The Bathing Battle

Do you find bathing your four-legged fur baby a battle?  How about cleaning ears or trimming nails?  Did these questions raise your blood pressure?  If you answered yes to any of these questions, trust me, you’re not alone!  Your bathtub at home is most certainly not designed with bathing your fur baby in mind.  Even if you make a valiant effort, you finish with a sore back, more water outside the tub than inside and a clogged drain from pet hair!  If this sounds familiar, we have some great news.  Veterinary Associates of Cape Cod is pleased to offer soothing bathing options at our Salty Paws Resort!

Our newly renovated resort offers a brand new hydraulic bathing tub providing the deepest clean and scrub, from soothing oatmeal to medicated baths.  Dogs really appreciate the ease of the hydraulic lift – no need to go up any stairs or be lifted.  Our older or arthritic dogs really appreciate this feature!  Our baths also include the following upon request:

• Nail Trim
• Ear Cleaning
• Anal Gland Expression   

We have received a “five paw” rating from our four legged friends!  Give us a call today to make an appointment.

Minimally Invasive Procedures (MIS)

Minimally Invasive Procedures (MIS) are noninvasive alternatives to traditional surgery techniques.  Veterinary Associates of Cape Cod is the only veterinary hospital on Cape Cod to offer this wonderful alternative.  From exploratory surgery, bladder stone removal, to prophylactic gastropexy procedures, our minimally invasive approach means considerably smaller incisions, faster recoveries, with much less pain.

MIS, which includes laparoscopic surgery, uses the latest technology.  The surgeon creates dime-sized incisions that allow the use of a miniature camera, laparoscope, and specialized instruments to perform the procedure.  This eliminates the need for larger, conventional incisions; resulting in less pain and recovery time.   

Laparoscopic Spay:

A laparoscopic spay will mean that your pet will experience up to 65% less pain, greater safety and faster recovery time.  What are other advantages?

• The surgery is performed through two tiny dime-sized incisions
• Provides the surgeon a significantly better vie
• Reduced potential complications
• Bleeding is minimal to nonexistent
• Gastropexy can be performed at the same time

Gastric Dilation and Volvulus (GDV):

GDV is a life threatening disorder most commonly seen in large, deep-chested dogs.  The term refers to a gas-filled stomach (bloat) that twists upon itself.  The exact cause is still unknown, but it is one of the most serious non-traumatic conditions seen in dogs; requiring immediate veterinary attention to save the dog’s life.  Some breeds prone to GDV include Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Great Danes, Standard Poodles, Doberman Pinschers, Bernese Mountain Dogs, and Setters.

Due to the severity of this disorder, many veterinarians are recommending at risk breed dogs undergo a prophylactic (preventative) laparoscopic gastropexy so the dog is never at risk for the condition.  This procedure surgically attaches the stomach to the body wall and is the most effective means of prevention.  This can be performed at the time the dog is spayed or neutered, or at any other time.  The laparoscopic procedure is much less invasive than the traditional open surgery, with reduced post-operative pain, bleeding and recovery time.

Laparoscopic Exploratory Surgery:

Laparoscopic surgery is a giant leap forward from traditional “open” exploratory surgery.  Veterinarians perform exploratory surgeries through a large incision in the abdomen in order to look inside and take biopsies.  The traditional method requires a long and painful incision, resulting in hospitalization of your pet for appropriate care and pain management.  Laparoscopic exploratory surgery eliminates the large abdominal incision and replaces it with incisions so tiny that the patient experiences far less post-operative pain and faster recovery time.  This safe procedure poses no greater risk than traditional surgery.

Veterinary Associates of Cape Cod is the only veterinary hospital in southeastern Massachusetts performing these minimally invasive procedures!

Endoscopy:

Endoscopy is a noninvasive approach to assessing patients.  Endoscopes are flexible video cameras with working channels that are passed into sites, such as the gastrointestinal tract or respiratory tract, for high-resolution investigation.  Far superior to traditional fiber optic scopes, Veterinary Associates can achieve favorable results without surgery.  For instance, Dr. Burns was able to remove 29 pieces of cloth from a patient without any surgery.  This noninvasive procedure reduced the patient’s pain, less expensive than a traditional foreign body surgery, and enabled the patient to go home the same day!  In addition to an alternative to foreign body surgery, video scopes allow us to take biopsy samples for the diagnosis of prolonged vomiting, diarrhea and coughing.  Dr. Burns has received advanced training from the leader in this field and has become highly skilled with this technology. 

Keep Your Pet Healthy and Happy

With the holidays over and spring just around the corner, we thought it’s an appropriate time to talk about an all too common problem – pet obesity.  Did you know that approximately 52% of dogs and cats in the United States are overweight or obese?  Being overweight puts your pet at risk for a variety of health problems including diabetes, hypothyroidism, arthritis and cardiovascular disease.  Just like us, pets who maintain a healthy body weight reduce the risk of falling victim to preventable health problems. 

Similar to humans determining their body condition using their body mass index (BMI), a veterinarian determines your pet’s body condition score (BCS) to evaluate their current body mass.  During your pet’s physical examination, your veterinarian will be able to tell you if your pet’s BCS is within a healthy range.  If your pet is outside the desirable BCS, your veterinarian can offer some tips to get your pet on the right track.  Here are some tips to keep your pet in great shape!

• Portion control is key when feeding your pet. 
• When determining how much to feed your pet, less is often the healthier choice.
• Daily physical activity should be a priority.

A few changes in your pet’s diet and exercise habits can make a huge impact in the overall quality of their health.  Research has proven that dogs consuming calorie-restricted diets live two years longer than those lacking calorie restriction.  Including the benefit of weight loss, daily exercise strengthens the pet-owner bond!  Now that we’re in the homestretch to spring, it’s a great time to get outside and start a daily exercise routine with your pet.  Before making any changes to your pet’s diet, please consult with your veterinarian.

Make Your Cat's Veterinary Experience a Positive One

It’s the morning of Fluffy the cat’s annual examination and everyone in the house is on edge.  Fluffy’s usual warm and affectionate personality has transformed into a defensive lioness-like huntress, willing to do anything to avoid getting into the dreaded crate.  The success of catching Fluffy and placing her into her crate is short-lived when she begins howling during the entire car ride to the vet’s office.  Once in the exam room, the battle of removing Fluffy from her crate makes this morning’s initial capture look like child’s play.  Even hours after returning home, Fluffy glares at you with hatred in her eyes over her “traumatic” experience.  Sound familiar?  You’re not alone.  Thankfully, we have a few simple tips to help change Fluffy’s perception of going to the vet!

• Make her crate a safe haven.  Instead of taking her crate out only when she needs to go to the vet, try keeping it out at all times.  If that’s not possible, keep it out for at least 3 days prior to her veterinary appointment.  Place enticing treats and toys inside her crate to encourage her to enter on her own accord.

• Try using a pheromone diffuser and spray.  Pheromones act as calming agents for cats, and spraying the towel/blanket in her crate and in your car can greatly reduce her stress during transportation.

• Skip Fluffy’s breakfast or offer her a smaller amount of food than usual.  If Fluffy is hungry when you bring her to the vet, she will be more likely to accept treats during her office visit – making her time less stressful and perhaps pleasurable!  Consult your veterinarian prior to using this tactic if your cat is young, geriatric or suffers from health conditions.

• Invest in a crate that enables you to remove the top.  If Fluffy doesn’t feel like coming out of her crate, no worries!  We can work with her in her “safe zone”.

• Keep the carrier out when you’re back home.  Continue placing treats and toys in the crate for at least a few days after her visit – she will likely associates the crate with good thoughts, making your next veterinary visit even easier!

We highly recommend trying these tips next time you bring your feline friend into the vet!   Her annual checkup shouldn’t be a nightmare, but rather a simple experience that gives you the peace of mind that she is happy and healthy.  A few minor changes can make what used to be a stressful experience, an enjoyable one that both you and your cat deserve!

 

Giving Back to Our Community

We receive a plethora of inquiries about what opportunities are out there for young people interested in a career in veterinary medicine.  Veterinary Associates of Cape Cod is a proud leader in giving back to our local community – with a specific interest in education.  From pre-school through veterinary school, we offer programs to help students along their journey.

Dr. Burns visits local pre-schools on a regular basis, providing children with an early introduction into the exciting field of veterinary medicine.  It’s no secret that children love animals, and Dr. Burns embraces this interest by providing fun and informative meetings to preschoolers.  Our Veterinary Academy caters to children between the ages of 9-14.  Veterinary Academy students meet at our hospital on a monthly basis for a 1 hour interactive class.  Each hands-on class focuses on a specific veterinary topic spanning from surgery, digital imaging, emergency medicine and laboratory.  Students successfully completing 4 or more of our 6 classes are eligible to participate in our graduation ceremony!  High school students have the chance to delve further into veterinary medicine by participating in a work-based study program.  Students participating in this program come to our hospital, work hands-on with doctors and technicians, and experience what goes on in a true veterinary setting – even earning class credit!

We offer internships to college students to help hone their veterinary skills prior to moving into a career post-graduation or prior to continuing to Veterinary School.  These students come to our hospital during their college’s summer and winter breaks to further expand their veterinary knowledge.  Working alongside doctors and technicians, college interns are exposed to multiple scenarios that veterinary hospitals face on a daily basis.  Paid internships are available to current veterinary students.  Actively enrolled veterinary students participating in our internship program work closely with our doctors to further refine their veterinary skills and knowledge.  These valuable internships leave future graduates better prepared and confident to enter their careers!

It’s clear to see that we value giving back to our community and encourage hands-on education programs!  We strive to offer programs to students of all ages who are interested in a career in the veterinary field.  Whether your child is in pre-school, high school or college, we have a program perfect for him/her!  If you’re interested in learning more, don’t hesitate to give us a call!

Safety is Our First Priority

Going on vacation is supposed to be a relaxing experience, however, it can be nerve-racking when you need to leave your pet in the care of others.  So many thoughts run through our minds – is my pet getting fed on time, are they receiving enough attention, did they receive their medication, and what happens when my pet is left alone throughout the night?  Trust me, you’re not alone.

Entrusting your pet in the care of Veterinary Associates of Cape Cod gives you the peace of mind that your pet is cared for by dedicated resort staff members.  Does your pet take medications?  Whether they are oral or injectable medications, our staff of professionals will make sure your pet receives their medications on time.  If your pet is in need of veterinary attention, you can rest assure that he/she will be seen by one of our caring veterinarians immediately.  Our building is equipped with a custom sprinkler system powered by a brand new 8 inch water pipe directly from White’s Path!  Our generator is powerful enough to power the entire hospital in the event of an outage.  24-hour surveillance cameras covering our entire hospital, carbon monoxide detectors and alarm system ensure the safety of your pet when our staff members leave at night.    

Veterinary Associates of Cape Cod is proud to announce the opening of our fully renovated resort facility.  Dedicated resort staff make sure your pet is in comfortable, loving and safe hands.  Our intentionally low-volume resort is designed to put your pet’s care first and foremost by offering a state-of-the-art facility equipped with individually raised beds, supervised playtime in our secure outdoor play yard and plenty of sunlight from our large windows and skylights.  Our feline guests enjoy peace and quiet in luxurious multi-level cat condos furnished with spacious views of the outside world.

If your pet needs extra TLC while staying with us, we offer Pampered Pet Packages for both dogs and cats.  For an additional fee, dogs will receive the added benefit of additional outdoor playtime, a one-on-one leash walk with one of our resort staff members, a frosty paw treat in the evening and a complimentary bath in our hydraulic tub every sixth day.  Pampered cats enjoy one hour of playtime in our “cat only” exam room, access to multiple scratching posts and custom climbing areas, and dedicated one-on-one playtime with a staff member using laser pointers and other cat toys.  Owners of both pampered dogs and cats will appreciate a daily text update with a picture of their beloved pet!  Due to limited space, we highly encourage advanced appointments.  Speak to any of our client services team for additional information!

Tips on Caring for Your Buns

With MSPCA hosting a rabbit adoptathon at all locations on the 16^th and 17^th, we thought it’s all too fitting to give some helpful tips on how to properly care for your rabbit.  Rabbits are an excellent choice for a pet, but it’s important to be aware of their specific needs to ensure they are happy and healthy.

Before bringing your rabbit home, be sure that you have the proper housing for him!  Whether you choose to keep him indoors or outdoors, it is important to have a wire cage that has 50% of the floor covered with either Plexiglass or washable towels.  It’s vital that the wires of the cage floor and any other surface are kept clean to prevent illness or injuries to your furry friend.  Adequate shade and hiding spots are important for your rabbit as they are very sensitive to environmental changes.  All enclosures need suitable protection from wind, rain, snow and ice.  House training rabbits to use a litterbox is quite feasible and should be considered to give your rabbit extra time outside the cage!  Always supervise your rabbit when he is outside the cage and be cautious of any electrical wires that he could potentially chew.

Maintaining a healthy rabbit requires incorporating both hay and pellets into their diet.  Offering good-quality hay containing grass, alfalfa or clover is believed to reduce intestinal problems and decreases a rabbit’s tendency to pull out and chew on hair.  Pellets should be offered at all times unless overeating and obesity become problems.  “Salads” consisting of lettuce, spinach, alfalfa sprouts, carrot tops, beet greens and apples should be offered in small amounts – 2-3 times per week.  These “salads” should never exceed 20% of your rabbit’s overall diet due to their lack of nutrient density and many rabbits will develop a preference for these items over pellets.  If your rabbit stops eating or becomes lethargic, we recommend seeing a veterinarian immediately.  It is wise to establish a relationship with a veterinarian that is well-versed in the care of rabbits early on, thus confirming the wellness of your rabbit and ensuring you have someone to go to in the event your rabbit becomes ill.

The average life expectancy for a rabbit is 5-10 years, with some living as long as 15 years!  Providing proper housing, offering a well-rounded diet and developing a relationship with a trusted veterinarian will provide you many happy and healthy years with your new pet.  If you need help finding a veterinarian that will treat your rabbit, feel free to give us a call!  We have a veterinarian on staff that will gladly see your floppy-eared friend!