'tis the season...

In my 12 years as a veterinarian our home has adopted an open door policy. Sick, well, young & old - we have been a sort of halfway house for various animals with various needs. Pediatric patients and hospice care - sometimes you just have to bring your work home with you! My work typically won't fit into a briefcase but my kids know what it means when Mom carries in a "box"! Typical for Spring, this weekend's lodger is a "parvo puppy". Technically she is a parvo survivor - a teeny, tiny 1 pound survivor. This little gal was giving her owners a terrible time - refusing to eat well and demonstrating just how low a blood sugar can go! After a couple visits in a hypoglycemic crisis it became clear that we needed 24 hour monitoring and regular feedings - translation - sleeping in my bedroom.

Canine Parvovirus is a nasty illness. Highly contagious and easily spread it is common in the Spring and Summer when conditions are good for the virus to survive. It spreads via a fecal oral route and is near 100% preventable with an inexpensive vaccination. The first symptom is usually loss of appetite and that is followed by frequent vomiting and bloody diarrhea. Survival rates can approach 80% if treatment is aggressive and early. There is no cure but supportive care (fluids, antibiotics, pain medication and anti-emetics) can mean the difference between surviving and succumbing to the virus. The virus is easily and quickly diagnosed, most commonly in unvaccinated or undervaccinated puppies. Certain breeds such as Rottweilers seem to be more susceptible to parvo. Immunity is most likely lifelong after a pediatric vaccination past 16 weeks of age and a booster vaccine 1 year later. Education and vaccination are the key components in parvovirus prevention.

As for this little puppy, she is "recovering" in the arms of a 9 year old and getting regular doses of love and comfort. We are cheering and cooing when she eats a couple bites of food or uses the piddle pad. She will get better, go home and we will file the memory away. Then when I least expect it my kids will say, "Mom, remember when you brought Madison home?" and we will all smile at the memory. I'll tell them about the last time I saw her at the clinic, how she is all grown up now and doing great. They will start a grand retelling of stories about all the amazing animals who have touched our lives one at a time - right here in our living room.

Click here for more information about canine Parvovirus

Dr. Snyder

1,000,000 Dogs

I just saw a statistic from the American Heartworm Society that 1,000,000 dogs are infected with heartworms right now. There has been interest of late in the number of infected dogs and the geographical patterns of infection. The Mississippi River Valley seems to be the "hotbed", starting in Cape Girardeau, MO and extending South. Some theories involve Hurricane Katrina or the socioeconomic status of the residents in those areas. Heartworm and mosquito gurus can't agree on what exactly is happening with these pockets of infection, many positive dogs were on preventive. They are reluctant to say we have a super-heartworm that is resistant to the preventives on the market but some people are crying resistance. All the preventives available are in the same class of drugs and that generates speculation that we don't have a long term solution.

What does this mean for YOU and YOUR DOG - right now?

• Heartworm preventive is available and affordable - explore your options
• Geographic areas outside of the MS river valley are NOT experiencing preventive failure
• If you have a heartworm positive dog within a one mile radius of your home your unprotected dog has a 50% chance of becoming infected
• If your unprotected dog is kenneled outdoors - that just rose to a 75% chance of becoming infected
• Heartworm disease is dangerous or fatal if left untreated
• Heartworm treatment is expensive, uncomfortable, lengthy and requires cage confinement

Ask someone at your veterinarian's office about your pet's options for heartworm preventive. Educate yourself about the disease, how it is transmitted and what the benefits and limitations of preventives are. With a little information you can find a preventive that fits your pet's needs and your preferences.

American Heartworm Society

Companion Animal Parasite Council

Heartworm Information Center

Dr. Snyder

Under Construction

Welcome to our blog! With the best of intentions we will officially start blogging as Grandview Animal Hospital and grab on to this opportunity to share thoughts, pictures and information with our clients and friends. I'll title the blog "Healing, Caring & Sharing" because that is our mantra! It is our battle cry, gentle reminder and OFFICIAL MOTTO. Maybe those three words used individually are a bit cliche for a veterinary clinic - but stack them together and presto chango you have "us"!

I'll title this post "Under Construction" - because construction is really on my mind. I have Spring fever and that has morphed into Spring cleaning. We have had a winter of transition at GAH and the change of seasons is ushering in much more than just pollen. We are all a bit cagey, testing our boundries and suffering some growing pains. We have adapted to change, reset our normals and are looking ahead for the next pitch. I feel like the captain of a ship and have my hand above my eyes, scanning the horizon for ways to make GAH a tiny bit better - tweaking this and that while looking to maximize efficiency, patient safety and client comfort. Is it working?

We have been a bit self indulgent too. Modifying an existing office into the ever elusive "break room" was a big change for us and just today I witnessed some real life bonding between my staff members over lunch. We are looking for small modifications to our 60 year old building that make our jobs easier and better utilize our ever shrinking space. But admittedly the most self indulgent project is my own office. My under paid, much appreciated, never complaining and oh-so accomidating handyman has been hard at work. The doctor's office is getting an extreme makeover and I can't lie - I am so excited! I feel empowered, organized and just plain important to have such a wonderful thing happening. But with this gift comes responsibility...

Charts done on time, phone calls returned immediately, efficiently researching cases between appointments, uber organized workspace... CAN I EVER MEASURE UP? Thank goodness my staff and clients are an understanding group. They take me and my shortcomings as part of the package and know that it is going to take more than a new desk and bookcase for this old dog to learn a new trick. Thinking of the shiny new and the expectation that brings with it makes me smile with pride. Our clinic isn't shiny new but it is an incredible place. We are a bit rough around the edges but that should not diminish the expectation of excellence. I hope we can surprise and keep you guessing as we deliver high-tech medicine from an old fashioned exam room. Our clients shouldn't have to notice all those small and subtle changes but can grow to love the end result.

So that is my philosophy and vision. That long after our projects are completed we will still think of our hospital as "under construction". Every day we need to be fluid, changing and willing to modify our environment to meet the needs of our patients. So don't expect the dust to settle any time soon.

Dr. Snyder