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2008 Newsletter
Staff Adventures
Several staff members and friends braved the paw-parazzi to attend the social event of the season recently. Marley Meador had a birthday this month, and threw a bash that was definitely the place to sniff and be sniffed. The birthday boy entertained his guests at Squirrel Ridge Park, and gourmet refreshments were served for canine and human partygoers alike.
Guests included: (L to R) Sammie, Jessica, Hulk, Jake, David, Tango, Amanda, Alex, Marley, Shelly, Dustin, Mason, Chenoa, Rally, Debbie, Tuna, Samantha, Solo, Colleen, Abby, Boss, Christy, Jonathan, Savannah, and Finn.
Keep It Cool
Summer is over, but it's still hot here in Florida! When making outdoor plans with your pets, remember to provide plenty of water, shade, and sunscreen! If weather conditions where you plan to vacation aren't favorable for your furry friend, call us and make reservations for an air conditioned room of his own!!
Thunderstorm Fear and Separation Anxiety
Is your dog one of those who goes "ballistic" whenever a peal of thunder roars through the area or when you go out to run an errand or go to work? Broken furniture, household "accidents", chewed up doorways, cringing and shaking or shivering, or howling and barking are some of the ways these "poor souls" act out when their fear takes over.
Now there is safe and effective medical help for many of these pups. Call for an appointment to discuss this situation with our medical staff. In many cases, these problems can be controlled or eliminated entirely with medical treatment and training. The widely prescribed and safe-to-use medication, CLOMICALM, can be very effective in improving the quality of life of a number of our more "sensitive" canine patients.
Diet Targets Osteoarthritis in Dogs
A new prescription diet seeks to maintain joint health in dogs with arthritis, which affects up to 1 in 5 adult dogs. While it is most common in older dogs, it can affect dogs of any size, breed, or age. j/d, made by Hill's, has been shown in clinical trials to slow the progression of this debilitating disease. Using breakthrough technology the diet uses Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), to turn off the genes that cause cartilage damage. High levels of Omega-3 fatty acids help reduce mediators that cause inflammation, and Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate provide building blocks for cartilage repair.
This groundbreaking diet provides the foundation for a total canine arthritis management plan. Combined with exercise, pain relief, and weight management, j/d is the first step in helping your dog live a healthier, happier, more active life. If you think your dog could benefit from j/d, call and schedule an appointment with one of our doctors.
More Choices for Canine Flea/Tick Control
We are proud to now offer Vektra 3D®! This topical parasite control not only kills 98-100% of fleas within 12 hours, but also repels and kills ticks, biting flies and mosquitoes for an entire month! It is safe for use on dogs and puppies 7 weeks of age or older, but should NEVER be applied to cats, and should be used with caution when there are cats in the household.
Sentinel® is back! By popular demand, we have brought Sentinel® back into our inventory. Made by Novartis, this oral tablet combines an effective heartworm preventive with lufenuron, a chemical that breaks the flea life cycle at the egg stage. Sentinel® is also safe for dogs and puppies, but is not available for cats.
Of course, we still offer other safe, reliable flea and tick control products including Frontline® and Advantage®, both of which are recommended for use with cats, as well as Preventic® collars. Ask us which product would be best for your pet!
New Boarding Protocol
For your security, if someone other than you may be picking up your pet from our kennel, please be prepared at the time of drop-off to list their name and phone number. If your furry or feathered friend boards frequently, you may leave a list of authorized parties on file with us. Remember--payment is due at the time of discharge, so please pay in advance if you will not be picking up your pet in person. Thanks!
Website Offers Convenient Alternatives
It's 7:30 a.m. You have to drop the kids off at school and the dog at our office--and you have to be at work by 8. The last thing you want to do in that rush is stand at the counter and fill out paperwork. That's why we now offer printable versions of important forms on our website. When you make an appointment, ask which forms will be required when you bring your pet in for boarding, surgery, drop-off medical treatments, or a first-time visit. Then, simply print the required form, fill it out at your convenience, and bring it to your scheduled appointment! It's that easy! If you have any questions, we are always happy to help during business hours at 352-373-8055.
Other convenient services are also available. If your pet has been prescribed routine medications by any of our doctors, you can request a refill by email, and have it delivered to your door--often at no additional charge! You can also request special food orders, give the doctors updates on your pets' health, or ask questions about your pet's care. If you have any questions about what our website has to offer, or any suggestions that would make it a more useful tool, please contact us.
Practice Manager Valerie Taylor Lends A Hand To Help the Humane Society of Northeast Florida
Valerie Taylor, our practice manager, was the Mistress of Ceremonies at the Kool Cats and Chilly Dogs event this January in Palatka. The event, which benefited the Humane Society of Northeast Florida, included contests for pets such as "Best Kisser" and "Wiggliest Tail."
February is Pet Dental Health Month!
Is your best friend not quite kissable? Dental disease can affect more than just your pet's breath! Ask our veterinarians how an oral care plan can benefit your pet. Dental care can be as easy as brushing your pet's teeth at home, or even offering a treat such as Hill's t/d or Enzadent Oral Care Chews. If the doctor recommends a routine dental cleaning, ask about our discount cards. Make an appointment to see if your furry Valentine's smile could be brighter!
Newest Equipment for Your Pet's Needs
We've now added a modern laser surgical unit to our equipment resources. This allows us to perform nearly bloodless surgery in a variety of situations, and to offer significantly reduced pain associated with surgery ... and speedier recoveries! This surgical method is ideal for declaws, skin tumors and nodules, mouth lesions and tumors, nasal surgery, anal surgery and an ever-growing list of other techniques under development.
We now have the latest anesthesia equipment for the delivery of the very safe and controllable gas anesthetic, "Sevoflurane." This technique increases our safety margins in the care of pediatric, geriatric, exotic, rabbit and complicated medical risk cases when anesthesia is a necessity. Our entire staff attended an in-depth seminar to familiarize them with the unique properties and management of this newly available veterinary technique. Two of our three anesthesia machines are equipped to deliver "sevo," and all of them deliver the reliable Isofluorane gas as well.
Another addition to our safety equipment lineup includes another new pulse oximeter to measure real-time blood saturation with oxygen. This improves our ability to monitor patient stability moment to moment. This is our second pulse oximeter and enables us to have every anesthetized, traumatized or seriously compromised patient optimally and constantly monitored.
We also have added a state-of-the-art radiosurgery unit to our surgical equipment . This advanced equipment allows us to perform certain soft tissue surgeries with greater control over bleeding and with a minimum of tissue scarring or tissue damage. The unit has the ability to cut through tissue, such as gum tissue, with virtually no hemorrhage where there would normally be quite a bit of bleeding. The patient, therefore, has less postoperative pain and a shorter recovery time from surgery. We are proud to add this technology to our practice of advanced and modern surgery techniques.
All of the excellent tools described above, and many others, are included in our standard of care, which we proudly offer as of the highest order available.
Our newest state-of-the-art in-house laboratory equipment allows us to perform blood tests immediately without the delay of waiting for outside reference lab information to return. We've added a new serum analyzer (organ function tests), new hematology analyzer (blood cell counter), and a new blood gas and electrolyte analyzer (important for serious illnesses and injury assessments). These further increase our ability to deliver excellent care in a rapid, efficient manner to every patient.
Improving Services. Newest Techniques
Dr. Richard Goldman, our Medical Director, has completed numerous continuing education courses at the University of Florida and elsewhere. A recent one was on endoscopic procedures and techniques. Our endoscopes and associated support equipment allow us to perform non-invasive diagnostic studies for your pets, such as looking into the trachea (windpipe), esophagus, stomach, small intestines and large bowel to diagnose disorders, gather biopsies or extract foreign bodies.
We also have a video-endoscope for examination of the ear, nasal cavity, urinary tract and other small areas. Ask for a demonstration of this equipment the next time you visit us ... it's really fascinating!
In "Service" to the profession
Dr. Richard Goldman, our Medical Director, is a Past-President of the Alachua County Veterinary Medical Association. He has served as President during 1983 and 1984, consecutively, and again in 2001. He was also re-appointed as the Chairperson of the Florida Veterinary Medical Association's "Outreach" Committee, and as the Student Area Representative for the American Animal Hospital Association, acting as a liaison for the veterinary students at the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Florida. Dr. Goldman has been involved in "service" to the profession since before his graduation from Auburn University's College of Veterinary Medicine in 1976.
Cyber Docs
Dr. Goldman is also a national member representative and charter member of the Veterinary Information Network (VIN). This network was created to allow for the exchange of information and current knowledge amongst colleagues in a new cyber-community atmosphere. Dr. Goldman and our medical staff use the VIN daily to research patient cases and gather information and specialist's opinions regarding special patient's needs. This advanced medical care and case workup methodology is just another part of the culture of "excellence" at our hospital that, we hope, justifies your trust in us when it comes to your pet's needs.
Vaccination Needs are Changing
Current scientific information has begun to define the need for very selective use and frequency of immunizations for the protection of your pets. These do a great job of helping ward off disease, but some of them can occasionally cause complications of well-being. It is well known that some vaccinations may play a role in the formation of tumors (called sarcomas) in cats. Also, some dogs may acquire thyroid problems or acute allergic reactions with some vaccinations.
At the Millhopper Veterinary Medical Center it is our policy to review your pet's lifestyle, life-stage and individual protection needs with you every year and only provide the vaccinations that are the most pertinent and beneficial. We also, as an additional safety measure for your pets, only use non-adjuvant vaccines for our feline patients. These are free of the elements that are most suspected in the tumor formation complication that may occur with cats. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have at your next visit.
Control Those Pesky Parasites!
We all want our furry friends to be free of FLEAS & TICKS!! Be sure that you are protecting your pets with the safe and effective Advantage™, Comfortis™, Vektra 3D™ or Frontline Top Spot Plus™. These agents are extremely effective, very safe, and are less expensive than bathing & dipping used to be ... and they are effective when used only ONCE-A-MONTH!
Be sure to purchase the ORIGINALS ... many look-alike over-the-counter products are far less effective and often have significant toxic potential, especially for cats.
Millhopper Veterinary Medical Center, Inc.