Simple steps to protect your pet.

What happened and what you need to know!

Today, news about CIRDC- Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease Complex began populating in the local media alerting dog owners to this highly contagious virus spreading throughout South Florida.

As your partner in pet care, we want to ensure you know the facts about CIRDC and exactly what to do to ensure your pups are protected.

What is CIRDC? CIRDC is a disease caused by exposure to multiple viruses and bacteria which infect the respiratory tract of dogs and can cause severe upper respiratory infections like pneumonia, sometimes referred to as "kennel cough."

What can you do? You can protect your pet by ensuring they are up-to-date on their routine vaccines, especially

1. Bordetella vaccine ("Kennel Cough vaccine")
2. K9 Influenza H3N8/H3N2 vaccine (CIV vaccine)
3. Also, this is a good time for dog distancing. Avoiding nose-to-nose meet-ups like at dogs parks and pet events will keep your pet safer.

Need your pet's vaccine status?

To check your pup's vaccine status log onto our myVCA App. Don't have the app, download it here!

Download myVCA App

Need to update your pet's vaccines?

Contact us to set up a Vaccine Clinic Appointment. Vaccine clinic appointments apply only to Bordetella and CIV vaccine services and are provided outside of the regular schedule of appointments. Therefore, you and your pet get in and out faster!

Roxy, A Canine Cancer Success Story!!!

Roxy is a 4 ½ year old female spayed small breed dog that presented to the Oncology Service for the first time on 4/21/21 for evaluation of a solitary right cranial pulmonary mass that was diagnosed on thoracic radiographs on 3/21/21 while she was being evaluated for coughing. An abdominal ultrasound was performed, which was normal, and cytology of the mass was performed and consistent with carcinoma. A chest CT was then performed with the goal of evaluating if Roxy was a good surgical candidate, but it unfortunately revealed multiple pulmonary nodules that were not visualized on radiographs. She was then diagnosed with metastatic pulmonary carcinoma and started on chemotherapy. 

Roxy was treated with a combination of carboplatin and gemcitabine chemotherapy. She received a total of 8 cycles of chemotherapy and her total protocol duration time was 6 months. She did not experience any side effects from chemotherapy and her quality of life was excellent while undergoing treatment. She had thoracic radiographs performed prior to cycles #4 and #8, and both showed no evidence of cancer, which means she entered complete remission with chemotherapy. She was then transitioned to maintenance oral chemotherapy and was still in complete remission on 10/13/21 when she had radiographs last performed. Thanks to chemotherapy, she has been alive for 7 months after a diagnosis of metastatic pulmonary cancer. Without chemotherapy, her expected survival time was less than 3 months.

In summary, dogs with pulmonary carcinoma can have positive outcomes if treated appropriately and if no negative prognostic factors are identified. The presence of one or more identified negative prognostic factors can negatively affect prognosis. Although surgery is the mainstay treatment for this type of cancer, the addition of chemotherapy in efforts to prolong survival time in pets with identified negative prognostic factors can be helpful. For dogs that are not good surgical candidates, chemotherapy is a palliative option that can be pursued as in Roxy’s case.

A Case of Canine Metastatic Pulmonary Carcinoma

Irene Vazquez, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Oncology)

Irene.Vazquez@vca.com

Oncology Services

Monday-Thursday

References

1. Rebhun, R.B., Culp, W.T.N., (2007). Pulmonary Neoplasia. In Withrow & MacEwen's Small Animal Clinical Oncology (5th ed., p. 453-459). St. Louis, MO: Saunders Elsevier.

2. Brody RS, Craig PH: Primary pulmonary neoplasms in the dog: a review of 29 cases, J Am Vet Med Assoc 147:1628-1643, 1965.

3. Griffery SM, Kraegel SA, Madewell BR: Rapid detection of K-ras gene mutations in canine lung cancer using single-strand conformational polymorphism analysis, Carcinogenesis 19:959-963, 1998.

4. Meuten DJ: Tumors in domestic animals, ed 4, Ames, Iowa, 2002, Iowa State University Press.

5. Hahn FF, Muggenburg BA. Griffith WC: Primary lung neoplasia in a beagle colony, Vet Pathol 33:633-638, 1996.

6. Moulton JE, von Tscharner C, Schneider R: Classification of lung carcinomas in the dog and cat, Vet Pathol 18:513-528, 1981.

7. Nielsen SW, Horava A: Primary pulmonary tumors of the dog. A report of sixteen cases, Am J Vet Res 21:813-830, 1960.

8. D’Costa S, Yoon B-I, Kim DY, et al: Morphologic and molecular analysis of 39 spontaneous feline pulmonary carcinomas, Vet Pathol DOI 10.117710300985811419529, 2011.

Call Ahead for Your Emergency!!

ER services affected by spike in pets presenting for care. 

What's the problem?

Veterinary hospitals across the country are overwhelmed due to this surge in pets presenting for care. Whether the uptick is from new adoptions surrounding COVID, staff shortages, or simply an increased awareness of issues, the results are longer wait times, staff fatigue and frustrated clients. Practices like ours, are finding six- to eight-hour wait times not unusual, and occasionally, when our emergency room is full we have had to stop accepting new patients.

What are we doing? 

 A strong focus for us has been to communicate with clients alternative ways to help their pets. For example, our free  24/7 Live Chat,* where licensed veterinary professionals are ready to answer your pet related questions. Additionally, we have sought to provide education about emergency room triage levels and "When being the worst makes you first!"  Ultimately, this holiday we expect to see service hour effected and we will do our best to communicate with you about these changes. 

What can you do? 

1. Call ahead if you are walking in for services or an emergency.

2. Chat on the myVCA App Free Live Chat* .

3. Understand emergencies & triage .

4. Be patient.

We are all pet people and the sentiment, that we are all in this together still rings true. Therefore, as the holiday season approaches, we are grateful to be here for you and your pet. 

24 Hour Emergency Care is Seeing an Increase in Pet Care

By now, we have all experienced the surge in emergency patient care that the veterinary has seen. Our clients have had to learn new standards for scheduling appointments and procedures for their pets and we have had to revise communication to ensure current expectations are set. With that said, our Emergency/Walk-in service has felt the effects of these measures and therefore we have made some temporary adjustments to our availability. It is our hope to keep you well informed about these changes so that you continue to feel comfortable when referring your patient to us for care.  

 

While we make every effort to provide 24/7/365  Emergency Service to our community, the following days & times we will have a modified ER/Walk-in schedule. Specialty pet services are Monday-Saturday: 7:30am-7pm by appointment only.

Modified Emergency Hours:

Friday, Dec 17th

Emergency/ walk-in service begins at 11am.

Appointments only 7am-11am

Tuesday, Dec 21st

Emergency/ walk-in service begins at 4pm.

Appointments only 7am-4pm. 

Saturday, Dec 25th

Emergency/ walk-in service only until 10pm.

There will be no new patients admitted after 10pm on Christmas Day. 

Tuesday, Dec 28th

Emergency/ walk-in service begins at 11am.

Appointments only 7am-11am

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.  

 

We are grateful for your continued partnership in pet care and we appreciate your patients as we adjust to new challenges. We are proud of the role our 24/7/365 emergency service plays in our community. It is our goal to resume the 24/7/365 services that you have come to reply on.

Please contact us on our dedicated referral line to reach our doctors and staff 24/7/365.

  

 

2021 Free Photo with Santa is Back!!!

The big bearded one never misses a change to visit the VCA HAH, but this year we are excited to announce that Santa returns to the "red carpet" for Free Pet Photos with your fur babies!

When: December 11th from 9am-12pm,

Where: VCA Hollywood- Annex

What: Free photos with Santa!!

Join us with your fiery feline and cuddly canine during our free pet photo event. This event has historically been offered on the last day of our pet food drive for Meals on Wheels of So. Florida's Companion Pet Program. in lieu of donations of food, support for meals on wheels for pets, donations can be made online or (link) or during the event on Saturday, Dec. 11th.

As always, one photo will be printed on site and digital prints will be made available online for downloading.

Santa never misses a stop off at VCA Hollywood to see your fur-babies. Check out his visit (caught on camera Dec 2020!) Not Even COVID Could Keep Santa Away.

COVID Message: Masks are required for all humans when inside our facility. Photos will be taken on a first come first serve bases with social distancing standards maintained. No mask required for pets. :) 

Visit our Facebook page for great photos of some of the fur-families that joined in the fun as well as outtakes of the hilarity that ensues when Santa suits up with a lot of animals!

 facebook.com/VCAHollywoodAnimalHospital

*These collections are full of some "great shots" and also some silly, "feline in your face", "dog on your lap good" times. Enjoy!

Learn more about Meals on Wheel of So. Florida's Companion Pet Program.

Meals for Companion Pets Founded in 1999, the Meals for Companion Pets Program is a volunteer-driven effort providing pet food to homebound and disabled seniors in Broward County. Research shows that seniors with pets are less likely to exhibit depression, report feelings of loneliness and experience illness. But taking care of a pet – feeding, grooming and veterinary care – can be financially and physically burdensome to seniors. More often than not, a devoted animal lover with limited access to food will feed their hungry pet before they feed themselves. Pet food is provided through the generosity of local donors and grants and is delivered on the third Saturday of each month. Volunteers are always needed on the third Saturday of the month to pack & deliver food.

https://www.mowsoflo.org/meals-for-companion-pets

Remember that dream you had when you were a cat?

The Royal Canin Curious Cat Experience

The Royal Canin Curious Cat Experience is an immersive cat trailer that educates visitors on all things cat! This experience will invoke curiosity and encourage participates to learn more about feline health, behavior and nutrition in an interactive way. Pet owners (and future pet owners) will become equipped with the right tools and information to have a cat friendly home.

This cat experience is coming to VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital on Nov. 10th and it is a FREE event meant to simply to teach us all about our fiery felines, provide you with some awesome take-homes and ultimately bring a little more fun to our day.

Join us!

When: Nov 10th
11a-5p

Where: VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital
(you won't be able to miss this trailer)

What: It is all about cats!


The experience includes a 30’ Trailer includes fun ways to learn more about cats.

- Lounge and Learn – Picnic Tables and Coloring for the Kids (and Adults!)

- Hydration Station and Demo Area

- Jump Like a Cat! Photo Opportunity – Print and take home your photo

- Cat Body Language Video

- What Cat is That? Interactive Touchscreen Video

- Cat and Royal Canin Fun Facts (in the trailer and QR Codes throughout the Experience)

- Move Like a Cat – VR Experience

- Giveaways include branded reusable water bottles, cat food, and pens

Prescription Diet Services

Over the last year, COVID-19 has impacted the availability of products across many industries. Pet food companies have been among those effected by production limitations and we have all felt that same impact as we stock our shelves. Simply, pet owners are finding their favorite pet food harder to find than usual.

As a practice, our specialty diet recommendations are scripted to clients of our emergency and specialty departments along with the sale of an initial transition dose, upon discharge. While in the past we have enjoyed a surplus of food and been happy to accommodate supplemental supply as needed to these clients  we too are being effected by the industries limitations.

Therefore, we will continue to provide food supply to clients of our general care practice first but will be unable to fill food prescriptions for clients of our emergency and specialty services. These clients will be directed to fill the script with their primary veterinarian or other outside pet food supply companies.

As manufacturers and vendors work together to correct the course of this limited stock, we look forward to being able to accommodate service to more clients however, getting the marketplace back to normal will take some time.

While we will continue to update you on the progress of food availabilty, further assistance may be available through your pet's food manufacturer.

HILLS – Website: hillspet.com; Phone: 800-445-5777

PURINA – Website: purina.com/purina-pro-plan-veterinary-diets; Phone: 800-778-7462

ROYAL CANIN – Website: my.royalcanin.com; Email: info.usa@royalcanin.com; Phone: 800-592-6687

 We appreciate your patience and understanding as we traverse these unique times.