Frequently Asked Questions
STRESS FREE HANDLING FOR OUR BIRD PATIENTS, TOO
Doc is actively implementing low stress protocols at her hospital. There
are no loud noises, soft music on the radio, and no strong smells.
A strong disinfectant can obliterate your pet's
sense of smell for up to 10 days! None of us wear perfumes, and ALL staff members wear appeasing pheromones
on their clothing as well as in the exam rooms. Treat rewards are given
frequently to dogs and cats to make the examination and vaccination procedures
a positive experience. Dr Hall lets the patient take their own time to
get acclimated, and no aggressive handling is used. Cats and dogs are
kept in separate areas of the hospital to keep noise at a minimum.
A
bird's blood pressure can be elevated up to 300% with the stress of
handling. This is not only upsetting, but also risky for the patient. A mild, reversible sedative can be administered to your bird, and then
reversed after all procedures are completed. This process is safe, better
for the patient, and widely used by medical experts. As an added bonus
(for the pet), the sedative is amnesic, so they won't have a bad memory
of the visit! Think pediatric dentists and how they handle a child's
first visit to the dentist for comparison.
THE PET FOOD DILEMMA
The pet food market is a BILLION DOLLAR industry in the US, alone. Many
companies are looking to cash in without necessarily having the training
or background to make safe, balanced diets. A perfect example is the grain-free
diet fad. This started a few years ago when humans were jumping on the
grain-free, gluten-free craze. Dogs and cats NEED some grains and complex
carbohydrates to have a complete diet. There is no scientific data to
back up the grain free claim in pets foods. Upon close questioning, a
food company representative personally told Dr. Hall the grain-free lines
are marketed only because they are market driven.
LET'S THINK ABOUT THAT. GRAIN-FREE DIETS ARE ONLY BEING MARKETED AND
SOLD BECAUSE PET OWNERS WERE ASKING FOR THEM; NOT BECAUSE THERE WAS ANY
PROOF THEY WERE NEEDED OR REQUIRED FOR PET HEALTH. ANOTHER UNFORTUNATE
TREND IS VEGETARIAN DIETS FOR DOGS AND CATS. TO DATE, THERE ARE NO VEGETARIAN
PET FOODS THAT ARE NUTRITIONLLY BALANCED OR COMPLETE TO MEET THE HEALTH
REQUIREMENTS FOR YOUR PETS.
IN GENERAL TERMS, GOOD FOOD PRODUCTS ARE PRODUCED BY COMPANIES THAT
1. conduct AAFCO feeding trials and are regularly inspected by the FDA
2. have board certified veterinary nutritionists on staff
3. conduct on-site quality control
4. are larger, name brand companies that can afford the testing and research
needed to maintain quality products (ie: not 'boutique stores')
EXAMPLES OF APPROVED DIETS: ROYAL CANIN, HILLS, PROPLAN, IAMS, NUTRO, EUKANUBA,
FRISKIES, FANCY FEAST, SHEBA, WHISKAS
EXAMPLES OF FOODS TO AVOID: ORIJEN, ACANA, ZIGNATURE, FUSSIE CAT, ESSENCE,
DIAMOND, KIRKLAND, NATURAL BALANCE, FROMM, BLUE BUFFALO
WHY ARE WE SO CONCERNED WITH ONLINE PURCHASE OF MEDICATIONS?
Online pharmacies get product/medicines from many different sources. Some
are counterfeit medications; some from other countries such as China may
be contaminated or not even what the label indicates, and many are not
FDA approved. In most cases the manufacturer will not guarantee or warranty
any medication NOT purchased through your veterinarian.
If you have an adverse reaction to a medication purchased online - get
the wrong medication - are told it is in stock when it actually is not
- or isn't what was prescribed by a DOCTOR will the online pharmacy
help you OR your pet? WE will....
A FEW WORDS ON GRIEF AND GRIEVING
This is the hardest aspect of being both a pet owner, and a veterinarian.
It is always heartbreaking to have to make the decision to say good bye
to a beloved family member, whatever he or she may be. Death is inevitable
for us all, and is something we all have to deal with. I believe it is
my duty as a doctor and a human being to make every death as peaceful
as possible. My patients are treated exactly as I have treated my own
pets over the years. Your loved one will be given a sedative so they can
be relaxed, unafraid, and pain free for their final procedure. Myself
and my staff try very hard to treat everyone with compassion and understanding
during this difficult time. We also know there is no right way and no
wrong way to grieve. Eventually we all have to accept that life has changed
and we will have to move forward. And moving forward is OK. Simply know
we will support you and be there for you. |