Thursday, November 24, 2011

"Thank You for Calling The Family Vet"


"Thank you for calling The Family Vet."

Elias repeats that appreciation countless times during a workday.  It is also what you hear at the start of our voicemail greeting.  For me, it is "Thank you for holding" when I come onto the phone.  So many thank yous uttered through the day may seem by rote and people tend to not hear it after a while.  Odd isn't it, that this is one of the times when repeating an idea often enough may not make people think it's true?  On the contrary, the sentiment's sincerity declines the more it is repeated until it is only regarded as a polite greeting.

Why am I mulling over our phone greeting this Thanksgiving morning?  I was reflecting on my blessings and saw how many of them are related to The Family Vet.  That made me wonder if our clients know how much we appreciate them.  Our clients and patients are part of our family.  As with any family, there's a danger of taking things for granted and (wrongly) assuming that, of course, they know how much they're appreciated.

Thanksgiving Day reminds me to slow down and take the opportunity to make sure the people who matters --- you --- know how much you are appreciated and that you top my list of "I am thankful for..."

I am thankful for...
  • Clients who trust and believe in what we do at The Family Vet.  I know that our different approach to patient care requires active participation from our clients at times, and may not be a good fit for everyone.
  • A wonderful supportive team that put up with my idiosyncrasies and is just as dedicated as I am to providing quality care to our clients and patients.  They are not just employees, but also co-workers, friends, and part of my extended family and support network.
  • A family who supports and loves me even when they sometimes look at me and wonder if there was a baby switcheroo after my birth.  They have long learned and accepted that "office hours" are not the same as my work hours and "closed for the holiday" does not mean I do not go to work.
  • My own pets for somehow understanding that my spending more time with other people's pets does not mean I love them any less.
  • And I am most thankful for patients who continue to surprise me with their trust and cooperation.  It never ceases to amaze me how most cats and dogs will allow us to hold them still for procedures -- from collecting blood to cleaning their ears.  Their innate trust in people humbles me.  Their resilience and remarkable healing ability are miraculous at times.  And I hope to never forget how fortunate I am to be surrounded by them and work with them every day. 
To all our clients and friends, near and far,

 Happy Thanksgiving!

 

May this be a great start to your holiday season.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Did You Know.... Puppy Vaccine Series are Age-Dependent?

One of the more frequent comment we hear from clients with new puppies:
She only needs one more puppy vaccine.  The breeder already gave her three 4-in-1 shots.

Even assuming those three 4-in-1 shots or DA2PP (DHPP) vaccines --- as the combination vaccine for distemper, adenovirus-2 (infectious hepatitis), parainfluenza, and parvovirus is commonly known --- were given every 3 weeks, the above comment is true only if the puppy is currently at least 14-16 weeks old.  If the breeder gave the vaccine at 6 weeks old then again at 8 weeks and 10 weeks (we usually recommend and follow a 3-4 weeks interval but it is not uncommon to see puppies coming in with 2 weeks intervals), that puppy would still need at least 2 more vaccines to complete the puppy series.  In this example, we would have postponed the vaccine until 3 weeks after the last one (puppy would be 13 weeks old then) and give the last of series 3 to 4 weeks after that (puppy would be 16-17 weeks old).  If there is a question about the puppy's immune status, we sometimes would give another one so that the puppy's last of series vaccine would be at 5 months of age.  Why?  Because even though we know that maternal antibodies are gone from most puppies immune system by 4 months of age, some puppies may take up to 5 months of age.

Maternal antibodies protect puppies (and kittens) from diseases that their immature immune system are not able to handle.  However, the presence of maternal antibodies also prevent puppies from producing their own antibodies.  Maternal antibodies neutralize or inactivate the vaccines (virus) before the puppy's immune system has a chance to "see" the virus to produce his own antibodies.  If we stop the vaccine series when maternal antibodies are still present and the puppy is later exposed to the virus (most commonly parvovirus) after maternal antibodies are gone, the puppy, not having adequate appropriate antibodies of his own, will succumb to the infection.  It is no surprise then that parvo infection is often seen in unvaccinated (or incompletely vaccinated) puppies around 14 to 24 weeks old.

An 8-weeks old puppy that will receive three DA2PP (DHPP) vaccines, one given every 3-4 weeks (ending at 15-16 weeks old), will likely have adequate protection.  So would a 15-weeks old puppy with two DA2PP (DHPP) vaccines, one given every 3-4 weeks (ending at 18-19 weeks of age).  However, not that we recommend this, a 6-weeks old puppy that will receive four DA2PP (DHPP) vaccines, one given every 2 weeks (ending at 12 weeks old) may not have adequate protection. 

Bottom line, it does not matter if the puppy received two, three, or even four DA2PP vaccines already.  What matters is the time interval and when that last one was given.

For more information on vaccines, please visit Vaccine FAQ and General Information and 2006 AAHA Canine Vaccines Guidelines, Revised.

Timing of vaccines is only one aspect of the vaccine protocol.  Add to that, the different vaccines, the pet's lifestyle, health status and risk exposure and you can see why the best vaccine protocol is one that is tailored to your pet's needs.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Clinic Beautification Underway

You know what they say about the best laid plans.... 

We took advantage of our 3-days "weekend" to have the building painted (yes, the graffiti on the posts are going --- unless new ones appear before the paint dry).  The plan was to have the front part painted and ready for us to re-open tomorrow morning.  The crew will continue to work on the side of the building and in the back lot.  That way, our clients will still have access to our office and the noise (and fumes) exposure to the patients will be minimized.

As it turns out, some additional work is needed on the wooden beams in front of the clinic.  Hence, the paint crew may be working up front tomorrow.  Clients should still be able to access our parking lot and front door.  Even though we have asked the crew to reserve the noisiest work for the times when patients are not around, the clinic environment will surely be unusually chaotic this week.  Please have your dogs on short leashes to keep them from rubbing against any "Wet Paint" areas.  Cats should be safely confined in carriers, even while in the lobby, as sudden noises may startle them.
 
Over the years, we strive to provide quality personal care for our clients and patients.  Much of our efforts were focused on medicine and service, our inner beauty.  It is past time for us to work on our exterior and physical structures to better reflect the pride we have in our practice.

Please excuse any inconvenience arising from our clinic beautification project.  We greatly appreciate your patience and support.

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Notes and Thoughts on Gopnik's "Dog Story."

August 8th's The New Yorker magazine has an article titled “Dog Story,” by Adam Gopnik, that examines the complex bond we have with our canine companions. “Dog Story” begins with the author’s persistent daughter (April) lobbying her reluctant parents into purchasing a Havanese puppy. Although Gopnik is an avowed dog-phobic (the result of a dog bite he suffered as a youth), “Butterscotch” quickly becomes a part of the Gopniks’ family. Butterscotch spurs the author’s interest to investigate the allure of the canine species further.

What Mr. Gopnik discovers is that in important ways our views about our closest companions disagree. Worse, not only is there often no consensus, there is often dispute. Even when it comes to the origin of the species itself, (what he calls “dog history”), there is disagreement. When and why did dogs break apart from their wild, wolf brethren and become domesticated? Did dogs begin their domestication as our allies, helping early man hunt, or did they originate as dependents of us from the beginning, scavenging in packs for our throwaways in much the same way as dogs do now in developing countries?

The range of stories such as the two above, Gopnik argues, demonstrates a key facet of our relationship with our companions - that part of our attraction to them is the stories we tell about them. Just as Butterscotch loves certain types of music, many (most?) of us proclaim our companions to have complex emotions (including jealousy, hope, anxiety, guilt and even depression, for example), and behaviors. As examples of myth-making Gopnik cites Millan's (the dog whisperer) pack-animal theories of dog behavior and Grogan’s (the author of the celebrated book “Marley & Me”) portrait of the all-sympathetic dog. At the other extreme we tell stories that try explain those behaviors in mechanical, instinctual terms. Gopnik cites Horowitz, the author of “Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell and Know,” who argues that characteristics we frequently attribute to our canine companions, such as the complex emotions mentioned above, are illusory projections of our own emotions.

To explain, Gopnik describes how Butterscotch sits by the door before their daughter (April) comes home from school. One explanation of this behavior may be that Butterscotch likes April’s companionship, and looks forward to it. But another competing theory may reduce this behavior by arguing that Butterscotch sits by the door all afternoon because she associates that behavior with food stimulus (treats that April often gives her). Under this theory, dogs are the ultimate scam artists: we provide them with food stimulus, and they provide us with the illusion of love. Both competing theories describe the same empirical phenomena, but which one is true? For us dog lovers the second theory is very difficult to accept - could our entire set of beliefs about our canine companions be illusory mirages that disappear upon further examination?

Perhaps we should assume there is some virtue in attempting to navigate towards an Aristotelian middle-course. Indeed, as Gopnik notes we can find a little bit of breathing room in the middle if we remember that while we could also reduce inter-human accounts in the above manner (for example turn love for a partner into disguised sexual appetite and love of our children into a desire to continue our genetic pools) for the most part, in our everyday lives and transactions with each other we don’t.

In fact, many of us already attempt this “middle course.” Gopnik argues the advocacy for animal liberation that Rudy argues for in “Toward a New Animal Advocacy” seems extreme to most of us. At the other extreme, beating a dog or starving it because it doesn't have feelings like ours also seems extreme to most of us. Indeed we seem to naturally favor a moderate view.

Besides, we can reach consensus in certain key respects: we can all certainly agree that our study of dogs is in its infancy. The tensions in the accounts above certainly provide evidence of that. In addition, we can all appreciate that the human-canine bond is rare, and perhaps unique in nature. While there countless intra-species relationships, the human-canine bond is unique in that it’s so familiar to most of us, yet, as the above discussion points out, remains shrouded in mystery. Difficult as it may be, we continue to try to peer into our companions’ souls.

Dog Story” touches me personally as well; like the author I too had a dog phobia that also began from
a German shepherd bite in my youth. Now, having shared my life with a canine, I also can attest to the warmth, joy, and love that can only come from having experienced dog-ownership. (R.I.P. Mousey, I love you.)

This brings me to a final point, that dog-ownership is one of those experiences that, like child-birth or falling in love, just isn't translatable in verbal terms. The warmth you get when your companion is always around you, the pleasure of a simple game of fetch, the heartbreak when you say your final goodbyes - they're all necessarily experiential. You can describe the experience of owning, loving, and caring for a dog, but no matter how good your description, it doesn't come close to the experience itself.

Gopnik’s article is thought provoking and interesting. It is well-written and well-researched; I highly reco
mmend it. It is in the August 8th issue of The New Yorker. The issue is about $6; alternatively you can sign up for a free trial of the magazine and get free access to the article online at newyorker.com.

Friday, August 5, 2011

Website Update

We've finally managed to complete a task long planned - a small but we hope useful update to our website, thefamilyvet.net.

We've eliminated all use of flash on the site, reduced file sizes for all pages and simplified navigation options. We also eliminated the need to visit a secondary site (alas, thefamilyvet.mobi links will no longer work) for prescription requests and echeck-ins.

Our primary objective was to make the site easier to access and use from most mobile devices, including iPhones, iPads, and BlackBerries and Android phones, while retaining its core functionality. So go ahead, visit our site and submit a prescription request, check-in before your visit, or check-out our twitter feed or our blog -- it's now faster and easier than ever!

Monday, July 18, 2011

Preparing for Google Calendar Appointment Requests

Last month, Google introduced appointment slots in Google Calendar.  We plan to add this feature as an alternative way for clients to request appointments.  We currently offer to schedule appointments via email but, as you can imagine, if the initial offered / requested time is not acceptable, it can result in a lot of back-and-forth emails.  Appointment slots in Google Calendar appears to be a promising feature that will make online appointment request more efficient.  All appointments are requests only until we confirm them with you either via email, phone call, or Google Calendar confirmation.  More details will be posted later when we start implementing this feature.

We are posting this brief tutorial prior to introducing our Google Calendar appointment request option to help prepare our clients who may not be familiar with Google Calendar.  You need a Google account to access our appointment slots in Google Calendar.

If you do not have a Google account, you can easily create one:
Click on image to enlarge

Once you have an account, we need to set up Notifications for your Calendar.  From your Gmail page, you can access your Calendar from the menu bar:
Click on image to enlarge

A list of your calendars is located on the left side of the screen.  If you are new to Calendar, you probably will only have the one calendar that is defaulted to your email address.  You can change the name of the calendar in the settings but, for the purpose of this tutorial, we will skip all that and just do the Notifications.  Access Notifications either through the Settings option or right-click on the arrow.
Setting up Notifications (click on image to enlarge).

Then select the Notifications tab to continue with your settings.
Notifications (click on image to enlarge)

In Notifications, you can select reminder options.  If you are new to Calendar and/or do not already have a reminder preference, we recommend at least email notifications for all new or changed invitations ("appointment requests").
Email Notifications (click on image to enlarge)
Save your changes.
Once you have that set up, you will receive email notifications regarding invitations or appointment requests later.
Email Notifications (click on image to enlarge)
That's it.  You are all set to take advantage of our online appointment request feature later.
We hope we included the details needed to help those not familiar with Google Calendar prepare for the Appointment Slots feature.  Let us know if you need further assistance.  We will post additional information once we start the online appointment request option.

Monday, July 4, 2011

Last Minute Tips for Fireworks-Fearing Pets

From the calls I have received this afternoon (and the way Elaine is constantly on guard), it sounds as though the fireworks are already starting. We have all read, at one time or another, articles about fear of fireworks.  We blogged reminders and recommended starting behavioral modification in April with Spring Into Summer, if needed.  But what if your dog was fine other years (or you were not home and did not know any different) and is terrified this year?  Before panicking and thinking that Rover needs tranquilizers, let's see if he really needs "doggie downers."

There are dogs who are unfazed by fireworks.  Most dogs, though, are fearful and anxious around fireworks.  Their response range from suddenly stopping in their tracks and searching for the booming sounds to panic-stricken, destructive behaviors.  Where your dog falls in this fear-spectrum determines the type of treatment -- from something as simple as cotton balls in their ears and closed blinds to anti-anxiety drugs or tranquilizers.

Signs of anxiety and fear may include attention-seeking (whining, pawing, climbing on you), hiding under the bed, panting, pacing, drooling or even trying to escape (outside).  Cats can show some of these signs also and you can adapt some of these tips for them.  For the most part, dogs are usually the more affected pets.  Since most of the questions we received were from dog owners, this article will be geared more towards our canine companions than our feline friends.

What does your dog do?  Shakes, whines, and keeps pawing you for attention?
These signs are considered mild anxiety (unless they escalate).  We usually do not recommend anti-anxiety drugs or tranquilizers for these responses, especially in older pets.  Drugs are not without adverse side effects.  Behavioral modification and counter conditioning measures are better options.  The more involved behavioral modification techniques are available elsewhere and is beyond the scope of these quick last-minute solutions.  Try some of the following tips for now (assuming that pets are already indoors):
  • Place cotton balls in her ears to muffle the sound
  • If she is curled up in a corner, try draping a thick towel over her head, again to muffle the sound and provide some comfort ("If I can't see it, it can't hurt me" feeling).
  • Play music with a regular deep/low reassuring beat.
  • Keep doors and windows closed if possible (to shut out sounds)
  • Cover up windows (blinds, curtains) to reduce the stimulus from the flashes of the fireworks.
If your dog is not too fearful and is still interactive, you can try positive association with some of these techniques:
  • Turn on the music and play fetch indoors
  • Play games with treats and food rewards that you know she really likes.
If your dog is shaking or whining, do the above activities instead of babying her.  You want to show her that fireworks are nothing to be afraid of, not reinforce the fear behavior.
For the mildly affected pets, an antihistamine can sometimes make them drowsy enough to rest and not be as responsive to the stimulus (fireworks).  It does not work for all pets and does not help the more severely affected ones.  Ask your veterinarian to see if antihistamine is an option for your pets.

The above will work for pets who are mildly affected and are coming to you (attention-seeking) or restlessly pacing around the house.  Do not coax or drag your dog out of hiding to do these positive association.

One of the most misunderstood fear response is hiding.  What to do if your fireworks-fearing dog is hiding in the closet, under the bed, etc...?
Do nothing.

Well, almost nothing.  You can give her a blanket or cover her head.  But do not coax her out so you can hold her and babytalk that everything is okay.....  You will only make things worse.

Hiding is a coping mechanism for dogs.  When confronted with something that trigger fear and anxiety, a dog's normal proper response is to escape to a safe place.  Instead of coaxing your dog out so you can hug him, it is better to let him hide.  You can make these places safer with additional blankets, cover the crate or corner area with a sheet to block out the light flashes.  Keep in mind, hiding is not a sign that your dog needs tranquilizers for the fireworks.  Hiding to get away from something they fear (fireworks) is acceptable as long as they are back to normal when the fireworks end that night or by the next morning.  If you live in an area where the fireworks go on for days, then you may want to consider the behavior modification and counter conditioning measures above.  If that does not work, you are unable to do them, and/or the fear response is too extreme, drug interventions may be needed.

What if your dog gets into panic mode, frenziedly digs at the door, gnaws at the window (to get outside), tries to jump through the window, and/or chews at the crate door?
Those are severe signs that will likely require drugs, such as an anti-anxiety drug or even a tranquilizer, to get your pet safely through the holiday.  You can still try behavioral modification later but, unless you (or someone) can stay at home with your dog AND keep her from harming herself, drugs will be the better option for now.
Contact your family veterinarian for advice.
Reminder to our current clients: Our office is closed but you can still contact us via email or call Dr. Tran on her cellphone.

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Celebrate the Fourth!

Our office is closed until Friday 7/8/11. We will re-open on Saturday 7/9/11.

It may sound corny but I always pause to think of freedom and independence on the Fourth of July.  After the usual acknowledgement and appreciation of what this country has to offer (yes, even in these questionable times), I always circle back to reflect on what I have to offer to others.  I grew up learning that, with freedom and independence (financially or socially), comes responsibility.  This belief is carried over to how we do things at The Family Vet.

One of the reasons I purchased this veterinary practice eight years ago was to continue providing veterinary services to the community.  We are not located in the best area but it is where I grew up and a part of me wants to bridge the gap and make veterinary care more accessible to our lower income neighborhood.
Over the years, the way we provide veterinary care --- as exemplified by our slogan "Personal Care for Pets" --- resonated with many people.  The demand for our services has grown more than anyone had expected.  We experienced growing pains and tried to find ways to accommodate our growth without compromising our core beliefs of providing quality personal care for pets.

Some things we tried worked, some did not.  One benefit of being a small one-doctor practice is the flexibility to try new things.

As I reflect on this July 4th, I realize that we have been busy running around trying to keep up with our practice growth.  We have become a slave to our success --- sort of the tail wagging the dog.  Lately, I worry that we may be nearing the point where our growth will start to compromise our ability to care for our clients and patients.  Moreover, we were fast burning out our small, wonderful caring staff.

As mentioned at the start of this post, July 4th reminds me not only of our independence but also my responsibilities and obligations.

I, represented by The Family Vet, have a responsibility to our current clients, those who have entrusted us with the care of their pets, and to our staff, those who have entrusted us with their well-being and livelihood.
I have many other aspirations.  But I have to first meet the above two responsibilities before I can pursue and take on any other obligations.

We are taking this upcoming week off to give our staff some well-earned vacation time and to give us a chance to do some maintenance work on our building.  The down time will also allow us to implement services to maximize our efficiency and improve services to our current clients and patients.

Our office is closed until Friday 7/8/11.  We will re-open at 8 am on Saturday 7/9/11.
If you have a medical emergency for your pet, please contact AERC at 310-325-3000

During this time, you may still reach us via email staff@thefamilyvet.net or leave us a message at 562-281-PETS (562-281-7387). Urgent messages from current clients will be returned as needed.  We will refer patients to local practices or referral facilities as appropriate.  If you are not a current client, please contact another local practice so your pets may receive timely medical care.
If your pet is currently under medical treatment with me, you should also have my direct cellphone number to contact me if needed.

We plan to return in a week, refreshed and ready to continue providing the personal care for pets that you have come to expect from us.

As you celebrate The Fourth, remember to keep your pets healthy and safe with these holiday tips.
Enjoy Independence Day!

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

562-281-PETS (562-281-7387)

Our primary phone number has changed to 562-281-PETS (562-281-7387).  We apologize for any inconvenience of, once again, changing our phone number.  We appreciate your understanding as we straighten out our phone services.  This should be our permanent phone number now.
Please update our contact information:

The Family Vet
562-281-PETS
562-281-7387
Email: staff@thefamilyvet.net

Dr. Tran may reply to emails from her account for ongoing cases.  To keep the conversation in order and improve continuity of care, you may reply directly to her address.  However, for any new issues or concerns (e.g. scheduling an appointment, prescription request), using our primary address above will ensure our proper and timely attention.

Keep in mind that we receive about 100 emails on an average day.  Elias makes an effort to go through all of them and reply (or redirect to Dr. Tran) within 24-48 hours.  If you do not get a reply from us in 48 hours, please send us another email (if not urgent) and/or, for urgent matters, call us directly.

The same applies to voice messages.  We receive at least 40 phone messages per day.  Some of them are garbled and/or may not contain all the pertinent information for us to return the calls.  If messages are left during our office hours, we usually call back the same day.  We try to return all calls in a timely manner, no later than within 24 hours during our work week.  Since we are closed on Monday and Tuesday, that means non-urgent messages left after closing on Sunday may not be returned until the following Wednesday.  Please follow up with another call or email us if needed.

The best way to contact us outside our office hours is via email.  If your pet is currently under medical treatment, you may also call Dr. Tran directly at the provided cell number.

We appreciate your loyalty and value the trust you have in us to provide veterinary care for your family.

We welcome new clients and patients throughout the year.  However, as you may have noted on our webpage, we are temporarily not accepting new clients at this time (new patients from current clients are still being accepted).  Providing personal care to our current clients and patients is our first priority.  Limiting the number of new clients will allow us time to focus on the patients currently in our care.  We hope to resume scheduling new client appointments in 6 weeks (by the middle of July).

We appreciate your support and understanding as we strive to meet our goal of providing quality personal care for pets.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Frontline Plus.... for your virtual pets!

Play the virtual pets game "Happy Pets" on Facebook and you may run into a little bonus: a virtual Frontline Plus application!

Applying the dose of virtual Frontline Plus to your cat gave will give her a cool bandanna and a shiny, sparkly, flea free coat!



Kudos to Merial for reminding and encouraging pet owners to keep all of their companions flea free and happy!

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Happy Mothering Day!

 Mothering
* (verb) present participle of mother
* bring up with care and affection
* A man's life and schedule revolved around giving his ill cat subcutaneous fluids daily and various medications throughout the day.  His reward is a stable happy companion, confounding the specialists almost a year after they released her to us for euthanasia.

* A work-at-home mom feeds her cat 1 teaspoon of food every 20-30 minutes during the day among all her other duties.  Saving money for the consultation with the internist, this was the one way she found to keep her otherwise healthy cat from vomiting.

* A college student juggled her 2 cats between rooms in a small apartment hoping they will learn to get along.

* A woman spends her time nursing sick kittens and dogs back to health for adoption.  She takes in those that are deemed un-adoptable by the larger well-known adoption organizations.  People like her are the unsung heroes to homeless pets; more so than the glossy fund-raising behemoths (IMHO).

* An elderly man with a dog that will not let him medicate at home.  He brings his beloved cranky companion in every week for us to do the treatment. The round trip cab fares cost more than the treatments themselves.

* A couple re-arranged their work schedule and family life to make sure their new puppy get the full life they want for her --- from brushing her teeth and potty training, to training time and trips to competitions.

* A football player wrapped his huge hands around a kitten as he sweet talked her to take the bottle of formula.  All the while wondering how he would fit the frequent feedings in with his football practice schedule.

I can think of so many more examples of dedication and self-sacrifice from our clients in their pursuit of health and well-being for those in their care.

As most families in the U.S. celebrate Mother's Day today, I find myself thinking of the verb mother more than the noun.

A woman can be a mother to a child, but the art of mothering extends beyond gender, age and reproductive ability.

Whether it is due to financial restraints or other circumstances, some clients choose hospice care or care plans that require intensive time and work on their part.  No disrespect to those who can afford the high costs of week-long hospitalization and intensive care, but there is something heart-touching about someone giving his/her all in time and labor, providing hands-on care for his/her loved ones.

I am humbled by the commitment we are privileged to witness almost everyday at our clinic.

To all our clients and non-clients who may see shades of themselves in the above examples (as they are composites of our clients):
Happy Mothering Day!

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Spring Into Summer

Easter and Spring Break signal the coming of warmer weather and summer fun. Some things you can do to prepare your canine and feline companions for fun in the sun.

Grooming
If your pets have long hair or thick coats that you had let go "au naturale" through the winter, it may be time for them to visit a good groomer.  Depending on the breeds and lifestyles, an appropriate trim will keep your pets comfortable and safe as they mingle at the local dog parks or beaches.
click on image to enlarge
Parasite Control
Although we recommend year round parasite control in Southern California, some people do stop using preventatives over the cooler winter months.  Restart flea control and be prepare for the warmer summer days.  Even if your companions spend most of their time indoors, they bound to pick up fleas on their walks -- and bring them back to your home to multiply.  Fleas can give your pets more than just itchiness.  Products such as Sentinel also takes care of heartworm and intestinal parasites, e.g. whipworms and roundworms.

This 2008 chart has a good summary of the different flea control products available.  Some recent notable changes to that chart include: Advantage II replacing Advantage; upcoming discontinuation of Promeris; and introduction of generic fipronil products. The wide array of flea control products can be confusing.  Advantage, Frontline Plus, Sentinel/Program and/or Comfortis are often used for our patients --- it all depends on the pet's lifestyle and client's preference. If you are not familiar with the flea control products, please consult your family veterinarian.

General Physical Exam
You do not have to wait for your pets to be sick before taking them in for a physical exam and consultation with your family veterinarian.  A wellness visit, especially if one has not been done within a year (or 6 months for seniors and pets with chronic medical conditions), is a great time to go over preventative health care and general concerns.
This is also the perfect opportunity to discuss any noise and fireworks phobias with your veterinarian.  July 4th is not that far away. Starting early on behavior modification may help us avoid drugs (i.e. tranquilizers) during the festivities.
Vaccinations for boarding requirements are usually best done at least 2 weeks before checking your pets into pet lodges.  If you have travel plans for the summer, discuss vaccine requirements with your veterinarian to ensure a safe boarding experience for your pets.

Spring Blooms and Summer Heat
Warm weather dangers deserve a separate article.  Briefly, though, as we enjoy Spring and get ready for Summer, please remember:

* Heat Risks: Limit dog exercise to cooler times of the day. Do not leave unattended pets in parked cars.
* Gardening Risks: Check with the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center to be sure your plants are pet-safe.

Certain diseases are more prevalent in some regions than others, i.e. heartworm and Lyme disease.  Please consult your family veterinarian for specifics in your area.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

We're Still Here

From the lack of activities on our blog, Twitter and Facebook, it may seem as though we lost interest in our online presence.  Nothing can be further from the truth.  Not a day goes by that we do not think at least once, "Oh, we should tweet that," "We need to add that to Facebook," or "That would make a good blog post."  However, in a small veterinary practice, each team member has multiple job titles and wears many hats.  And when things get busy at The Family Vet, our "Social Media Liaison" hat gets put on the shelf as we focus on providing quality personal patient care.

I kept telling myself that I will write more when things calm down at the clinic --- that we will slow down after the new year, that business usually trickle down the weeks before tax day, etc... Well, April 15th came and went and I still see that my last blog post was Elaine's quickie Thanksgiving card.  How embarrassing.

The past year brought many changes to The Family Vet.  Our small clinic experienced unprecedented growth that, at times, was almost more than we could handle.  Against consultant's advice, we even intermittently stopped accepting new clients, when needed, to better care for our current clients and patients. It is still a roller coaster ride at times, but a controlled ride in which we can apply the brakes and steer as needed to keep us from jumping off track.

I am realizing that waiting for things to completely settle down before writing again is tantamount to kissing this blog good-bye.  We just have to include it among the many things we juggle as long as it continues to have a role in our vision for The Family Vet.

Thus, we hope to dust off our Social Media Liaison hat soon and rejoin the online conversation.  Look for our Spring Cleaning list later this week as we go over things we need to do now to prepare our pets for safe summer fun.

It's good to be back :)