Pets of the Homeless

How often have we come to a stop on a freeway ramp or busy intersection only to see a homeless individual and their beloved canine companion hoping for a donation? I know it happens to me all to frequently-in the car, in Old Town Pasadena, you name it. I find myself wanting to help, but not sure how to do so.  We now have a way to help and invite anyone interested to support the cause as well.

We are proud to announce that Rosemont is a collection site for the Pets of Homeless Organization. What this means is that we collect donated cat and dog food and deliver it to a local distribution site. We will be using a site in Burbank so all donations go to local people and pets in need. The program accepts any kind of dog or cat food-dry or canned, generic, namebrand, you name it. We at Rosemont have also partnered with Hill's Science Diet for the program, and they are donating several cases and bags of canine and feline food every quarter. We have already received their first contribution--thank you Hill's!! We will be making trips to donate once per month, and more often if we collect many pounds of food and run out of storage space!

Here's some information about the homeless that you may not have known:

There are approximately 3.5 million homeless people in the United States, and we know Southern California has a particularly high population of homeless. About 10% of the American homeless population has a pet dog or cat. These pets provide their companions with friendship, loyalty, love, and protection-no different to the way our pets provide these things for us. Often, these pets represent a link to reality, to a difficult past, or to a family member, thus creating a very powerful bond. Many homeless people will sacrifice food or clothing for themselves to care for their pets. Often, the shelters available for homeless families or individuals do not allow pets, and the people choose to remain on the streets to avoid separation from their pets. Fortunately, most people who experience homelessness do so for only a short time. Once they find employment, shelter and a support system, their pets are usually very well cared for.

If you are interested in donating, you can call or email us, or just drop by with a can or bag of food. No donation is too small, every and any contribution will be very appreciated. Also, check out the website for the organization below, it is very informative and details many ways to help. We know our clients are some of the most generous and we know that together we can make a difference. Thanks in advance for your support!! :)


http://www.petsofthehomeless.org/

The tables have turned...

I have written about my very best friend in the world before, probably to the point of inducing nausea in many of my readers. I apologize, and brace yourselves, I am going to do it again. Many of you know that I rescued Whitney when she was about 10 weeks old. The Pasadena Animal Control thought she had been used as bait in a dog fighting ring when they picked her up. She came to me at the clinic battered and bruised. She had lacerations exposing both of her jugular veins, she had deep punctures on her abdomen, her hips, and under her tail. She was a mess. After a prolonged surgery, too many stitches to count, and some serious wound care, she opened her eyes after surgery, and locked her eyes on me. That was it. From that day 5 years ago forward, we have been inseparable. She truly is the greatest companion I have ever, and likely will ever, have the honor of knowing.

Every single day of my life for the past 5 years has been marked by laughter, thanks to Whitney. And I am not talking about a smirk, I mean flat out belly laughter. She is the naughtiest, most irreverent creature I have ever met. I laughed the many times I caught her in the cupboard deciding what she would steal, laughed when she walked through the house with the potato chip bag stuck on her head, and looked startled when she was busted for scavenging. She burps better than any frat boy you will meet, and usually at the most inopportune moments imaginable. There was the time at the beach when the nice woman told Whitney what a pretty little lady she was, and Whitney replied with the loudest, wateriest, most revolting burp to date. We laughed, but tried to hide it like parents of a naughty toddler, we thought it would encourage her behavior.  I laugh every time I turn on the vacuum cleaner and she gathers up all her stuffed animals, her "babies" and takes them outside for safety.Then I laugh when she ferries them all back in when the vacuuming is over. I really laughed the day I walked into the kitchen and she was sound asleep on my kitchen table. Even while I took pictures, she didn't even budge, she was snoring. The sun was shining, it was a beautiful day, and she had the warmest seat in the house. I laugh when I find bones and Greenies of her's buried throughout the house for a rainy day, under my pillow, in the sofa, behind the big chair. I even eventually found humor in the day that I got pulled over because Whitney was so entertaining to the nice policeman. She knows she is not allowed to bark at cars that pass us, so she silently curls up her nose and bites the air as the cars pass. She didn't realize that the car she did that to ten times on Foothill Blvd was Officer Friendly. He told me she was so funny that he had to share it with me, and that she made his day--what he didn't know is that she makes my day--every day. 

Today was different though, because today, Whitney made me cry. Today, we confirmed that Whitney has a mast cell tumor, a type of malignancy (read cancer) on her leg. These tumors have the potential to be very aggressive and invasive, and they need to be removed rather aggressively. So, this Thursday, the tables will be turned. I will be the nervous mommy who drops her best friend in the world off at the board certified surgeon's office for her surgery. And I imagine, that will be the second day in 5 years that Whitney will make me cry.

Please keep Whitney in your thoughts during her surgery on Thursday. She will likely have a long recovery and we will keep all of her fans posted on her status. I leave you with one of my favorite pictures of Whitney, I am pretty sure she will make you laugh too!!!

Really Rotten Rattlers!

Ok guys, I hope your early summer is progressing nicely, and you are getting some good opportunities to get out and enjoy the glorious weather we have been having. As you all know, I am a huge advocate of getting out and getting active with your dogs, however, I write today with a small word of caution.

In the past 2 months, we have had 2, yes you read that right, 2 rattlesnake bites treated at Rosemont. It's not even the middle of June!! One of the victims was out hiking on a trail, but the second one was in her very own back yard! Both bites were delivered by young rattlesnakes, and both dogs were nipped right on the muzzle. Rattlesnakes are out in full force this year, and it seems they have been active a little earlier than usual. I wanted to share a couple pieces of advice regarding rattlesnakes, bite prevention, and care.

Snakes seem to be most active in the mornings and evening hours, however, a snakebite can occur in any waking hour of the day. Most commonly, curious dogs are bitten in the muzzle after getting too close or startling a snake. Any rattlesnake can deliver a deadly bite, but the juvenile snakes are particularly dangerous. This is because the kiddos are novices, and they haven't yet developed the control needed to deliver a small amount of venom, therefore bites from juvenile snakes tend to carry more venom and cause more severe damage. Rattlesnake bites are incredibly painful, and they cause sever damage to the tissue around the bite wounds. Usually you will find one or two puncture wounds, one of the telltale signs that a bite has occurred. The tissues will swell rapidly and can cause breathing difficulty if the airway is involved. The venom can also set off a cascade of blood clotting disorders resulting in internal bleeding and damage of the blood vessels which can be life threatening.

Should you see your pet bitten by a snake, or even have a suspicion that a bite may have occurred, immediately get your pet to the veterinarian. The sooner you begin treatment, the better the outcome. Time is very much of the essence. Most veterinarians have antivenin in stock and can begin administering it as soon as you arrive at the clinic. Administering antivenin greatly increases survival chances in dogs, especially if it is given within the first few hours after the bite. Fluids, antibiotics and pain medications will also be administered to stabilize your pet, keep him or her comfortable, and treat the conditions associated with snakebites.

What can you do to prevent such an event? Keep an eye on your dog when in the yard, especially if you have a large property with lots of hiding places. Snakes don't usually bite if they aren't provoked, so if you see your pet a bit too interested in something, it is worth a look. If you see a rattlesnake on your property, call the local animal control, they will come out to pick up the snake and relocate it. Keep your dogs on leash during the warm months, this way should you run into a rattling reptile, you can redirect your dog and avoid disaster.

Finally, did you know there is a rattlesnake vaccination? This does not prevent treatment should your dog be bitten, but it certainly gives you a little time to make your way to the vet and gets the dogs immune system working to fight the venom. The vaccination is safe and inexpensive and just might save your dog's life. I have included a link to a very informative website with a presentation about rattlesnake bites, vaccinations, treatment and prognosis for those of you who are interested, and of course you can always call us for further information or to schedule the rattlesnake vaccination for your dog.


As always, happy trails!! Enjoy the summer!!

http://rattlesnakevaccinefordogs.com/

The case of the very teeny testicle!

We thought we would share an interesting case we recently had here at Rosemont with those of you who have an interest in what goes in the trenches during a normal day for us! As you all know, it is very important to spay and neuter our pets, not only to keep pet overpopulation at a minimum, but also for the long term health and well-being of our pets. Intact (or non-neutered) males, are at a much higher risk of testicular cancers, prostate infections, prostate cancers, and the prostate problems that make older men have to pee so frequently in the night, prostatic hyperplasia. Unspayed females are at a much higher risk for mammary cancers, and life-threatening uterine infections called pyometra, as well as other reproductive cancers.

Roscoe, a 9 month old Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy, very active and full of life came to see us about a month ago. His breeder warned his dad that only one of his testicles had descended, but not to worry, the other one will come. In reality, if your male dog's testicle has not dropped by the time your breeder sells him to you, the odds of it actually appearing are very slim. So Roscoe's dad waited...and waited...and watched. He probably made Roscoe a bit uncomfortable with all the checking! Finally, we went in to find the missing part!

After much searching we finally found what we had all been waiting for-Roscoe's missing testicle. It was in his abdomen, far from where it should have been, not making it very far from where it started during gestation, which was right near his kidney. The thing about it though, was that it was small, actually, not even small, it was TINY, and misshapen. This testicle was sitting in Roscoe's abdomen and had no intention of ever coming out as his breeder promised! We removed the normal and abnormal testicle and Roscoe is doing just fine today.

What does this mean for other dogs with this problem? What does it mean for someone who is planning to get a dog from a breeder? Basically, that abnormal testicle that remains in the body is subjected to a higher temperature than the normal one, and due to this, Roscoe was at a much higher risk for testicular cancer. Now that it is removed, that risk has been eliminated. While the surgery is more involved, and the recovery is a bit longer, this is minor compared to what could have been in Roscoe's future. The same is true for any dog, or cat, with the same problem. The technical name for a retained testicle is a cryptorchid, and cryptorchidism is a hereditary problem, so make sure your breeder has not seen this problem in his or her line of pups.

Just another reason to make sure you ask lots of questions of your breeder, and always spay and neuter your pets! :)

Attached, a picture of the normal and "abnormal" goods Roscoe brought us!! Peek below if you dare!! :)

Pets to the rescue!

Over the past week I have found myself really marveling at the complexity and beauty of the human animal bond. Unfortunately, some of this was brought about by having to say goodbye to some of my oldest, most beloved patients, and watching some of my dearest clients grieve their loss. In getting to know my clients, I have the privilege of being invited into their lives. I get to know their families-both two-legged and four-legged, I learn some of their favorite hobbies, and get to hear about their happiest, and sometimes saddest times. But one thing that continues to strike me time and again, is the very central role our pets play in our daily lives. 

All too often we hear about people who rescue animals in need. I think we overlook how often animals rescue people in need. I'm not talking about those stories we hear on the news about hero military dogs, or cats who step on the phone and dial 911 when their caretaker is in danger--we all know those animals are amazing and deserving of praise. What I am always humbled by are the patients I see every day, they are heroes to their companions. I see dogs who were adopted after a divorce or a death in the family, they save their humans from loneliness and sometimes depression. They fill a void and provide companionship when it is needed most. I see cats and dogs who sit bedside with ailing companions, ever the faithful companion. They provide constant company and a watchful eye. I have patients who visit the sick and elderly in hospitals and nursing homes, and patients who visit children in local schools, and hospitals. There are no words for what these guys provide-perhaps the only visitors these folks might have. They arrive, they wag their tails, give some kisses, or sometimes just sit and listen and somehow understand exactly what is needed. Let us not forget about the dogs who arrive to their companions, leash in mouth, demanding a walk. They rescue us day and in and day out from laziness, encouraging us to get out, breathe some fresh air, hike a new trail and enjoy our world with a friend. Often, I see new pets come in after the client lost a past pet, there is new life in these peoples' eyes, and the empty spot left by an old pet begins to be filled by their newest companions, Often, these are the very people who promise me they will never have another pet because they think they will never possibly heal, but their new dog or cat becomes a powerful source of healing. I see kittens making little children squeal and giggle, puppies who teach us patience and humor, and elderly animals who teach us what it means to grow old gracefully. 

I, for one, know Whitney came into my life to make me laugh at LEAST once a day, every day. Laughter is the greatest gift she has ever given me, and she rescues me every day for the doldrums of life. I dedicate this post to anyone who, like me, has ever been rescued by an animal. We owe them so much, and are so lucky to share our world with them. Have any of you guys ever been rescued by a pet, and if so, we would love to hear your story! 

Online Pharmacy Now Available

As a small business, we always thought it would be too hard for Rosemont to compete with the buying power of the large online pharmacies (one of the most popular online pharmacies had sales of $231.6MM for 2011).  However, we have discovered tools available to veterinary hospitals like Rosemont that allow us to offer our clients all the benefits of an online store and pharmacy.  You can order all the same drugs that you can get in person at Rosemont, prescription diets, treats and more.  For many orders, fast shipping to your door is free.  If your order includes a prescription refill that requires a doctor to authorize it, the system will notify us and we can deal with it right away.

Even better, our prices are very competitive with other online sources and we have another major advantage:  Because of unknown storage conditions at the big warehouse type online pharmacies, many of the drug companies that manufacture your pets medications do not guarantee their products if purchased from these stores.  However, if a client buys through their local veterinarian, including an online store like the one at Rosemont, and there is a problem with the drug, the drug company will fully back up its product and we are able to get some resolution for our clients.

We have slightly mixed feelings about the online pharmacy because we love to see our clients face-to-face when they come in to pick up medications or food.  Its our chance to chat and catch up with them and find out what's new in their lives.  However, we realize that sometimes its just much more convenient for clients to order online and not have to make a separate trip to the vet.  We hope you will enjoy this new service, take advantage of it when you need to and still stop by to see us from time to time!
To get to the online store, simply log in to your Pet Portal and go to the 'shop' link in the top right of the menu bar.  The picture below should help you find it.  Have a look around and compare our prices, we think you'll be pleasantly surprised.  Here is the link to the Pet Portal login page.

The Case of the Shen Disturbed Dingo

In keeping with my last post's theme of the indications and applications of complementary medicine in veterinary practice I thought I would take the opportunity to answer the most common questions I have received from you guys in the past few weeks. Those questions are,"what can acupuncture be used for, other than pain?" and "does it really work?" I have answers for both, and better yet, I will give you proof!

We all know acupuncture's most common indication and use is for chronic pain, back pain, arthritis, and injury relief. But, did you know that acupuncture is very useful in cases of anxiety, phobias such as noise and weather phobias, restlessness and fears? So many households have dogs with separation anxiety, thunderstorm phobias, or pets that are too shy in public to socialize. These pets are excellent candidates for acupuncture, which may also decrease their need for medications and extensive training to manage their behavioral problems.

Many of you have met or at least heard of Whitney, my little yellow dog who looks alarmingly like a dingo. Whitney brings new meaning to the words shy and anxious. She is overly attached to me and is prone to separation anxiety as well as a generalized anxiety which at times leaves both her, and my house in ruins! Whitney's anxiety is also manifested in the form of restless sleep. She never relaxes, tosses, turns, and has very active dreams all night long, leaving the entire household frazzled.

Whitney, as well as many other dogs with such anxiety, suffers from what is known as a Shen disturbance. In traditional medicine, it is thought that if one's Shen or spirit is calmed, the anxiety will subside. Because I like to practice what I preach, I decided to begin acupuncture on Whitney. Nobody believed I would be able to get Whitney to sit still long enough to needle her, and they warned me that we would have a rogue dingo running loose with needles in her head, but we tried nonetheless. Whitney LOVED her treatment! Not only did she sit still, but she fell asleep. I have never seen my dog so relaxed, and I was so pleased to be able to give her the gift of peace. That night, Whitney slept peacefully and we all woke up refreshed. Her anxiety is much reduced, and she has had a noticeable improvement to people who know her. This is a work in progress and will be a long road, but things are looking up already. This is one step toward a better quality of life for both Whitney and for us!

Please don't hesitate to call for more information if you have a dog with anxiety, separation issues, shyness, restless sleep or behavioral problems. We just might be able to help!