Does your pet smile?

Studies have shown that a variety of species “smile” to show their positive reaction to a stimulus. Several years ago, dogs and rats were studied in the first landmark study that proved smiles are more than a human characteristic.

Most avid dogs owners already know their dogs smile when they are happy and excited. It is one of the many traits that make a good dog so special.

But it turns out that mammals like dogs and rats may not be the only species to smile along with humans. Scientist now are suspecting that this reaction may go well beyond anyone’s prior expectations.

Scientists at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, the first aquarium to house great white sharks, are exploring whether these sharks also express facial expressions like a smile. If conclusive, it shows a degree of cognition across a wide range of species that very few thought was possible.

Who knows what else your pet is thinking!

Gearing Up For Samana

Veterinary Associates of Cape Cod is gearing up to supply Project Samana. Once again, Dr. Labdon will lead a large team of veterinary professionals helping provide medical care to this remote and impoverished region of the world.

Project Samana runs twice yearly, in both June and November. Dr. Labdon established this project decades ago, and Veterinary Associates of Cape Cod is integral in supplying the medical supplies and personnel to this cause.

This November we will be adding more pain management protocols for the dogs and cats undergoing surgical procedures. We are donating costly pain management medication to ensure that these animals never recover in pain.

For more information on Project Samana, please see our Vets Giving Back page at www.capecodvets.com

Certified Veterinary Technicians (CVTs)

Certified veterinary technician Heidi has been with Veterinary Associates of Cape Cod. Eight years ago she started as a kennel attendant, and through years of training and education, is now a senior veterinary technician.

Many of the veterinary technicians at Veterinary Associates of Cape Cod are certified. This means years of clinical experience, educational degrees, and passing of rigorous standardized exams. It is not an easy road. That is one reason why most other veterinary hospitals do not have the high percentage of CVTs found at our facilities.

Several of our technicians have become certified while working with us. In fact, we have a 100% success rate with our technicians that take the exam, all passing with flying colors. Others have been certified prior to employment with us.

Certification is important to us because it guarantees that the staff working on our patients are the most trained and qualified in the field of veterinary medicine today. Combined with our talented doctor team, our nursing care is the best available.

We would not have it any other way.

Sweet Boxer Puppy!