Emergency/ walk-in service begins at 11am.Wednesday, Dec 29th
Emergency/ walk-in service begins at 11am.Thursday, Dec 30th
Emergency/ walk-in service begins at 4pm.Saturday, Jan 1st
No Emergency/ walk-in service on New Year's Day.
Closed for Emergencies.
Only existing hospitalized patients will be seen on New Year's Day.
Updated: 12/28/21
In her own words, Nancy French “pretty much grew up at the HAH”. Beginning her career at just 16, Nancy remains one of the few team members to have firsthand stories of days with our founder, Dr. Dee Sr.
Starting in our kennels and then advancing to become Dr. Jon’s lead surgical technician could have been a career in and of itself. However, in 2006, Nancy took on yet another challenge and stepped into the role of our practice manager. As Manager, Nancy embraced our hospital’s culture of community service and our drive to provide the best in cutting edge medical care.
Developing standards and traditions that have stood the test of time, Nancy leaves a blueprint for us to continue her work, to mirror her ethics, and to share her love for pets and people. Nancy has ensured her legacy in the history of VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital and we are a better practice because of her leadership.
As she begins this chapter, we congratulate her on her new role as full-time, wife, grandma, and friend. We wish for her clear roads for travel, steady waters for kayaking, and wee-wee pads for her new puppy.
As a leader in specialized veterinary medicine, VCA Hollywood has always offered the best care for our pet community with Digital Imaging for advanced diagnosis and care!
What is a CT Scan?
CT include:
* A pre-anesthetic tranquilizer/analgesic (pain medication)-Administered to decrease stress, anxiety and preemptively address discomfort Scans are reviewed by our Board Certified Radiologist with standard results returned within 24 hours. Stat reads available at additional fee. Recently Zoo Miami asked our surgeon Dr. Danielson to help with a special case. Learn about what Leroy ate!
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Unfortunately, animals sometimes do eat items that cannot be digested and the consequence can be much more severe than a stomachache. Eating non-digestible items can obstruct the intestinal system. An obstruction occurs when the item gets stuck in the stomach or intestine and blocks anything else from passing through. An obstruction can make animals very sick and in some cases is life-threatening.
Veterinarians call these non-digestible items foreign material or a foreign body. If a foreign body is very large or is stuck, it will require removal.
Removal may be accomplished through a non-surgical approach with a piece of equipment called an endoscope (scope) or, it may require surgery. A scope is a long instrument with a camera at the end. The scope allows for things within the stomach to be seen with the camera and removed with graspers. However, sometimes the foreign material is too large or cannot be retrieved with graspers. In these cases, surgery is performed. Surgery usually involves opening either the stomach or the intestine to remove the foreign material.
Often when an animal eats foreign material they do it when no one is looking and veterinarians are left trying to figure out what is wrong with the patient. In the hunt to figure out what is wrong with the patient, X-rays (radiographs) may be taken to look for a foreign body. However, not all foreign bodies can be seen on a radiograph. A radiograph can identify very dense material, such as metal and bone however, less dense material (plastic squeakers, cloth toys, rope toys, etc.) cannot be seen and we are left looking for what is called an obstructive pattern on the radiograph. An obstructive pattern is when a portion of the intestine is dilated (wider) than it should be.
It may seem odd that an animal would eat something they cannot digest. Most of the time animals eat these items by accident. They are attracted to the scent of an item or are playing with a toy and start to chew on it. If the item/toy gets too far back in their mouth, they may swallow it. Remember, most animals don’t have fingers to pull things back out of their mouths.
Dogs and cats are the animals that veterinarians see most often for eating foreign bodies, however; sometimes other species eat things they shouldn’t.
Leroy is a 297 pound, 35-year-old, male Cuban Crocodile. Cuban Crocodiles are one of the most endangered crocodiles in the world. Their native habitat is a very small area, less than 200 square miles, of the Zapata Swamp in Cuba. Leroy lives at Zoo Miami and has been there since 1998.
In October of last year, Leroy ate a large metal can of lubricating oil that was being used in the maintenance of his enclosure. The can had been accidentally knocked over during the maintenance and fell into the water near Leroy. Crocodiles have a natural feeding response to splashes in the water and, unfortunately, the disturbance the can caused in the water attracted Leroy. At first, Leroy just played with the can. Eventually, he bit into the can and then swallowed it whole.
Given the size of the can, the caregivers and veterinary staff of the zoo were concerned, as it was unlikely to pass. Leroy had a foreign body.
Being a can, Leroy’s foreign body was metal and could be seen on radiographs. Therefore, to help identify the location of the can, radiographs (x-rays) were taken.
Can you see all of the things in the abdomen when there are no arrows to help point them out? Give it a try. Find out how you did!
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As you can see, the can was very big and it wouldn’t have been able to make it through the intestinal system. Because the can was in the stomach, an attempt at removing it with a scope was made. Unfortunately, this was unsuccessful and it was decided that surgery would be performed to remove the can.
Leroy was prepared for surgery similarly to the way a dog or cat would. He was moved into the operating room at the zoo and his skin was cleaned. However, one big difference was the way the abdomen was opened. In a dog or cat, the approach to opening the abdomen to get to the stomach would be through what is called a midline incision. This means a cut down the center of the abdomen. In the crocodile, the approach is through an incision in the left flank. This is a cut in the left side of the abdomen from the back to the front of the body. The reason the approach is different is that in dogs and cats the abdomen is one compartment and in crocodiles, there is some additional compartmentalization. This approach from the side makes it easier to get to the stomach. Also, crocodiles will sometimes pull their bodies along the ground and an incision on the underside of the abdomen would get very dirty.
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| *These images may be considered graphic |
Closing the gastrotomy site is performed with suture in a couple of layers. The closure of the stomach is similar in the dog, cat, and, crocodile. However, Leroy’s skin is of course much tougher than a dog or cat. Crocodile skin has what looks like scales on it. Those square areas that look like scales are called scutes. Scutes are very thick and make suturing the skin a little more complicated. A thicker suture was used in Leroy’s skin than would be used in a dog or cat. Scutes can also be seen on turtle shells and on the feet of birds. You can see some of the scutes on Leroy in his picture and on his radiograph. Can look back to Figure 1 and find them? Find out how you did!
It is amazing to see what people working together can achieve. I feel fortunate to have been a part of this fantastic team.
If you want to learn more about the beautiful animals at Zoo Miami, check out their Facebook page. There are tons of great pictures and videos for you to look through. Like all of us, Zoo Miami is being challenged by COVID19 right now. If possible, please consider donating to the zoo to help them through this difficult time.
Visit VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital to learn more about our advanced veterinary care for your cat or dog. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to connect with other pet people.
Leroy is a 297 pound, 35-year-old, male Cuban Crocodile. Cuban Crocodiles are one of the most endangered crocodiles in the world. Their native habitat is a very small area, less than 200 square miles, of the Zapata Swamp in Cuba. Leroy lives at Zoo Miami and has been there since 1998.
In October of last year, Leroy ate a large metal can of lubricating oil that was being used in the maintenance of his enclosure. The can had been accidentally knocked over during the maintenance and fell into the water near Leroy. Crocodiles have a natural feeding response to splashes in the water and, unfortunately, the disturbance the can caused in the water attracted Leroy. At first, Leroy just played with the can. Eventually, he bit into the can and then swallowed it whole.
Given the size of the can, the caregivers and veterinary staff of the zoo were concerned, as it was unlikely to pass. Leroy had a foreign body. Being a can, Leroy’s foreign body was metal and could be seen on radiographs. Therefore, to help identify the location of the can, radiographs (x-rays) were taken. Let’s take a look at the reconstructed image. In these images, Leroy would have been laying down on his stomach with his head at the top and his tail at the bottom of the image.
Can you see all of the things in the abdomen when there are no arrows to help point them out? Give it a try. Find out how you did!
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Leroy was prepared for surgery similarly to the way a dog or cat would. He was moved into the operating room at the zoo and his skin was cleaned. However, one big difference was the way the abdomen was opened. In a dog or cat, the approach to opening the abdomen to get to the stomach would be through what is called a midline incision. This means a cut down the center of the abdomen. In the crocodile, the approach is through an incision in the left flank. This is a cut in the left side of the abdomen from the back to the front of the body. The reason the approach is different is that in dogs and cats the abdomen is one compartment and in crocodiles, there is some additional compartmentalization. This approach from the side makes it easier to get to the stomach. Also, crocodiles will sometimes pull their bodies along the ground and an incision on the underside of the abdomen would get very dirty.
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| *These images may be considered graphic |
Closing the gastrotomy site is performed with suture in a couple of layers. The closure of the stomach is similar in the dog, cat, and, crocodile. However, Leroy’s skin is of course much tougher than a dog or cat. Crocodile skin has what looks like scales on it. Those square areas that look like scales are called scutes. Scutes are very thick and make suturing the skin a little more complicated. A thicker suture was used in Leroy’s skin than would be used in a dog or cat. Scutes can also be seen on turtle shells and on the feet of birds. You can see some of the scutes on Leroy in his picture and on his radiograph. Can look back to Figure 1 and find them? Find out how you did!
It is amazing to see what people working together can achieve. I feel fortunate to have been a part of this fantastic team.
If you want to learn more about the beautiful animals at Zoo Miami, check out their Facebook page. There are tons of great pictures and videos for you to look through. Like all of us, Zoo Miami is being challenged by COVID19 right now. If possible, please consider donating to the zoo to help them through this difficult time.
Visit VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital to learn more about our advanced veterinary care for your cat or dog. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to connect with other pet people.
Our dedicated pharmacy staff is at the center of our practice and they are prepared with a variety of tools to make refilling your pet's medication, simple. Pick the route that fits for you!
Email us directly at vcahollywoodpharmacy@vca.com
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Why should I choose Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) for my pet?
Your MIS surgeon makes smaller incisions, therefore your pet’s discomfort is minimized and recovery time is quicker.
"Hialeah Police Department Canine Unit has recently chosen minimally invasive surgery for all of their working canines to ensure they have the least amount of post-surgical downtime possible. Minimally Invasive Surgery allows for smaller incisions, as well as less swelling and pain which allows these canines to promptly return to duty." - Dr. Jim Herrington, Medical Director, VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital
What procedures can be done with MIS?
VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital offers minimally invasive techniques for orthopedic, thoracic, and abdominal surgical cases.
Some of the minimally invasive procedures we offer are:
SOFT TISSUE PROCEDURES:
• Ovariohysterectomy/Ovariectomy (Spay)
• Cryptorchidectomy (Cryptorchid Neuter)
• Abdominal Exploratory
• Lung Lobectomy
• Cystopexy
• Biopsies (ie, Liver, Pancreas, Kidney, Lung)
ORTHOPEDIC PROCEDURES:
In addition to exploratory arthroscopy of joints, some procedures include:
• Arthroscopic debridement
• OCD lesion removal & debridement
• Meniscectomy
• Cruciate ligament debridement
• Biceps tenectomy
• OCD lesion removal and debridement
Benefits of Minimally Invasive Surgical Techniques
√ Less postoperative pain
√ Quicker recovery time
√ Superior visualization
Meet our Minimally Invasive Surgery Specialist
Dr. Clark joined our team in 2018 and has firmly established herself as an asset to our specialty surgical team. Fully versed in both soft tissue and orthopedic surgery, Dr. Clark's experience and commitment to excellence is a trademark in all of her patient care.
Our Specialty Services apply a team approach to patient care using the strength and expertise of all of our on-site specialists in Cardiology, Dermatology, Emergency & Critical Care, Internal Medicine, Oncology & Surgery to care for your pet.
Follow us on Facebook for all our latest hospital news.
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More than likely, a fine needle aspirate for cytology evaluation will be recommended to determine if further medical care is needed.A non-invasive technique that can be used to determine whether a skin mass is benign or malignant is a fine needle aspirate. This technique involves obtaining samples from the mass or abnormal tissue using a small needle. The sample obtained is then gently expelled onto a clean glass slide with the help of an empty syringe and examined with a microscope. This technique does not require sedation and can be rapidly performed.
Examples of malignant masses in the skin include certain
types of cancer such as mast cell tumor, carcinoma, melanoma, soft tissue
sarcomas, and hemangiosarcoma, among others. Because malignant masses can be
locally aggressive and spread to other locations in the body, such as the lymph nodes and the lungs (also known as metastasis) further medical care such as
surgery and possibly chemotherapy are usually needed as well.
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