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Hospital Topics
Appointments
We understand that your time is valuable to you
- as is ours. Unless your pet has a life-threatening emergency, please
arrange an appointment.
If you arrive unexpectedly and we have time available,
we will be happy to see your pet right away. However, unless your pet actually
has an immediately serious emergency, appointments have precedence.
When you arrive on-time for your appointment,
you can expect the same consideration from us. Unless our schedule is disrupted
by an emergency, we are nearly always able to honor your appointment time.
Unfortunately, late-arriving clients can make this difficult.
When one client puts us behind schedule, it is
hard to meet our commitments to other clients, so please try to be on time.
If you are late, and the client scheduled after you arrives sufficiently
early, we may be able to see them first and switch their appointment time
with yours. If you are very late, unfortunately, we must give you the next
available appointment, which might mean a significant wait.
If you know that you will be arriving after your
scheduled appointment time, please call us as soon as possible, so that
we may arrange for your late arrival.
No one likes waiting at the doctor's office -
we are committed to providing you with prompt and efficient service.
Drop-Offs
If your pet needs medical attention, and you are
not able to come in for a regular appointment, we are happy to accept him
or her into the hospital any time after 8:00 AM - provided that we
have a telephone number where you can be reached, and you are a regular
client in good standing with the hospital. Your pet will be examined later
in the same day, and you will be contacted before further treatment.
Emergencies
For after - hours emergency care, we strongly
recommend Greater Buffalo Veterinary Services (839 - 4043).
GBVS is a 10 - 15 minute drive from Grand Island,
located at 4949 Main Street (Main St. at Kensington Ave). They have a full
emergency room staff all night long, to constantly monitor and provide
quality care for your pet.
Prescriptions
As a service to our clients, we offer an in-house
pharmacy. We stock the most commonly prescribed medications for your pet.
In the event that we do not carry a specific medication, we will either
order it for you, or give you a script to be filled at the pharmacy of
your choice.
Tours
We are proud of our new hospital, and happy to
give hospital tours to individuals or small groups. Individuals wishing
to take a look at our facility are welcome to come at any time, without
notice. We suggest coming in for tours in late-morning or late-afternoon,
when we are more likely to have free time for your tour. If you are a small
group (cub scouts, brownies, etc.), please call us first to arrange a tour.
Visiting
Hours
You are welcome to visit your pet any time that
we are open. We recommend that you call ahead, as we have a limited amount
of space for visiting families.
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Animal
Topics
Arthritis
Did you know that animals get arthritis, much like people do? If you,
or someone you know has arthritis, then you are aware of the pain and limiting
effects of arthritis on daily life.
There's good news for dogs! Recently approved medication is now available
for dogs afflicted with hip dysplasia, arthritis or other joint or soft
tissue pain. Many pets have shown dramatic improvement when put on this
medication. Your pet can't tell you when he or she is in pain - it's up
to you to notice if your pet has difficulty jumping (on the couch or bed),
going up or down stairs, running, walking, or is limping. Tell us about
it! We can help.
Dental Health
Dental exams are even more important for your pet than they are for
you!
Animal's dental health affects their overall well-being. Even pets with
healthy mouths should be examined regularly to catch problems before they
become severe. Tartar deposits are unsightly, can cause bad breath, and
can lead to loss of appetite, irritability, tooth loss, infections, and
gum disease.
Most people don't know that untreated dental disease can increase your
pet's risk of heart failure and kidney disease.
Usually, pets don't act noticeably different when they have these problems,
so we can't wait for them to tell us they need help. Research has proven
that dental disease in pets can lead to serious, and even life-threatening
illnesses.
Possible signs of mouth pain:
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Drooling
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Wary of head being touched
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Dropping food out of mouth
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Picking at food
Some people think that as long as an animal is eating, they're not experiencing
dental pain or problems. Well, when you have a toothache, you still have
to eat. Your pet doesn't have the option of making a milkshake or eating
soup!
Pet dentistry usually involves removing ugly tartar, getting rid of
bad breath, preventing or reducing future tooth loss, treating gum disease,
and extracting dead or broken teeth.
More recently, veterinary science has come to recognize that good dental
care can reduce the risk of damage to your pet's internal organs, especially
the kidneys and heart.
Preventing heart disease is one of the most important goals of modern
animal dentistry. The bacteria that like to live under tartar buildups
and under the gums can migrate into the animal's bloodstream, going on
to set up housekeeping in the valves of the heart.
The valvular heart disease that may result is potentially fatal news
for your pet. The keys to avoiding that kind of news are prevention
and regular veterinary care. A routine dental exam should be part
of every visit to the vet.
Pre-anesthetic blood screening, and advanced anesthesia protocols now
make the anesthesia for dental procedures safer than ever. Our animal friends
deserve the best quality of care, and highest quality of life that we can
give them!
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Exotic Animals
Most exotic animals (reptiles, birds, rabbits, etc.) don't have veterinarians.
But just because a pet has scales, feathers, or comes from the deepest
jungles, doesn't mean they don't need to see a doctor for routine exams.
Not many veterinarians in the Western New York area will see your exotic
pet. We will see every kind of non-poisonous exotic animal except primates,
and we have an excellent facility to refer them to!
At a minimum, your exotic pet should have an annual physical exam. Exotic
animals are often not given medical attention until an unrecognized small
problem has become severe or fatal. If potential problems are diagnosed
early on in your exotic pet, your veterinarian can help to insure a long
life for these critters. Most exotic animals tend to be quite valuable
- so consider it a wise investment to keep up with his or her health!
Foods
This is one area where the old saying definitely holds true - you
get what you pay for. There are a lot of different pet foods out there,
and some are wonderful for your pet. Some are not.
That begs us to quote another old saying - you are what you eat!
Did you know that some of the cheaper brands of pet food contain things
like chicken feathers and sawdust as fillers? We think that your companion
deserves better than that.
We are happy to suggest certain, reputable brands of pet food for your
pet. We are also happy to provide pet food guidelines for you below:
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Extra nutrients in pet food can be as bad as not having enough nutrients.
It is therefore very difficult to "label-shop" for a good pet food. Better
brands offer proper nutritional advice for your pet.
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Generally, you should choose a diet that is appropriate for your pet's
life stage, weight, and general health (inactive, hyperactive, kidney problems,
urinary problems). Which category does your pet fit into?
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Make sure that the pet food has passed the AAFCO feeding trials.
If the brand does not state specifically that it passed the feeding
trial, it may not have been approved!
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Some people like to switch pet foods to give their animals some variety.
If you change your pet's food constantly, you're not doing him or her any
favors. Changes in diet can upset your pet's digestion, and ultimately
jeopardize good health.
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Older Animals
Pets lives are much shorter than ours. We live our lives for 70 or 80
years, while your pet may live for 10 or 20 years.
As your pet ages, more maintenance is needed to insure that your pet
lives a long and comfortable life. By finding little problems as your pet
ages, the big problems are avoided or corrected. The effort results in
your pet living longer, and feeling better as he or she gets on in years.
We have a special place in our hearts for your aging critters, and have
a special geriatric pet care program to match. Our geriatric program works
like this:
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We will get a "baseline" of information about your aging pet's health,
through diagnostic testing.
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Then, when you bring your older animal in for regular or periodic checkups,
your pet's "baseline" information can be closely compared to the latest
results.
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This enables us to determine whether your pet is beginning to show signs
of disease much earlier than simply waiting for more severe symptoms
to show.
As you know, older pets (and people!) are less able to fight off
disease as they live their twilight years. Catching a small medical problem
before it grows into a big one is most important in your geriatric
pets.
Our "early detection" program also provides you with more effective
(and often less costly) treatment options, a longer life for your pet,
and fewer unpleasant medical "surprises".
Spaying & Neutering
Almost everyone knows that spaying or neutering your pet will prevent
unwanted pregnancy.
But did you know that the same surgery will also prevent:
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Breast cancer
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Ovarian cancer
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Deadly uterine infections
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Testicular cancer
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Prostatic cancer
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Prostatic hyperplasia
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Uncomfortable "heats"
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Spraying of urine
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Roaming pets
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Aggressive behavior
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Rough hair coat
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Unpleasant "musky" scent
This simple surgical procedure will absolutely extend your pet's
life, and will prevent painful diseases and expensive treatments for your
animal in the future. It may be the single most important investment you
can make for the life of your pet. Make the appointment now!
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Weight Management
We've all heard the news from our doctors and various news media - being
overweight is a national epidemic, and is dangerous to your health. It
shouldn't surprise you that this is also true for our pets.
Lots of people think that "a fat pet is a happy pet." However,
just like with people, that is not the case. 40% to 60% of our pets are
overweight. That makes obesity the #1 health concern in most small animal
practices!
Excessive weight can lead to diabetes, heart disease, certain forms
of cancer, and cause (or complicate) the symptoms of hip dysplasia!
If you can't easily feel your pet's ribs, check with us, or with your
own veterinarian for a weight loss program. There are special foods available
for your pet, to help control obesity.
Yearly Exam
We've all heard the old saying: "One human year is equal to seven dog
years." That's not exactly how it works, but it's pretty close.
Can you imagine going to see your doctor for a check-up only once every
seven years? Since your pet ages so quickly, there are a lot of potential
problems which can develop by the time you bring him or her to the vet
for an annual physical exam.
That's why a yearly comprehensive examination is so important. It can
help to eliminate small problems before they become bigger, more expensive,
and more deadly problems.
Veterinarians like to emphasize prevention as the best healthier
for your animal. A healthy pet is a lot easier to take care of than a sick
one. The yearly exam helps your veterinarian to improve your pet's quality
of life, as well as the length of time you spend with your special friend.
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Community
Concerns
Fleas &
Ticks
Living in Western New York, most people think of flea season as running
through the warm spring and summer months. But, unfortunately, it's ALWAYS
flea season.
People are always surprised to find fleas on their pets in winter, and
the cold months. The fact is, if your pet lives in a warm house, it's potentially
flea season.
However, new research shows that the adult flea spends most of its life
ON the pet. This makes the newer topical treatments much more effective
in the "war" against fleas.
Ticks don't die easily and never get bored A tick can sit month
after month on the end of a twig, patiently waiting for you or your dog
to pass by. If no suitable host comes along before freezing weather, the
tick crawls away to shelter and comes back again when it warms up a little.
Now that we have Lyme disease to worry about, ticks are more than just
a repulsive annoyance.
The Lyme Disease organism normally lives
in mice. Ticks bite infected mice and later transmit the disease to other
animals, including people and dogs. In our area, whenever we see a dog
with unexplained lameness we must consider Lyme Disease as a possible cause,
particularly if the dog has a fever and one or more joints are swollen
and tender. Left untreated, Lyme disease wreaks havoc on the immune system,
causing a severe form of arthritis and occasionally heart or neurological
problems.
Luckily, there is an immunization against Lyme Disease, and we offer
it for your pets.
Tick paralysis is another tick-based syndrome.
It is caused by tick bites, especially near the neck or shoulders.
Paralysis begins in your dog's hind legs. When you first notice it, he
or she may be wobbly in the rear end, or even completely unable to
walk. Strangely, the front legs work fine at this stage. The dog is bright,
alert and not in pain. Later, dogs lose the ability to use their front
legs and can even become unconscious and die from respiratory paralysis.
If you notice early stages of tick paralysis (partial loss of hindquarter
function without pain; engorged ticks present), go carefully over your
entire dog, removing every single tick. At this point, you
should absolutely call your veterinarian for advice.
If paralysis is more advanced or signs of pain are present, we need
to perform a neurological examination - the problem may be something else
entirely, or supportive care may be needed. Also, with the advantage of
an examination table and good lighting, we will probably find more ticks.
The organism that causes Lyme Disease can penetrate human skin, so you
don't want tick juice getting under your fingernails - wear gloves or use
tweezers. Special tick tweezers are available at pet stores. Pull the tick
straight out without twisting. Twisting them merely breaks the head off
more easily. When you finish, dispose of the ticks safely, clean the tweezers
and wash your hands.
The monthly application of Advantageô to your cat or dog will deal effectively
with fleas, and Frontlineô will get rid of both fleas and ticks. Since
this year will be a big year for fleas and ticks, ask your veterinarian
what product is best for your furry family member.
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Heartworms
Heartworms are actually worms that live in the heart of an infected
animal. They are spread by mosquitoes - making any dog, cat, or ferret
a potential victim.
Heartworms cause damage to the heart, blood vessels, and lungs. This
can result in the sudden death of your pet.
The good news is, Heartworms are easily prevented by giving your pet
a monthly tablet. The same tablets also kill intestinal parasites.
This horrible condition is treatable, but death is the winner if left
untreated. It is much easier to prevent heartworms (12 tablets/year),
than to attempt treatment after infection.
Dogs and cats are easily diagnosed with a blood test. The Heartworm
Society recommends starting your pet on preventive medicine immediately.
By doing this, you could save your pet's life!
Rabies
Rabies is always a threat to your pet, and to you. No matter how you
feel about the importance of veterinary care for your pets, be certain
they get their rabies shots. Even pets that "hardly ever" get outdoors.
Rabies can be transmitted by any mammal to any other.
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