Animal Care Clinic San Luis Obispo Veterinary Hospital

Hi I’m Bonnie Markoff, inviting you to join me at Animal Care Clinic’s annual Open House and Wine n’ Beer Gala, as we raise money to support Guide Dogs of America, the American Cancer Society, and Brighten a Corner. Take a behind-the-scenes tour of our hospital and learn how we care for your pets and how you can help to keep them healthy. Enjoy fine wines and beers, artisan cheeses and sausage tasting. And don’t miss our unique silent auction where you can buy a day with the vet, a private lesson from Dodger’s pitcher Ted Lilly, and much more. We hope to see you there! Cheers!

Learn more reasons why it is so beneficial to take your pet to an American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) accredited practice. Animal Care Clinic is very proud to be AAHA accredited since 1993 and is currently a top-5 finalist for the AAHA Practice of the Year Award! AAHA accreditation is a voluntary commitment that we have made to you and your pets. Only about 15% of small animal hospitals are accredited with AAHA!

Dr. Michael Cavanaugh, AAHA Executive Director, responds to a recent article that highlights the risks of letting your pets sleep in your bed. Original article from MSNBC can be found at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41235440/ns/health-pet_health/.

We think this video sums up our opinion on this story pretty well.  There are some risks of pet ownership as far as zoonotic diseases (diseases transmissible between people and animals) go, and this is our job as veterinarians to educate pet owners about.  Several team members of Animal Care Clinic share their bed with their pets and this recent article will not change this.  As long as pets are current on their preventive care there is a very low risk for anything to be passed.  Common sense of doing things like washing hands will go a long ways in keeping everyone healthy!  So keep enjoying the comfort and companionship of your pets and let us know if you have any questions about your pet’s preventive care!

Just like people, dogs and cats are recommended to get their teeth brushed as a part of their preventive care regimen. Teeth brushing should occur a minimum of 5 days a week to be beneficial. Use a child size soft bristled tooth brush and dog/cat formulated enzymatic toothpaste. Watch this video for some helpful tips in making brushing your pet’s teeth an easy and fun process. Come by Animal Care Clinic or give us a call at 805-545-8212 for questions or to schedule a tooth brushing demonstration!

Stephanie and Red Fred

Written by Stephanie Ruggerone

In the movie “Seabiscuit”, trainer Tom Smith states, “You don’t throw a whole life away just because it’s banged up a little”.  Oh how I wish more people would view the world this way!  While I have loved many animals in my life, it is the ones who had “special needs” that have taught me the most valuable lessons.

Our animal companions do not feel sorry for themselves nor do they expect special treatment.  Regardless of the origin of their “defects”, by birth, illness or injury; they forge ahead with life and find ways to overcome disability.  They possess the same devotion and love as normal animals but we often discard them because they don’t look right or require a little extra care on our part.  While some of these wonderful creatures may require additional financial means, most simply need someone to accept them as they are and allow them to burrow into a human heart.

Blind animals can quickly learn to navigate a home and yard and enjoy leashed excursions once they know you will be their “guide human”.  They compensate for their lack of sight tactility and with sound.  Keeping a radio playing in a specific part of the home or hearing a water fountain gives them points of reference.

Deaf pets can learn hand signals and feel vibrations.  Oh, but how do you get their attention to teach the signals?  Use the nose!  Food will keep their attention for quite some time.  They often learn to “check in” with their human friends by frequently turning to look for signals.  Yes, it takes some additional time to ensure these animals are safe in their environment but well worth the effort!

Missing body parts often seem to be a big factor for us but rarely a problem for the animal.  We often fail to look beyond the appearance and can’t imagine these animals being happy.   With proper exercise they can frequently run like the wind, keeping up with their full-bodied friends.  Some even excel in agility!

Napoleon is one of my current special needs “kids”.  He was born with a syndrome called “swimmer puppy” and his future was questionable.  He learned to walk (and run) through he isn’t exactly graceful and he is absolutely wonderful with my two year old grand daughter.  He has given my family seven years of snuggles, smiles and lots of laughs.  He may not be “normal” but has endless value to me via unconditional love.

Never thought of adopting a special needs pet?  Try it! I think you may find you not only like it but it may become habit forming.

Spaying and neutering can provide tremendous health benefits to your dog and cat. If you choose to breed a pet, be sure you understand the responsibilities this entails. Dogs and cats should be screened for genetic diseases and sound reproductive health before breeding. And you need to be sure you can provide good homes for all of the offspring. Contact Animal Care Clinic for more information on canine and feline reproduction and on the benefits of spaying and neutering your pets.

Four employees of Animal Care Clinic (Bonnie Markoff, Travis Morris, Ashley Ventimiglia, and Nicole Gunkel) took a trip to Mexicali, Mexico in what we deemed a “fact finding mission.” Our own Gustavo Rayas along with our new friends from the Mexicali vet school, Tomas Renteria and Julio Mercado, have a vision to improve upon the curriculum and to raise the small animal hospital to AAHA standards. We were shown hospitality by everyone we met! Tours of the university owned small animal veterinary hospital and veterinary school were given on day one, followed by a presentation to a group of students by Dr. Markoff and Ashley on “Practicing Excellence” and a discussion of goals for our future involvement together on day two. ACC was excited by the people we met and are looking forward to a cooperative exchange and future involvement in Mexicali!

Animal shelters are full of dogs and cats that desperately need homes. Most people focus on puppies, kittens and young adults when adopting. However, a senior pet may be less rambunctious and better behaved than a younger dog or cat and can still add years of love and joy to your home. Animal Care Clinic is celebrating Adopt-A-Senior-Pet Month by providing free physical exams and discounts on our wellness laboratory profiles for all senior pets adopted from local shelters before the end of 2010. Join us in celebrating life. Adopt a senior pet for the holidays.

Animal Care Clinic’s lodge manager, Julie Wilson, interview one of our great clients, Patti Holanda, about her experiences adopting “senior” pets from the local shelters. Patti tells us how they have enriched her and her husband’s lives and what a joy it is to bring some loving years to their lives for whatever years they have to share left. Senior pets are often the first to be euthanized at shelters as they become overpopulated. These pets can be wonderful as many already have a fair amount of training in them and are already potty-trained as opposed to puppies. If you adopt a senior pet from a local shelter, Animal Care Clinic is offering a free doctor exam and a discount on wellness lab work through the end of the December 2010.

Dawson was one of our very special cancer patients that was diagnosed with a painful tumor in his left humerus (left front leg).  After a consultation with a veterinary oncology (cancer) specialist, it was decided Dawson would benefit from a leg amputation to eliminate the source of pain.  Dawson did fabulous with only 3 legs as he continued to play in the water, play with his family, fetch ball, and play tug-of-war.  Dawson started swimming only 3 weeks after getting his leg amputated!  Dawson’s cancer eventually spread to his lungs and he was euthanized, but amputating his leg gave him a few months more to live a high-quality, pain-free existence.  Dawson reminds us of the simple things in life and those of us at Animal Care Clinic and his family will always remember him!

There may be nothing more fun than having a new puppy or kitten in your home. The doctors at Animal Care Clinic will help you be designing a customized preventative medicine plan for your new puppy or kitten. Let us help you with nutrition, vaccinations, and communicable disease decisions. We even hold puppy kindergarden classes. Our focus on veterinary family practice is just what you need.

Itchiness and hair loss in your dog or cat can be the result of fleas, inhaled allergies, hormonal disease, seborrhea, food allergy, infection, and many other things. The key to controlling skin disease is to find the primary problem. Neither you nor your pets should have to endure hours of scratching and licking.

Did you know that interacting with a well-behaved pet changes your chemical physiology and lowers your blood pressure, decreases stress, and leads to an increased sense of energy and elation. It’s true! People who own pets makes fewer visits to the doctor. Dogs and cats are good for us and we are good for them.

Sentinel is a product we highly recommend at Animal Care Clinic. We can go through a parasite evaluation to determine the best parasite prevention program for your pet and family. Please watch this video to learn more about Sentinel then give us a call!

This video is not for the squeamish! Bonnie Markoff, DVM, performed a life-saving surgery on a German Shepherd dog by removing an 18-pound tumor! The tumor was attached to the spleen and was amazingly benign!

Dr. Bonnie Markoff makes her trips from Animal Care Clinic in San Luis Obispo to Mongolia 1-2 times yearly. She works with VET Net, a Mongolian non-profit group (NGO) through Christian Veterinary Missions. Dr. Markoff’s focus is on mentoring the small animal veterinarians and teaching leadership, teamwork and practice management. She also loves learning about a different culture.

Dr. Bonnie Markoff makes her trips from Animal Care Clinic in San Luis Obispo to Mongolia 1-2 times yearly. She works with VET Net, a Mongolian non-profit group (NGO) through Christian Veterinary Missions. Dr. Markoff’s focus is on mentoring the small animal veterinarians and teaching leadership, teamwork and practice management. She also loves learning about a different culture. Our own Stephanie Ruggerone has also accompanied her on one trip.

The majority of today’s pets are overweight. You should easily be able to feel the ribs of a healthy pet. Your animal’s weight can be easily managed with proper diet, portion control, and safe exercise. The staff of Animal Care Clinic SLO can help provide a weight loss program that will lengthen your pet’s life protect them from many diseases related to pet obesity.

Itchiness and hairloss are conditions that are not only uncomfortable, but also unnecessary. The key to helping your pet rests with finding the root cause of these issues. Dr. Bonnie Markoff and the staff at Animal Care Clinic SLO can help diagnose and treat conditions that cause your pet discomfort.

Osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disease are very common in pet dogs and cats of all ages. Your pet should have the ability to run, play, and move about freely and without aches and pains. The staff of Animal Care Clinic can help provide your pet with years of comfort!