Q & A

This past summer we ran a series of "Q&A's" in the Appleton Post Crescent, in case you did not catch them in the paper, we will re post them on this blog:

My dog has been diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Should I consider surgery?

Hip dysplasia is condition that dogs are born with where the ball and socket joint does not “fit” together as well as it should. Hip dysplasia causes variable clinical signs depending on severity, age, concurrent orthopedic disease, physical conditioning, etc.  If your dog is in significant pain or has failed medical management, surgical options are available that will likely improve quality of life and discomfort. There are numerous procedures available depending on age, body size, and athletic needs. A consultation with a board certified surgeon can give you an idea of the surgical options and can also help you decide if and what procedure is best for your dog.

Joseph Frank, DVM

Diplomate- American College of Veterinary Surgeons- Small Animal

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My cat's eye is swollen and red. Is it okay to use eye drops that I have from my own eye injury?

No. Swollen red eyes could be due to corneal ulcers or scratches, foreign material trapped (near) the eye, decreased tear production, inflammation of the surrounding tissue (conjunctivitis), or infectious diseases. The treatment will vary depending on the cause of the redness and swelling; therefore, though humans and animals use similar medication, you need to be sure of the diagnosis before instituting treatment. 

Keith Montgomery DVM 
Diplomate  American College Veterinary Ophthalmologist 

Meet Kelly

The client service team is the back bone of any veterinary office.  They are the first people to greet the clients and usually the last one they see before leaving. In our series of blogs, we will introduce our staff.  Let's start with Kelly.  (The following is written by Kelly herself, she was featured in our last newsletter)

Hi, I'm Kelly Geiger.  I have been working as a receptionist at the Fox Valley Animal Referral Center for 7 1/2 years. Boy, I can’t believe it’s been 7 1/2 years already. I guess time does fly by when you are having fun! I went to school to become an office assistant and I found the perfect job. I absolutely love what I do.

I really enjoy meeting new people and their pets.  
I try my hardest to make their visit as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. A lot of our clients are first timers, and it can be very scary and stressful coming to a new facility. I love our clients and their pets that we see on a daily basis. I also enjoy talking to our referring Veterinarians and their staff. They are very caring and compassionate, and they want the absolute best for their clients and their pets. We have a fantastic Veterinary community here in the Fox Valley!

At home, I have an outgoing and stubborn 2 year old son, Trent. He is always keeping my husband and I on the go, morning to night. What I enjoy in my sparetime, (when I get any) is gardening, bird watching, and going on adventures with my family. Who knows what the weekend will bring for the Geiger Family. Everyday, my son and I like to go outside and feed the birds and the little critters. As of right now, Trent’s favorite little critter is Charlie the Chipmunk.

Turkey Tips for your pets!

We all look forward to spending Thanksgiving dinner with our families, which often includes our dogs. After all, they are part of the family and love to be the center of attention.

Dogs also like being handed treats by family members and guests.  However, this can be dangerous and even fatal to your dog.

Here’s how to keep your dog safe this Thanksgiving…

Can Dogs Have Turkey?

In case you’re wondering, yes you can give your dog some turkey and even a little gravy. When placing the meat in your dog’s bowl, be sure to remove all pieces of bone.

Dogs and turkey bones aren’t a good combination.

Just like chicken bones, turkey bones splinter and can cause blockage or perforation of the intestine. Also use caution when feeding your dog turkey skin. It’s great for a treat, but too much can cause a case of canine pancreatitis. Canine pancreatitis causes severe diarrhea and vomiting which can lead to dehydration.

Other symptoms include: severe pain, refusal to eat, crying, weakness and irritability.

For more Thanksgiving Day tips you may visit our Facebook page or go to aspca.org

What I am Thankful for...

While scanning facebook, I see that lots of you are posting what they are thankful for each day this month.  I'm 17 days behind so I will try to catch up!

I would like to say that I am thankful for all the choices that we have today in veterinary medicine.  Advances in technology and treatment are discovered what seems like on a daily basis.

I am thankful we have the choice of euthanasia so we may end our beloved pet's pain and suffering.

I am thankful for my family for their support.  There are many nights, weekends, holidays that technicians are working.  It may seem to our families who are not in veterinary medicine that we are "missing out", however, it is a great feeling to know you saved someone's pet on Christmas, what better gift can you give than sharing your skills and expertise to keep that family complete.

Everyday I am thankful to work at such a great hospital where I know that the doctors are committed to education.  Not just furthering their own but educating clients everyday to what their pet's needs may be.  Every day we see owners who's lives are changed in a blink of an eye.  Sometimes there is a devastating event or an illness is discovered.  We are thankful in advances in veterinary medicine and technology to help these pet's and their families that can sometimes extend their lives and add to the quality of their life.

I am thankful to all the veterinary hospitals in Wisconsin and the UP that send us cases and  share your clients with us.  I are thankful to work as an extension of your practice and do not take that for granted.  

I am thankful that there are clients who take the health care as well as the financial responsibility of their pet seriously.

Thank you to the doctors, technical support staff, client support staff , and referring community to your commitment to your field .

Holiday Pet Hazards

While I was at the grocery store the other day, I heard Christmas music playing.  IT WAS THE DAY AFTER HALLOWEEN..... It is coming folks, time to prepare and keep our pets safe.  Here is a list of tips from the ASPCA (Animal  Poison Control Center):

Holly, Jolly and Oh-So-Safe! Of course you want to include your furry companions in the festivities, pet parents, but as you celebrate this holiday season, try to keep your pet's eating and exercise habits as close to their normal routine as possible. And be sure to steer them clear of the following unhealthy treats, toxic plants and dangerous decorations:

O Christmas Tree Securely anchor your Christmas tree so it doesn't tip and fall, causing possible injury to your pet. This will also prevent the tree water—which may contain fertilizers that can cause stomach upset—from spilling. Stagnant tree water is a breeding ground for bacteria and your pet could end up with nausea or diarrhea should he imbibe.

Tinsel-less Town 
Kitties love this sparkly, light-catching "toy" that's easy to bat around and carry in their mouths. But a nibble can lead to a swallow, which can lead to an obstructed digestive tract, severe vomiting, dehydration and possible surgery. It's best to brighten your boughs with something other than tinsel.

No Feasting for the Furries 
By now you know not to feed your pets chocolate and anything sweetened with xylitol, but do you know the lengths to which an enterprising fur kid will go to chomp on something yummy? Make sure to keep your pets away from the table and unattended plates of food, and be sure to secure the lids on garbage cans.

Toy Joy 
Looking to stuff your pet's stockings? Choose gifts that are safe. 

• Dogs have been known to tear their toys apart and swallowing the pieces, which can then become lodged in the esophagus, stomach or intestines. Stick with chew toys that are basically indestructible, Kongs that can be stuffed with healthy foods or chew treats that are designed to be safely digestible. 
• Long, stringy things are a feline's dream, but the most risky toys for cats involve ribbon, yarn and loose little parts that can get stuck in the intestines, often necessitating surgery. Surprise kitty with a new ball that's too big to swallow, a stuffed catnip toy or the interactive cat dancer—and tons of play sessions together.

Forget the Mistletoe & Holly 
Holly, when ingested, can cause pets to suffer nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Mistletoe can cause gastrointestinal upset and cardiovascular problems. And many varieties of lilies, can cause kidney failure in cats if ingested. Opt for just-as-jolly artificial plants made from silk or plastic, or choose a pet-safe bouquet.

Leave the Leftovers 
Fatty, spicy and no-no human foods, as well as bones, should not be fed to your furry friends. Pets can join the festivities in other fun ways that won't lead to costly medical bills.

That Holiday Glow 
Don't leave lighted candles unattended. Pets may burn themselves or cause a fire if they knock candles over. Be sure to use appropriate candle holders, placed on a stable surface. And if you leave the room, put the candle out!

Wired Up Keep wires, batteries and glass or plastic ornaments out of paws' reach. A wire can deliver a potentially lethal electrical shock and a punctured battery can cause burns to the mouth and esophagus, while shards of breakable ornaments can damage your pet's mouth.

House Rules 
If your animal-loving guests would like to give your pets a little extra attention and exercise while you're busy tending to the party, ask them to feel free to start a nice play or petting session.

Put the Meds Away 
Make sure all of your medications are locked behind secure doors, and be sure to tell your guests to keep their meds zipped up and packed away, too.

Careful with Cocktails 
If your celebration includes adult holiday beverages, be sure to place your unattended alcoholic drinks where pets cannot get to them. If ingested, your pet could become weak, ill and may even go into a coma, possibly resulting in death from respiratory failure.

A Room of Their Own 
Give your pet his own quiet space to retreat to—complete with fresh water and a place to snuggle. Shy pups and cats might want to hide out under a piece of furniture, in their carrying case or in a separate room away from the hubbub.

New Year's Noise 
As you count down to the new year, please keep in mind that strings of thrown confetti can get lodged in a cat's intestines, if ingested, perhaps necessitating surgery. Noisy poppers can terrify pets and cause possible damage to sensitive ears. 

life with technology

So as I write our first blog, we are having a power outage.  We are prepared for such an incident so our hospital can continue to function.  We have back up generators, back up phones, back up lights, you name it.  As much as technology changes and "improves" in the blink of an eye, there is still no substitute for human contact and good old fashion face to face communication.  We tend to rely on phones, text, computers, Facebook, news feeds, for everything from saying hello to a friend to getting the latest weather update.  I right now am able to post this blog because I remembered to charge my laptop last night so I can stay "connected" with the world.... this is a good thing.

Communication is the key in veterinary medicine just like any other area of our lives.  Without it, there are breakdowns and if you will "outages".  When we see a patient, we rely on the human client as well as the referring veterinarian to get the information we need.  We rely on the physical exam of the animal as well as what he is communicating to us with his body language and of course "verbal" communication.  Is he barking, growling, whining, whimpering, etc....are his ears back, tail down, tail up, hair standing up?  If so, he is telling us to proceed with caution.  Of course, most of our clients come to us in pain or have been in an accident, rare is the day we see anything healthy and happy unless they are coming in just to say hi (which we love it when this happens!).

It is especially crucial to have great communication because such a large part of what we do is not only medical treatment of the patient but educating the client.  When a pet is diagnosed with an illness, there is a change in the daily routine, many follow up visits and re checks and constant communication with the referring doctor.

Technology is great and if it is easier for a client to email, text, fax, facebook , whatever, we will take it.  However we can get the information we are open to it, that said, nothing beats looking at the person you are talking to and physically watching the patient in front of you.