MARCH 2003 FYI
Don't forget to give your dog its monthly heartworm medication
SYMBOLIC GROUND BREAKING
for the new hospital is scheduled for Saturday, May 3 at 2 PM. Everyone
is invited to join us for the big event. We expect to have already
started construction when we all turn a shovel full of dirt. After
the ceremony everyone is invited for punch and cookies set up on
the site of the memorial garden. The staff will be "walking
to the future" as we march from the current hospital to our
new site, 4801 Holland-Sylvania at Harroun. Mark your calendar and
bring the whole family to the ground breaking.
INTERVIEWS ARE SCHEDULED
for the addition of a new doctor to our staff. We are looking for
a person that has a strong interest in cats. With the development
of a self contained and separate cat center we expect to attract
additional cat clients. If you have only cats we hope you are excited
about our design that provides separate entry, waiting and exam
rooms, boarding facility, hospitalization, and check out areas for
cats. If cats accompany dogs to the hospital they will enter the
dog side. These cats are used to dogs and not as easily stressed
by a canine encounter. If hospitalized or boarded, these cats will
enter the cat only facility. If we can find a doctor with a strong
interest in cats this will make our cat facility complete. All the
other doctors will continue to see cats so do not worry if you still
want to see your cat's established doctor. The addition of our fifth
doctor will enable us to add hours to every day, Monday through
Saturday. We will also schedule routine surgery and medical cases
for Saturday. We will not add regular hours on Sunday. There will
be extended hours for picking up boarders on Saturday and Sunday.
ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES
are going to be offered at our hospital starting March 1, 2003.
We are proud to announce that Diane Schuette will be joining our
Sylvania Veterinary Team. Diane will be integrating Reiki, massage
and acupressure as a complement to our traditional medical therapies.
Appointments may be scheduled with Diane by contacting her directly
at (419) 841-0766.
CHANGE IS STRESSFUL FOR CATS.
We carry a product that can lessen the stress on your cat when it
travels, changes homes, is hospitalized or when an outside cat strays
into your yard. Feliway is a synthetic marking pheromone that has
amazing power to help a cat deal with stress. We recommend Feliway
for cats with inappropriate urination, marking or hostile behaviors.
If your cat is stressed when you bring it to the office it may help
to treat its carrier with Feliway. If you inform us of your use
of Feliway the assistant will use it in the room and on her and
the doctors hands. Feliway comes in a 2 oz pump spray bottle and
a new air wick design.
NATURE'S NURSERY center
for wildlife rehabilitation and conservation education is a little
known asset in our region. The wildlife organization was founded
in 1989 and has grown to have two employees that do nothing but
coordinate volunteers and animal care. They receive 12-14 thousand
calls each year concerning injured or orphaned wildlife. They have
provided us with much useful information when we have tried to care
for an injured wild animal. If you have wildlife questions we encourage
you to call Nature's Nursery. They are always ready to accept donations
or offers of help. They can be reached at (419) 877-0060.
LASER SURGERY makes declaws
easier on your cat. When we use our CO2 surgical laser there are
several benefits to your cat. Surgeries performed with a laser bleed
less, have less post surgical pain, have a smaller incision and
seem to recover more quickly. For us the most important benefit
is that we do not have to use a tight tourniquet to stop bleeding
during the procedure. A traditional declaw surgery requires the
use of a tourniquet until the paw is bandaged. The declaw procedure
takes six-eight minutes to do each paw. At a recent staff meeting
we did an educational experiment. The entire staff used a rubber
band to tourniquet one finger and was told to leave the restrictive
binding on for six minutes. No one could go longer than three minutes.
All of our fingers tingled for several minutes after the tourniquet
was removed. We think that not having to stop the circulation to
your cat's paw is the most important advantage of a laser declaw.
The cost of using the laser to declaw is $45 extra.
BLOOD BANK is still looking
for a few good dogs. Our canine blood bank is short of universal
blood donors. These very special dogs are important for the availability
of an on going supply of life saving blood. In February we used
4 units of blood, 3 of which were from our universal donors. This
leaves us with a problem if we need universal blood. We can only
collect blood every four weeks from each donor. If your dog is between
1 and 6 years old and over 50 pounds we encourage you to sign it
up for our next blood typing session. If you are interested in having
your dog be a part of our life saving team call Dr. Jen or Emily
at 419-885-4421 or e-mail drjen@sylvaniavet.com
BODY CONDITION SYSTEM
has been developed and published by Purina. This nine-point scale
rates the condition of your pet's body based on size and appearance.
It is used to determine if you pet is underweight, ideal, or overweight.
We are using the BCS system to evaluate your pet and give you diet
and nutrition advice. Recent studies have shown that dogs that are
lean throughout life will live longer and be healthier. Aging changes
such as arthritis, heart and kidney problems will develop more slowly
in a lean dog. Ask us about your pet's BCS score at its next wellness
visit.
CONTINUING EDUCATION
is important for all our staff. Last month Dr. Jen, Dr. Amy and
Rachael, a doctors assistant, attended meetings to further their
education. Dr Tate went to Western States, a large national meeting,
for four days of classes and lectures. Dr Amy and Rachael went to
the Midwest meeting in Columbus. All veterinarians are required
to have 15 hours of CE annually. We encourage all of our doctors
to attend more than the minimum hours required. In January the entire
staff attended a team building and customer service seminar. We
are constantly striving to improve all aspects of our care to you
and your pet.
RABBIT RESCUE is available
to everyone in Ohio with a stray or unwanted domesticated rabbit.
The Buckeye House Rabbit Society provides foster families and advice
about rabbits. They may be contacted by phone at 800-333-2015 ext.
117 or by e-mail, kieth@ohare.org
LEND A PAW FOUNDATION
recently closed their doors. We are pleased with this occurrence
as many of the animals in the care of the foundation were not receiving
proper care and were not healthy. The founder of the foundation
is also due in Sylvania court on animal abuse charges. What the
closing of the shelter will do to the charges is not yet known.
We had severed all ties with the Foundation several months ago after
years of struggling to help them improve their practices and the
care they provided to the animals.
THE FOUNDATION SHOULD NOT BE CONFUSED WITH OTHER FELINE SHELTERS.
ALL OTHER CAT RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS IN OUR AREA ARE STILL OPEN AND
DO A QUALITY JOB OF CARING FOR AND PLACING STRAY AND UNWANTED CATS.
WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT PAWS AND WHISKERS CAT SHELTER, MAUMEE
VALLEY SAVE A PET, TOLEDO HUMANE SOCIETY, PROJECT C.A.T.S., PLANNED
PETHOOD, AND THE ANIMAL SHELTER. THERE ARE SEVERAL SMALLER RESCUE
ORGANIZATIONS. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT A SHELTER FEEL, FREE
TO CALL.
OBEDIENCE AND PUPPY KINDERGARTEN
CLASSES are forming for our spring sessions. We will be holding
both classes in the evening starting in April. If you have been
waiting for Barb's exceptional classes, it is time to contact her
and sign up. There is no dog too old to attend a beginner obedience
class. We hope that when we are ready to schedule our fall class
it will be in the new Canine Learning Center in the new hospital.
We will have a 1600 sq. ft. space dedicated to obedience and day
care.
SPREAD THE WORD about
Sylvania Vet to all your friends, co-workers, neighbors and family.
Our exceptional care and customer service is available to everyone
that considers their pet a member of the family. The new hospital
will make Sylvania Vet a destination location for pet loving people.
Remember that you can earn an 11% discount on all veterinary services,
for all your pets, for one full year by referring new clients to
us. Word of mouth is our best practice builder. Be a Sylvania Vet
evangelist and reap the benefits. Our goal for March is to welcome
150 new clients to Sylvania Veterinary Hospital. We need your enthusiasm
for us to reach this goal.
HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY
FROM ALL OF US AT SYLVANIA VET
