#carecentervets

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Puppy Posie just doing her part to help other puppies by donating blood today at Care Center in Cincinnati #carecentervetscincinnati #carecentervets #cincinnati #cincy #cincypride #cincinnatiusa #blooddonation #blooddonor #bernesemountaindog #berner #bernesemountaindogsofinstagram #bernesemountaindogpuppy #bernese #bernesemountaindog (at Burlington, Kentucky)

[carecentervets]

Happy American Heart Month!

We are dedicating February to bringing you extra special news on our cardiovascular team!

First, why don’t you meet our wonderful cardiologists?

This is Dr. Megan McLane, DVM, DACVIM - 

Dr. McLane grew up in Illinois but has also lived in Nevada and New Jersey. After receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Monmouth University in New Jersey, she traveled to the Northwest to obtain her DVM at Oregon State University. She then spent four years at California Animal Hospital Veterinary Specialty Group completing both her small animal internship and cardiology residency. Dr. McLane has a special interest in management of the critical cardiac patient and long term care of all forms of heart disease. She is also excited to help set up the interventional cardiology unit at Care Center with Dr. Schuckman. When not working, she enjoys painting, hiking, and discovering new cuisines. Dr. McLane is very excited to return to the Midwest and be closer to her family, in addition to exploring all that Cincinnati has to offer.

And, this is Dr. Maggie Schuckman, DVM, DACVIM

Dr. Schuckman is a Cincinnati native, originally from Pleasant Ridge. She obtained both her BS and DVM from The Ohio State University. Dr. Schuckman completed a one-year rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Michigan Veterinary Specialists in 2009. With a love for veterinary medicine and cardiology Dr. Schuckman applied and was accepted into the cardiology residency program at University of Guelph. During her residency she researched the utility of the new echocardiographic imaging modality called speckle tracking. She also received advanced training in interventional cardiology and is pleased to offer minimally invasive procedures to correct Bradyarrhythmias as well as some congenital heart disorders. Dr. Schuckman has two cats, Tabs and Toby, and a rambunctious Golden Retriever and blood donor, Maverick. In her downtime, she enjoys sports, especially volleyball, and relaxing at her local dog park.

Looking for ways to improve your pet’s cardiovascular health? Care Center doctors recommend a normal exercise routine with your pets. For dogs we would recommend normal walks. You may already be doing this with your dog to take it to the bathroom, but many people actually feel like they don’t have time to walk Fido once or twice a day. In reality, you have a lot of time in between work and family. Waking up even 15 minutes earlier in the morning can help you to take your pup for a walk and it helps you to wake up as well. It is a great bonding ritual. Nightly walks are also an easy way to add more exercise for your dog. Regular walks also increase positive feelings in your animal, so this is a win-win-win situation! For cats we recommend lots of play time. This can include cat toys like mice, balls, or feathery wands, as well as tall cat houses or even laser beams. If you find that your cat really likes to start playing with their toys right when you go to bed, try playing with them 20 or so minutes before you go to sleep. Exercising with your cat before your bedtime can help your nighttime from being interrupted by their prime playtime.

 Happy Heart Month from Care Center!

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New Year's Resolutions with your Pets

It’s always in style to make some resolutions for the New Year, isn’t it? The most popular ones seem to include cutting back on greasy foods, working out, maybe sleeping more, or drinking less alcohol, but have you ever thought to include your pet in your resolution decision making? We have! Including your pet into your New Year’s Resolutions can increase the chances of success, build a stronger relationship between you and your pet, give you some accountability, and create new lasting habits.

Some ideas for Pet New Year’s Resolutions include:

Cut back on and eventually stop free feeding! Making a specific schedule can help your pet’s belly, help you feel more sane, and cut back on the amount of food you’re feeding your pet. More isn’t always better!  

Go on regular walks each day. A small change of walking for just ten minutes a day can really make an impact on your relationship!

Training, training, training! It’s never too late to train your dog, and it can actually be a lot of fun! (Look for a later blog post for tips on training!)

DIY projects for making toys on a budget! Ever notice how cats would much rather play for toilet paper rolls than those fancy mice you buy? Create a toy for your furry friend and watch how happy your furry friend is with her new toys!

What are your New Year's Resolutions?

[carecentervets]

Urinary Block in 14 year old collie mix leads to Stent Procedure

Meet Phoenix, the beautiful 14 year old collie mix who visited our Cincinnati emergency room after gaining a referral to our offices from her veterinarian Stephanie Ogburn of Trenton Animal Hospital. Phoenix’s owner was concerned when her dog stopped eating and could barely urinate. The diagnosis? Proliferative polypoid urethritis.

First, Phoenix saw Marlo Anderson, DVM, DACVECC, for an ultrasound to find severe bilateral renal pylectasia and bilateral ureteral dilation, as well as a distended urinary bladder. Then Phoenix went over to Beth McElravy, DVM, DACVIM, who performed a cytoscopy to find spider webbing bands of pale-pink to white tissue in the vestibule, fluffy white tissue along the urethra, and a firm pale white mass obstructing the urethra. After that finding, Crystal Doyle, DVM, DACVIM and Eric Row, DVM placed a stent where Phoenix’s urinary tract was blocked.

Phoenix’s owner Sherry said that while it is scary to not know exactly what is happening to your animal while they are sick, Care Center truly helped her to feel more comfortable and helped her stay at ease throughout the entire visit. Sherry explained that Dr. Doyle was incredibly patient and explained the stent procedure to her calmly and in a caring manner, allowing her to ask questions. Sherry was so happy that Care Center’s staff was knowledgable and even though they were very busy, they did everything above and beyond to make her feel more comfortable, even sending her progress photos of Phoenix overnight.

Urinary blocks can be benign or malignant. Stents are great long-term treatment options for benign blockages and they can also be a way for families to have some extra quality time with a pet who may have a more serious blockage. Thanks to Care Center’s cutting-edge technology, Phoenix was released from her procedure quickly and was home urinating quickly and easily. Blockages are common, and we are proud to say that our staff’s education in combination with our state of the art equipment helped treat this common ailment. We are so very happy that we could help Phoenix and that she is continuing to live a happy, healthy life.

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Offering You & Your Pets the Highest Standard of Care - AAHA Accreditation in Traditional & Referral Categories

  Did you know that accreditation is not required for animal hospitals? Given that, how can you determine the quality of care that we could provide to your pet and to our referring veterinarians? Choosing who provides medical treatment for your pet in emergency and critical situations is a tough and important decision. 

Our decision to earn the American Animal Hospital Association’s (AAHA) accreditation was driven by our desire to truly care for your pets, and to assure you and our referring vets that each animal is getting the absolute best care possible.

After a four month accreditation process, Care Center is proud to announce that our Cincinnati and Dayton locations have earned AAHA’s highest honors for both Traditional and Referral Accreditation. The Traditional accreditation covers the hospital side, including day to day patient care and procedures. The Referral accreditation covers our specialties including Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Surgery, and Emergency/Critical Care.

  Currently, we are the only veterinary hospitals in the region with the distinction of dual-accreditation. AAHA-accredited hospitals are considered the best in the industry and are consistently at the forefront of advanced veterinary medicine. As such, the AAHA accreditation reflects and validates our commitment to the high level of consistent care and medicine that we practice. That same level of care and advanced medicine, allows us to offer a range of care and treatment options to you and our referring vets.

“Roof to Basement” Evaluation

A 900 point onsite evaluation was a crucial step of the accreditation process. The auditor assessed Care Center’s knowledge, standards, protocols and processes from front desk staff and client services to the board certified specialists. Specific examples of areas covered included:

Isolation room cleaning protocol

Medical equipment usage

New patient intake process

Continuous education for referring vets

Disaster recovery plan, and staff and patient evacuation plans

Inventory and equipment management

X-ray safety protocols

Housekeeping and maintenance

 As an accredited hospital we now have access to a toolbox of resources helping us both maintain and foster an even higher standard of care. The wealth of information includes veterinarian and technician education, marketing support and programs for leadership, mentoring, and team building.

Care Center’s partners are very proud of the Cincinnati and Dayton staff for this accomplishment, and we look forward to celebrating internally! 

For more information about Care Center’s Accreditation read our press release.

For more information about AAHA, please visit: www.healthypet.com.

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Helping Your Cat Overcome Their Fears

When a cat is overwhelmed by fear or a panic attack, they either hide, or strike out. So to work successfully with your “scaredy cat,” you need to give them the opportunity to think and stay calm.

Sudden Changes: See Your Vet

If your cat's behavior has suddenly changed, start with a visit to your vet for a thorough checkup. A sick cat can be aggressive or hide.

What Not to Do

Don’t ever punish your cat for showing fear; it makes the problem worse and may cause aggression.

Don’t make your cat interact with people or things they are afraid of, for the same reasons.

Give Your Cat Time & Space

When your cat is afraid, you may want to comfort them, but that may not be the best approach.

If your cat hides, let them come out on their own. Many cats spend a day or two hiding under a bed or in a closet after a traumatic event. Don't force them.

Maintain their normal routine and make sure they have easy access to food, water, and the litter box. Check these daily to make sure your cat is eating, drinking, and eliminating normally.

When your cat comes out, quietly offer them a delicious treat or gentle grooming if your cat enjoys it.

Gradually Desensitize Your Cat

Start with your cat far enough away from the frightening thing or person so that they’re not showing fear–while feeding them their favorite treats and calmly praising them.

Bring the feared object a small step closer, offering more treats and gentle praise.

Move slowly and work in short sessions. If your cat shows any signs of fear, back up and start again.

You can also allow your cat to decide when and how they will approach the scary thing or person, while making it pleasant for them when they do.

Cats don’t “choose” to misbehave when they are afraid. With patience, consistency and time, you can help your cat feel better and calmer when they are around certain situations, people or things that once scared them. 

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Rehabilitation For Your Pet

There’s a good chance that you or someone you know has experienced the well-documented effectiveness of physical therapy. Just like therapy for us, rehabilitation can make a huge difference for your pet when they:

Avoid or have a hard time climbing the stairs, or getting up and down.

Limp or favor a leg.

Recover from surgery or an injury.

Have arthritis, stiff joints or chronic pain.

Need support for weight management.

Rehabilitation often bridges the gap between an injury/surgery and recovery. With the appropriate therapy, your pet can build or regain their strength and flexibility in the affected area. When your pet suffers from arthritis or sore joints rehabilitation can ease their discomfort and improve circulation.

   There are a variety of approaches available, including:

Hydrotherapy via an underwater treadmill or poolallows your pet to walk and swim with far less stress on their joints increasing their range of motion.

Therapeutic massage of the soft tissues including muscle, connective tissues, tendons and ligaments enhances blood flow and reduces stress and pain for your pet.

Range of motion exercises improve the movement of specific joints such as knees and hips.

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation prevents muscle atrophy which can occur after injuries or damage to bones, joints, muscles, ligaments and tendons.

An experienced professional will introduce a specific therapy to your pet in a way that is reassuring and calm. Your pet’s physical therapy is also typically supported by home exercises. The therapist working with your pet will show you how to complete each exercise.

If you think that rehabilitation could improve the quality of life for your pet, check with your veterinarian for more information.

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Paw Care Tips for Dogs

Just like your bare feet, your dogs’ paws can be injured by extreme weather, foreign objects or rough terrain. So, with these tips, help keep your dog happily walking, running and playing with you and your family.

 Regular Paw Care & TLC

Are your dog’s nails clicking or snagging on the floor? If so, it's time for a trimming. Ask your vet for advice of how to choose and use the right nail trimmers.

Prevent painful matting. Trim her paw hair regularly. Gently comb out the hair and trim even with the pads.

Avoid hot pavement, concrete or sand. Would you put your toes on really hot stuff? Neither should your dog. Signs of injury include blisters, loose flaps of skin and red, ulcerated patches. In the summer, exercise your dog before sunrise or after sunset.

Begin exercise programs with your dog, slowly. While your dogs’ paws will acclimate over time, a gradual approach keeps their paws from becoming sensitive, chaffed or cracked.

Examine Your Dog’s Pads Daily

Look out for the small stuff. Small rocks, glass shards, and barbed seed heads such as foxtails can burrow into his pads or lodge between the toes. Ouch! Gently remove any items with tweezers.

Moisturize cracked and dry pads. Extreme heat or cold can cause dryness and cracking. Ask your vet to recommend a good pad moisturizer. Don’t use moisturizer or lotion designed for humans.

Wash paws after winter walks. After walking outside, rinse your dog’s paws in warm water to wash away rock salt and de-icing chemicals.

Should your dog begin limping or licking his feet for an inordinate amount of time, examine his paws ASAP. Determine if there is a specific reason either behavior. On a final note, foot pads do not heal like regular skin, so for anything more serious than a superficial abrasion, call your vet.