Come to our Open House!

Hi I'm Bonnie Markoff, inviting you to join me at Animal Care Clinic's annual Open House and Wine n' Beer Gala, as we raise money to support Guide Dogs of America, the American Cancer Society, and Brighten a Corner. Take a behind-the-scenes tour of our hospital and learn how we care for your pets and how you can help to keep them healthy. Enjoy fine wines and beers, artisan cheeses and sausage tasting. And don't miss our unique silent auction where you can buy a day with the vet, a private lesson from Dodger's pitcher Ted Lilly, and much more. We hope to see you there! Cheers!

Animals in the News!

There are so many interesting news stories out there about pets and other animals, veterinary medicine or other animal related topics!  Each week we'll be gathering some stories that might be interesting to you, so keep posted each week for new stories!  This week's articles are all related to animal behavior.  Training tips, techniques and behavior problems are some of our most common questions.   Hopefully you'll find the information is some of these articles useful and interesting!

Behavior:

•"Dog pee - it's kind of their Facebook profile" - A study recently published in Animal Behaviour found that female dogs are just as likely to mark with urine as males.  Much of this has to do with pecking order.

•"Canine Corner:  Human intellect is key to avoiding incidents with stray dogs" - Read more here about dog bit prevention.  Broad estimates show that 10-12% of dog bites are from strays, so learn how to avoid dangerous encounters.

•"Hope for dogs with storm or noise phobias" - A common phobia dogs have is being scared of the noise from storms.  This article has some helpful information on how to help your four-legged friend cope with and get over their storm phobia.

•"Female Dogs Aren't Easily Fooled" - In a research project aimed at studying physical understanding of objects dog's see showed results researchers weren't expecting.  Male dogs tend to use scent more and female dogs paid closer attention to what they could see.

•"Declawing cats should be a last resort" - This article explains the surgery of declawing and some things about it many people may not know.  The veterinarian also explains some other options to try before using declawing as a last resort option.

•"Pet Talk:  Curb your cat's conniptions at the vet" - It is very common for cats to throw tantrums when they visit the vet, especially if they are not exposed to other people frequently.  Learn some tips to make your cat's vet visits less interesting, which will make the entire experience easier on you, your vet, and less stressful for your cat.

•"MRI Anxiety Eased by Therapy Dog" - One 16-year old girl found that when she needed an MRI because of frequent headaches it helped to calm her by petting her dog for 15 minutes prior, allowing doctors to get better quality images because this is such a motion sensitive test.  Since then many other patients have benefitted from the same therapy.

•"Cats rub to say 'Hi' not 'I'm Hungry'" - With pet obesity on the rise, it is important that we read cues from our pet's well.  Don't mistake your cat rubbing against your leg to mean that they want food.

•"Start socializing puppy before completing vaccination schedule" - Don't wait for the final round of vaccines to begin socializing your puppy, as this period is the most important and influential time for socialization.  Instead find a puppy kindergarten class and start around 7-8 weeks old if possible.

•"When owners stay, the cat's can play" - Regular interactive playtime with your cat can reduce boredom, misbehavior and even keep your cat healthier!

•"Kittens learn to be class acts at kindergarten" - Trainers and veterinarians are beginning to offer Kitten Kindergarten classes across the U.S.  Classes are designed to help with behavior and social skills that will make for a happier adult cat.

•"So long litter-box:  These cats are potty-trained!" - Learn how to train your cat to use the toilet instead of a litter-box.  IT can be done, but takes planning and patience!

Animals in the News!

There are so many interesting news stories out there about pets and other animals, veterinary medicine or other animal related topics!  Each week we'll be gathering some stories that might be interesting to you, so keep posted each week for new stories!

Healthcare and Prevention:

•"Parasites can spread from pets to humans" - Pets can spread parasites to people, but regular checkups and preventive care can prevent these zoonotic diseases.  This article mentions the most concerning parasites, who is most at risk and how to prevent disease transmission.

•"MU researchers pioneer animal diabetes treatment" - University of Missouri veterinarians are designing a device that can track glucose concentrations over a 3-day time period, allowing vets to make better decisions on care and diabetic management.

•"13 Foods Never to Feed Your dog" - We all like to indulge our pets, but it's important to make sure those foods are safe as there are some human foods that can be harmful to dogs!

•"What to do when you suspect your pet is in pain but is hiding it" - The difficulty veterinarians have is our patients cannot tell us exactly how they feel and what is wrong.  Learn some signs to look for that you may not realize can be a clue that your furry friend is in pain or uncomfortable.

•"Exercise and the couch-potato pooch" - Similar to their human owners, about 65% of dogs are overweight!

•"Exercise you pooch and both of you will lose your paunch" - Consider your dog's breed to determine the best exercise regimen for your pooch so that you can both get healthy and keep from pushing your pet beyond it's limits.

Pampering Pets and Fun Stuff:

•"Dog Massage?  Isn't Petting Enough?" - Though there is little scientific evidence and research that supports massage therapy, many pet owners believe it can offer the same benefits that people enjoy.

•"Spoiled Pets:  6 Ways to Pamper Pets" - Most U.S. families consider their pets as another family member and extend certain luxuries to their canine/feline family members.

•"When the Fur Doesn't Fly" - Pet-stay facilities convenient for air travelers.

•"Japanese couples enlist pet dogs as canine 'witnesses' in marriage ceremonies" - As the pet industry grows in Japan, one hotel is offering couples a "dog wedding" package.

•"Pick a Pet:  How to choose the right dog for your children" - The American Veterinary Medical Association estimates that 37% of families have pets.  Children with pets tend to get more exercise, but there are some things to consider before jumping in!

•"How to grow a beautiful, yet dog-safe garden" - If your dogs roams your backyard with access to your garden and other plants, make sure there are not any plants that could be poisonous and choose pesticides that are safe to your pets.

Meet Greg Marsolais! Our Featured Veterinarian of the Week!!

We are privileged to have Dr. Greg Marsolais provide specialty surgical services at Animal Care Clinic. Dr. Marsolais started with us as a veterinary technician, in the mid 90’s, when we were still located on Granada Street. Greg graduated from California Polytechnic University in 1998, and then went on to graduate from Iowa State University with dual degrees of Master of Science in Veterinary Clinical Sciences and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2002. Dr. Marsolais also spent time as an intern at the Affiliated Veterinary Specialists in Florida before completing his surgical residency at the University of Illinois. Aside from completing research in canine rehabilitation, he has developed his skills and interests in orthopedic, neurologic, and soft tissue surgery. Dr. Marsolais currently resides in the Monterey Bay area, with his family.

Meet Bonnie Markoff! Our Featured Veterinarian of the Week!!

Dr. Bonnie Markoff is the owner and founder of Animal Care Clinic. She is almost a San Luis Obispo native; she moved here at the age of 9 and attended elementary and high school in SLO. Dr. Markoff graduated from Cal Poly with a degree in Animal Science and then went directly to UC Davis for veterinary school, earning her DVM in 1988. She is a Board Certified specialist in Canine and Feline Practice, a Diplomat of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners. In 2001 she had the special honor of being named a Fellow at UC Davis in small animal abdominal ultrasonography. Dr. Markoff’s special medical interests include internal medicine, oncology, pain control, diagnostic imaging and figuring out the “tricky” cases.

Bonnie lives with her Border Collie, Pete; Australian Shepherd, Zeke; and Catahoula cross, Teague.  She enjoys photography, landscaping, hiking, traveling, kayaking, singing in the church choir and playing percussion in her church band. She sits on the advisory board for the Animal Science Department at Cal Poly. Bonnie also works often on short-term missions for Christian Veterinary Mission and other faith based groups to bring veterinary care and leadership skills to people in need throughout the world. She most frequently visits Mongolia and Zambia on these trips.  She is also leading Animal Care Clinic in a partnership with the University of Baja California to bring both veterinary medical and leadership training to the students in Mexico.

This summer Dr. Markoff will be participating in the MR340 – a kayak race across the state of Missouri – 340 miles down the Missouri River in 3.5 days!  This will be a fundraiser for a the American Cancer Society, Guide Dogs of America and the Mongolian organization Dr. Markoff volunteers with.  To support Dr. Markoff and her team on this adventure, go to Animalcareclinicslo.com and check out the Open House and Wine Gala page!

Animals in the News!

There are so many interesting news stories out there about pets and other animals, veterinary medicine or other animal related topics!  Each week we'll be gathering some stories that might be interesting to you, so keep posted each week for new stories!



•"Pets show signs when they aren't well, doctors say" - How do you know when your pet is sick?

•"Moms Talk:  Dealing With the Loss of the Family Pet" - Mom offers tips to cope with the loss of a pet family member

•"Canines comfort people in hospice" - U.S. hospices turn to dogs to provide therapy services

•"Story of rescue dog Braveheart inspires thousands" - Kentucky rescue dog inspires online animal lovers

•"Zoo manages 'geriatric' animal collection" - Geriatric animal population challenges Honolulu Zoo

•"Designer pets come with health costs:  vet" - Designer dog breeds come with higher health risks

•"Cummings School students train to respond to animals in danger during disasters" - Course gives veterinary students a taste of doctoring in a disaster

•" 'Dr. Google' not always best when pets are ill" - Internet info doesn't replace reliable veterinary care

•
• "Veterinary Q&A:  Why does it cost so much to clean a dog's teeth?" -A veterinarian explains why teeth-cleaning costs vary


•"Dr. Elizabeth Bradt: Dangers of pet dentistry without anesthesia" - Dentistry without anesthesia may do more harm than good

Acupuncture and Its Applications

Written by Natasha Lilly, DVM

Acupuncture is most associated with ancient China where it is rooted in TraditionalChinese Medicine (TCM). The first written record of acupuncture is found in a 2,700 year-old Internal Medicine text, and exists as one of the oldest medical texts in the world. The first veterinary text was written in China around 450 BC, addressing the treatment of horses with acupuncture and TCM herbal medicine. Today, acupuncture is practiced world-wide, from extremely rural locations to areas where sophisticated western medicine is the standard of care.

The practice of acupuncture employs solid metallic needles for skin penetration.Needles are placed in specific points that effect various changes in the body to aid in healing injuries or disease conditions, decrease pain, stimulate or regulate immune responses, and/or help decrease anxiety or behavioral issues. Research involving acupuncture has shown physiological responses in the body including increased blood and lymphatic flow, stimulation of nerve function, increase in the release of neurotransmitters, influence of inflammatory responses and stimulation of hormone release. It can be used to treat a variety of conditions. Some of the more common conditions for which acupuncture is used in veterinary medicine are listed below.

•Musculoskeletal Conditions- arthritis, spinal disease, trauma, muscle atrophy problems
•Immune system disorders- allergic dermatitis, chronic allergic diseases, lick granulomas, chronic skin conditions
•Neurologic problems- nerve injury, paresis, paralysis, degenerative neurologic conditions, seizures
•Systemic diseases/urologic diseases- chronic kidney disease, liver disease, incontinence

If you have questions about acupuncture or think your pet may benefit from treatment, please call us or come by!

Meet Marissa Greenberg! Featured Employee of the Week!!

Marissa Greenberg joined our doctor team in June 2006. Marissa grew up in Whittier, CA. She then graduated from Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo with a degree in Animal Science and worked at Animal Care Clinic as a veterinary nurse during her undergraduate studies. She earned her DVM from Washington State University in 2006 and plans on becoming an ABVP diplomat. Marissa’s special interests include oncology, pain management/prevention, leadership and communication.

She has been a very active participant in many forms of community service, such as Relay For Life, both on the Central Coast and in Washington state. She enjoys riding, training and showing her cow horse. She also enjoys spending time with family and friends, camping, hiking, cooking and baking. Marissa loves spending time with her dogs Slink and Mico. She enjoys spending time training Mico and showing him in obedience trials.

Recco's Dreaded Recall Notice

Written by Stephanie Ruggerone, Practice Administrator

Like the saying goes, “all good things must come to an end,” or so that is how my family feels as we process the letter we received from Guide Dogs of America last week.  Yes, the long dreaded recall letter came advising us it is time to give up our beautiful boy so he can finally learn to wear a harness and guide a sight-impaired individual.

Recco still has the most difficult part of his training to accomplish.  He will be assigned to a California State Licensed Guide Dog Instructor and spend the next five to six months learning how to navigate a blind person through the dangers of everyday life.  Two of the most difficult transitions he will need to master are “intelligent disobedience” and becoming responsible for his new partner’s safety.

Only about 50% of the dogs that begin their journey to become guide dogs will successfully complete their final harness training.  Once Recco passes his physical and temperament testing the stressful part of his training is just beginning.  We have done a tremendous amount of groundwork so that Recco will hopefully not encounter frightening situations he has never seen.  What is difficult to prepare him for is making the change from following the direction of us, his puppy raisers, to taking charge when necessary and NOT following the direction of a blind partner if safety is at risk.

Recco seems unconcerned with the harness!

He will be required to learn the “straight line” concept and only vary from a given direction to avoid an obstacle, coming back to the straight line again after the danger has been passed.  He will learn to stop at all curbs as well as the “bumpy” wheelchair ramps you now see at most intersections.  He will learn to look up and identify possible dangerous situations from tree branches, overhangs and building fixtures that he could easily go under but not a blind partner.  He will learn to back his partner up when danger crosses the path and will learn to stand his ground when asked to go forward in a dangerous situation.  In essence, he will learn to be responsible for the “transport” of the team from one location to another and he will need to take this job seriously.

I hope in six months we will be invited to see Recco graduate with his new partner and give you another update on how all this training went.  We would love to have a photo of Recco proudly wearing the harness and finally becoming the true gift of sight.

Recco has been an easy dog to raise; fun, loving, intelligent (most of the time) and a breeze to train in basic obedience and general manners.  We could not have asked for a better dog.  Our job is done and we will send Recco off with an ocean of tears and the hope he will be successful and make a world of difference for someone who needs him.  Goodbye our little “Reckster”, we love you and will miss you!  Hello Fayme, an eight-week-old German Shepherd to start the cycle over again…Oh Boy, what have I gotten us into now?

Animals in the News!

There are so many interesting news stories out there about pets and other animals, veterinary medicine or other animal related topics!  Each week we'll be gathering some stories that might be interesting to you, so keep posted each week for new stories!

Impacts of Veterinary Medicine with Human Medicine:

• "Human Studies Might Benefit Zoo Animals" - Zookeepers can incorporate information learned from human research to better care for nocturnal animals that spend time in displays that recreate night and vice versa.

• "Simple Injection Could Cure Cat Allergies" - Researchers are formulating a vaccine that may help lessen cat allergy symptoms in people.  This injection could equal the effect of a year's worth of allergy shots!

• "MU Dog Study May Hold Parkinson's Clue" - A finding of researchers from the University of Missouri, could provide insight to human hereditary Parkinson's.

• "Big Blue's Tiny Bug Zapper" - Researchers develop a nanoparticle that shows promise to work against superbugs that have become resistant to antibiotics.

• "Man's Best Friend: A Joint Tumor Marker in Man and Dog" - Austrian researchers found a common tumor marker in both species in studying breast cancer with hopes to develop therapeutic procedures.

Advances in Veterinary Medicine:

• "Pet Vet: Cancer in Pets" -  The life expectancy of pet's with cancer has increased from available treatments in surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation.

• "Surgeon Says Paw Implant Goes Well for Husky Zeus" - Read about this Husky that underwent a four-hour surgery for a new prosthetic front paw.

• "Algae for Pet Health: An Integrative Approach" - Read about a veterinarian's experience with using algae as a supplement to help with some veterinary medical conditions in pets.

• "A Look at the Alternative" - Alternative and complementary medicine is becoming all the rage with many veterinarians expanding their knowledge and pet owners asking for more care options.  The AVMA has guidelines for these therapies including acupuncture, botanical medicine and massage therapy.

• "English Springer Spaniel Stray Beats Cleft Palate" - An English Springer Spaniel stray beats the odds with a rare birth defect and the help of U.C. Davis.

Miscellaneous:

• "Mexican School Joins an Elite Group" - The National Autonomous University of Mexico School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Husbandry was granted full accreditation by the AVMA Council on Education in early March!

• "When Pets Outlive Owners, 'Retirement Homes' Offer Refuge" - As pets are living longer, some facilities and vet schools are offering care or new homes for animals left behind.

• "Why Some are Devoted to Grandpuppies" - As the human-animal bond has increased in the modern age, many people consider dogs as members of the family, especially in childless households.

Meet Richard Tao! Our Featured Employee of the Week!!

Dr. Richard Tao is yet another graduate of the UC Davis veterinary program. Dr. Tao also received his B.S. in physiology from Davis. He spent one year practicing at the Animal Specialty Group in Los Angeles before joining Animal Care Clinic in November 2001. Rich’s special interests include surgery, orthopedics, oncology and ultrasonography/medical imaging. In his free time, Dr. Tao enjoys cycling, backpacking, and traveling. Richard is a volunteer firefighter with the Santa Margarita fire department. He and his wife have 3 cats and a Golden Retriever/Border Collie cross, Sephora.

Proud to be: 2011 AAHA Practice of the Year finalist!!

Finalist display of ACC at
AAHA Conference

Written by Nicole Gunkel, RVT

Many have heard by now that Animal Care Clinic was honored with an award as a Finalist for American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) Practice of the Year!  We are all very excited about our finalist status and proud to have shown ourselves well in honor of our clients and patients.  For those who haven’t heard, let me tell you a little about AAHA and this award.

Last year, I was looking through an AAHA magazine and read an article about the first annual AAHA Practice of the Year award and immediately thought, why didn’t I hear about this?  In my mind Animal Care Clinic should be right there at the top.  So last fall, I spent many hours preparing our application.  AAHA wanted to know how we communicate that we are AAHA accredited, something that only 15% of veterinary hospitals in North America can claim!  They also wanted to hear about our community service, staff continual education, and compliance of clients on several different services we offer.  After sending in our application we were thrilled to hear that we had made it among the top-5 finalists for the Practice of the Year award.  The award was to be announced and presented at this year’s AAHA Conference in Toronto, Canada; and so of course, we must go!

Presentation of award by AAHA President to Animal Care Clinic

Last month I went along with our practice owner/veterinarian Dr. Bonnie Markoff and our practice administrator Stephanie Ruggerone to Toronto.  Our time in Toronto was spent primarily indoors going to classes all day long about a wide range of topics to do with the veterinary world.  Conferences like this are one way our staff keeps up with new advances in veterinary medicine and learns about new skills and products.  I personally went to classes ranging from leadership, greening the veterinary hospital, client/staff communications, behavior, social media/websites and scientific veterinary technician.  I learned soooo much and am still processing everything I heard and saw.

Dr. Mike Cavanagh, Director and CEO of AAHA talking about Animal Care Clinic

When we originally checked in and received our name badges we also got a really cool button that differentiated us as a Practice of the Year finalist.  There was a really great display for everyone to see our application and learn more about all the things we do at Animal Care Clinic.  We always got a little bit giddy when we saw people from other hospitals looking through our stuff and pointing things out.  It really made me feel that we have something very special here in San Luis Obispo.

Our Practice of the Year Award!

The very last day of the conference was the awards breakfast where they announced where they ranked us as finalists.  Of course, we all wanted to be first but it was such an honor to be there in the first place.  We waited patiently as other practices were named as first, second and third before we were announced as finalists.  During this time we got to hear about the other hospitals whose company we shared and couldn’t help but be very excited for each of them.  Every other practice in the top-5 really stood out in their own way and there is no way we could fault any one of them.  Our finalist position means that we are qualified to apply again next year, and so w shall!  I can personally say that I learned about so many ways that we can improve for our patients, our clients, and our staff.  Many of these things we have already begun to apply.   Besides, we did get a really cool award that is being displayed on our front desk so please come and take a look!  If you have any questions about AAHA, any of our staff members would be more than happy to tell you more and we always strive to improve for everyone’s sake!

Animals in the News!

There are so many interesting news stories out there about pets and other animals, veterinary medicine or other animal related topics!  Each week we'll be gathering some stories that might be interesting to you, so keep posted each week for new stories!

This week:

Service Dogs

There are several articles here about different types of service dogs.  Anything from helping retired service men detect seizures, detecting low blood sugar in diabetics to helping students cope while at school!  There sure are some amazing things that dogs do to help us!

•Police dogs provide cops with additional capabilities

•Therapy dogs gain in popularity at U.S. campuses
"Checking Out Monty: Yale Law Students can Reduce Stress with Therapy Dog"

"For Law Students with Everything, Dog Therapy for Stress"

•Service dogs provide valuable help for returning veterans

"Service Dogs Warns Veteran of Coming Seizures"

"Service Dogs Provide Comfort for Veterans Back from War"

•Some diabetes sufferers look to dogs for assistance

Veterinary Care During Economic Downturn

The economic downturn has hit people across the U.S. in many different ways.  There's unlikely a single person who could say it hasn't impacted them in one way or another.  Here are a couple interesting articles on how it has affected people with their pets.

•Pets continue to suffer in economic downturn


•Americans are spending more on their pets, despite tough economy

Spring is Here!

From allergies, springtime flowers to spending more time outside there are many ways are pets can accidentally get themselves into trouble!  Here are some great articles on coping with allergies, discouraging digging, and preventing poisoning by some popular spring time flowers and plants.

•Helping pets cope with allergy season

•AKC expert offers tips to keep dogs from digging

•Spring flowers can prove a potent poison when ingested by pets

"Pet Owners Beware Some Trees and Flowers"

"Veterinarians Caution Pet Owners: Dangers At Easter Time"

"Unleashed: Celebrate Easter, but be wary of dangers to your pets"

"Easter Traditions Not All Pet-Friendly"

Meet Jennifer Evans! Our Featured Employee of the Week!!

Jennifer Evans joined Animal Care Clinic in July 1997. She is a Santa Barbara native who earned a degree in Biology from Cal Poly. Dr. Evans earned her DVM from UC Davis in 1997. Her special interests include pocket pets (rodents and rabbits), behavior and internal medicine. Jennifer brings a special compassion and empathy to our practice. Jennifer enjoys all outdoor activities including camping, SCUBA diving and horseback riding, along with church and family activities. She has two dogs, Ventana a career changed Guide Dog Labrador retriever whom she enjoys as her hiking buddy and Payton, her first Guide Dog Puppy in training.

Animals in the News!

There are so many interesting news stories out there about pets and other animals, veterinary medicine or other animal related topics!  Each week we'll be gathering some stories that might be interesting to you, so keep posted each week for new stories!

This week:

Human and Animal Health

Health of humans and our fellow mammals can be very closely related.  No matter whether it's how our lives interact and impact that of wild species (or vice versa) or discoveries that have been made through scientific studies, there are many important ties.  Today we have some recent stories that showcase our relationship.

"Under-the-radar tick diseases spreading across the U.S."

"Uncontrolled disease in dogs threatens wildlife, humans in remote B.C. areas"

"Shar-Pei Dogs Shed Light on Human Fever Syndromes"

"Supermoon Lunacy: Does the Moon Make Us Crazy?"

Exotic Animals & Livestock

Here are some fun stories about veterinarians and animals that we do not regularly interact with at Animal Care Clinic.  How many vets does it take to examine a gorilla?  How does body language relate to communication 101 with livestock?  How do you fix a hawk's broken wing or treat glaucoma in an elephant?  These are some stories you'll learn about below!

"Veterinarian helps put red-tailed hawk back in the air"

"Dancing with sheep or cattle takes practice for producers"

"Paignton Zoo's elephant Duchess has glaucoma"

"Gorilla checkup provides international insight"

Human-Animal Bond in History

There have been several stories recently about archeological findings of the relationship between man and dog that goes way back!  This is a bond that goes further in history than many originally thought!

"Indians, dogs were companions in life and death centuries ago"


"Clues dug up: France and lap dogs go way back"

"Millions of Mummy Puppies Revealed at Egyptian Catacombs"

Meet Natasha Lilly! Our Featured Specialist of the Week!!

Natasha Lilly is joining the ACC team this April, 2011. She is a California native who grew up in the central valley. She first fell in love with the San Luis Obispo area as an undergraduate at Cal Poly studing Animal Science on the pre-veterinary track. In 2008, Natasha completed her DVM studies at UC Davis with an emphasis in equine medicine. She initially went to work outside of Chicago in an equine sports medicine practice. After becoming disappointed with the options to treat our atheletes, she began taking an interest into complementary medicine, especially acupuncture. She attended an equine and small animal acupuncture certification course through IVAS in 2009-2010. She was then mentored and worked for an established acupuncturist and complementary medicine DVM in Chicago, Dr. Barbara Royal. In Dr. Royalʼs small animal practice, the emphasis was on blending Western and Eastern medicine practices in treating every patient.

In addition to complementary medicine, Natashaʼs special interests include advanced imaging and nutrition. She also enjoys supporting rescue groups and humane societies and spent time doing so with the largest No-Kill shelter in Chicagoland, PAWS Chicago. She enjoys spending time with family, riding and showing her jumper, Bleu, trail riding on her ranch horse, Ben, road biking, hiking, jogging and traveling. Natasha, her husband and their one year-old son live with their 2 horses, and 2 dogs, Kona and Copper, on a ranch in Edna Valley.

Foxtail Season has Arrived!

Written by Marissa Greenberg, DVM

Spring seems to have arrived on the central coast!  We’ve got green hills, wildflowers blooming, beautiful weather, and longer days.  With spring comes a potentially serious hazard for our four-legged friends that we call foxtails.  Foxtails are a term we use to describe the dried up prickly plant material that likes to stick to our socks.  The problem with foxtails is that they also are very attracted to dogs and cats and they tend to only travel in one direction because of their barbs.  We commonly take foxtails out of the ears, eyes, noses, and from in between the toes of dogs, and sometimes cats.  We’ve already had our first few of the year!  It may be very green out there still, but beware the foxtails are lurking.  Because we had so much rain this year, there is a lot blooming, which means a lot that will dry out and be potential hazards for our pets.  Below is some information on the most common problems we see from foxtails

Signs that your pet may have a foxtail in their ear include a sudden onset of intense head shaking, holding their head tilted to the side, or crying out if their ear is touched.  These are all very similar signs to an ear infection, and sometimes it can be difficult to distinguish one from the other.  One of our doctors will need to look down the ears, which most pets don’t particularly like.  If there is a foxtail in an ear, often times, we need to sedate the animal to safely remove it without damaging the eardrum.

Animals that have foxtails in their eyes usually are squinting, rubbing at their eyes, and have discharge from their eyes.  Our doctors will usually put a drop of a medication that will numb the eye so that we can more easily look under the eyelids and remove any foxtails.  Often the foxtail has rubbed across the cornea, causing some damage to it, so most animals will go home with eye medications.

Foxtails that make their way up a dog’s nose can be quite frustrating! Some make it very obvious by sneezing very violently, constantly and having bloody discharge.  Others may do this initially and then stop sneezing, it can be hard to tell if they sneezed out the foxtail or if it is just lodged in a spot that isn’t bothering them enough to cause sneezing.  The doctors have a few tricks to help them try to decide if there really is something still in the nose.  Dogs will need to be sedated, and often fully anesthetized, to be able to look up their nose and remove any foxtails.  Even then, sometimes it can be very difficult to see that it has all been removed because there can be a lot of inflammation and blood up the nasal cavity.  Some dogs may have to be anesthetized a second time to look up their nose again if their symptoms don’t improve.

Long- haired dogs often get foxtails stuck in the hair between their toes, and then they like to start to burrow into their skin.  They can make some pretty yucky infections and can sometimes be difficult to find because they can migrate around through different tissues.  These patients will often need antibiotics and potential follow up visits.

So be careful when out hiking for lurking foxtails.  You may even want to feel between the toes to make sure there are none hitchhiking and to remove them before problems arise.  If you notice any of the previously mentioned symptoms with your four-legged friend, don’t hesitate to call or come by and we will come up with a plan to remove those pesky foxtails!

Animals In The News!

There are so many interesting news stories out there about pets and other animals, veterinary medicine or other animal related topics!  Each week we'll be gathering some stories that might be interesting to you, so keep posted each week for new stories!

This week:

Human-Animal Bond

• Losing a pet is always difficult.  No matter what kind of pets you have cared for, we can all relate to how the loss of a beloved friend affects us.  The following articles are each from a different perspective.  The first from the person who lost their pet.  The second from a veterinarian on what to consider when you are trying to decide when to say goodbye.

-"Losing a Pet - Is the Joy Worth the Pain?"

-"Pet Talk:  Is your pet suffering?"

Nutrition/Health

• A recent hot topic has been pet obesity, and it's on the rise!  Pet obesity seems to have followed along with the epidemic in human obesity.  Just as it is easier to eat fast-food that is dense with empty calories, then same goes for many pet foods and treats on the market.  Think about this, one premium pig's ear for your dog to chew on is the equivalent to 6 12-ounce Coke Classics!!  No wonder our pets are following us and adding pounds to the scale.  On the other end of the spectrum pet owners also tend to get more exercise than those people without pets.  There have been several articles in the news recently that looks further into this epidemic.

-"When Man's Best Friend is Obese"

-"Just like people, our pets are putting on weight"

-"Fat cats and plump pooches, a growing concern"

-"Fido May Help Keep You Fit"

• Your veterinarian is always the best person to consult about the best diet for your pet.  Dietary needs can change based on your pet's life-stage, and requirements will vary individually based on your pet's breed, size, activity, or  disease processes.  Here's a couple interesting articles seen lately just on diet.

-"Raw Diet or Commercial Pet Food?"

-"Little Oversight on Ingredients in 'Senior' Dog Food, Experts Say"

• If your pet is having digestive problems, the cause can vary between many different causes.  One possibility could be pancreatitis.  Pancreatitis is one of those problems that we don't know exactly everything about and can be very tricky to treat.  Causes can be anything from diet to trauma!

-"Doggy Digestive Problems? Might Be Pancreatitis"

Meet Rachel Persons! Our Featured Employee of the Week!!

Rachel joined the Animal Care Clinic team to work in various areas of the hospital in March 2011.  Rachel is a local from Atascadero and is currently pursuing a degree in Communicative Disorders.  She stays busy with her 2 dogs and spending time with her friends/family and kids.  Rachel loves outdoor activities including biking, hiking, rock climbing, and is training for her first half marathon!  Rachel is a great fit to our team with experience in a wide range of animals including dogs, cats, snakes, rats, guinea pigs, horses, swine and turtles.

Recco in Toronto!

Written by Stephanie Ruggerone

Airports, big city traffic and SNOW!  Such were the new experiences Recco encountered recently when he accompanied Dr. Markoff, Nicole Gunkel and myself to Toronto, Canada to attend the annual American Animal Hospital Association conference.  Animal Care Clinic was honored to be one of five finalists for the AAHA Hospital of the Year Award for 2011, so it was off to Toronto in late March while SLO was being drenched in rain.  Luckily, blizzard conditions did not strand us but we did have a few travel delays and extremely COLD conditions for soles used to the central California coast.

While Recco has been exposed to many aspects of daily life that he may encounter as a guide dog in the future, we rarely travel by air and prefer to stay a distance from both big cities and cold weather.  This trip placed him in situations he has never experienced and put lots of his prior training to the test.

We were not overly concerned with the actual air travel, though you never know what may prove overly stressful when raising a guide dog, however “ground delays” put poor Recco in a difficult situation.  Getting out of security in our wonderful SLO airport for a potty call was not a problem and so we overcame our first early morning delay easily.  Another delay in SLO put is two hours behind schedule.  Due to our first two delays, and not knowing if we were going to miss our connection, I unwisely passed the opportunity to allow Recco to relieve himself on the tarmac upon arrival at San Francisco.  What happened next?  You guessed it; we had another delay and now were stuck.  Ground delays can be minutes or hours and you don’t dare stray too far from your gate as they may ask you to board at any time!  Since Recco was acting quite comfortable I still was not too worried.  After an hour we boarded for our five and a half hour flight to Toronto.  The flight was uneventful with Recco sleeping quietly until about forty minutes out from landing.  He was restless but followed my direction to remain down under the seat.  I was relieved when we finally landed but poor Recco was in for more delay!  There was a mix up in the arriving customs terminal and no place for our plane to dock so we sat on the tarmac for another hour.  By this time I was sure Recco would never make it to the great outdoors but continued to ask him to stay down every time he made a move for the aisle.  Once we had deplaned a very nice customs agent opened a special gate for us to be processed.  Now I am smiling as I think we just might make it.  Sending the others to get my luggage, Recco and I headed for the doors only to be stopped by another customs agent wanting my declaration paperwork.  Of course there is only one declaration per family and my husband had ours over in baggage claim.  Forget trying to explain to a customs agent that your dog has not been relieved for over ten hours, they just don’t care.  I also needed to visit the ladies room but the dog must come first so I found my better half and we finally got outside.  Of course, what we found was cement and snow.  Recco has never seen snow but I took off his guide dog jacket, gave him the secret potty command and watched him for five minutes as his facial expression changed from a grimace to somewhat relaxed to thank goodness that is over! This is why we train them from small pups to relieve on leash, on command and on a variety of surfaces.  During the entire trip Recco consistently eliminated when and where I asked him too, regardless of the activity around him.

In Toronto you can last months without ever going outside in the cold!  The “PATH” is an underground system of walkways and stores that connect all of downtown Toronto.  We felt a bit like moles making our way from our hotel to the convention center the following morning.  Again Recco proved he is guide dog material as he wove through throngs of people and commotion without missing a step.  Revolving doors come in a variety of sizes, and the small ones are not conducive to big dogs with long tails.  He may not have liked the doors but he tackled them anyway, trying to keep his tail from getting caught behind him.

The classes at the convention were a piece of cake as Recco is totally accustomed to lying under a table or desk while I am working.  What proved way more difficult were the several hundred veterinary personnel who were away from their own pets for five days! We all know not to pet a guide dog when it is working but by day number five EVERYONE needed a “dog fix” and Recco’s head was beginning to swell from all the complements.  During the entire trip we only experienced one negative response to a service dog when a taxi driver at our hotel refused to allow Recco in his car.  Acceptance of these dogs has come a long way since I raised my first guide dog thirty years ago.

We are all glad to be home and there is no place better than San Luis Obispo.  Recco did amazingly well and we are proud of him and his representation of service dogs.  I think if you were to ask him he would say it was OK for a visit but he wouldn’t want to live there!

Animals in the News! featuring Japan

There are so many interesting news stories out there about pets and other animals, veterinary medicine or other animal related topics!  Each week we'll be gathering some stories that might be interesting to you, so keep posted each week for new stories!

This week: With the tragedy following the earthquakes and tsunami in Japan there have been many stories recently focusing on search and rescue, radiation, and ways to donate. Well below you can find it all in one place!

Check out this podcast by the AVMA with an update on the Japan disaster!

Disaster Preparedness

In light of the Japan tragedy that is ongoing many are thinking more about how they can prepare for any possible disasters.  Here in California on the central coast, earthquakes are probably on the top of the list.   Natural disasters come when we least expect them and the best way to come through safely is to be prepared ahead of time and to have an outline of a plan on what to do.  There are several resources you can look for information:

•American Veterinary Medical Association - Their website page on the Japan disaster under the news section has links for everything from disaster preparedness and emergency response guides, podcasts, videos, travel warnings, and radiation safety coming from various government sources.

•FEMA Information for Pet Owners - This web page has information on how to plan for pet disaster needs, how to prepare to shelter your pet, what to do during a disaster, and what to do after a disaster.

•AAHA HealthyPet.com - This pet owner resource has a couple of great articles with information on what questions you should be asking ahead of time and links to other resources as well as how to care for your pets during emergencies.

Places to Donate for Relief

•American Veterinary Medical Foundation - The AVMF has a Animal Disaster Relief and Response Fund.  According to the AVMF this fund is "designated to support state and national disaster relief efforts. Grants are provided for immediate disaster needs, but more importantly, to help provide training, disaster preparedness and response planning to ensure those organizations, states and or communities are disaster ready."

•Entrepreneur.com - This site had an article on "How to be Entrepreneurial with Giving."  We cannot vouch for all of the organizations listed in this article, however it mentions many different organizations that are either directly donating or collecting donations for Japan.  As always be cautious before donating to an organization you are not familiar with.

Notable News Stories



•"In a battered Japan, dogs search for human survivors" - This article talks about how many search and rescue teams traveled to Japan using dogs to find human survivors.  Many of these teams came from the United States and quite a few originally from California.

•There have been many stories on groups working to rescue animals ranging from pets to livestock to wildlife amidst the Japan disaster.  Below are some touching stories, with heart-wrenching photos and video, about working to rescue animals and the reunions that follow.

-"Rescue Operations in Japan Target the Country's Furry Friends"

-"From Porpoise to Pets, Animal Rescue Efforts Intensify"

-"Japan's pet survivors face post-tsunami struggle"

-"Helping pets in post-disaster Japan"

-"Video of Loyal Dog in Japan Reveals Canines' Social Roots"

•With the impending danger and ups and downs at the nuclear power plant in Japan, the concern over radiation exposure has been a popular news story.  Most of what we have heard is regarding radiation found in food and the worry of a radiation cloud traveling towards the United States.  In the article "Pet Owners Worried about Radiation Cloud," a UC Davis veterinarian discusses the risks to giving your pet potassium iodide tablets.

• "Joy as Dog, Owner Greet after Tsunami" - This most recent story is heart wrenching about the dog that survived for 3 weeks at sea floating on a roof!  Everyone should watch the video on this amazing story!

Meet Stephanie Ruggerone! Our Featured Employee of the Week!!

Practice Administrator, Stephanie Ruggerone, came to ACC in September 2000. She has an extensive background in many facets of animal care including behavior, training, grooming and pet assisted therapy. Following Studies in animal science and agriculture at the University of Arizona, she settled in San Luis Obispo County in 1980 after growing up in Whittier, CA. She has raised and trained Golden Retrievers under the Autumngale Obedience kennel name. After training two dogs for the county humane education program she became an animal control officer, then quickly promoted to the position of Animal Services Director. She was thrilled and honored to be invited to be a part of the Animal Care Clinic team where the emphasis is on quality animal care and client education. Stephanie and her husband have two children attending college and share their home with a true barnyard of animals. Currently there’s 1 cat, 4 dogs, 1 goat, 2 horses, 1 emu, 1 bird, and whatever shows up on the property. Her personal passion is a commitment to assist in providing guide dogs for the sight impaired. Her family has devoted many years to guide dog puppy raising, having raised 13 puppies for guide dogs. Aside from ACC and puppies, Stephanie loves to read, and all things outdoors especially hiking in Yosemite and endurance horseback riding. She has a passion for dog behavior and hopes to accomplish search and rescue training on one of her dogs and become a certified Search and Rescue team with FEMA.

KSBY Experts - When Cats Miss the Mark (the box)

Written by Bonnie Markoff, DVM, ABVP

One of the most common veterinary behavior problems we hear about at Animal Care Clinic is a cat who fails to use the litterbox. This most commonly manifests itself as urinating in inappropriate places, but sometimes in involves feces. There is no doubt as to why this is an extremely upsetting issue for cat owners!

Oftentimes the problem is medical, not behavioral. Cats that produce large quantities of urine may need to "go" more often than you can clean the litterbox. This can happen to cats with diabetes, kidney disease, liver trouble or hyperthyroidism. Other cats will have pain or increased urgency associated with urination. This will happen with bladder infections, bladder stones, bladder tumors or a disease known as Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD.) FLUTD is an inflammatory condition that comes and goes, often with stress related incidents. Cats with FLUTD often urinate in the bathtub, in purses or shoes or in other equally distressing locations. Cats that have diarrhea often have an urgency that doesn't give them time to get to the box. Cats with arthritis may have a hard time just getting up and over the edge of the box.

If your cats have all been thoroughly assessed medically and you still have a problem, then we need to look at behavior. Cats are extremely fastidious animals. They do not like dirty litterboxes, nor do they ever want to use a box that has previously been badly soiled. Imagine the worst gas station bathroom you have experienced - did you want to touch anything in there? Would you ever go back? Wouldn't you rather hide behind a large towel and use the bushes? It is essential to keep your boxes clean. If a cat ever has serious diarrhea, consider getting rid of the box that they used and buying a new one for a new location.

Cats also have substrate preferences. Some cats like pine shavings. Others like pellets. Others prefer sandy litter or shredded paper. Experiment with different products to see what your cats prefer. Recognize that you might need a different type of litter for each cat. On that note, you also should have one more litter box than you have cats. (Wouldn't a lot of human behavior issues be solved if we had one more bathroom than we had teenagers?) Cats can be territorial and may not want to use a box that another cat has used. Keep the boxes as far apart as is feasible. Be sure to have boxes in several areas of the house.

Be sure that every animal in the house is spayed or neutered. Both makes and females will mark territory. Cats usually do this by urinating on walls and other vertical surfaces. If you have an altered cat that is marking vertical surfaces, try spraying pheromones (Feliway, available at Animal Care Clinic) on the area they are marking. This can fool them into thinking they have already marked it.

If you are still having problems, it is time for a behavioral consult. Dr. Jennifer Evans at Animal Care Clinic is very interested in animal behavior and can utilize various medications to help your pets get over certain behavior problems. She can also help you to develop strategies to help your pets to better fit into your lifestyle.

Animals In The News!

There are so many interesting news stories out there about pets and other animals, veterinary medicine or other animal related topics!  Each week we'll be gathering some stories that might be interesting to you, so keep posted each week for new stories!

This week:

•"World's loudest cat:  Hear Smokey purr as loud as a Boeing 737" - This is a fun, short and sweet article with an audio clip.

•"Protect Your Pet from Alzheimer's" - Where people can get alzheimer's our dogs can get a similar syndrome called cognitive dysfunction.  As UC Irvine has found out, exercise is not only good for our dog's hearts and waistline, but for their brains!

•"Dog Head Size Predicts Strength, Speed" - Several recent studies have found correlation between head size and shape with strength and speed of dogs.  This likely applies to humans and apes as well!

•"A Teen's Best Friend?  Kids with Dogs Exercise More" - A study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine shows that children and teens in dog-owning families tend to exercise more.

•"Dog-Friendly Travel: iPhone Apps for Pets, and more" - This article gives information on some iPhone Apps that can make traveling with pets easier or at least ease the anxiety of separation.

•"Popular Exotic Pets in Focus" - Exotic pets are on the rise in homes across America and this article shows some of the more popular exotic pets.

KSBY Experts - Chronic Diarrhea

Written by Bonnie Markoff, DVM, ABVP

No one likes having diarrhea. Luckily, for all of us, most cases of diarrhea are short-lived and resolve themselves within a day or two. I'm not sure if there is anything in veterinary medicine more frustrating than chronic, or long-term, diarrhea.

Whenever a dog or cat presents to Animal Care Clinic for chronic diarrhea, we start with a long conversation. History taking can be the most important test we do in finding the cause. We will want to gather a complete dietary history, deworming history and travel history. A thorough physical exam is also important. In most cases, further evaluation will be needed.

Parasites are a very common cause of diarrhea in pets. A proper fecal flotation should be performed to look for parasite eggs. There are good and bad ways to run this test. A proper float uses a large volume of feces (at least the size of a tootsie roll) and does not rely on a small volume scooped form the anus or the little bit that fits in those greenish collection containers that are sometimes sent home with owners. The type of fluid that is used and treatment of that fluid is also important. In other words, not all fecal floats are equal. Always ask for a Zinc sulfate, centrifugal float. Otherwise, many parasites can be missed. The most common diarrhea-causing parasites we see in dogs and cats include roundworms, hookworms, giardia, coccidia and whipworms. In cases of chronic diarrhea, we will treat for these parasites even if the tests are negative.

Systemic diseases can also cause diarrhea. A full lab panel including blood chemistry, complete blood cell count, thyroid level and urinalysis will usually be performed. We may also want to check blood levels of vitamin B12 and pancreatic enzymes. If an animal has a low-grade liver, intestine or pancreas problem, we want to know about it as soon as possible. In some situations, x-rays or ultrasound may be warranted.

Infectious agents may also play a role in diarrhea. Cats get infested with a protozoon called tritrichomonas. Dogs can get Ehrlichiosis. Animals who have been in other parts of the country could have fungal infections or other diseases you may never have heard of. Cats with Feline Leukemia or the Feline AIDS virus can have diarrhea. In middle-aged to older patients we have to consider cancerous causes.

Diet is often at the bottom of diarrhea. Many animals have dietary intolerances or a disease called inflammatory bowel disease. Sometimes, just a change in diet will solve the problem. You can always start by using a premium pet food. I define "premium" as a diet that never changes its ingredients (fixed formula), has been through AAFCO feeding trials, and is designed for specific life stages rather than being balanced "for all stages of life." There are not many diets that fit these rules! It is important to be sure that pets with chronic diarrhea do not eat anything aside from the premium diet - no table scraps, special treats, trash, goodies from the backyard, junk at the beach, etc, etc.

If your pet is properly dewormed and is eating only a premium diet, but still has diarrhea, you will need veterinary help in solving the problem. We may want to try a diet high in fiber or one with no fiber at all. Your pet may need a limited antigen diet (only 2 ingredients), a hydrolyzed diet (all proteins broken down) or specially formulated homemade diet.

The veterinarians at Animal Care Clinic can help you to determine just what your pet needs based on the physical exam, history and perhaps a few of the tests I've listed. Give us a call!