Tuesday, February 22, 2011

As always, exercise is important even in the winter months! If there’s snow on the ground, check your pet’s paws for ice balls or injuries. Rinse feet off if your pet has walked where de-icers have been used. If your pet is having difficulty exercising due to depth of snow, slick icy surfaces, or appears to be winded, we recommend that you shorten the usual exercise times and monitor for any unusual signs. If you suspect that your pet has ingested any harmful toxins from de-icers or anti-freeze, please let us know immediately, so that we may advise you about what to do next.

Friday, February 18, 2011

Staff Spotlight

Brookfield Animal Hospital would like to spotlight Lorraine Horton, one of our Customer Care Coordinators. She has worked with us since 2002. Lorraine says, "What I like about my job is I get to meet a lot of people and their animals. I love the way the people relate to their animals."

Thursday, February 17, 2011

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) estimates more than 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats have oral disease by the time they are three years old. What are you doing to ensure your pet’s dental needs are cared for?

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Dental Coupon

Did you know that dental care is an extremely important component of your pets overall health? More than 80% of dogs and cats over the age of three suffer from dental disease. Print out the coupon below and bring it in to your next visit and receive $25 off a dental cleaning! Offer ends February 28th.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Valentine's Day Tip

Mmmm…candy! But not for Fluffy! Chocolate, in all forms; is dangerous for both dogs and cats. The plastic or foil wrappers are dangerous if ingested. Make sure to keep pet treats at hand. When everyone else is enjoying the Valentine’s Day fun, let your pet in on the fun too! This will lessen the temptation to try to steal human treats. However, if you suspect that you pet has gotten into chocolate, or any other harmful substance; please call and we will guide you about what to do next. We care about your pet’s health.

 

Help Us Help Pets & People in Need

From time to time a pet is brought to us requiring urgent medical care; either a stray animal that someone found or a pet whose owner lacks the funds for treatment. This past August, we received a phone call from someone trying to find a veterinarian who would do surgery on her cat for an intestinal foreign body.

Unfortunately she had no funds to pay for the needed surgery and her regular veterinarian had declined to treat the cat without payment. Local animal welfare organizations were unable to provide her with financial assistance and other local vets had declined to help. After she contacted our hospital, we agreed to do surgery on the cat without payment. We removed electrical tape lodged in its
intestine, and the cat recovered well. The owner has agreed to repay our hospital, if able, in the future. 

Although this cat’s story ended happily, these days our hospital is seeing more sick or injured patients whose owners cannot afford treatment. To allow us to help more pets, we’ve decided to start a fund for cases like this to create more happy endings. Our fund is called the “Pets & People in Need Fund.” Join us in helping less fortunate area residents and their pets by contributing to this fund — together we can make a difference! We welcome contributions by check or over the phone on a credit card. We’ll keep you informed about those animals we’ve helped on our website and Facebook page.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Three New Loveable Breeds Join AKC Family

The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) expanded its litter of registered breeds on January 1, to welcome the Entlebucher Mountain Dog, the Norwegian Lundehund and the Xoloitzcuintli --growing AKC’s family to 170 breeds.
"The AKC is delighted to introduce these three distinct breeds to the public," said AKC Spokesperson Gina DiNardo. "Each loveable breed has a unique and diverse history and is a wonderful addition to the AKC."

The Entlebucher Mountain Dog was bred to move cows from pasture to pasture in the Swiss Alps. The breed is medium-sized and prized for its agreeable nature, trainability, and devotion. Entles are an active, high energy and physical breed with above average exercise requirements, so they are best suited for active families and not the casual dog owner. Additional facts on this breed can be found on the National Entlebucher Mountain Dog Association’s website at: www.nemda.org


The Norwegian Lundehund is known for having six toes on each foot and the ability to tip its head backward until it touches its backbone. These unique characteristics enabled the Norwegian Lundehund to climb steep, rocky cliffs and navigate crevices where the Puffins, a bird they were bred to hunt, nested. Lundehunds make loyal and playful companions, but can be wary of strangers if not socialized. Additional facts on this breed can be found on the Norwegian Lundehund Association of America’s at: www.nlaainc.com


The Xoloitzcuintli (pronounced show-low-etz-queent-lee) is one of the world’s rarest breeds and is still considered a "healer" in remote Mexican and Central American Villages today. The breed comes in three sizes: toy, miniature and standard; and two varieties: hairless and coated, which makes the Xolo ideal for those looking for a dog with more variety. They serve as an excellent companion for families due to their attentive and calm nature and require moderate exercise and grooming. Additional facts on this breed can be found on the Xoloitzcuintli Club of America’s website at: www.xoloitzcuintliclubofamerica.org


In addition, the AKC also welcomed the following breeds into the Miscellaneous Class: Bergamasco, Boerboels, Portuguese Podengo Pequenos, Sloughis, Peruvian Inca Orchid, Pumi, Dogo Argentino and Wirehaired Vizsla.

For breeds to become AKC-registered, they must first be recorded with an accepted registry. The AKC Foundation Stock Service® (FSS®) is the AKC's recording service for purebred breeds that are not yet eligible for AKC registration. After a breed is entered into FSS the recognition process begins with a written request to compete in the Miscellaneous Class from a National Breed Club. While there is no established timetable for adding new breeds, dogs typically compete in the Miscellaneous Class for one to three years. More information on the process can be found at the AKC’s Web site.