Monday, December 30, 2013
How to Pick the Right Toys for Your Pet
Some things we may have not even thought about when purchasing the perfect toy! We want to make play time fun and as free as possible from risk :)
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Blood Tests for pets and why we recommend them!
This is a great video explaining some of the basic benefits of preventive care lab work up. November is celebrating seniors month and to help keep them healthy AVVC is offering 25% off wellness send out lab services!
Contact the office or your regular veterinarian for more information on what lab work would best benefit your pets needs.
Monday, November 11, 2013
Happy Veterans Day!
Please take a minute to salute, celebrate and support our veterans both 2 legged and four. Regardless of ones opinion of war, what these men, women, dogs and horses do and have done for us to live the lives we choose to live is most admirable.
Please take a minute to salute, celebrate and support our veterans both 2 legged and four. Regardless of ones opinion of war, what these men, women, dogs and horses do and have done for us to live the lives we choose to live is most admirable.
One of the many great resources out there supporting our veterans as well as dogs in need is Healing for Heroes. Please check them out to see what great work they do! www.healing4heroes.org
Friday, November 8, 2013
Pet Food Safety Recalls and Alerts
Pet Food Safety Recalls and Alerts
Click the link to find a current list of pet diet and treat recalls. Just because something is expensive or has a pretty package, doesn't mean it is the best for our pets. It is very important to feed a high quality food, as with us, diet plays a huge roll in the health and well being of our cats and dogs at all stages of their lives!
Click the link to find a current list of pet diet and treat recalls. Just because something is expensive or has a pretty package, doesn't mean it is the best for our pets. It is very important to feed a high quality food, as with us, diet plays a huge roll in the health and well being of our cats and dogs at all stages of their lives!
Friday, October 11, 2013
Monday, September 9, 2013
Some good advice
And the million dollar question is..."When do I need to go to the vet?"
How can we, as vets, plan a preventative care program if you, the pet owner, don't know what REALLY is important? Then there is the whole other massive topic of illness. The problem is staring you in the face, or on your foot with the diarrhea puddle on the carpet you just stepped in, you find yourself wondering do. Do I ignore it, panic or call the vet?
For those that have come to my clinic, you know me and what to expect. For those of you who haven't met me yet, I am to say the least, sometimes overwhelming. The reason behind this is I do something that unfortunately many of my colleagues in both human and veterinary medicine don't do, I explain a lot. I tell you what to expect if you do or don't do things and I give lots of examples and usually even more choices. Even with all this information and the holy grail...Internet access, to give us factual and multiple opinions on everything related to our concerns or interests, it's not difficult to still get lost. All of us do, especially if we are worried about our little fluffy (or smooth or wiry) pets.
So what is the cheapest and easiest thing to do. Look at your pet daily!! Not just look, know what his or her eyes look like, do the ears smell or are they red? Does your pet shake their head or scratch one area more then another? Have you looked to see if there is a lump or bump or change of color to what ever you are looking at? Breath smell? What is that thing? What do they do that is weird? Can you keep a diary or log of when/how they sneeze or are stiff..worse after exercise? tired after a normal walk? If you can't explain it, take a picture or video of it. No, we can't diagnoses everything from a video but it can help when you are trying to describe that cough/gag or weird seizure like thing and guide you so together we can come up with a diagnosis and treatment plan. If you notice a problem early and we treat it promptly it is so much better for you and your pet! You save so much money and grief and your pets are saved discomfort with early detection yet the annual (twice a year for sick or geriatric pets) is the MOST ignored thing you can do. Shot clinics don't save you money! They don't examine your pet. We at Alta Vista Vet Clinic, are about the total picture...the care for your pet for the long haul.
Just remember the old adage that prevention is key. I recommend routine exams to potentially catch a problem early. It is worse when the problem explodes. By then it's too late to get insurance, they won't cover preexisting problems and the emergency vets may be nice, but they aren't worried about your personal budget.They are their to fix your pet, at the emergency room rate. You may not want to put your pet under the stress of anesthesia for that dental cleaning when it is just routine..so what is going to happen if you don't brush daily? The Tooth Fairy isn't going to help so the expensive dental becomes a multiple extraction or root canal issue for ten times more discomfort to your pet and your pocket book. Do the laboratory workup so we can establish baselines. Maybe that kidney enzyme elevation is an infection because it was normal last month..or is it chronic disease because they have been gradually increasing over the last few years and we need to change the diet and perhaps initiate some home care like subcutaneous fluids. I see so many people that decline things or don't come in until it is an emergency because they just don't catch things early. Look at your pet, schedule an exam regularly and ask questions. We are here to help.
Having your pet live a long healthy life means EVERYTHING to me but I have to add the nice cards and cookies you bring sure put smiles on my staff's faces right along with the tail wags, purrs and puppy kisses.
How can we, as vets, plan a preventative care program if you, the pet owner, don't know what REALLY is important? Then there is the whole other massive topic of illness. The problem is staring you in the face, or on your foot with the diarrhea puddle on the carpet you just stepped in, you find yourself wondering do. Do I ignore it, panic or call the vet?
For those that have come to my clinic, you know me and what to expect. For those of you who haven't met me yet, I am to say the least, sometimes overwhelming. The reason behind this is I do something that unfortunately many of my colleagues in both human and veterinary medicine don't do, I explain a lot. I tell you what to expect if you do or don't do things and I give lots of examples and usually even more choices. Even with all this information and the holy grail...Internet access, to give us factual and multiple opinions on everything related to our concerns or interests, it's not difficult to still get lost. All of us do, especially if we are worried about our little fluffy (or smooth or wiry) pets.
So what is the cheapest and easiest thing to do. Look at your pet daily!! Not just look, know what his or her eyes look like, do the ears smell or are they red? Does your pet shake their head or scratch one area more then another? Have you looked to see if there is a lump or bump or change of color to what ever you are looking at? Breath smell? What is that thing? What do they do that is weird? Can you keep a diary or log of when/how they sneeze or are stiff..worse after exercise? tired after a normal walk? If you can't explain it, take a picture or video of it. No, we can't diagnoses everything from a video but it can help when you are trying to describe that cough/gag or weird seizure like thing and guide you so together we can come up with a diagnosis and treatment plan. If you notice a problem early and we treat it promptly it is so much better for you and your pet! You save so much money and grief and your pets are saved discomfort with early detection yet the annual (twice a year for sick or geriatric pets) is the MOST ignored thing you can do. Shot clinics don't save you money! They don't examine your pet. We at Alta Vista Vet Clinic, are about the total picture...the care for your pet for the long haul.
Just remember the old adage that prevention is key. I recommend routine exams to potentially catch a problem early. It is worse when the problem explodes. By then it's too late to get insurance, they won't cover preexisting problems and the emergency vets may be nice, but they aren't worried about your personal budget.They are their to fix your pet, at the emergency room rate. You may not want to put your pet under the stress of anesthesia for that dental cleaning when it is just routine..so what is going to happen if you don't brush daily? The Tooth Fairy isn't going to help so the expensive dental becomes a multiple extraction or root canal issue for ten times more discomfort to your pet and your pocket book. Do the laboratory workup so we can establish baselines. Maybe that kidney enzyme elevation is an infection because it was normal last month..or is it chronic disease because they have been gradually increasing over the last few years and we need to change the diet and perhaps initiate some home care like subcutaneous fluids. I see so many people that decline things or don't come in until it is an emergency because they just don't catch things early. Look at your pet, schedule an exam regularly and ask questions. We are here to help.
Having your pet live a long healthy life means EVERYTHING to me but I have to add the nice cards and cookies you bring sure put smiles on my staff's faces right along with the tail wags, purrs and puppy kisses.
Sunday, May 6, 2012
The importance of finding the perfect playmate
For those who haven't met her yet..Puddz is a very interesting little dog. She has lots of opinions about many things (much like her "mom"). She also has a interesting group of playmates but her very favorite was right under our nose(s) and we didn't even realize it! So this is a very important reminder that dogs do help us humans to socialize better!
We are busy at the clinic and while she is here, her time is spent greeting the clients and arguing with the other pack (Sonee and Jen's doggies) about why all the nylabones and deer antlers are really hers. Even during playtime, when they all get to run wild, there is still a sibling rivalry over beds and toys, which looks more like musical chairs if you ask me. Even visiting other friends, she just never has met anyone that has her play drive...until Meeka.
(Harp music in the background) Meeka, the lab from next door.
I work long hours, am riding horses and hiking in my free time. I don't have a neighborhood group that has block parties and such so we just wave and smile and keep our dog pooh picked up.
Meeka was the ice breaker. Periodically (even before I got my puppy), she used to sneak out of my neighbor's yard and run to my house to visit. My neighbor would apologize and come and grab her... and in a moment I would remember how wonderful it was to come home to a bouncy dog. Unfortunately most would prefer to eat my cat of 14 years, so I was careful with my next choice.
So as luck would have it..Pudz LOVES Klawz (my cat) and Meeka (being raised around cats) is also very respectful of the ol guy. What makes life perfect is although there is 60 pounds difference between the two, they are both blonde bullets that run and run and play tag and run and run and pass out for a few seconds and run and run. Now Meeka waits at the gate for Pudz to come home and play and I have had a great chance to meet with the whole wonderful family that lives next door.
Exercise and companionship are so important to a pet's health. Some people give their pets treats to show their love.. better to have playtime. It's free, burns calories and good for the heart (ours and theirs). You never know one or both of you might even meet a new friend in the mean time.
We are busy at the clinic and while she is here, her time is spent greeting the clients and arguing with the other pack (Sonee and Jen's doggies) about why all the nylabones and deer antlers are really hers. Even during playtime, when they all get to run wild, there is still a sibling rivalry over beds and toys, which looks more like musical chairs if you ask me. Even visiting other friends, she just never has met anyone that has her play drive...until Meeka.
(Harp music in the background) Meeka, the lab from next door.
I work long hours, am riding horses and hiking in my free time. I don't have a neighborhood group that has block parties and such so we just wave and smile and keep our dog pooh picked up.
Meeka was the ice breaker. Periodically (even before I got my puppy), she used to sneak out of my neighbor's yard and run to my house to visit. My neighbor would apologize and come and grab her... and in a moment I would remember how wonderful it was to come home to a bouncy dog. Unfortunately most would prefer to eat my cat of 14 years, so I was careful with my next choice.
So as luck would have it..Pudz LOVES Klawz (my cat) and Meeka (being raised around cats) is also very respectful of the ol guy. What makes life perfect is although there is 60 pounds difference between the two, they are both blonde bullets that run and run and play tag and run and run and pass out for a few seconds and run and run. Now Meeka waits at the gate for Pudz to come home and play and I have had a great chance to meet with the whole wonderful family that lives next door.
Exercise and companionship are so important to a pet's health. Some people give their pets treats to show their love.. better to have playtime. It's free, burns calories and good for the heart (ours and theirs). You never know one or both of you might even meet a new friend in the mean time.
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