Friday, May 27, 2016

A day in the life of a BAH Boarder: Canine Edition
Ever wonder what happens after you drop off your pup for boarding here at Brookfield Animal Hospital? Well here’s an inside look at the boarding process, and the steps we take to make sure your pooch is happy, healthy and well taken care of. Don’t be disappointed if your furry friend doesn’t look back after being dropped off.  We’d like to think it’s because they have so much fun with us during their stay.
Arrival: Drop off time is at your convenience. Upon arrival with your dog, you’ll be escorted into an exam room, where you can fill the kennel staff in about the details of the stay. We will go over any medical issues and/or vaccines your pup may need, because after all, we are a vet and your canine’s health is priority one. We’ll also go over optional services for your pet such as exercise time, baths (free with a 7 night stay) and our popular “TLC” (Tender Loving Care) package.  Speaking of the TLC package, 9 out of 10 dogs surveyed prefer it. That 10th dog? He just doesn’t know about it. The TLC package includes a special memory foam mattress, a homemade bedtime snack, extra snuggle time with our terrific kennel staff, a daily photo that is texted right to you, as well as a full “report card” that tells you about your pet’s stay. After the quick meeting, your pooch is ready to check into their bunk for the stay. Our accommodations consist of  two 4 by 6 runs back to back and your pup gets all of it to romp around, redecorate, feng-shui and whatever else they feel is necessary to really make the space theirs.
Morning activities: Kennel staff arrives at 7:45 am, and breakfasts start then. After the pups finish their food, those who opted for extra exercise time will go out for a morning frolic while a kennel staff person cleans and gets the bunk all cozy for your dog’s return. Outside time is always enjoyed with a staff member, not other dogs, just to keep things safe. Any pets going home that day get ready for their parental reunion, while those staying longer have some midmorning down time.
Midday Activities: All who get lunch will have it served around 12. This is when the “TLC” pooches get their special attention and their mini photo-shoot.  It’s the highlight of any dog’s day (and usually the staff member’s too!)Often times the pups will take turns following around a staff member, enjoying some play in our outdoor area, and some snuggles indoors. We provide toys, and the kisses are free. Dogs who want a little extra cardio will get the other part of their half hour of extra exercise time, as well.  
Evening Activities: Dinner starts promptly at 4 (dogs love the early bird special).  After, they have time to settle down, hear a bedtime story and have their bunks tidied up one last time before everyone is tucked in for the night around 8:00. One of our technicians will complete final rounds around 8 PM to make sure all is well.
So there you have it, morning to night, your canine companions are kept clean, happy and social. Our kennel staff members are true animal lovers at heart and care for your furkids as they do their own. We’re proud of our boarding facility and love to show it off so if you’re in the neighborhood, stop in and we’d be happy to give you a tour.

Kate Dickson

Friday, May 6, 2016

Preventatives As Far as the Eye Can See


                Last week I dropped some knowledge on the good, the bad and the ugly on heartworm disease. If you remember, the only good news was that it is very easily preventable. When I first started working in the veterinary field, my own head spun with the options available for heartworm prevention…there’s a LOT out there. While most of the oral preventatives are based around a few of the same formulas, they are marketed under many different names. We here at Brookfield Animal Hospital love nothing more than making life a little easier for you and we offer what we think is the best out there for heartworm preventatives (or HWP as we say in the biz). That being said, there are a couple different ways to get the preventative INTO your dog or cats system. We offer injectable, oral and topical formulas. Confused yet?Don’t panic, here’s what you need to know to make your choice easier:  

                Injectable: we offer an injectable HWP called Proheart. The injection is good for 6 months, no muss, no fuss. We offer the option to save a couple bucks by purchasing a year’s worth of protection, though the pet still needs to come in every 6 months for the injection. It can be administered by one of our technicians, so no doctor visit is necessary.  

                Oral: we have pared down our chewable HWP options to just one; Interceptor Plus. You may remember the days when we had some other choices lining our shelves. We have chosen Inteceptor Plus as our go-to oral HWP because it protects against heartworm in addition to quite a few types of intestinal parasites that your dog could pick up in the world, all while being very affordable. It’s the best bang for your buck, so it made our decision easy. We do offer a couple of the other brands of chewable preventatives on our online pharmacy, so if you or your dog is a creature of habit, feel free to seek and purchase.

                Topical: we carry Revolution for both cats and dogs. Revolution is the ONLY heartworm preventative we carry for cats. Feline revolution also guards against common intestinal parasites as well as ear mites, fleas and ticks. It knocks out just about any kind of icky thing you don’t want in your cat’s system in one fell swoop. What’s not to like? Canine revolution also takes care of fleas, ticks, and is even used for certain parasitic skin conditions as well as heartworm. It’s a fast drying liquid that is applied on the pet monthly at home.

                HWP, like all medications, comes with the expected ‘buyer beware’ caveats. It is highly recommended that you purchase your HWP directly from a veterinary practice. Price comparing and purchasing online to save a few dollars may seem like a savvy way to shop, but you may be selling your furry friend short, pun intended. When you purchase HWP directly from a vet, you’re also purchasing a manufacturer’s guarantee stating that, should your pet come up positive for heartworm, they’ll cover the cost of treatment. Purchasing from a third party often negates this guarantee. Regular heartworm testing is required for a vet to dispense HWP, and keeps you compliant with the guarantee, while no doubt easing your mind that your pet is happy and healthy..and that’s what our lives are all about, isn’t it? As always, feel free to call in and chat us up about heartworm, prevention and beyond, we’re up for a good conversation anytime!


Kate Dickson