walkable and driveways drivable in the winter often requires the use of salt or chemical de-icers which are poisonous to pets. Try to avoid contact with de-icers when with your pet, and wipe them down with a wet towel then completely dry them off after outside play to remove any chemicals they could’ve come in contact with. Remember, if you’re putting antifreeze in your car, use a pet-friendly or propylene glycol option.

Baby, it’s cold outside

While many pets have fur to protect them from the cold, dogs and cats need plenty of time to acclimate to the colder weather. Keep your pets indoors as much as possible, especially cats and small, sick, or short-haired dogs. Winter is a great time to look into indoor training or obedience classes, like agility and flyball, so your dog can get plenty of mental and physical exercise.

Catnaps and cars

In the cold winter, outdoor cats in the area may find the engine block under the warm hood of your car to be a great spot to snooze. Before you start your car in the morning, bang on your hood a little to wake up any sleeping cats.

Car safety

Just like when it’s hot out, don’t leave your pet in your car when it’s particularly cold out. Your car can act like a refrigerator as it holds in the cold. When in doubt, leave your pet at home when you know you’ll have to leave them unattended in the car.

Fitness and exercise

If it’s not too cold out for you, your dog can get some aerobic exercise outside that will also keep them warm. Walking in wooded areas is a good way to protect them from chilly wind gusts. If it’s too cold, entice them to exercise indoors with tug-of-war, fetch, or a playdate with another pet-friend.

Winter skin solutions

Dogs get dry, flaky skin in the winter just like humans do. Use a humidifier and provide plenty of drinking water in your home — your pet’s skin will thank you. Bathe your pet less frequently and make sure to completely dry them after baths. Brushing their coat stimulates blood circulation and can help improve the overall condition of their skin.