January Team Member of the Month-Alexis!!!

It takes every department in this practice, working together, to make our hospital a success. However, it is arguable that the Front Office Staff has the yeoman's job of serving our clients and our staff from start to finish for every client, every day. There is certainly few dull moments up there.

However, our January Team Member of the Month makes these tasks move seamlessly. Coming up on 9 years with our family, Alexis has seen us through the good and the not so good days.

She is known for her quiet disposition and vocal pup but most importantly for her commitment to getting things done.

If ever you need something, you can bet on Alexis to come through for you. She simply does her job without muss or fuss and brings a quality of calmness to everyone.

This month we would like to thank her for all she does to keep our ducks in a row and our staff and client happy. She is truly a star team player!

January Patient of the Month- Harley!!!

This month’s patient of the month highlights a story about the caring spirit of our animal-loving community, basic preventative medicine and most of all the core loving and resilient spirit of most animals.     

Harley, a 50lb, 5 year old, black & white mutt was a yard dog.  He spent his free time “enjoying” the sights and sounds of our S. Florida wildlife but lacked the personal interaction that we know nourishes. Harley’s neighbor watched over him dog as best she could but she had a distinctly different vision of quality of life for him. 

When Harley’s owner abandoned him in the yard, this Good Samaritan made the decision to bring Harley in to the VCA HAH for a checkup.  Following a conversation with her good friend Kevin, who offered to pay for Harley’s care, the plan was made to have Harley neutered and vaccinated. Then they would find him a fur-ever home-with a comfy couch!!  

As anyone could image, Harley was wary of humans. His primary doctor, Dr. Brown took his physical exam very slowly to ensure he was as comfortable as possible and administered his first set of vaccinations. During routine bloodwork, it was discovered that Harley had heartworms. With no evidence or expectation of a history of any preventatives, this was no surprise. Radiographs confirmed the diagnosis and showed moderate change in his lungs from the heartworm infection. Treatment was the best next step.

Treatment for heartworm disease takes about 9 months. Throughout which, several courses of steroids and antibiotics are administered to fight the worms and any inflammation or immune responses associated with them. Treatment can also include the administration of three injections of medication to kill the parasites. This portion of the treatment requires strict monitoring as the medication actually attacks the parasites within the heart. With heartworm disease, any running, jumping, rough play, or overexcitement may exacerbate the condition which could then lead to further complications and potentially death. Therefore, Harley was boarded while he began treatment.

Within the first 2 days of his stay with us, his attitude toward humans changed dramatically. He began to linger a little when our staff would feed him. He would wander a little longer during his walks. He would rest his head in our laps of as we performed his daily treatments.

Every day, our Boarding Coordinator communicated with his owner as well as Kevin, the man funding Harley’s care. With each story of his recovery, Kevin grew more attached to Harley and decided to adopt him himself. The only caveat, that he got along with his dog at home. 

After Harley’s first treatment he was ready to go home for some R&R. What could be a better place then Kevin’s home in Key West to get it? Harley made his first introduction to Samson, Kevin’s other dog, and they instantly hit it off. Things were looking up. Kevin then took Harley to see a Veterinary Cardiologist to oversee the remaining treatments.

Now, weeks later, Harley is living once again with a great big yard to play in. However, this time it is optional when he comes and goes. Samson, Harley and Kevin are all really our January Patients of the Month as it was their group efforts that make this a true success story.

Team Member of the Month- Adriana!!!

Adriana has been a VCA HAH team member for a relatively short time but her impact has been strong. After completing a day at her 'other' job, Adriana begins her night shift with our evening crew of experts. Her efficient, pleasant, and dependable qualities are put to the test has she handles the different pace of the HAH at night. She is a star!!!

Adriana is wonderful with our clients and their pets (both having made a point to let us know!) She is the person we count on to deliver the finest care to our clients even in the wee hours. She does not let us down.

We are very pleased to recognize her as our Team Member of the Month for January and "Thank" her for all her hard work.

January Patient of the Month- Gibby!!!

This month we recognize a HAH patient with a different sort of story for our monthly highlight.

Gibby, a 3 year old Cavalier Kings Charles, is a regular boarder with us. Because his dad travels often, he needs someone to watch Gibby and ensure he is taken special care of.

Over the last year, Dr.'s Patterson and Lukens have been his primary care giver and to say our staff has fallen in love with him -would be an understatement! Gibby even got in on the Santa pics this last year while he was boarding!

As it is so often true, our patients became like family to our staff and doctors. Gibby is a great example of that. While he is home with his family now we look forward to his Dad's next trip so we can spend time with our four legged friend.

Team Member of the Month- Joyce!!

Entertaining!

Hilarious!

Thorough!

Artistic!

The adjectives could go on and on to describe this month’s Team Member of the Month. You may know her from her years of work with Dr. Schroeder. You may know her from her artwork. You may not know her personally at all but if you have had a pet at the HAH, she has touched your life. Joyce L has been at the HAH since 2002 and as the youngest of 9 she fits in nicely with this family. She has been a doctor’s technician, a supervisor, a general floor technician. She has worn many hats and worn them all with a great deal of humor and pride in a job well done. We are pleased to have her on our team and so glad to call her Team Member of the Month for January.

January Patient of the Month- Patches!!!!

At the HAH, we like to think of Patches, a five year old female cat, as our Christmas miracle.  In reality,  her story began long before Christmas, and her miracle was really her new family, Steve and Marina.

Steve and Marina found Patches three months ago, crying in their backyard, after hearing commotion from a pack of dogs. Patches suffered a vicious dog attack that left her with wounds over almost half of her body. Having never met Patches before, but knowing she needed help, they brought her to the HAH and was seen on emergency by Dr. Schoeller. Patches spent several weeks in the hospital under the care of Dr.’s Shapiro and Heim. She endured numerous surgeries and countless bandage changes to clean and repair the bite wounds. Once the wounds were nearly healed, she developed a resistant bacterial infection causing complications to the healing and extending her hospital stay. Finally, after three weeks of hospitalized care, her wounds were healing and she was discharged with prescribed homecare.

A few weeks later, after dedicated care by her now smitten humans, Patches was completely healed and had free roam of the house.

Sadly, only a few weeks later, Patches returned to the HAH very ill with a liver condition called hepatic lipidosis, or fatty liver. Hepatic lipidosis is an accumulation of fats in the liver that, if left untreated will cause the liver to fail. The treatment is dietary and if diagnosed early, works well in reversing the condition. Dr. Heim and Dr. Shapiro placed a feeding tube in Patches’ esophagus and prescribed a regimen of antibiotics, liver supplements and a carefully formulated slurry of food to be administered several times a day for weeks.

After a few more weeks of hospitalization Patches was well enough to be discharged and continue her care at home.

Today, Patches is home and completely cured. After weeks of specialized feedings at home she was weaned back to her regular diet and the tube was removed just before Christmas.

This month’s Patient of the Month won the hearts of her new humans throughout this process and has made a forever home with Steve and Marina. The intention of wanting to help a wounded cat created a family and we are so pleased to be a part of their story.

Happy New Year to this powerful trio!!

http://hollywoodanimalhospital.blogspot.com/2013/10/fatty-liver-disease-in-cats.html

January- Patient of the Month "Sarah"

Sarah, a 10year old, collie mix has been a patient of the HAH since 2006. From annual exams to a mass removal in 2009 her history of care was typical.

However, in 2011, Sarah collapsed and was brought to the HAH for evaluation. Blood work showed abnormalities only in her PCV (packed cell volume). The nature of her presentation and this abnormal blood level alarmed Dr. Diamant and she discussed the possible of a Polycythemia Vera diagnosis. To confirm, Dr. Diamant ordered an ultrasound and bone marrow biopsy.

Polycythemia vera is a bone marrow cancer mainly causing the production of too many red blood cells.  Some of the changes associated with Polycythemia vera are abnormal motor skills, brick red gums, pale gums, nose bleeds and an enlarged spleen.

Once the diagnosis was confirmed, Sarah’s owners were faced with treatment options. This kind of blood cancer is treated in primarily two ways; chemotherapy and phlebotomy.

The chemotherapy for polycythemia versa is costly and Sarah’s owners opted for phlebotomy first. Phlebotomy is used to decrease blood thickness. One unit of blood (about 1 pint) is removed weekly until the hematocrit level (PCV) is less than 45. Therapy is continued as needed.

Currently, Sarah is under the care of Dr. Carlos and comes in approximately every three weeks and has blood drawn two times. Each time about 300mls is removed and her PCV is checked. Sarah is a wonderful patient. She seems unaffected by the blood draws and loves the extra attention she gets.

Sarah is regular at the HAH and always receives a regulars welcome. We are so pleased with her progress and anticipate continued success. We are pleased to honor her as patient of the month!