Welcome to Jefferson Veterinary Hospital’s Newest Veterinarian, Dr. Sneha Parna

Jefferson Veterinary Hospital is thrilled to welcome Dr. Parna to our team! With two veterinary degrees and over two decades of experience, Dr. Parna brings a wealth of knowledge to our small animal practice, along with a passion for providing top-quality care to your beloved pets.

Dr. Parna enjoys providing emergency veterinary services, soft tissue surgery and spays and neuters on large dogs and likes to focus on preventative veterinary care, emergency veterinary care and clinical pathology, which is kind of like a veterinary detective, where your pets clinical symptoms are considered together with any diagnostic tests or imaging to determine any issues with your pet’s health.

Whether your pet needs a routine check-up, surgical care, or urgent attention, Dr. Parna is here to help! Call us today to schedule an appointment and meet our newest veterinarian.

New Pet Portraiture Installed in Jefferson Veterinary Hospital! | Veterinarian Frederick MD

Clare Ahalt Photography provided Jefferson Veterinary Hospital with some beautiful pet portraits for the new animal hospital!  Our veterinarian, Dr. Ahalt, and a few friends helped to install them over this weekend!  We hope that you enjoy these portraits as much as we do - we think that it makes the veterinary hospital look a little less clinical and more warm and welcoming for our clients and patients!  

Pet of the week | Veterinarian Frederick MD

The pet of the week this week is Jefferson Veterinary Hospital veterinarian, Dr. Ahalt's dog, Chug!  Chug is a samoyed, which is a high energy breed, intelligent breed of dog and a member of the spitz family.   Samoyeds were bred to pull sleds, but had to have a good temperament and were often considered extended members of the family.  Samoyeds are famous not only for their beautiful full white coats of fur, but the sammy smile, a natural expression that looks like the dog is sat happily smiling.  

As this is a high energy breed, they require a lot of exercise, and their intelligence means that they also need to have things to stay occupied.   As with most breeds, a bored samoyed is a destructive samoyed, and they will entertain themselves by chewing up whatever might be nearby.   Negative aspects of the breed include a penchant for landscaping, which verges on borderline excavation.  Their coat requires constant maintenance and "blows" out twice yearly, leaving enough fur behind to easily make two more dogs.  This undercoat can be spun into yarn, but Mrs. Dr. A puts some of it outside and the birds find it and use it to line their nests.  They are good alert dogs and will bark when someone comes onto what they perceive to be their territory, which isn't so good if you live in a house with a sidewalk that is used in front. 

Overall, samoyeds are a loving breed, and Mrs. Dr. A is very taken by them.        

Caption This! | Frederick MD Veterinarians

The veterinary technicians and receptionists at Jefferson Veterinary Hospital have some great helpers.   We have been having fun with this image of Malinda and her dog over on the Veterinary Hospital's Facebook page.  

Here are a few of our favorite captions: 

Renee: I'll keep an eye out for the doc....you go ahead and change that word "neuter" to "cuddles & treats!"

Martha: No, no, not the kibble! Order the Beggin' Strips! I'd do it myself but I don't have thumbs!

Christa: If you could get those TPS reports to me that would be just great.

Donna: No no no, you add 6 and carry the 1.

Dana: "Your total today comes to six dog treats. No, don't give them to Malinda, I'll take them."

Robert: "What time is Susie's appointment? I don't want to miss her this time like I did the last!"

Pet of the Week - Jackson the Jack Russell Terrier\Parson Russell Terrier | Frederick MD Veterinarian

Our first pet of the week at Jefferson Veterinary Hospital is owned and loved by our very own Veterinary Technician, Brandy!  He is Jackson, the Jack Russell Terrier.  Jack Russells' were bred as a working dog, and that working instinct and ethic has remained with them today.  They have a voracious appetite for exercise and activity.  If left to their own devices, they will create their own activity, many have been known to take up interior design, and they have a unique style which is generally not in keeping with their owners.  

Brandy tells us that Jackson's favourite activities are walking with his Gram and his Aubrey around Jefferson, MD (say hi if you see them!) as well as lazing on on the sofa.  Rumour has it that Jackson is very in touch with his feminine side and if you peruse Jefferson Veterinary Hospital's facebook page you may come across an image of Jackson laying on his back after having his nails done.  

The Jack Russell Terrier Club has put together a handy little test to see if a Jack Russell Terrier would be a good and happy addition to your family.   If you have any questions about this breed, or would like to hear information from our veterinarians about adding another member to your family, please do not hesitate to contact us.  We would love to help you! 

View fullsize

Where is Barb?

For the last few months we’ve had a friendly smile missing from our front desk as Jefferson Veterinary Hospital and this has been noticed by clients and been sorely missed by our veterinarians, veterinary technicians, assistants and receptionists alike.  

We have been slow to notify people of the reason and for that we are sorry.  Our receptionist Barb was diagnosed with a form of breast cancer late last fall. Shortly after, her treatment plan when into action and unfortunately it has taken a toll on her ability to work. 

She is currently entering the middle stages of her treatment and we are all hoping that, by year’s end, she will be recovering and looking to return to her former antics for our clients and staff. 

In support of Barb, our veterinarian Dr. Kalf, and other fighters in the struggle against breast cancer, the staff of Jefferson Veterinary Hospital will be participating in the Bros and Bras 5k run/walk on Saturday, April 23 in beautiful Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia.   Both Brunswick Grooming Spa and Jefferson Veterinary Hospital will be closed while all of our veterinarians, techs, assistants and receptionists show their support for breast cancer research.

Please join us in wish Barb good luck in the next stage of her treatment.  We miss her very much and cannot wait for her laugh to ring through our office once more.

For more information about donating or if you are also interested in joining the Bros and Bras 5k check out their website here.

We know that Barb sometimes checks Jefferson Veterinary Hospital's website and would love to hear any words of support from you either below or on the veterinary Facebook page,! 

New Puppy Check up

This beautiful Australian Shepherd came to see our veterinarians today in Jefferson, MD for a puppy well check.  These checks form an important part of your new best friends health care and allows us to get to know each other!  Our veterinarians review our recommended vaccination schedule, discuss training recommendations and, most importantly, listen to any concerns and answer any questions that you, our client, may have.     

National Puppy Day! | Frederick County Maryland Veterinarian

It's National Puppy Day!!!!  We would love to see pictures of your dogs over on our Facebook page when they were puppies, when butter wouldn't melt in their mouths, before they chewed the leg on the dining room table chair or ate the couch, or, well ... did a whole number of destructive things that puppies can sometimes do!  Extra brownie points if you include details and/or a picture of the worst thing your dog did as a puppy!!! We will go first with Chug - he's been a wonderful puppy and avoided most of the typical things puppies do, but recently he's started stealing shoes (nothing like only being able to find one shoe) and decided that our garden needs a little work and has begun excavating. 

Part of national puppy day is encouraging pet adoption - if you are looking to add a new furry family member, consider checking out the local animal shelters and rescues!  You could save a life and find a wonderful companion! 

One More Wintery Weather Blast for Frederick County MD!

We are on alert for another (hopefully last) wintery blast here in Frederick County MD.  Help keep your pets ready for snow with these tips: 

• When temperatures drop below freezing, the outdoors is no place for your pets - be a good owner and bring them inside. 
• Ice melt can damage your pets paw pads and be hazardous to their health - make sure to clean their paws off anytime they come into contact with this 
• Long haired breeds will frequently end up with snowballs attached to their underbellies and in between their paw pads, which can make it uncomfortable for them to walk on - make sure to check these and clean them out.  

A Dogs Eye View of Jefferson Veterinary Hospital

Have you ever wondered exactly what your dog sees when he or she comes to Jefferson Veterinary Hospital?  Wonder no more!  Dr. Ahalt's dog, Chug (who is a samoyed), kindly filmed what an appointment with his Veterinarian Daddy looks like!