Animal Care Clinic

Micro Chip for pet Rescue

2010-05-05T09:15:00.002-04:00

Have you ever lost your pet? Your heart jumps into your throat as you think what may happen if you don't find our loved pet as soon as possible.

What do you do???? Put posters up, go around the neighborhood, call your veterinarian, notify your facebook and worry.

Let's do everything we can to help get your pet back home. The first and simplest to do, is be sure you keep a collar and ID tag on your pet. Anyone that finds your pet can then call the phone number on the ID tag to let you know your pet has been found. A very low tech and simple way to recover your pet.

But what if your pet loses its tag?

That is where microchipping comes in to help protect your pet. We use Home Again chips for that additional safety. When you have a simple injection of the microchip you have added an additional layer of protection to get your pet home again. If your pet is lost and then presented to a rescue group, shelter or veterinarian the scanning for the chip can occur and give quick identification of your lost pet.

We like Home Again chips because for the first year after chipping the chip fee at our clinic includes the chip, chip placement, a year of access to poison control, registered with the PetMicrochipLookup.org, lost pet notification to the surrounding area and a $3,000 insurance policy for medical care during the time the pet is lost.

If you have not microchipped your pets, let me encourage you to get your pets protected.

Have any of you ever had your pet lost and found with the aid of a microchip?

Dog Safety - Not in Hybrids

2009-07-26T21:10:00.004-04:00

Dogs and Infants - I just want everyone who has babies, young children or even older infirmed individuals to please be aware that unfortunate events can occur with our pets (especially if they are wolf/coyote hybrids) in our homes. The incident here in Central Kentucky this past week is an example of this possibility.The Native American Indian Dog that carried a 3 day old infant from his crib and out to the woods behind the owners home could have been a much uglier outcome. Even with the skull fractures, broken ribs and collapsing lungs the child has improved to serious from critical. We pray for his continued healing. This could have been a predator/prey behavior or could have been a mothering instinct. No way to know for sure.

BUT let's think about what to do to prevent this from even happening.

First - don't have a "dog" that is a wolf hybrid, coyote hybrid or any other type of wild stock. These types of animals may prove to be unpredictable due to their wild heritage. There is NO approved rabies vaccine for them to afford protection for them or their owners. Select a breed that has a breed personality that is suited to your attitude and ability to train effectively.

Second - Be sure an extended introduction period of the dog or cat and the newborn is undertaken. This introduction period is not just a few days and could be over a period of years as the pet grows and the child grows.

Third - Obedience training helps to establish a dominance and pack order in which dogs are secure. By training you establish yourself as the alpha individual and places the dog in the subordinate position.

Vaccine Reactions

2009-07-12T21:39:00.002-04:00

Just a reminder for everyone, vaccine reactions can occur after any vaccine is given. Unfortunately, the smaller the dog the more likely we are to have a vaccine if multiple vaccines injections are given at the same time. This risk can be reduced if you will spread the injections apart by 2 or 3 weeks.
Reactions can be as mild as a being a bit lethargic or as severe as an acute anaphylaxis. Delayed onset reactions like AutoImmune Hemolytic Anemia has also been associated as a vaccine reaction.
If you do a blood titer you may be able to reduce the number of vaccines you will be giving your pet and thereby reduce the risk of reaction.

Be sure to talk to you veterinarian or ask us at the clinic if you would like more information.

Overall pet care recommendations

2009-06-21T11:27:00.003-04:00

We all want the best for our pets. The following information is given to our clients and their pets as a guideline to quality health care. These guidelines will help you know what care you should be looking for from your veterinarian.

The Animal Care Clinic's goal for each pet is for them to live a long and healthy life. To that end, there are several different areas of health care that the Animal Care Clinic doctors and staff can have a major influence along with you as an owner on your pet's quality and quantity of life. In order of importance these areas are:

Comprehensive Physical Exams: Comprehensive physical exams are the basis for optimal care. During each comprehensive physical exam the major systems are reviewed by history and hands on exam. From the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail, by visual exam, by palpation, and by measuring the basic parameters of weight, temperature and heart rate the exam gives us an initial assessment of the pet's health status.

Food Choice: As owners, the choice of food and the feeding of proper amounts is the most influential portion of health care you provide for your pet on a daily basis. There are many options available to us for consideration. We at the Animal Care Clinic recommend iVet as a food of choice for most of our patients that do not have special needs. However, other foods or even homemade formulas may be necessary for optimal health. Diet is part of the history taken at each comprehensive physical exam.

Laboratory testing: As the comprehensive physical exam provides a look into the externally available information, laboratory testing gives us a look at the inner workings of the body. A fecal exam should be performed every 6 months, blood testing and urinalysis should be performed every 6 to 12 months, heartworm testing every 12 months. As our pets age we may need to add blood pressure measurement, glaucoma testing, EKG, or more may be necessary to diagnose or monitor disease conditions.

Vaccinations: Because each animal is different, the Animal Care Clinic subscribes to the concept of risk factoring. Risk factoring allows us to help focus the need for which type of vaccine your pet should receive based upon their own lifestyle. Depending on the pet being an urban, rural, social, or an isolated pet points to the type of vaccine to be given. The Animal Care Clinic also subscribes to the idea of extended vaccine protocols to minimize vaccine side effect risk. In some instances, blood testing of protective titers can allow us to safely extend the period between vaccines.

Micro chipping: This simple injection can help protect your pet from being lost without an ability to be identified. The procedure can be performed at any office visit as no anesthesia is required to implant the chip.

Neutering: Spaying (ovariohysterectomy) or castration (orchidectomy) helps your pet to be a better member of the family. By neutering our pets we can help with pet population control. These procedures are normally performed at 6 months of age.

Emergency Care: We provide emergency service by having a doctor on call. Simply call the office at 223-8866.

For appointments or emergencies simply call (859)223-8866

Officer Don and Pilot

2009-06-14T19:27:00.003-04:00

I went for my initial helicopter ride with Officer Don yesterday to check out how Pilot will do as Officer Don's copilot. We had a wonderful flight around the Lexington-Georgetown-Paris area. The weather was beautiful and the air was smooth.

As Pilot finishes his "flight school" we will look forward to his traveling with Officer Don on some of his flight duties. Pilot should do really well.

If anyone has an interest in learning to fly - plane or helicopter - be sure to contact Officer Don for his help.

Pip has been found after 5 years

2009-06-07T19:40:00.003-04:00

A poodle/terrier that I micro-chipped as a young dog in Lexington, Kentucky was found in Palm Springs, CA after being missing for 5 years. The owners were at their resort home in Palm Springs when Pip got loose.

Read the story at the below link

http://www.mydesert.com/article/20090604/NEWS01/906040329/Missing+dog+found+5+years+later

This is a great story and shows the value of getting your pet micro-chipped.

Hootie's results

2009-06-03T16:37:00.003-04:00

We received confirmation today from the pathologist about Hootie's pathology report. He has ostoesarcoma (bone cancer). We are currently working up his chemo therapy protocol now that we have confirmed the type of cancer.

The following link is to pictures taken during the surgery. These pictures may be a bit graphic - so if you have a weak stomach or young children please be forewarned.

If you have had similar experiences please feel free to share them with others through the blog thread.

http://animalcareclinic.net/member_content/292_amputation.html

Hootie's Post op

2009-06-01T15:31:00.002-04:00

Hootie, one of my personal cats at the clinic, is recovering nicely from his amputation of his diseased(cancerous) leg. He is adapting to being 3 legged as we have now given him some freedom Be sure to look at the video posts of the mild limp before the surgery. Just shows how subtle a major problem might present itself.

The clinic website is www.animalcareclinic.net

Have any of you had animals that have had to have amputations? They really do well for the most part. No emotional grieving over the loss of a limb. They just adapt and go on with life.

Butch Schroyer DVM
Animal Care Clinic

Even the doctors animals can have problems

2009-05-29T20:46:00.003-04:00

One of our clinic cats has been a little off when he walks around the clinic. Many mild lameness are simple sprains/strains that will clear in a few days. Hootie. our black cat at the clinic, is a month shy of being 14 years old. So a little ache and pain might be expected. BUT, when he continued to limp we did an orthopedic evaluation on Wednesday and found him to be sore at his right elbow. Because he was sore and just a bit of swelling in his proximal forearm I took a digital radiograph. We could hardly believe what we saw. About 2 cm of his proximal radius was eaten away.

Diagnosis - Cancer

We took chest films to evaluate for metastisis (spread of the cancer). Good news there - no signs of spreading. Blood work showed everything else to be in order.

Treatment - Amputation of the limb with tissue to the pathologist to confirm the type of cancer so we can plan his chemotherapy.

We are awaiting the results and will try and keep everyone posted on his recovery. Hootie is doing well and his pain medication is keeping him comfortable.

Will post a video on Monday of his slight limp along with the digital image of his leg.

WKYT Channel 27 noon Day

2009-05-26T09:47:00.000-04:00

I will be joining Barbara Baily and Bill Bryant for our monthly getting together. Today we will be talking about the risk of heat stroke and protecting our pets from the summer heat. Be sure to tune in and watch. We will be on between 12:30 and 1:00pm

Hot Weather Safety

2009-05-25T10:24:00.000-04:00

Just a reminder for everyone. As you travel with your pets on the holiday - or any day - be sure to be aware of the risks of heat stroke if you leave your dog or cat in the car. A closed car's temperature can rise to well over 140 degrees very quickly. These temperatures can generate a heat stroke collapse and potential death.

When traveling with your dog a harness that permits you to buckle your canine friend into the seat belt of the car not only protects you from distraction while driving but also will let you keep the windows down if you stop and need to get out of the car and leave the pet in the car. Also look for a shady spot to park as opposed to being in the direct sun.

Water should also be made available while traveling. Water is important in the cooling process of transpiration. Remember our canine friends do not sweat, they pant. Panting helps cool the body and a lot of moisture is lost in the panting process and must be replaced.

Have a great holiday - and travel safely!

AKC popular dogs

2009-05-23T09:16:00.000-04:00

Check out this site on the American Kennel Club. It gives you the listing of registered breeds in order of popularity. Where does your dog fall on the list?

http://www.akc.org/reg/dogreg_stats.cfm

Pet Vet on WLAP

2009-03-08T10:38:00.000-04:00

Be sure to listen to my radio show on News Radio 630 WLAP every Saturday morning at 11am. I get to talk about topical news that relates to our pets, answer questions about issues your dog or cat may be facing, our adoptions that we have available at the clinic and even have special guests from time to time.

Be sure to tune in and if you have a topic or question call the show at 280-2287 during the show.

It lots of fun and informative.

Acupuncture

2009-03-08T10:29:00.000-04:00

Acupuncture is a complimentary treatment protocol that can be used in conjunction with and sometimes in place of traditional Western allopathic treatments. Dr. Claire Seagren provides our patients with acupuncture treatments every Wednesday. Just call us to schedule.

Remember that acupuncture has been used by the Chinese for centuries to treat many diseases and conditions. It does offer some hope for diseases and conditions that are failing to respond as well as we would like to traditional Western medical practices.

Stem Cell Therapy

2009-03-08T10:21:00.001-04:00

We are very excited about the addition of Stem Cell therapy at the Animal Care Clinic in our fight against osteoarthritis and joint diseases for our pets. Both Dr Putnam and myself are certified to use this modality of treatment. 80% of the dogs can anticipate improvement and drug use reduction or even drug elimination.

My own dog, Cous Cous has undergone stem cell therapy and is progressing very nicely. She has severe hip dysplasia and been fighting it since she was only 1 year old and is almost 10 now.

clinic update

2008-04-13T16:37:00.000-04:00

The Animal Care Clinic continues to grow and provide even more services for our patients and their owners. Our third doctor is now on staff - fulltime. Dr. Michael Putnam brings expertise in ultrasound imaging, oncology and orthopedic work. We are very happy to have him on our team.

The advance dentistry we offer continues to help many dogs and cats with their dental problems. From malaligned teeth, to damaged crowns and diseased roots, we are able to make the pet's life much more comfortable.

If you have questions just check out the new website at www.animalcareclinic.net.

If you have any animal/pet care questions. Just post them on the site and I will get an answer back to you.

Dr. Butch the petvet

updated website for Animal Care Clinic

2008-03-29T21:53:00.000-04:00

We finally have the newly designed website up and running. Even though it has alot of new items to see, we still have alot more to come. Sign up for our newsletter by email and take a look at our members only area.

We also now have a pharmacy and retail area online with some exceptional pricing.

Also hope to have the blog working very shortly as an easly link on the website.

AVMA House of Delegate

2005-07-15T09:43:00.000-04:00

Being the president elect of the KVMA allows me to attend the AVMA House of Delegates meeting for the next two days. National issues facing veterinarians will be on the table for discussion and proposals of solution. This should be an interesting meeting.

Minneapolis is having an unseasonable heat wave. Warnings are going out to people to be careful in the heat as well as warnings for their pets. As you can tell, heat waves happen even in the north as well as the southern parts of our country.

If you should have any questions be sure to let us know, because "your pet matters".
animalcareclinic@hotmail.com

AVMA National Meeting

2005-07-14T20:47:00.000-04:00

We are attending the AVMA(American Veterinary Medical Association) meeting in Minneapolis this weekend. I am looking forward to seeing many of my colleagues and sharing our ideas about animal care and veterinary medicine in general.

The AVMA is a fine organization devoted to the well being of animals and the veterinarians that care for them.

Drought in Central Kentucky

2005-07-11T22:20:00.000-04:00

It has been exceptionally dry here in central Kentucky. Hurricane Dennis is may well bring some releif from the dryness we are suffering. We continue to worry about heat stroke and heat exhaustion from the high temperatures we are having. WATER and SHADE are important to keep our pets safe.

On another topic, be sure to get your pet in for its semi-annual exam. A thourough physical exam and some bloodwork will assure you that your pet is healthy and able to maintain throughout the summer. If there were to be something amiss, then by identifying the problem, we have the greatest chance of getting resolution before it becomes to serious.

If you should have any questions be sure to let us know, because "your pet matters".

Post 4th of July

2005-07-05T09:11:00.000-04:00

Well the excitement of the 4th has passed. The loud booms that scare our pets are now back to mother nature and her thunderstorms.

Don't forget that summer's heat is upon us, so be sure that we have fresh water and shade. Be especially careful if you take your pet for a car ride. The temperature can swiftly soar to more than 150 degrees in a parked car, even if the windows are left open slighty for some ventilation. If you would be hot in a parked car then our dogs will be hot too! Remember that dogs pant to cool themselves, as they don't sweat as people do when they get hot. If the air temperature is elevated then they can't cool themselves effectively and may suffer from heat stroke. Even if you take your dog for a walk, be sure to use the early morning or late evening for the walk time. This gets you out before or after the heat of the day.

Have fun and enjoy your dog and cat but be careful because "your pet matters".

Pet Care

2005-07-02T22:19:00.000-04:00

It has been a busy week at the clinic helping our clients and their pets. The July 4th weekend is upon us and we hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable holiday.

Be sure to keep fresh water and shade available for our outdoor dogs and cats.

Tranquilizers may be appropriate for some of the dogs that have severe anxiety with all the fireworks being discharged over the holiday.

Sunday, June 26,2005

2005-06-26T09:54:00.000-04:00

Another exciting day with Tom Antion developing our website to help petowners. Many new and exciting ideas have ben presented to us thus far. We hope to have the new website up and running within the month. More news coming.

The day continues to move fast and furious as more and more information comes to me. Let's hope that we can get all of this mastered to help build the website the way it needs to be for it to help people and their pets.