Valerie, what do you enjoy most about your role?
I like meeting new people.

Do you have pets?
Peanut is eight years old.  She is a longhaired, black cat.  Finn is three, and a shorthaired, black, male cat.  Amhurst is four and a half.  He’s a male, retired racing greyhound.

Tell us something interesting about yourself.
I am a music teacher.  I love to spend time with family and friends.

If you see Valerie in our lobby or back offices, be sure to say “hi!”

The inner side of the ear should be a healthy pink color. A small amount of black discharge may be observed.  If you observe a more significant amount of discharge (like I did), you will want to make an appointment so that a veterinarian can determine if your pet needs a good ear cleaning or if there is something more serious occuring.  Ear infections are common in specific breeds but all breeds may be prone to ear infections.  Some signs that your pet may have an ear infection include:

• redness
• discharge
• odor
• head shaking
• ear scratching
• rubbing ears on the floor or other surfaces (such as a snow covered back patio?!)

Call us today at (614)888-4050 to make an appointment if you suspect your pet may need a thorough ear cleaning or may even have an infection.

Amy, what do you enjoy most about your role as a Veterinary Assistant?
I like working with all the animals and helping them to get better.

Do you have pets?
Yes, one dog, a puggle named Pumpkin. She’s fun and full of energy!  We are usually always together.

Tell us something interesting about yourself.
I was a dolphin trainer for eight years and worked as a great apes keeper for a year.

Introduce yourself to Amy next time you’re in!

After rising at an EARLY hour earlier this week, I stumbled out of bed and landed my left foot in a beautiful, sloppy hairball left behind from one of our beloved cats.

No two ways about it: Hairballs in cats are unpleasant. And they’re not just disagreeable for the person who has to clean them up — they can cause intestinal blockages, which can be a serious health problem, for your cat. It’s a given that your cat is going to groom herself, so what can you do to keep hairballs to a minimum?

Well… we probably should define what a hairball actually is first.  When your cat grooms himself, tiny hook-like structures on his tongue catch loose and dead hair, which is then swallowed. The majority of this hair passes all the way through the digestive tract with no problems. But if some hair stays in the stomach, it can form a hairball. Ultimately, your cat will vomit the hairball to get rid of it. Because hairballs pass through the narrow esophagus on the way out, they often appear thin and tubelike, rather than round.

There is no magic cure for hairballs.  Nothing can be done to totally prevent hairballs in cats, but there are things you can do to reduce the likelihood your cat will have hairballs or reduce their frequency.

1. Groom your cat regularly.

2. Feed your cat a specialized, hairball control, cat food.

3. Use a hairball product or laxative.

4. Discourage excess grooming.

Call us today at (614)888-4050 for more details and information on how to help your cat control the discomfort associated with hairballs… and how to possibly preserve your carpet!

• 100% effective in the prevention of heartworm disease as shown in clinical trials
• Kills adult fleas, treats flea infestations
• Treats and controls common intestinal parasites: roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms

Now through February 15, 2012, purchase 6 doses of Advantage Multi for Dogs and get 2 FREE doses! We want to help you take care of your pet and your family.  Call us today at (614)888-4050 for more details and information!

You can also keep an eye out for two serious conditions caused by cold weather. The first and less common of the two is frostbite. Frostbite happens when an animal’s body gets cold and pulls all the blood from the extremities to the center of the body to stay warm. The animal’s ears, paws, or tail can get cold enough that ice crystals can form in the tissue and damage it. The tricky thing about frostbite is that it’s not immediately obvious. The tissue doesn’t show signs of the damage to it for several days.

If you suspect your pet may have frostbite, bring him into a warm environment right away. You can soak his extremities in warm water for about 20 minutes to melt the ice crystals and restore circulation. It’s important that you don’t rub the frostbitten tissue, as the ice crystals can do a lot of damage to the tissue. Once your pet is warm, wrap him up in some blankets and take him to the veterinarian. Your veterinarian can assess the damage and treat your pet for pain or infection if necessary.

Hypothermia, or a body temperature that is below normal, is a condition that occurs when an animal is not able to keep her body temperature from falling below normal. It happens when animals spend too much time in cold temperatures, or when animals with poor health or circulation are exposed to cold. In mild cases, animals will shiver and show signs of depression, weakness and become lethargic. As the condition progresses, an animal’s muscles will stiffen, his heart and breathing rates will slow down, and he will stop responding to stimuli.

If you notice these symptoms, you need to get your pet warm and take him to your veterinarian. You can wrap him in blankets, possibly with a hot water bottle or an electric blanket. As always, remember to wrap hot items in fabric to prevent from burning the skin. In severe cases, your veterinarian can monitor your pet’s heart rate and blood pressure and give warm fluids through an IV.

Give us a call today at (614) 888-4050 if you suspect your pet has been subjected to prolonged cold temperatures and may be suffering from frostbite or hypothermia!

Ashley Ashbrook, Boarding Technician at Animal Hospital of Polaris

Ashley Ashbrook has a demanding job.  She is a boarding technician at Animal Hospital of Polaris.  It’s her responsibility to provide individual attention to each of our doggie daycare and extended stay visitors.  It isn’t easy getting to know each pet’s wants and needs, but it comes naturally to Ashley.

Ashley, what do you like most about your job?
I like getting to know the animals on a very one-on-one level, making sure I make them happy and understand the need that each one requires.  I love forming the “unspoken bond” and watching how much owners really love their pets.

What is the hardest part?
Seeing the sick or injured pets is hard.  I do my best to get their mind off of it.  Also, seeing pets go home.  But, I’m very glad they all have such great owners who bring them to AHOP!

Do you have pets?
I have two pets. Mine is a Papillion named Gizmo.  He is the best!  My husband’s dog is a Chihuahua mix named Bo.  They both love to play!

Do you have a favorite pet?
My favorite pets are my own, but each dog/cat has a spot in my heart.  I love wolves and Huskies.

Tell us something interesting about yourself.
I have a daughter that’s two years old.  I love how well she also bonds with the animals.  During my free time I enjoy helping out local dog shelters.

Be sure to say “hi” to Ashley next time you are at Animal Hospital of Polaris!

We realize that although you may be spending more time indoors over the next couple of months, but your pet is still in need of care to keep their coat and skin healthy.  Below are some suggestions for caring for your pet during these cold (outside) and warm (inside) climates:

Winter pet care:

* Brush your dog vigorously and regularly. The air in most houses becomes dry during the colder months, which depletes moisture from dog skin and fur. Brushing improves skin, coat and circulation.

* A thick-coated dog typically needs grooming in cold weather. The fur can get wet and matted, making it an irritant. Clean fur lofts and holds air in a manner similar to layering clothes, thus helping the animal stay warm.

* Never shave your dog down to the skin in winter. Leave the coat longer for more warmth. When you bathe your dog, completely dry him before taking him out for a walk.

* Use fatty acid supplements during the winter, ideally starting several weeks before cold weather sets in, to help skin and coat.

* If your dog engages in a lot of outdoor activities, increase his food supply to help keep his coat thick and healthy.

The snow and ice (when it arrives) is particularly hazardous for those pets who already struggle with arthritic conditions and mobility issues.  Please exercise caution not only when taking your pet for a walk but if you happen to be able to let your pet into and out of the house independently.

Some additional safety concerns include:

* Do not leave antifreeze, coolant or windshield wiper fluid within reach. And do not let pets drink from puddles. These products taste appealing to pets but most are lethal to animals when ingested. So thoroughly clean up any spills from your vehicle. Also, keep your pets on leash outdoors and steer them far away from any suspect puddles.

* Never leave your dog or cat alone in a car during cold weather. A car can act as a refrigerator in the winter, holding in the cold. The animal can freeze to death. Of course, do not leave animals, or children, in cars during very warm weather either.

* Cats left outdoors and wild animals sometimes climb onto car engines or beneath cars to seek warmth. Please bang on the hood of your care honk the horn before starting the engine to warn cats away.

Give us a call today at (614) 888-4050 if you have any concerns with respect to your pet’s safety this winter season!
]]> http://animalhospitalofpolaris.wordpress.com/2012/01/12/winter-in-ohio-is-tough-on-our-pets-too/feed/ 0 animalhospitalofpolaris Windshield washer fluid is poisonous to pets http://animalhospitalofpolaris.wordpress.com/2012/01/11/alert-pet-food-recall-2/ http://animalhospitalofpolaris.wordpress.com/2012/01/11/alert-pet-food-recall-2/#comments Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:24:55 +0000 AHOP Staff http://animalhospitalofpolaris.wordpress.com/?p=932 ]]>

Dry dog food manufacturers are continuing to recall bags of food due to high levels of aflatoxin.

Yet another manufacturer has announced a recall of dry dog food due to higher than acceptable limits of aflatoxin, and an additional manufacturer has issued new affected lot numbers from an earlier recall.

The recalls began Dec. 7, 2011, when Cargill Animal Nutrition announced that it was removing batches of its dry dog food (River Run and Marksman) from store shelves because of elevated levels of aflatoxin.

Since then, Proctor & Gamble (Iams puppy food), Advanced Animal Nutrition (Dog Power food) and now O’Neal’s Feeders Supply (Arrow Brand dog food) have all recalled batches of their dog food within the last three weeks.

O’Neal’s Feeders Supply of DeRidder, LA, announced Dec. 13, 2011 that it has recalled an entire year’s worth of dry Arrow Brand dog food due to corn with elevated levels of aflatoxin. The recall affects food manufactured between Dec. 1, 2010 and Dec. 1, 2011.

We have recommended Royal Canin products for many years and their commitment to research and development along with quality in their manufacturing process has repeatedly offered peace of mind.  Royal Canin puts the dog and cat first and tailor makes their food in line with your pet’s real nutritional needs. While Royal Canin might not be the lowest cost food option, the quality of the product is still an exceptional value considering their commitment to quality nutrition for your pet.  Ask us about maintenance diet options with Royal Canin as well as how their special lines of food may be best suited for your pet.