Kill fleas without leaving your house!!!!!!!!!

VCA Home Delivery makes getting your pets medication and food simple by delivering them directly to your door often at no cost. With our unique NeverForget program, single doses of monthly preventative medications come to your door the day you need them! No more looking at the calendar or setting your app to remind you. For the same price that you pay if you came in, the cost and safe storage of these medication is spread out over a full year making managing your pets wellness care simple.

Now through September, you can receive Home Delivery of Bravecto and an awesome FREE Kong Jumbler. Click here to learn more about VCA Home Delivery. Call us to get your Kong!!

https://vcahospitals.com/hollywood

September Team Member of the Month- Kris!!!!!

Our Team Member of the Month for September will likely ‘hate’ this award. Always preferring to stay behind the scenes, Kris L is far from out of the spotlight. As the Supervisor of arguable the most well run team in the hospital, Kris simply gets the job done. She takes great pride in her work and she cares about her staff. 

As our Kennel Supervisor, Kris is well known for her commitment to care. While she may not be able to name every owner’s face she certainly knows their pet and makes it a point to keep the staff up to date on pet’s changing diets, dispositions and desires.

Kris is one of select team members that work directly with our K9 Police Departments. She is a trusted member of their team and her no nonsense attitude makes her the perfect match for these no non-sense officers.

In addition to her Supervisor duties, Kris has her plate full assisting with the hospitals purchasing and is a go to for all stock when in need of just about anything!

Kris is always willing to help no matter how full her plate is and I will assure you- it is plenty full. 

For all of her efforts behind the scenes that make us run so smoothly, for the treats she cooks up to share with us all and simple for the incredible role of support she plays for this practice, we are happy to highlight Kris L as our September Team Member of the Month!

Pets & Chewing

It is natural for puppies to explore their environment; however, their natural curiosity often leads to frustration on your part when they chew your favorite slippers. While you may be tempted to punish your naughty pup, reinforcing good behavior is much more effective and will keep you and your dog happier. Chewing is a natural behavior that helps dogs relax and aids in dental health. It is important to provide proper chew toys for your dog. Additionally, giving your dog a specific time for chewing will help them ”wind” down for the night (similar to humans reading a book before bed).

Anxious chewing

However, not all chewing is good for your dog. Destructive chewing may be related to anxiety. It is important to teach your dog that he cannot always receive attention on demand. To reduce anxiety, train him to lie on his bed or in a crate, rather than constantly at your side. For dogs with separation anxiety, begin with short departures and then gradually increase the length of your time away to help them be comfortable and calm while you’re gone.

Anti-chew sprays

Anti-chew sprays can be used to deter your pup from chewing on household items. If you witness your puppy chewing on a household item, calmly walk over and spray the item with the anti-chew spray and firmly say ”leave it”. Instantly redirect your puppy’s attention by animating the dog toy in order to get him excited enough to chew it. Once the dog wants the toy give it to her and then softly praise the dog and back away (avoid turning this into an active game of tug-of-war; you simply want to get the dog interested in the toy). This will give the dog something to chew on and still remain in the calm state she was in previously.

Teething

Chew toys are a great way to keep your puppy busy as well as relieve pain associated with teething. Once the teeth erupt, the real chewing begins. The teeth seem to need “setting” into the jaw and this is accomplished through hard chewing. Present your puppy with a variety of toys to determine which types he likes best (avoid giving him chew toys that resemble household items that you do not want him to chew, i.e. a toy shaped like a shoe). Rotate different toys to keep your puppy’s interest and reward your puppy with praise when he chews on them. If the puppy seem to seek out a certain items that are not for chewing, try finding toys with similar textures because they may need that texture for dental health. Remember, buying a bunch of toys is a lot less expensive than replacing the furniture that he may chew up.

Source: http://www.aaha.org/pet_owner/pet_health_library/dog_care/behavior/chewing.aspx

September Team Member of the Month- Mary!!!!

Mary has been a fixture at the HAH since 1995. I say fixture because many of you know her from her role throughout the years as a receptionist. Her name is synonymous for many with the caring heart of the HAH.   

However, lately she has been utilizing her skills as a phone operator in our very hectic phone room.  This important task is often challenging- when all 14 lines are ringing- but Mary is always pleasant to our clients and shows how truly she cares about how their needs and feelings. 

Now, Mary is not one to be boxed in so it has been no big surprise to hear reports of her up front assisting and interacting with clients. Her genuine joyous personality shines through with this GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE. We are pleased to recognize her as this month’s Team Member of the Month!!!!

September Patient of the Month- Tori!!!

Every month we highlight a patient who’s experience at the HAH has touched our lives. This month’s patient is no different but the words that seem most appropriate to share her story have come more from our client then our staff.

Tori, spent 9 days with us recovering from a very complicated surgical procedure that required one of our senior doctors to perform on emergency. She was a wonderful patient and a very luck girl. When her family was asked permission to share her story, they quickly said yes! There words seem to say it all. 

Every morning I wake up to a 60-pound labradoodle sticking her big nose in my face and smothering me with kisses -- and then I thank God for the Hollywood Animal Hospital. Tori wouldn’t be here right now if it wasn’t for Dr. Sessa and Nellie. No words can describe the admiration and love my wife and I have for both. We are blessed to have them in our lives and the lives of my dogs.

We also want to thank Kathy and all the wonderful staff at HAH, who worked so hard to save Tori's life.

On Memorial Day weekend, Tori jumped into the back of my SUV – like she’s done a thousand times before.  Only this time, she misjudged her jump and fell right on the back latch – rupturing her bladder and tearing her urethra.

Dr. Sessa performed two and a half hours of emergency surgery that night, while Nellie texted me updates and Dr. James Dee so kindly offered me his words of comfort. Tori required more than 100 internal stitches and another 100 stitches on the outside. She likely would have died that night had Dr. Sessa not operated.


After the surgery, while she lay unconscious, I knelt down beside her and kissed her not knowing whether I would ever see her again.  She spent eight touch-and-go days at HAH. I visited her twice a day, but at first I wasn’t convinced she’d ever come home again.

I have been bringing my dogs to HAH for 42 years and have witnessed one miracle after another. Quite frankly, I was concerned I may have used up my fair share of miracles.

But Tori did came home. She’s running again, playing again and, yes, giving me those morning kisses.

Our very special thanks for all your extra efforts on behalf of Tori. You saved our dog and touched our hearts.

Tori touched our hearts too. She was the sweetest patient and we are so pleased to recognized her as our Patient of the Month!!!

September Team Member of the Month- Melanie!!

Some team members stand out because they wouldn't have it any other way! We recognize their faces and are very aware of their contribution to HAH.  Others do their job more behind the scenes and expect no recognition in return. Melanie D is one of those unique team members. She has never been one to boast about herself and is easily one of our unsung heroes!

Melanie started at the HAH in August, 2004 as a receptionist.  Since that time she has tackled any task given to her with efficiency and is ready to move on to the next task given. Melanie’s many duties include client communications through patient updates, initial contact calls and new client correspondence. Additionally, she plays a major support role for our Surgical/ Boarding coordinator and yet still makes time to assist with patients in our treatment area. 

The busier Melanie is the happier she seems and that’s what makes her such a valuable part of the HAH family! Thank you Mel!

September Patient of the Month- GD

GD, a 70lb, 3 year old canine mix is a water baby. She and her housemate can be found frolicking around the water most any weekend.  However, one day this summer play went wrong. While jumping off the dock, GD caught her left rear leg in the motor of a boat.

When she arrived at the HAH she was anxious, to say the least, and bleeding profusely. An exam and x-rays with Dr. Carlos showed a degloving injury* isolated to her foot with multiple tendon lacerations and two fractured metatarsal bones (foot.)  GD was very lucky.

Surgery was necessary and the wound was immediately prepped. Large amounts of dirt and grease from the boat motor were cleaned out prior to any repair.  The superficial extensor tendon was severed completely and un-repairable while the 2nd metatarsal bone was reconstructed using soft tissue and allowed to heal by callus formation. The skin was partially closed to allow for drainage and a splint was placed to stabilize the fractures.

 

 An extended schedule of antibiotics and bandage changes were then made. Over a period of one month, GD returned to the HAH for multiple bandage changes; some every few days and later, once a week. GD needed to keep calm and quiet to allow the wound/bone to heal. A task, easier said then done with all of her energy. During these weeks she continued her mischievous behavior chewing on her bandage and even jumping back in the water a few times.

However, today, GD is “back to normal”. While the bones are still in the process of healing, the wounds are gone and her spirits are better then ever. Complete bone healing will take some time and GD may always have a limp in her walk but most will never know the extent of her injuries.

GD was a love to have as a patient and a real trooper for all the bandage changes. She had a very interesting summer and certainly makes a great success story.

(The last few pictures are of GD's wounds and may be graphic to some)

 

Below are pictures of GD's wounds.

(THE PICTURE BELOW MAY BE TOO GRAPHIC FOR SOME)

We are proud to highlight Dr. Guoan!

Dr. Guoan grew up in Naples, Florida. After high school graduation, she found herself  in Nashville, Tennessee knee deep within the music industry interacting with Pam Lewis, manager of “Garth Brooks”, as well as having her own interest in artist management, tour management and sound/lighting. While in Nashville, she attended Middle Tennessee State University where she played collegiate soccer. Upon graduation, she continued on the music path as a tour/artist manager as well as broadened her athletic career by playing Professional women’s football for the Nashville Dream Team, which is part of the National Women’s Football Association.

In 2004, she chose to turn corners and explore her other passions in life. Since then, she has been within the Veterinary community and has been consumed with unconditional love from animals. A 2012 graduate of University of Florida, Morgan was a Student Ambassador,  president of “Team Vet Med”, which is a cycling team geared to providing scholarships/support for veterinary students. She was also Hill’s Science Diet’s school representative. While not consumed with school, Morgan was a free lance writer and wrote for the “Critter” which is a nonprofit animal newsletter.

Morgan finds her true love in veterinary medicine as an emergency doctor. She also is actively involved in palliative/hospice care.  Her life experiences being an athlete, working in the music industry and having a life on the road, have enabled her to learn people and their lifestyles and to enjoy many different personalities and walks of life. Her past has taught her how easy being unconditional to someone can be, when you are able to put your own judgments aside. Being an ear to someone and a voice for others helped shape her into who she is today.