A New Chapter for KNSAC + What Every Kaua‘i Pet Owner Should Know About Itchy Skin

Coming Full Circle at Kaua‘i North Shore Animal Clinic

Kaua‘i North Shore Animal Clinic has always been more than just a veterinary clinic, it’s the result of a shared vision between two sisters, born from a love of animals and a deep commitment to our island community.

What started years ago with an English riding business quickly revealed a greater need: accessible, compassionate veterinary care right here on the North Shore. From that need, KNSAC was founded, and today, we’re proud to be an essential resource for pets and the people who love them.

Clinic Closed Saturday, September 20

Our team will be taking the day off on Saturday, September 20, and the clinic will be closed.

If your pet needs medication refills or care around that time, please reach out in advance so we can make sure you’re covered.

Welcome Home, Dr. Susan Fredericks

We’re thrilled to officially welcome Dr. Susan Fredericks, co-founder of KNSAC, back to the island as a practicing veterinarian.

Many of you know Susan’s story; her bold energy, clinical skill, and deep love of Kaua‘i helped shape the clinic from day one. After four years away earning her veterinary degree at Western University of Health Sciences, she’s returned home, and is now seeing patients.

Originally from the Bay Area, Susan’s family roots run deep in Hawai‘i. After college, she moved to Kaua‘i and co-founded an English riding business with her sister, Jessica. That experience quickly highlighted a critical gap in veterinary care on the island, especially for large animals, which inspired the sisters to create KNSAC.

While the clinic has evolved to focus on small animal medicine—or rather, anything small enough to fit through the clinic doors—you’ll still occasionally find a goat or chicken on the schedule. Those early days caring for horses and livestock shaped the way KNSAC approaches every patient—with hands-on problem-solving, compassion, and respect for the human-animal bond.

When she’s not at the clinic, you’ll likely find Susan riding horses, cooking, spending time outdoors with her fiancé, or paddling canoe.

We couldn’t be more excited to have Susan back, carrying forward the mission she and Jessica started together.

A Simpler, More Reliable Pharmacy Option

We’ve partnered with Covetrus Pharmacy to make ordering your pet’s medications easier—and more consistent—than ever.

Over the past few months, many of you have shared frustrations with our previous pharmacy partner, especially around shipping delays and reliability. We’ve heard your concerns—and we’re confident Covetrus will offer competitive pricing, and the convenience and peace of mind our clients deserve.

• Order online anytime
• Home delivery or in-clinic pickup
• Competitive pricing on preventatives, prescriptions, and wellness products
• Fully integrated with your pet’s medical record for safety and accuracy

Order Your Pet's Medications Here

Our team is happy to help make the transition from Koala to Covetrus as smooth as possible. Thank you for your patience as we continue working to improve every aspect of your pet’s care.

Skip the Clinic Trip — Home Delivery for Prescription Pet Food

If your pet has been prescribed a special diet, hauling those big bags home can be a hassle — and unfortunately, Covetrus does not offer prescription diet shipping to Hawai‘i.

The good news? Both Purina® and Hill’s® offer reliable home delivery options for prescription pet food to Hawai‘i addresses.

We’re happy to help get your pet set up for home shipping — just ask us at your next appointment or give us a call.

Dr. Susan’s Corner: The Itchy Truth — Why Your Kaua‘i Pet is Scratching (and Shaking Their Head)

I’m excited to start sharing some real-world insights from the clinic — the things we’re seeing most often with island pets and a few tips to help you stay ahead of common issues here on Kaua‘i.

This time of year (and let’s be honest, most of the year), one of the biggest things we see? Itchy skin. And right behind that? Itchy ears. In fact, the two often go hand in hand — when a pet’s skin is struggling, the ears usually aren’t far behind.

First Line of Defense: Flea Prevention (The Real Stuff)

If your pet is scratching, licking, losing hair, or shaking their head, the first thing we look at is flea control.

Even if you swear you’ve never seen a flea.

Even if your pet “never leaves the house.”

Here’s the deal:

• Fleas don’t respect property lines or front doors.
• One flea bite can trigger major itching.
• Not all flea products work — especially on Kaua‘i.

Our island fleas have gotten tough. Over-the-counter products like Frontline and Advantage often don’t cut it anymore. It’s like showing up to a knife fight with a pool noodle.

We recommend long-acting, prescription flea preventatives that actually work. It’s cheaper — and way less frustrating — than battling skin infections later.

If It’s More Than Just Fleas...

Sometimes the itch isn’t just fleas. Scratching can lead to irritated, infected skin — or ears — which means your pet might need a little extra help.

That’s where skin and ear cytology comes in. It sounds fancy, but all we’re doing is looking under the microscope to see what’s going on — bacteria? Yeast? Tiny jungle creatures? (Kidding... it’s usually yeast or bacteria.)

Treatment might include:

• Prescription shampoos or sprays
• Medicated ear cleansers
• Antibiotics

The Allergy Factor

Many pets here also deal with environmental allergies — pollen, dust mites, mold spores — all made worse by humidity. Add fleas into the mix and it’s no wonder we see so many itchy, uncomfortable pets this time of year.

Allergies can show up as irritated skin, constant scratching, or recurring ear infections. If your pet is shaking their head, scratching at their ears, or they have that lovely “yeasty” smell — it’s time for a visit.

We also see food allergies and the occasional contact allergy, but fleas and environment are the biggest troublemakers.

For pets struggling with allergies, we often use prescription anti-itch medications like Cytopoint® or Apoquel® to help manage symptoms and keep them comfortable.

Early Action is Key

The longer you wait, the itchier your pet gets — and the more complicated (and expensive) treatment can become.

• Step one: excellent flea prevention.
• Step two: a game plan based on what’s really going on.

Questions? Need to stock up on flea meds? Want us to peek under the microscope?

Give us a call or book online here.

Let’s keep your pets happy, healthy, and itch-free — so they can get back to more important things, like chasing chickens or supervising your beach days.