The "C" word…Cancer

Chances are if you have a pet, you may potentially be facing a discussion and treatment of cancer.   We frequently hear, "why is there so much of it now"? That is a good question. One answer is another question, is there "more" of it or are we just better equipped to detect it earlier? Also, pet parents are much more in tune with their  pet's behaviors.  We have the technology to find the answers and the knowledge to recognize changes in our animals everyday patterns and behaviors. 

The Fox Valley Animal Referral Center is fortunate to have two Veterinary Specialist in Internal Medicine.  What does that mean? The term “ACVIM Diplomate” refers to a veterinarian who has been board-certified in veterinary internal medicine. Oncology is a subspecialty of internal medicine. Only veterinarians who have successfully completed the certification requirements of the ACVIM are Diplomates of the AmericanCollege of Veterinary Internal Medicine and have earned the right to be called specialists.

Cancer is something we see often and our specialist, our technicians, and our entire team work with clients and their pets to provide a treatment plan that is tailored to the individual. 

Dr. Elizabeth Breuhl recently provided us with some great educational brochures that follow individual survivor stories.  I will share one with you here and to read more visit www.ACVIMFoundation.org.

Meet Pistache Bermingham. 

Pistache was 17 when his owners noticed a large tumor under her tongue which was preventing her from eating and breathing as well as she had been.  After taking her to see a specialist, she was diagnosed with having a squamous cell carcinoma by her lower jaw area.  The specialist gave the owners their options and they took a weekend to think about their next course of action.  Pistache is a fighter and the owners knew she had more life to live.  They proceeded with therapy which included chemotherapy.  The owners remained optimistic.  The tumor shrunk and Pistache when into remission.  She is currently on a once a week dose of an oral form of chemotherapy and is doing well.  Sylvie Bermingham 

You can also check out our Facebook page for more stories submitted by our clients who have been through or are currently going through cancer treatment at: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.493986370648668.1073741825.133876333326342&type=3

Cancer is personal and it touches us all.  

Something no one wants to talk about ...

This topic is a heavy one.  It is emotionally draining and it is personal.  It is a topic we need to start talking about more and it is something no one wants to talk about at work or at home but we NEED to. I am talking about suicide.  So many things fall under that as well, depression, burn out, anger management, compassion fatigue, and an array of many mental health issues.

"Mental Health Issues" for most, bring to mind negative thoughts or association with "there is something wrong with me" or viewed as a sign of weakness.  When brought up, a lot of us run as far and as fast as we can or bury our heads in the sand.  As individuals, we need to change that.

Suicide in Veterinary Medicine has increased drastically.  One study found the suicide rate amongst veterinarians is 4 times higher then the general population and 2 times higher than those in human health care.

In the course of your day do you find you are juggling multiple tasks at work AND thinking of what is going on outside of work? I am fairly positive the answer is YES.  You are present wherever you are physically but are you mentally? Are you thinking of your kids, your spouse, your grades, your job performance, your pet(s), your financial situation, your weight, your health, drug/alcohol use, smoking, your car, your house, the list can go on and on and explode into issues we have no control of.

What we can control is what do we do with those feelings and acknowledge having them.   If we feel  CAN'T control them, we need some help.  We can not be afraid to speak out.  No one should die because they are afraid to speak out.  Admitting we need  help is NOT weak, it is NOT shameful.

In veterinary medicine, we pour ourselves into what we do.  We are invested.  We give everything we have to our patients and to our coworkers often leaving nothing at the end of the day for our families or ourselves. We are horrible at maintaining work-life balance. This is includes the entire veterinary team from client service,  assistants, technical staff, administrators, and veterinarians.

"I am going into veterinary medicine to get rich" said no one ever.  Those of us who dedicate our lives to this profession are caring and compassionate people.  We put the needs of others before our own.  This contributes to our mental health status and to fatigue.  We need to be equipped to deal with this and to recognize when we need help.

Many times, our patients die or are diagnosed with a disease that presents many challenges.  The entire team faces these challenges along with the patient and the owners. They may not look like they are affected, but trust me, they are.

What can we do as a profession & employers?

Contact state & national organizations and request information and continuing education on recognizing the signs of stress, depression, fatigue, burnout, and suicide.

Have counseling start while in school to assist and prepare students

Have mental health/well being education and training be a part of your hospitals mandatory training

Have an open door policy / anytime anywhere safe zone for employees

What can we  do as individuals?

Take care of yourself.  Give your self a break

Take care of others, support them, encourage them, don't judge or make assumptions

Ask for help when needed

All of us who work in health care know life is short and it is unpredictable.  This is a small world, it is time to take care of ourselves and each other, you never know what the person next to you is carrying around with them…

Google, bing, panda, yahoo, twitter, oh my

Technology and education…. two things that are essential in keeping up in the word today. Veterinary medicine is not immune to this.  We all like to think that the patient and patient care is the only thing that we need to focus on and provide.  Not true.

Scientific education is the easy part, as any technician or doctor knows that the learning will never end and there is "easy access" to quality education.

When is comes to technology it is overwhelming.  What do I use, how do I use it, where do I post, when do I post it.  What the heck is panda, penguin, hummingbird,twitter, bing, supercalifragalisticexpiolidocious! (All are real except the last one).

Studies show that people use the their mobile devices to look for information, seek out a business, get directions, etc.  Google, Yahoo, and Bing make up 98% of HOW people are searching for the information they are looking for.

I am writing this blog right now as I am sitting in a marketing workshop in Savannah GA.  Currently the Fox Valley Animal Referral Center has a website, a Facebook page, a twitter account, a pinterest account, a blog, an app, a google page, and a you tube account.  Did you know this? Most of our staff does not know this! These are all great learning tools and I understand that we all seek out the information differently so the challenge is to keep up with all of this!

For anyone who has read our blog, you can see that the last blog was 2014, NOT like just a few weeks ago when it was 2014 but almost a year.  Marketing 101 dictates a blog should be weekly best case scenario, monthly worse case so let's see if I can do a better job of this.

I will commit to posting a blog monthly and will promise to keep it educational, not whiny like this one! SO IF you have read this, please hit me up on our Facebook page  and let me know what you would like to learn about!

https://www.facebook.com/home.php

www.fvarc.com

https://twitter.com

https://www.pinterest.com/fvarc/

Oh by the way, when posting a blog it is recommended to use a photo.  It has to be a photo YOU OWN, not a google image ad so here is a photo of Georgie, who I do have permission to use!

Cheers,
Lyn

FVARC Receives new accreditation

Fox Valley Animal Referral Center is proud to announce that we are distinguished with an elite group of veterinary hospitals and certified as a Level 1 Emergency and Critical Care Facility. The Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society (VECCS) awarded this prestigious designation to us in October of 2013.

VECCS announced the certification program in February of 2013 to increase public and professional awareness, and to raise the standard of care in the area of emergent and critical patient care. The first two hospitals to receive level 1 certification in the whole country were Fox Valley Animal Referral Center and Lakeshore Veterinary Specialists, both in Wisconsin.

There are three levels of certification based on the hospital's operation hours, equipment, and personnel. Level 1 is the highest distinction. Every two years, our certification will be reviewed for renewal. This ensures that the guidelines and hospitals will keep current with changing recommendations such as the new CPCR guidelines published in June of 2012.

“A Level I emergency and critical care facility is a 24 hour acute care facility with the resources and specialty training necessary to provide sophisticated emergent and critical patient care.” 

VECCS Statement

Some of the requirements that our hospital had to meet are listed below: Staffing
Two board certified Emergency Critical Care Diplomates
Veterinary Technician Specialists in emergency/critical care
Board certified specialists in surgery, internal medicine, dermatology, and radiology

Emergency Capabilities

STAT diagnostic capabilities
Emergency surgery
Critical care monitoring, oxygen/ventilation therapy Transfusion therapy
Ultrasonography and Computed Tomography

Continuing Education

Journal Club
Morbidity & Mortality Rounds
On/Off site continuing education resources
Facility Requirements
Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year

Fox Valley Animal Referral Center welcomes this opportunity to show our commitment to providing a team approach in excellent emergent and critical patient care. To find out more information about this certification, go to www.veccs.org. 

Well folks, summer has "finally" arrived for those of us that wait all year for these hot, humid days.

The expression "dog days of summer" has a bit of a different meaning for us in emergency medicine.  Before reading this blog, this is your official warning, it is a "soap box" blog.

On Saturday after going to the local farmers market and running a few errands, I spotted a car in the parking lot which had a dog in it.  It was 77 degrees at 10 am.  The windows literally were only cracked an inch at best.  The dog in the car was 70 plus pounds.  A bit overweight for the breed he appeared to be.  My 10 year old son was the one who noticed him and how heavily he was panting and that his colored "did not look right".  The dog was clearly uncomfortable and jumping back and forth from the front to the back seat trying to find some shade.

I took a picture of the license plate and went into the store asking them to make an announcement that the dog locked in this car was showing signs of distress.  Which they did.  I walked back out waiting for the owner to come out, they did not.  The next and only other way I  could think to do to help was to call the police.  I gave the license plate number and a description of where the car was parked.  I then decided to leave.  Why? Like I said, I had my son with me and I had nothing good to say about the owner of that car and at that time with my emotions running high, did not trust myself as to what my reaction would be if the owner had come out.  I can assure you that I would not have acted out physically, however there would have been a stern, one sided conversation if you will.  I figured it was better to leave this to the police. I had also found out that someone else had already called the police and they were on their way.

I started thinking of what I would say to those people who continue to insist on taking their dogs with them everywhere they go during the summer months and then recalled that someone beat me to it.  Dr. Ernest Ward from North Carolina made a great video documenting how quickly the temperature rises inside a car.

http://www.samaritanmag.com/1589/veterinarian-locks-self-hot-car-pet-experiment

http://www.seasidevet.com


I just do not understand WHY anyone would think it is "ok" to leave a dog in the car for "just 5 minutes".  It just is NOT.  It is irresponsible and selfish if you think your dog needs to be with you every second of the day that they just can not bear to be without you while you run to the store.

Heat stroke is completely avoidable.  There is just no reason that a dog needs to suffer or die from it.

Here is a list of heat stroke symptoms:

http://www.petmd.com/dog/emergency/common-emergencies/e_dg_heat_stroke#.UeRBZxbZWJU


Thank you to whomever posted this sign !

Here are some fun ideas of how to beat the heat and keep your K9 friends cool this summer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DX2WEXd53ik&feature=player_detailpage

I will now step off my soap box with one final plea... we live in a state where although it feels like we have two seasons, construction and winter, we have 4.  Spring, summer, fall, and winter.  All can be wonderful and we can enjoy them with our furry family members but PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let's be safe ! 

Came across this great blog from an emergency clinic in TX.  Although we have only been teased with a few warm days, sooner or later summer will find it's way to us:

How to avoid heat stroke

All pets that are kept outside need to have shade and plenty of water provided. If possible- when it gets to be hotter than 90 degrees it is best to bring your pets inside. If they are an outdoor pet- please heed the precautions provided below.
If you do plan on spending time outside with your pet, please be aware of several common and serious problems that may arise in the hot weather. Even the most experienced pet owners may sometimes be unaware of these dangers. The following are a few tips on how to avoid undue stress or pain to your beloved 4 footed friend.

Boy its hot and sunny out there. it is cool in here with the a/c

Dogs can wear shoes…but normally do not

Dogs can burn their feet running around on cement in the hot summer sun. Grass and dirt tend not to become quite as hot. However, if your pet is generally pampered, his paw pads may not used to rough ground and it can cause severe trauma. Most of our dogs want to please us. They will follow us anywhere even if they are in pain…so please take note. If your pet is used to being indoors, a run on a summer day on the concrete or a trail is probably not the best idea and should be reconsidered.

puppy on a walk in the grass

Dogs don’t sweat

Dogs and cats cannot sweat. They pant to cool off. Sweating, also known as evaporative cooling, is more efficient and works better. The only way that a pet can benefit from evaporative cooling is if they are wet and provided with a breeze by wind or a fan.

Fans won’t work

A fan will only work to cool your pet if they are wet.

Dogs cannot talk and let you know the water is too hot!

In the summer your hose becomes heated by the suns rays. When you turn the water on it comes out very hot! Always let the water run out of the hose for a little while before using it on your pet. Test it with your own hands to make sure it is nice and cool. We often see dogs that start losing their hair in a straight line down their back or on their side. This is usually caused by scorching from a hose that was running hot water.After being scorched by hot water, it takes about three to five days for the hair follicles to fully die and for the hair to fall out. These injuries are extremely painful and, if enough skin is involved, this can become a life threatening problem.

Even at rest…

Overheating and heat stroke DO NOT require activity! When it gets very warm outside, many dogs can’t pant fast enough or hard enough to remove the heat that is accumulating in their bodies. Even lying around in the shade on a very hot day, dogs and cats may over heat. The brachycephalic (short-nosed dogs like pugs, Boston terriers, bulldogs and boxers) breeds have an exceptionally difficult time keeping themselves cool and are very susceptible to overheating. These breeds are inefficient at panting and often have numerous other abnormalities found in the respiratory track (nose to the lungs) so they have difficulty moving air in and out. Obese pets also have difficulty cooling down. Their fat effectively insulates them (like blubber used to keep seals and polar bears warm) so that heat becomes trapped in the body. Being overweight limits the expansion and compression of the chest cavity as well thus making panting even less efficient. The combination can be deadly. So be extra careful in the heat with short-nosed and obese dogs.

Dogs love to swim!

Evaporative cooling does work when animals are wet. Simple light kiddie pools or wading pools are perfect for dogs to play in. Many of them will not just jump in at first and may need a little convincing. Once they are in though, they may not want to come out! Dogs should not remain wet however, as this may cause some issues with their coat if allowed to stay wet for extended periods of time.

Dogs and swimming pools

People need to be very careful with their dogs around swimming pools. Even though most dogs swim well, they may not be able to figure out how to get out of a pool. If the dog gets in the pool when you are not around they can panic, become tired and then drown. Smaller dogs sometimes just fall in (especially when they are trying to get a drink out of the pool) and the same thing can happen to them. Protect your pets just as you do your children around the swimming pool.

Sunburn

Just because dogs have fur doesn’t mean that they can’t get sunburned. Lighter colored dogs are more susceptible to the sun’s damaging rays but even dark coated dogs can burn their ears and noses. If you shave your dog for the summer they may be more susceptible to becoming sun burned than they would normally. Sunburn can be as painful in dogs as it is in people. There is often a delayed response in pets so you may not notice that your pet is hurting until several hours later.

Skin cancer is as big a problem in dogs as it is in people. The sun can cause irreversible damage that leads to cancer, especially in light colored dogs. Dogs and cats can lose portions of their ears, nose or eyelids to cancer. This type of cancer is typically very aggressive (squamous cell carcinoma or melanoma) so that if it is not identified and removed early it is possible that can spread to the lymph nodes or lungs. Sunscreen that is baby safe may be considered to help prevent this deadly disease. Limited exposure to the sun and shade are also considerations.

Until next time, please spay and neuter your pet and keep them healthy and indoors!

J. Veronika Kiklevich, DVM, DABVP (C,F) and Ariana Finkelstein, DVM
I-10 Pet Emergency
10822 Fredericksburg Road
San Antonio, TX 78240
(210) 691-0900
www.i10petemergency.com

Living in a digital world

When it comes to technology such as a laptop, television, camera, you buy something today, a newer version comes out tomorrow...

Download your software upgrade, wait a week and the next version is out...

IPhone, Ipad, Itouch, Ishuffle... text me, tweet me, send me a message on Facebook, read my blog...

It sounds like a Dr. Seuss riddle doesn't it? 

How is a person to keep up with it all?  It seems overwhelming at times but can sure be convenient when you literally can access the information you are looking for in seconds from your hand held device.  

If you have not already guessed, today's blog is to inform you that the Fox Valley Animal Referral Center now has an app!! 

It is in the beginning phases and we look forward to adding new features to it.  

I have included the links for both Iphone and droid users

Iphone users:

FVARC on iTunes: 

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/fvarc/id617927497?mt=8&uo=4

Android users:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.foxvalley&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwyLDEsImNvbS5mb3h2YWxsZXkiXQ.

As a quick over view:

Currently, there are 4 screens.  A home screen which clients can tap to call, tap for directions, our hours, as well as a history of our hospital.  They can also tap here to get to our website.

The news section of the app currently features directions how to use the app.

The post card screen allows clients to choose a back ground template, take a photo of their pet and email it, post it to facebook, send it to us, post it to their twitter account or just save it to their photo album.  

The 4th screen it a social screen which takes the client to our blog, pintrest board, twitter , you tube account, and facebook page.  Yes, we have ALL of those!!  

Future use for the app will be a links and library section, appointment reminders etc....