Loyatly and love. A Gypsy's life, repaid!!

We all know the importance of going to our own doctor each year for a check up but sometimes the craziness of life and the natural playful disposition of our pets can lead us to forget their very important annual and semi-annual exams. 

Having an established relationship with a Veterinarian that knows your pet is key to a full lifetime with your fur-baby. 

This true story, this happy tale is the perfect example of why:

Last week,  Gypsy, a 15 year old mixed breed female was brought in for her regular exam and vaccinations with Dr. Murphy. During her physical exam, Dr. Murphy felt something was wrong. Gypsy's abdomen felt firm, not the soft belly she was accustom to feel. Dr. Murphy spoke straight to the problem and recommended xrays to further evaluate the source of this change. The xrays showed a mass in Gypsy's abdomen. Upon ultrasound diagnostics, it was clear that the mass was on her spleen and that surgery was her best option. Within 4 hours, Gypsy went from the exam room, through diagnostics, into surgery and was onto recovery.

As with any surgery, a Splenectomy comes with it's own risks and potential complications but when caught and acted on quickly, the risks are at their lowest. If left alone the tumor could have eventually burst and then the outcome would be very different.

 As her name implies, Gypsy's is a  

 "...free-spirited wild child! Just kind of happy-go-lucky..."

Gypsy was a rescue that came to her forever home 8 years ago in pretty bad shape -heartworm positive, fear of affection/touch, food issues. As she settled in with her new family she blossomed into a wonderful pet! 

Her most prominent trait is her loyalty. She is her mom's constant shadow, always around to make sure everything is ok. Gypsy was the watch-guard of their other pup before she passed; always getting help whenever she would fall or get stuck in certain places. The day their son's crib was set up, Gypsy began sleeping next to it... months before his  birth. Upon his arrival she never left his side and loved him like he was his own baby. 

 "Gypsy even found the strength in her little arthritic body to get up on [our son's] bed and sleep with him the first night in our new house." 

While it is hard to watch a pet age and slow down, Gypsy's parents always re-payed her loyalty with the very best care possible. So when it was time for her vaccinations, an appointment with Dr. Murphy was a given. It was certainly a shocked to find her in surgery only a few hours after her exam having a 5 pound mass removed from her abdomen.
 
Because of the trust between Dr. Murphy and Gypsy's parents,this story ends well.
The care was swift and timely and Gypsy is now home with her family. 

The entire team at VCA HAH is proud to be a part of this story. There is nothing better then caring for animals and helping to keep our fur-families happy and healthy for as long as possible.

 
 

A note from Gypsy's parents:
 I want to tell anyone who will listen how wonderful Dr. Murphy is. I never hesitate or second guess anything she says or recommends... You can tell that she is in this field because she truly cares. I can't even find words to express how we feel about her... MY WHOLE FAMILY!!!! I started going to her with my very first dog ever when I still lived with my parents and now (a gazillion years later) I wouldn't go anywhere else. She is amazing and someone needs to write an article about her! She is super cool and she is our hero! <3

Why are anual exams for my pet important?

As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. 

Veterinarians recommend regular wellness exams for the same reason your physician and dentist recommend them – if you can detect a problem in its early stages, it's more likely to be treated and resolved with less expense, less difficulty and better success.

Vaccinations, heartworm prevention and routine deworming are important components of wellness care and can prevent diseases that are not only life-threatening, but very expensive to treat.

But what about the physical exam? Is your Vet really doing anymore than petting your animal?

Fact is, the physical exam is arguable the most important part of your pet's office visit. Through the experience of knowing what to look for, your veterinarian can determine a great many things from the physical exam.

Take a look at what a Vet is actually looking for when they give your pet it's physical exam. 
 
1. Start at the head.
When looking at the nose for crusties, color loss, change in texture, etc. and checking the teeth, lips, gums your Vet is looking for infection, hair loss, growths, color change, ulcers, etc. They might attempt to look at the back of the mouth for growths, ulcers, etc. sometimes squeezing the head muscles looking for discomfort that may indicate a headache or jaw pain. Your Vet will feel all the lymph nodes, under the jaw, in front of the shoulders, armpits, inguinal and behind the knees.

2. The eyes, eye lashes, lids.
They look at the pupils for size/symmetry. They may push back on the closed eyeball, looking for any pain.

Sometime they bring out the opthalmoscope to look at the back of the eye mostly looking for cataracts, and retinal hemorrhages. Did you know that there is a small window during which you have to get a cataract fixed?

3. The ears.
They visually inspect the pinna (floppy part) for hair loss, scabs, crusts, scratches, scrapes, etc. looking into into the ears with an otoscope to check for infection, polyps and such.

4. Musculoskeletal System
Are their reflexes okay? Can they feel their feet? Can they feel pain? For neck pain, your Vet may move the head all the way up, down, left and right. For back pain they may squeeze all along the spinal cord from side to side and push down from the top.

5. Rubbing the belly!
Your Vet will palpate the abdomen for organ enlargement (spleen, liver, masses). They check to see if they slip around like they should or are they all stuck together from dehydration (a "doughy" abdomen). Does the patient have a super full bladder indicating an obstruction? Does it hurt? In cats, they can even  feel the kidneys. 

All this time your Vet is checking the
Overall physical condition of the patient.
Too skinny? Too fat? Just right? Any muscle wasting? Pain? Is he/she alert? Disoriented? Depressed?

How’s his/her coat and skin?
Bald? (If so: symmetrical or patchy? Smooth or scaly?) Stinky? Rough? Discolored? Thin? Lumps or bumps? Scrapes or scratches?

Whether a cat or dog owner, your expert Veterinarian can identify things that you will miss. Things you think are normal. Annual exams give you and your pet's doctor the chance to review your pets overall health and ensure they are with you for years to come.


source: http://www.petmd.com/blogs/thedailyvet/vcarroll/2011/apr/the_anatomy_of_a_physical_exam-10992

Retired K9 Officer Healthcare Fund!!

VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital is proud to share our inaugural partnership with the Sheriff’s Foundation of Broward County Retired K9 Officers Healthcare Fund (RK9OHF) to raise money for the coverage of veterinary care costs to canine police officers that have worked to protect our S. Florida community.

In retirement, canine officers often live out their years in comfort with their handlers, or partners. Yet, after a career of service these officers are prone to advance orthopedic and service related conditions in addition to issues associated with a senior pet. Typically, there is no financial support for these officers after retirement.

It is the belief of the RK9OHF that the cost of healthcare should be supplemented. The Sheriff’s Foundation of Broward County could not agree more.  As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that collects and manages donations to memorial/ healthcare funds, training programs, education programs and other local nonprofit organizations the Retried K9 Officer Healthcare Fund seemed a perfect extension of their mission. 

 

Under the supervision of the Sheriff’s Foundation of Broward County, the RK9OHF and VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital provide the best in wellness care to these officers and cover a portion of those costs.

With this partnership, retired K9 officers receive preventative care from VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital at a negotiated rate and the RK9OHF cover a portion of those fees. Total cost to the handler/partner is 35% of the initial bill. 

Please consider donating to the RK9OHC to support our South Florida K9 Police Officers in their retirement.  

Donations can be made directly at VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital

Or by mail at

VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital

c/o Sheriff Foundation of Broward County

Retired K9 Officers Healthcare Fund

2864 Hollywood Blvd

Hollywood, Fl 33020

100% of all donations made to the Retired K9 Officer Healthcare Fund go to the cost of care for these K9 Officers.

For additional information about this fund please phone VCA Hollywood at 954-920-3556, email us at RK9OHF@gmail.com or reach out to the Sheriff Foundation of Broward County at http://sheriffsfoundationofbroward.org/

Retired K9 Officers Healthcare Fund is a 501(c)(3) serving under the supervision of the Sheriff's Foundation of Broward County- 85-8013389700C-0, tax ID# 65-0898338

What you need to know about your new puppy or kitten!!!

Do you have a new puppy or kitten? 

One of the first things you should do when you bring your new pet home is to introduce them to your local veterinarian. Puppy and kitten visits offer a unique opportunity to start you and your new pet off on the right paw! Even if you are a very experienced pet owner and have had puppies or kittens before, each pet is unique and offers an opportunity to learn something new. The more educated you are about your pet, the better you will be able to care for them. Here are a few tips to get you started:

Spaying and Neutering:

We recommend that all dogs and cats not intended for breeding be spayed/neutered, as these procedures can provide a number of medical and behavioral benefits for your pet. Pet neutering can prevent pet testicular cancer, marking, and aggression. Pet spaying can prevent uterine infections, heat cycles, and breast tumors. We can discuss the best age to spay/neuter your pet during their visit!

Puppy & Kitten Vaccinations

Young pets typically require a series of vaccinations within their first year to equip the immune system with antibodies. VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital can develop a vaccination schedule for your pet after the initial wellness exam.

Parasite Testing & Prevention

Many puppies and kittens are born with intestinal worms (contracted by their mothers), which can cause a number of health problems if not treated. This is why deworming should be included with your pet’s first visit as well. To protect your pet from parasites (heartworms, fleas, ticks, etc.) in the future, we also recommend that you keep them on a year-round preventive.

We understand that having a pet can get expensive at times. Luckily there is pet insurance! We have witnessed first hand how Trupanion has helped clients from something as minor as an ear infection to something as major as a foreign body surgery!  Click here to find out more information.

Have more questions? Visit our website and schedule an appointment today!!!!