Blue Springs Animal Hospital & Pet Resort

Hi Dogs and Cats, I'm your KIDNEY!!!

2010-04-26T12:43:00.000-05:00

Hi, I am a kidney. I am an important organ for ALL dogs and cats (and your owners too)! I have a big responsibility in the body because I have to keep the peace so to speak. I make sure the body is stable at all times. I make sure that there is the same amount of water, salt and acid in your blood at all times. My biggest challenge (and my most important job) is conserving the body's water. I excrete toxins and waste but do so by using the least amount of water possible.

I also make blood by stimulating red blood cell production, and I regulate blood pressure. Did you know that 25% of the blood that enters the circulatory system from EACH heartbeat goes directly to me?! Your doctor can tell alot about me by checking your blood and your blood pressure.

I also make urine (or pee as it's called by many). I do that by filtering with my nephrons. As your blood enters my nephrons I filter out the poisons, the toxins, and the waste. This can be bacteria from bad teeth (tarter, infection) or even certain medications your veterinarian prescribes to you may cause me damage. It's important to get analysis from blood test on a routine basis especially if you take medications that your veterinarian feels could be a potential risk to me. If I could not remove these toxins they would build up in your blood and damage your body. Sometimes your doctor may even want to look at your pee to run test on it. Those test help the doctor know if I am doing my job correctly and whether parts of me are getting worn out or damaged.

I also measure and regulate hormones, vitamins and salts. Another main function I have is to try to hold onto the body's proteins, especially the blood proteins. My nephrons filter the small waste molecules but their filters are too small for proteins to pass through. This makes it makes it easy for me not to lose proteins and do my job more effectively. Sometimes if those filters become damaged a hole will develop where proteins will accidently spill through. I can't do my job if this occurs and as a result this can shorten the body's lifetime! It's important for me (and for you) that I do not become damaged.

Damage can be something that takes many years to occur! Laboratory testing of blood, urinalysis and even monitoring blood pressure become important tools for your veterinarian to see if something is causing me problems and making my job harder to do. Once your body starts letting you know that I'm not doing my job it's often too late.

Some common signs of me being diseased would be:

excessive drinking and urinating
weight loss
poor appetite
weakness
vomiting
seizures
ulcers
poor hair coat
diarrhea
depression
bloody urine
back pain near kidneys

If I become diseased you cannot make me normal again. However, your doctor may be able to treat you to where you do not feel like I'm injured. The goal is to catch any disease processes early before major damage can occur to me.

If you would like further information please check out our website. There you can click on our Library and from there look in the 2nd paragraph, you will see a link to VIN Search Library. Just type kidney and you will get lots of info. Thanks for spending some time getting to know me! I look forward to keeping your body stable for many years to come.

A Glimpse of a Beautiful Life

2010-02-18T21:49:00.006-06:00

Thank you to Dr. Ryder and all of the staff @ Blue Springs AH. Your compassion and warmth means so much. I’ve attached a memorial and pics of Zimba. I wanted to share just a few of my memories with you.

Jean-Paul & Liane

IN loving memory:

Zimba

January, 1995 – February, 2010

Aka: Sugar Bear, Sweet Petunia, Buzz, Love Easy, Sweet “Potata”, Zimbabwe….

Thank You, Zimba, for 15 years of unconditional love, those thoughtful looks and even cutting your eyes.

I’ll always remember:

Your looks of intent when it’s 4 O’clock and “chewy time!” Fussing and barking if delay.

For knowing what “walk” means then learning “trottin’” and even learning how to spell “W-A-L-K.”

Chasing squirrels in New Orleans then being chased by the “dune buggy!”

Keeping a close eye on the crawfish bucket, careful not to get pinched!

It’s ironic to wake up on this day you passed and find out it’s Mardi Gras.

I know how much you loved the beach. I’ll take you back there someday. You’ll be able to run and play, smell the ocean, play in the sand.

You are a treasure, Zimba, a best friend, a character.
You will be truly missed and cherished in all of our hearts.

I LOVE YOU, ZIMBA.

All the above was written by Zimba's owners. We loved how they gave us a glimpse of Zimba's home life. In loving memory we say Good-bye to Zimba from your friends at Blue Springs Animal Hospital and Pet Resort. You will not be forgotten.

Little Dog Playtime is Fun time

2010-02-03T11:28:00.003-06:00

Good-bye! See you next time. Check back with us for a look into Big Dog Playtime.

Chili Dog Fundraiser for the Blue Springs Dog Park

2010-01-17T19:21:00.002-06:00

To view photos click on this link:

Clifford

Something cute to get you through your week....

2010-01-11T19:09:00.001-06:00

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE PETS, THIS IS A TRUE STORY. FOR THOSE THAT DON'T, THIS IS A TRUE STORY.

The following was found posted very low on a refrigerator door.

Dear Dogs and Cats: The dishes with the paw prints are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Placing a paw print in the middle of my plate and food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.

The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Racing me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help because I fall faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort, however.. Dogs and cats can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other, stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out on the other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm.

For the last time, there is no secret exit from the bathroom! If, by some miracle, I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob or get your paw under the edge in an attempt to open the door. I must exit through the same door I entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for years - canine/feline attendance is not required.

The proper order for kissing is: Kiss me first, then go smell the other dog or cat's butt. I cannot stress this enough.

Finally, in fairness, dear pets, I have posted the following message on the front door:

TO ALL NON-PET OWNERS WHO VISIT AND LIKE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT OUR PETS
(1) They live here. You don't.

(2) If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture.That's why they call it 'fur'-niture.

(3) I like my pets a lot better than I like most people.

(4) To you, they are animals. To me, they are adopted sons/daughters who are short, hairy, walk on all fours and don't speak clearly.

Remember, dogs and cats are better than kids because they:

(1) eat less,

(2) don't ask for money all the time,

(3) are easier to train,

(4) normally come when called,

(5) never ask to drive the car,

(6) don't smoke or drink,

(7) don't want to wear your clothes,

(8) don't have to buy the latest fashions,

(9) don't need a gazillion dollars for college and

(10) if they get pregnant, you can sell their children ..

2009 Snow Day!

2009-12-09T14:28:00.007-06:00

Did you see all the commotion around here?
Christmas Decorations!
Schnauzer tree toppers! On top a gifted tree from one of our beloved clients & friends.
Our receptions extraordinaire made this beautiful arrangement for our Holiday decor.
Murphy is ready to model....she is happy she will be home for Christmas! Her story to come in a future blog so be watching!!
Linda gives kisses to Frankie who has been staying with us for several weeks.
Our tree for the troops. If you want to adopt a soldier please come by and take an ornament!
If you want to adopt a kitten (we couldn't get them to sit on a tree) please come by & pick yours out!!
They do pose anyway! TOO CUTE! I'm sure they are on some little person's Christmas list!

Here is another view of our cute little dog and cat tree that our client gave to us! We love it so much!
Snow days make it a little more difficult for us to collect urine specimens but we get the JOB done with a smile as usual! :)
Snow days mean the staff drag their dogs to work...which they all seem to love it here too!
And sometimes even our kids....which sometimes they love it and sometimes they don't! These little guys were the greatest hanging out with all us BSAH people!

WE HAVE A NEW FLOOR!!!!

2009-11-09T12:50:00.004-06:00

We are so excited to report that we have nice new floors! You have to understand our hospital building is not very old and when they built it Dr. Carey and Dr. Rodier did extensive research in the best type of floor to put down. One that would look nice, handle the wear and tear from a veterinary hospital/resort (ie. pee/poop & cleaners), not be slippery when wet but slick enough to aide getting a stubborn pet in while he/or she is "putting on the brakes" and one that would last for many, many years.

We were really "taken to the cleaners" on this one, totally ripped off! The floor that was put down in our beautiful new hospital started peeling and flaking up after the first year. The resin they used in it starting turning yellow (not good for an animal hospital since that looked like urine or urine stain) and to make matters worse the company went out of business and there was NOTHING we could do... except start saving for a new floor. So here we are, lots of hard work later! We have a brand new floor and would love to show it off! Welcome, welcome and bring your pet too! If you don't have any other reason to stop by then come by anyway, grab a treat for your pet, and then you will have a chance to see our lovely new floor.

Linking the Veterinary Healthcare Team

2009-10-12T14:00:00.008-05:00

National Veterinary Technician Week begins today!!! It's pretty cool to work in a profession that has a whole week set aside each year to honor it!
Here I am monitoring this cutie until the DVM was ready for her.
I have been a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT)since 1995 when I graduated from the Maple Woods Veterinary Technology Pro gram. Back then National Vet Tech week was just getting started. It began in 1993 with a goal to make the public aware of Vet Techs and also to honor us for our outstanding contributions in pet healthcare. Most people back then had never heard of us or even knew what role we played in their pets healthcare. In fact, before applying to the Maple Wood's program I had never even heard of a Veterinary Technician! The college admissions office recommended it to me when I called to check on veterinary programs. I had to go to the library (I'm dating myself here...back then no internet!) and I looked up everything I could find on Veterinary Technology. I'm glad there were some books published on this career because I had to write a paper explaining why I wanted to be a veterinary technician to even get excepted into the program! Luckily, they excepted me, so here I am! I've worked at Blue Springs Animal Hospital since my first year as a student veterinary technician in 1993.

I started the 2 year program in '93 and graduated with an Associates of Science in Veterinary Technology. Being an RVT is more than just a degree from an accredited veterinary program. Besides taking a state certification test and passing and then each year taking the required continuing certification, we also follow an oath. As members of the veterinary healthcare team, RVT's are educated in the latest medical advances and we are skilled at working along side veterinarians to give pets the best medical care possible. An RVT cleans teeth.We work closely with veterinarians, assistants- actually the whole hospital team, as well as the patient, and owners to be an essential link with all involved in the care process. I like how NAVTA states, "Pets give us unconditional love and veterinary technicians give us peace of mind."

If you like to shop around and compare prices make sure you ask each veterinary hospital if they employ credentialed veterinary technicians.
An RVT places an IV catheterIf your like me, my little pet family has become like my children, I want the best for them that I can provide, in all areas of their lives. Having the confidence that they have a great hospital to go to if something were to ever go wrong is very meaningful to me. Blue Springs Animal Hospital employees 5 Registered Veterinary Technicians and 1 second year vet tech student. We mostly work behind the scenes here, but if you could see how much we all love each and every pet like they were our very own you would have to agree it would be very meaningful to you too.

In this photo Tammy, an RVT assists Dr. Rodier in surgery.
We are lucky to have a week to acknowledge our profession, to pat ourselves on the back and let others tell us how much they appreciate us. Saying that I would like also like to add that, speaking for our hospital, our entire staff is amazing! Hey, maybe we should have a Blue Springs Animal Hospital week!?! Wow! What a great idea!!

Look for the Big Red Dog at Fall Fun Fest 2009!!!!

2009-09-15T18:10:00.004-05:00

It's that time of year and once again Blue Springs Animal Hospital and Pet Resort will be participating in the 40th annual Fall Fun Fest Parade. This year the parade motto is : From the Moon to Main Street. Our big red dog is ready! Tammy, an RVT for Blue Springs Animal Hospital got in touch with her creative side and fabricated a space helmet for the big dog. Made out of casting material and sprayed silver, our group will really "shine" this year! Most likely our dog will not wear the helmet on parade day but will carry it under one arm but Tammy models it here for us.....

Be sure and head out early for the parade on Saturday, September 19th. It is always a lot of fun!! We will be handing out treats and would love to see you and your pet!

Valentine gets acupuncture

2009-08-03T19:13:00.006-05:00

Many people are not aware that animals can have acupuncture and chiropractic care to help with certain medical conditions. My little dog, Valentine, had a back injury about 8 years ago. We don't know how it happened but I was fortunate enough that Dr. Perkins was a DVM at The Blue Springs Animal Hospital at that time. She had a special interest in chiropractic care in animals. She has since gone on to get all of her certifications and has opened her own clinic in Lee's Summit that specializes in western medicine, chiropractic care and acupuncture. We will refer our clients to her when our doctors feel like she could help one of our patients. I think she is amazing!

Valentine gets very weak in her hind quarters. She just doesn't get enough "umph" to get her back end up a single step some times. Her lower back will be very hot to the touch and she acts sore. I will take her to Dr. Perkins and she will work her magic and Valentine will be playing and jumping and feeling great! Keep in mind, this little gal will be 17 years old in January 2010!! I know that one photo of her on the lower left makes her booty look alittle big but in reality she only has a little chunky dunk. :) I have never had acupuncture but the needles never seem to bother Val. She will even lay down with them in and relax as you can see in the above photos. Cats are more difficult but can be helped if they are not too aggressive. In fact, Dr. Perkins had some equine (horse) patients for awhile but now, to my knowledge, she only does dogs and cats.

I just thought that I would let as many people know as I could that there are options out there for your pet. Our doctors will assess your pet with a good physical exam, we will take radiographs (x-rays) when needed and we will refer you to see Dr. Perkins if that is an option for your pet.

AVID Microchip for your pet

2009-06-25T09:16:00.028-05:00

I have briefly touched on micro-chipping your pet once before in my blog on preparing for an emergency. Today, I thought I would tell you a couple of good stories about the advantages of your pet being permanently identified.

First, let's discuss what is an AVID® microchip? A.V.I.D. stands for "American Veterinary Identification Devices". The AVID® microchip is a tiny computer chip which has an identification number programmed into it. The chip is then encased in a strong, smooth glass that is small enough to fit into a hypodermic needle. The chip it's self is no larger than a grain of rice.

Once your pet is injected with the chip, he or she can be identified throughout his or her life by this one-of-a-kind number. This identification cannot be lost, altered or intentionally removed.

How does the microchip & scanner work? Generally, this rice size chip is injected deeply under the skin and sits safely there, totally inert. A special scanner is used to send a radio signal through the skin of the pet to read the chip number. The pet feels nothing as the scanner is passed over him. When the chip receives this signal, it sends data (the microchip number) back to the scanner to be displayed in a viewing window. It appears in the viewing window, for example,as: AVID® 560*903*354.

How long does the microchip last? The microchip has no power supply, battery, or moving parts and is designed with an operating life of over 25 years. AVID® is guaranteed for the life of your pet. Once injected, the microchip is anchored in place when a thin layer of connective tissue forms around it. The chip requires no care. It will not pass through or out of the body.

When microchips are purchased, they will be traceable back to their facility of origin, in our case that would be us (Blue Springs Animal Hospital & Pet Resort)
unless the registration of the chip is changed. To change it the pet owner will need to fill out the PETtrac form and mail it in with a small fee.

The AVID® PETtrac program is a global computerized system for pets identified with the AVID® chip. Your pet is enrolled, for a small fee, under the your name with complete detailed information about both animal and owner. In this way, if a shelter picks up the pet, you, the owner, will be contacted directly without going through your veterinarian.

Otherwise, we will be contacted if a recovery is made and we will need to be sure and have your current phone number and address always on file.

All animal shelters and animal control officers have been educated and informed about microchip identification and how it works. They have universal AVID® scanners on hand and routinely scan lost pets. A majority of veterinary hospitals also have the scanners and can scan pets. Once a microchip is located in a pet, the appropriate steps are taken. If the pet is registered with AVID's PETtrac™ Recovery System, the shelter or veterinarian will be given the owner's name. If the animal is not registered, they will be given the name of the establishment that the chip was sold to, like us, if we implanted the AVID® chip in your pet.

Not long after AVID® was first introduced to the veterinary world we had a local medical doctor that decided to be one of the first to microchip his little Yorkie. Only a few months after he made this wise decision his little dog turned up missing. Six years went by and the doctor had given up thinking he would ever see his beloved dog again. Then one day someone picked up a stray Yorkie running the streets of Blue Springs. She was matted and scared. We didn't know her story but we scanned her and we were very pleased to see she had a microchip. We were also really excited to tell her owner that we had her and that she was safe. When they were reunited you could tell that neither one of them had ever forgotten the other! They both were so happy! It was something I'll never forget seeing. That has been many years ago now and she has since died of natural causes at home, which is the most any of us could ever hope for with our beloved pets!

Hurricane Katrina displaced many, many animals. It left over 250,000 stranded and starving pets!!

Our own hospital boarded a few as volunteers tried to sort out who these animals belonged too. With no tags or collars with identification, which many of these animals were without, finding their way back to their families was next to impossible. That is when the push to really get as many pets micro chipped as possible came to be. Many states in our nation are now organizing systems to try and accomplish this goal. Most of them are relying on veterinarians to educate people on the importance of having a reliable permanent identification system for their pets such as AVID®.

We strongly urge all our clients to consider this for their pets. It is an link back to you that will last for the life of your pet!

Dieting

2009-06-01T16:49:00.010-05:00

Dieting is NO FUN! Take it from me, I've been yo-yo'ing with weight for many years now. If your a cat or dog it's even worse! As humans we can understand what is "bad" for us to eat and that we need to exercise more. We can communicate to our doctors that our backs hurt or our knees and that is why we are not as active as we need to be. Animals don't have that luxury. If we don't pick up on their needs they can go unmet.

Overweight dogs now have a friend on their side. Pfizer has come up with Slentrol, it the 1st FDA approved drug to manage obesity in dogs. It's a weight loss drug that helps them to drop pounds when combined with diet and exercise. To learn more ask one of our veterinarian's or go to the Slentrol website.

This handsome devil is Chancy,

a 4 year old cat that has been battling the bulge since 2005. Cat's can't take Slentrol but they can be put on a weight loss diet. It's important to get the weight off as being overweight can cause cats to be diabetic, have heart disease or become arthritic. Science Diet makes a formula called Prescription Diet® r/d® . He was put on a diet of 1/2 cup dry and 1/2 cup wet of the r/d® daily and has dropped 3.5 lbs. in 1 year! That is fabulous!! Prescription Diet® r/d® is low in calories, high in fiber and has the highest levels of L-carnitine to effectively reduce weight while increasing lean muscle mass to help cats feel full. Since it's hard to exercise cats it's very important to help them stay at a healthy weight by managing their diet. To learn more go to the Hill's website. We are proud of Chancy and his owners for sticking with his diet!!

Tell me your stories

2009-05-11T14:52:00.007-05:00

Hi everyone! I'm looking for stories, your stories! These are stories I would like to share with our staff or use on our blog when I'm at a loss for words....I would like to request that our clients/readers tell me some stories about Blue Springs Animal Hospital and Pet Resort. I'm looking for anything amazing, cute, funny, touching, embarrassing, etc. and if you have a tale to tell about a certain doctor or staff member please mention their names. You can email me at: staffbsah@yahoo.com
or send the hand written story in to the hospital at:

Blue Springs Animal Hospital & Pet Resort
1201 W. 40 Hwy
Blue Springs, MO 64015

Attn: Stacey
or leave a comment below.

I would like to also have a copy of any photos taken of our staff or hospital over the years so if you come up with any of those I would be very grateful!
Thank you in advance for any and all efforts! Stacey D.

I need a HOME!!!

2009-05-07T15:08:00.004-05:00

Foster needs a home!!
This little beagle boy came to us by accident and one of our doctors has been gracious enough to give him a foster home (therefore, he earned the name "Foster"). She isn't able to keep him but she has been utilizing the time they have together and working on some training with Foster. She reports that he is very stubborn but he seems to learn quickly.

Foster is a very sweet boy.

He is about 1 1/2 years old and he is neutered. He is current on all vaccinations, and is on heartworm and flea prevention. He gets along well with other dogs and loves to run and play. He may not be the right pet for a household with children. If you know anyone in the Kansas City, MO area that is wanting a sweet male beagle please send them our way.

Call Dr. Elise Lesko at 816-229-1544.
Leave a message in her voicemail if she is busy with an appointment.

TPLO is at BSAH!!

2009-05-06T13:52:00.015-05:00

Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy- no wonder it's shortened to TPLO!
x-rays are measured & marked to prepare for surgery.an epidural is placed the day of surgery.

Here are a few photos of Dr. Rodier performing a TPLO surgery on Oliver. Tammy, one of our RVT's at Blue Springs Animal Hospital was his surgical nurse for this surgery.

Post op x-rays. ( Notice the plate)
Dr. Joe Rodier became certified in this fascinating procedure and has since performed it on many dogs with very successful results. There are many aspects to this surgery that require precise skills. Lots of measuring and calculating is required for this surgery along with skilled surgical hands and Dr. Rodier seems to have mastered them all, giving dogs a new chance with a stronger knee and a better quality of life.

TPLO is a surgical correction for cranial cruciate ligament rupture or in slang, "a torn up knee". This ligament provides structural support in the knee and without it there is severe pain and inflammation resulting in rear leg lameness. Many people will say that their dog was sprinting towards a squirrel or playing with another dog when they cry out in pain and start limping. It begins with a sudden non-weight bearing lameness in the affected leg. If the ligament is only partially torn then the dog may only suffer from mild episodes of lameness until it completely ruptures. Once the tear is complete, there will be a period of non-weight bearing lameness, which may be followed by the dog gradually starting to bear partial weight on the leg again. Smaller breed dogs my recover normal use of the leg with only mild arthritic changes but large breed dogs generally require surgical intervention or they will have debilitating long-term arthritis and pain in the joint.

Oliver was a recent surgery for Dr. Rodier. His owners brought him in for consultation after Oliver began limping. Oliver's owners were greatful that they had VPI pet insurance which helped take the financial burden off of them. If your pet does not have health insurance we highly recommend it. You can enroll by going to www.petinsurance.com In order to diagnose cranial cruciate ligament ruptures the joint must be palpated (moved/felt) under anesthesia. If Dr. Rodier can move the tibia back and forth under the femur freely, called a positive drawer motion, then that would indicate the cruciate ligament is not intact. An x-ray would be taken and measurements made that will be used in the TPLO surgical procedure. Post operative x-rays are also taken so Dr. Rodier can check and measure his surgery. You can read more in depth about TPLO symptoms, causes, diagnosis, etc. on our website or call our office (816) 229-1544 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Rodier. Oliver is doing great!

I need a name!

2009-04-15T06:46:00.005-05:00

My family is having a hard time thinking (and agreeing) on a name for me. I welcome your comments and suggestions and maybe you can help them decide on something soon!! Otherwise, this girl is going for the other shoe!!

New Puppy?

2009-04-10T07:11:00.004-05:00

This little pup was worried about his first visit to the vet. It is pretty intense. All that oowing and awwing from our staff!
A puppy's first visit, and every visit after, includes a good physical exam. Even if the person you got your puppy from says that all the vaccines are current it is really important to let a veterinarian check your pup over for any signs of illness that may pose a threat now or in the future. Also, make sure and have the puppy checked for parasites! All puppies and kittens have worms, it's the way the roundworm life cycle works. They can have a multitude of other parasites as well, some live in the gut, other's on the skin or in the ears. We want to give them the best shot of starting off as a healthy member to your family and we Y them very much so that makes our jobs so much easier! Please call us if you have any questions at all about your puppy's first visit, we would love to meet them and maybe even get a "worried" picture or two!

Money Saving Tip for Cat Owners

2009-04-05T21:32:00.005-05:00

The last time I purchased litter box liners I got them from a discount store & paid under $2/box and bought about 25 boxes. Needless to say, I ran out. I went out shopping for liners and realized the price has gone up considerably since I last looked!

My cat's litter box at home is roughly 7" deep by 15"wide and under 25" long. I decided instead of purchasing a box of 10 liners for $5 plus that I would buy some large trash bags. I chose the 33 gallon size (2ft 9 in x 3 ft 2.5 in .8mil) and I got 120 bags for a little over $12. I put my litter box inside the trash bag and I used a file folder rubber band to go around the rim of the litter box to hold the trash bag in place. (I purchased those at Office Depot for $3 for a box of 25) I've also found that if your trash bag is large enough that you can stretch it around the box and still rubber band it in place. This keeps the cats from pulling in any excess part of the trash bag into the dirty litter box. I also made sure the bag laid flat against the bottom of the litter box so the cats were stepping into a solid foundation not one with a lot of "air bubbles".

When it came time to change the litter box I just removed the rubber band, turned the trash bag in on it's self so that all the dirty litter was now bagged up and ready to be tied and hauled to the trash can. If you stretch the bag then just take the rubber band off and bring the bag sides up to tie. The rubber band can be used again. Very easy & cheap! I hope this tip helps save someone else some money too!

Ali gets his teeth cleaned!

2009-03-24T21:09:00.012-05:00

This is Ali. (He is a very distinguished cat.) He was told he needed a dental cleaning by Dr. Carey. His blood work results all came back normal from his Wellness visit on February 10, 2009(see blog on that date). (He is very overweight so his "mom" was very glad he did not prove to be diabetic!)

First he was checked in by a registered veterinary technician (RVT). Our hospital has 5 of those on staff! Then he was examined again by Dr. Carey to make sure that he checked out okay for his anesthesia.
After that exam he was given some pre-meds
by Dr. Carey's surgical technician team. All our doctors (we have 7!)have at least 2 RVT's that work with them on their surgery days. Dr. Carey's surgery day is Wednesday. Pre-surgical medications help with pain, inflammation, and help to "take the edge off" while a patient is waiting for a procedure. Ali was very good and the pre-med's didn't bother him at all. This is Ali with his RVT, Tammy.

He is ready for his anesthesia so he is given an IV dose of anesthetic drugs that make him sleep for about 5 minutes. This gives us enough time to intubate him so we can hook him up to a gas anesthetic machine that will keep him asleep until we turn the gas off and wake him up.
During this time he is on a heating pad, he is on a respiratory monitor, and he is hooked up to a blood pressure monitor. If their pressures get to low (as Ali's started to) or to high we adjust their gas levels and/or fluids to help with their blood pressure. There are other steps we take if we continue to get abnormal readings. We take very good care of our patients! His teeth are cleaned, probed for pockets, rinsed with an oral hygiene rinse and fluoride given.
If we would of found any abnormalities then we would of x-rayed and or pulled any necessary teeth that need to come out. Some animals come in and their teeth are so bad that they actually feel better immediately after their procedure. In fact, we once had a twenty year old cat that was not eating and pawing at it's mouth. We removed some nasty teeth and the cat ate that night!

Here are Ali's before and after pictures, taken while he is still intubated.

Almost all our patients go home the same day after surgery or dentistry. There a few exceptions such as major surgeries or pets that have extensive dental work done. Ali went home the same evening and is feeling great.

Rudy & his family thanks us!

2009-03-23T09:51:00.011-05:00

James, Denise & Rudy moved to Ohio in 2004. We were really sad to see them go! Recently, their little miniature schnauzer Rudolph was diagnosed with kidney disease by their veterinarian in Ohio.

Dr. Carey was Rudy's veterinarian from 1999-2004. Rudy's owners wanted a 2nd opinion on his condition so they telephoned Dr. Carey &; he spent several minutes discussing Rudy's treatment plan with them.

We received this really nice Thank You card in the mail a few weeks later! We are always sad to lose any of our patients and Dr. Carey was really happy that they remembered him and he was more than happy to help!

Note: the above posting was on 3/23/09- We are very sorry & saddened to report as of today 3/25/09 that we received another nice letter from Jim and Denise and Rudy did not win his fight with kidney disease and has recently passed away.

The Wonder of Dogs

2009-03-15T16:35:00.006-05:00

This video will really tug at your heart! (Make sure your sound is on)
(I know I'll have to find some good cat videos to share! )
If you have trouble viewing this video please click here http://bluespringsanimalhospital.com/single_pages/video_help.html

2009-03-08T09:05:00.003-05:00

Click on photo to read

A Blog by Lincoln

2009-03-03T13:34:00.012-06:00

Hi. My name is Lincoln. I am a dog and I was named after "the" Abraham Lincoln, our country's 16th president. My mom thinks I'm the greatest. I try to live by Mr. Lincoln's standards so I too believe, "Whatever you are, be a good one."

I found the coolest thing the other day.

It was so beautiful that I just wanted to eat it up! So I did. I figured I would start my own collection and the best way for a dog to hold on to something is to eat it! I wanted to be a good collector so I didn't tell my mom as she doesn't like for me to eat anything other than my food or treats. It is more fun to be adventurous, I think! Besides, as Abe would say, "I fear explanations explanatory of things explained."

I got a belly ache and pretty soon I was not able to keep the chicken that I ingested (without my good mother knowing) down. The throwing up scared my mom & she was worried about chicken bones so she took me to see Dr. Carey.

He is a great doctor and an even better friend. He always pats me on the head and sometimes he even gives me a kiss! As my namesake would say, " The better part of one's life consists of his friendships." Dr. Carey talked my condition over with my mom and they decided it would be best to take a picture of my tummy. That is called an x-ray. It didn't hurt at all and pretty soon they could see my treasure I was hiding in there!

They really didn't know what it was and of course I wasn't going to tell them! I wanted to keep it for my own collection. But, my tummy was starting to hurt something awful, so I thought it would be best to let them have my first marble after all, and besides, I kinda forgot it was in there anyway.

Dr. Carey decided that they could do surgery right away. Besides, Mr. Lincoln would say, "Leave nothing for tomorrow which can be done today." They made an incision in my tummy that looks like this.... I was asleep the whole time. Dr. Carey told my Mom that is called anesthesia. My surgery didn't take long and pretty soon Dr. Carey gave my Mom the marble that I swallowed.

I don't know if it's worth any money but I heard my Mom say,"that was one expensive marble!" I wonder how much people pay for marbles, anyway? I think it made her happy that I was okay and I was happy that my Mom is going to keep my marble for me (high on a shelf, she said!). Abe says, "Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." I believe that & my mind says be happy always!

Of course I, like Lincoln say, "Everything I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel mother".

And "The best thing about the future is that it comes only one day at a time." So, as I make my speedy recovery I'll be planning my next great adventure!

Love & happiness (and lots of slobbery kisses),

Lincoln

Preparing Your Home For an Emergency

2009-02-28T11:26:00.011-06:00

As storm season approaches it's time to prepare your household for an emergency. The likelihood of an emergency in Missouri is great and if you can prepare now it will help reduce stress for the entire household later. We face tornadoes, power outages, fires, floods, storms, or maybe someday even something like a terrorist attack or pandemic flu. The Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services ( http://www.dhss.mo.gov/ )is partnering with the Missouri Veterinary Medical Association to help increase awareness across the state. They have created the Ready in 3 to help families create steps to plan & prepare. They have asked us to help get the word out.

Go to www.dhss.mo.gov/Ready_in_3 for more information.

What are some ways you can be prepared?

Have a battery-powered radio nearby in the event of cell towers down or power outages.

Make an emergency kit! Basic supplies should include water, canned food (or dried), a can opener, battery-powered radio, flashlight, extra batteries, prescription medicine, first aid kit, duct tape. A car emergency kit should include a gallon of water, canned food and can opener, sleeping bag or blanket, money, first aid kit. Make sure if you have pets that you also include their food, water and medications that they would have to have. A leash or carrier would be great to keep in your safe room. See the Ready in 3 website for more ideas.

Create a plan for two situations-staying home or leaving. Your entire family should know & understand your plan. Discuss how you will communicate with each other in difficult situations. Know your pet's hiding places so you can easily find him/her during an emergency. Exchange keys and disaster plans with a neighbor so they can evacuate your animals if you are not home when a disaster strikes.

Have a safe room in your house and make sure all members of your family know to head there during an emergency. Make sure there is enough space for all your family members and pets. This may be a room that has to be sealed off in the event there are poisons in the air. Keep your emergency supplies in this room.

Know where to go if you have to leave your home. Plan where the family will meet & plan different routes to get there. Bring your emergency supply kit with you. If you can, bring your pets but keep in mind many public shelters will not allow pets! Prepare a list of places that can accommodate your pet if you have to evacuate. Store the numbers to these places with your pet's emergency kit.

Listen for information. STAY CALM!

Identification is important for your pets. Make sure they either have microchip identification (AVID is available at our hospital), or a collar with a tag. Keep them up-to-date on vaccinations in the event they are stranded outside around other animals or end up in an animal shelter! Many pets were lost or displaced during hurricane Katrina, a microchip is the best bet you will be reunited with your beloved pet. This website was created just for the effort of reuniting pets with their families from that disaster. http://www.findkatrinapets.com/ Make sure you pet has identification.

Click on this link to view photo of animals that were kept safe during a disaster: http://www.fema.gov/kids/p_pets.htm

Click on this link to view a video called "Don't leave your pets behind when disaster strikes". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZEGyHaBOzk

Missouri Volunteer Veterinary Corps

2009-02-27T19:58:00.010-06:00

I don't know how many people reading are aware that Missouri has a volunteer veterinary corp. Their mission is to help animal owners and officials in our communities protect the animals and public health in case of a disease outbreak or national disaster. The MVVC will be the first line of defense and response. Technicians and veterinarians will be activated quickly in their counties to serve as temporary federal personnel to help meet an emergency. Deployment during an emergency is strictly voluntary.

Two registered veterinary technicians at the Blue Springs Animal Hospital have volunteered as members of the MVVC and have been members now for over a year! They have completed the required emergency management training in the National Incident Management System and foreign animal and zoonotic diseases. They have also received their DuPont Biosecurity Kit
to use in the event of an animal emergency.

Emergencies may include outbreaks of exotic animal and poultry diseases or natural disasters as they affect animals, such as flood, fire or tornado (or hurricane in state's like New Orleans). Natural disasters are unpredictable and cannot be prevented and it is very unlikely that an outbreak of an exotic animal disease in Missouri can be prevented, so we must be prepared.

"The Corps" continues to grow as new volunteer veterinarians and technicians are added through out our state. We hope a disaster will not come our way but we are proud of our technicians that have volunteered to be called into duty if such an event were to take place! We have seen first hand their talents and we are confident they will be of much assistance!

Great Story!

2009-02-21T17:14:00.005-06:00

This is an amazing video so I thought I'd share it. I think it shows how much a part of our family our pets can become. Enjoy!

Click here if your having trouble viewing: http://bluespringsanimalhospital.com/single_pages/video_help.html

A glimpse of one procedure we offer...

2009-02-16T10:07:00.009-06:00

We recently purchased new endoscopic equipment for our hospital. This allows our doctors a non-invasive way to see what is going on through out the digestive tract of our patients.

This photo is of Dr. Gina Bradley looking at the stomach of Drew. Drew is an 11 year old, neutered male cat that has been continuing to lose weight. (You can see a picture of his stomach on the monitor in this photo.) Drew is under anesthesia for his procedure, with his respiration, and blood pressure being monitored by our registered veterinary technicians. He is also getting intravenous fluids while he is under anesthesia, which is a choice we offer for most procedures or surgeries that require anesthesia.

Dr. Bradley collected samples of a few suspicious sites in the intestines for pathology and sent them off to the lab for results. The results came back as intestinal lymphoma. There is a treatment available for that disease. Drew was eating and fine by 4:00pm on the same day of his procedure and we all are hoping that he will continue to feel good and respond well to his treatment!

Ali's wellness visit and our 1st Blog!

2009-02-10T07:39:00.015-06:00

Ali inspects the fish while waiting his turn to see the vet.

This is Ali. He was not too happy to have a visit with the vet today. Most cat's don't like to leave their homes but it's very important to let a veterinarian have a look at least once yearly. We recommend twice yearly exams on all our patients, regardless of species, because of the quick aging process of animals.

Dr. Carey gave him a great check over and noticed that he is over-weight. 20.4# of cat is a bit large...but he is such a good boy! He did great for his blood sample and we obtained a urine sample by using the ultrasound to find his bladder and collected a sample with cystocentisis (getting urine with a needle and syringe). Ali never stop purring! He will need to have his teeth cleaned so we will schedule that right away. In a couple of days we will find out his blood & urine results since they were both sent out to the lab. (We run those in-house when results are needed "right now" but the lab can give us a larger profile so we prefer to send them out when possible). With Ali being overweight I guess I'll hold my breath & hope that he is not diabetic- after all, he is my cat! I have worked for the Blue Springs Animal Hospital for almost 16 years as a Registered Veterinary Technician. I really wanted to start a blog for our hospital so I (and hopefully other co-workers) can share some of the amazing, fun, and sometimes heartbreaking stories we encounter almost every day. I also answer many questions from pet owners on a daily basis so thought I might be able to post a few educational topics as well. My goal is to post something at least twice a week. I'll post Ali's "dentistry adventure" when the time comes so stay tuned!