Meet Nicole Haug! Our Featured Employee of the Week!!

Nicole joined the customer service team in September of 2009.  She is a local San Luis Obispan and currently attending Cal Poly, majoring in Sciology.  Nicole loves to spend time and hike with her 3 dogs Brixtyn, Ginger and Bear and also has a Beta fish at home, Fishy.  Other hobbies are going to the movies and gym, reading, and spending time with her family, friends, and boyfriend.

What is ABVP?

Written by Marissa Greenberg, DVM

Most people are familiar with  the usual specialties like internal medicine, surgery,  or radiology.  But what does it mean for a veterinarian to be a boarded practitioner, a member of ABVP?  The American Board of Veterinary Practitioners is a unique specialty and can be described as being a "specialized" general practitioner.
ABVP was established in 1978 to promote excellence in general practice.  In contrast to the other specialties that focus on a specific system, ABVP promotes care of the “total patient.”   ABVP offers certification in 8 different fields, or practice categories: avian, beef cattle,  dairy cattle, canine and feline, equine, feline, food animal, and swine health.  ABVP doesn’t require a residency program.  Veterinarians can work towards this specialty status while in practice.  In fact, they must be in practice, working on their species of choice for at least 6 years, before certification can be pursued if a residency program was not completed.  It allows for practical, on-the-job training for the goals to be reached.

Bonnie Markoff, DVM, ABVP

After 6 years of practice, an applicant must submit a curriculum vitae, a synopsis of their veterinary experience post-graduation, a self-report job evaluation form, 3 applicant evaluations, 2 case reports, and proof of 90 hours of Continuing Education over a 5 year period.  The application is reviewed by members of the board.  The 2 case reports are meant for the applicant to demonstrate their expertise and their high quality practice abilities, and are based on cases the applicant has seen over a 5 year period.  Once the application is approved by the board, applicants can sit for their qualifying exams.  For each specialty area (except swine) there are two exams.  The specialty exam is generally a 300 question multiple choice exam designed to test the applicant’s knowledge in their chosen practice category.  The practical portion of the exam varies by practice category.  Both tests must be passed in order to achieve certification.  The tests for all specialty fields are given at the same time and same place each year, November in Chicago.

Marissa Greenberg, DVM

Once certified, the ABVP promotes self-improvement.  It is the only veterinary specialty that requires recertification, which is required every 10 years.  Recertification can be reached by a variety of methods, which includes published papers, Continuing Education,  and examination, amongst others.  By requiring recertification, ABVP members demonstrate that competency and quality of practice has been maintained.
ABVP describes their diplomates as “exceptionally talented veterinarians who reach beyond the expected and embrace challenges, because it is their passion.”  Our own Dr. Markoff embraces this, and has been an ABVP diplomate since 1994.  She is the only ABVP diplomate between Buelton and the bay area.  Dr. Markoff will be my mentor as I embark on the road to becoming an ABVP diplomate myself.  I will be working on my case reports and hope to receive my board certification by 2015.  We’ll keep you posted!

Meet Louise Facciola! Our Featured Employee of the Week!!

Louise graduated from Cal Poly with her Animal Science degree in 2005 with a minor in Equine Science. She began working on the veterinary nursing team at Animal Care Clinic in November 2008. Louise came to San Luis Obispo from Loyalton, California. She would like to obtain her registered veterinary technician license in the future. In her spare time, Louise enjoys riding her horse, running, hiking, playing with her cat, Remington, and taking her dog, Avila to the beach.

Caring for Feral Cats - KSBY Local Experts Question

Here's an answer posted by Dr. Markoff in response to a question posted on our KSBY Central Coast Experts page.

Written by Bonnie Markoff, DVM, ABVP

Janice has asked about a feral cat named Heckel who has something wrong with her lower jaw.  Caring for feral or “wild” cats can be extremely frustrating.  We find cat colonies developing in many areas in our county.   Quite often, a Good Samaritan feeds the cats, but usually the cats will not allow human contact.  This means that providing medical care, including vaccines, requires trapping the cats.   Illness in these colonies can be very distressing.

Feral Cats

It can be very difficult to decide whether or not to trap and care for a feral cat.  The process of trapping is very stressful for the cat.  Handling the animals can be dangerous for the people involved.  Follow-up care such as daily medications or suture removal, can be nearly impossible.  Many people believe we should treat cat colonies like wild populations – no human intervention and allow “nature to take its course.”  But those who feed and watch over these cats develop relationships with them and cannot bear to watch them suffer.

The cat I referenced above had been trapped in order to be spayed, and then released back into the colony.  She now is drooling and there is a green color to the drool.  If Janice gives her antibiotics (I assume being put into food or water), the problem improves greatly, but is back within just a few days when the medication is stopped.  Janice has asked if it safe to give antibiotics daily forever.  In this particular situation, I think it may be the best choice we have.

Normally we try to avoid the long-term use of antibiotics.  We rarely see significant side effects from the antibiotics and quite often they effectively fight the infection for years.  However, on occasion we can see “bad” microbes take over in the body. Women may develop vaginal yeast infections, which is not a significant problem for our pets.  Instead we can see a change in the bacteria in the intestinal tract, which can lead to diarrhea and other GI upset.  We can also see the development of bacteria that are resistant to the antibiotic we are using.  This can lead to superinfections that are hard to treat.

I am concerned that Heckel has either traumatized her jaw or has a tooth abscess or tumor in her mouth.   If we were to trap her, treatment may be very extensive, which would not only be costly, but very stressful for Heckel.  There would be a high likelihood that she would need to stay in the hospital for follow-up care, adding to Heckel’s stress.  If daily antibiotics are helpful, that may be the most humane thing to do.  It is unlikely that lifelong daily antibiotics will be harmful to Heckel.  So Janice, go ahead with daily Fishmox and we wish you the best of luck.  Let us know if we can be of further help.

Basic Manners - KSBY Local Experts Question

By Bonnie Markoff, DVM, ABVP

We have had several questions related to pet behavior on our KSBY Local Experts page.  Pet owners have concerns about barking, biting, scratching, jumping, destructive behavior, animals getting into things, basic training and boundary training.  Most of these problems stem from trying to bring an animal into our civilized homes.  Our expectations may seem unreasonable to our canine & feline friends.  Expecting your dog to stay away from yummy items in a trashcan is similar to asking Aunt Norma to not partake in the dinner you set before her.

When we bring animals into our homes, we must remember that barking, digging, searching out good food and being an intimate part of a group are all natural behaviors.  Luckily, dogs and cats are very trainable and can learn to be civilized members of the team.  If we start when they are young, training is usually quite easy.  We set boundaries, remain consistent in enforcing these boundaries and gently provide alternatives.  If you do not want adult animals on your couch or bed, you must not let them on the furniture when they are young.  In fact, you must make it impossible for them to access the furniture until they learn the rules.  This may mean confinement to a crate or other area of the house.   Puppies who jump up need to learn that they will NEVER earn physical contact or praise when they are jumping up.  They should be taught to sit and stay so that when they jump up we can tell them to sit and then give loads of praise for this alternative behavior.

Some behaviors that we find extremely disruptive are important survival instincts and can be very hard to eliminate from certain pets.  Dogs who get into the trash or eat things off the counter, often never learn otherwise.  These can be situations where we need to put things away immediately and keep our trashcans in places the dogs cannot access.  Cats who urine mark territory, can be equally frustrating.  Early spay and neuter may prevent this.  Sometimes we can use medications or pheromones to prevent the behavior.  Barking is sometimes extinguished by keeping dogs where they cannot see or hear any outside stimulus (i.e. indoors with the TV on.)  Some dogs will require a bark collar.  I do not like the use of shock collars, but find the citronella collars to be effective in many situations.  Cats that scratch furniture can often be trained to stop if given acceptable alternatives.

Good training and behavior modification can be complicated.  Programs should be individualized to each family and pet.  Some dog trainers are very good with these types of interventions.  In some cases, a veterinarian with a special interest in behavior will be required.  At Animal Care Clinic, our Dr. Jennifer Evans can help with most behavior concerns.  We can also provide referrals to good local dog trainers.

Staying Fit in Winter

Written by Nicole Gunkel, RVT

When it’s really cold and blustery or raining, the temptation to curl up on the couch can be irresistible for both our pets and us.  It’s important for our pets’ health to find ways to stay limber and fit, both in body and mind.  I asked some of our staff to share some tips that they like to do with their own pets.

Staying In

Take some time to play indoors.  You can hide treats around the house or in a toy that will force your pets to think a bit about how to get the treats out. The “Buster Cube” is a great example.  Lure or have your pet follow you up and down stairs, if you have them.  Does your pet play fetch?  Throw a ball or other toy down a hallway or other open area.  Rainy days inside are a great time to teach your pet a new trick or practice some simple obedience.  If your dog has a backpack, go ahead and put it on with a little weight while moving around inside.  Laser pointers are great for many cats and some dogs to get them moving about.  Get your pet a new toy that will excite them into playing.  A good scratching post will help cats wear their nails and stretch those muscles at the same time.  And for those who can’t be enticed by other methods, you may just need to pick up Fluffy and move them across the house so they will have to walk the distance to go back and lay down!

Nutrition

If your pet is not active, you may want to consider decreasing the amount of food your pet is consuming by 25-30%.  Keeping your pet at a lean body condition can increase your pet’s lifespan by up to 2 years!  You can also use kibble from your pet’s daily meal allocation as treats instead of adding in extra calories by adding special treats.  Healthy snacks such as vegetables (broccoli, carrots, etc.) or low calorie pet treats can be given.  Most pets can count (they know how many treats they should get), but size doesn’t seem to matter.  Give them the same number of treats, but in smaller sizes.  “Plain Joe’s O’s” and “Charlee Bears” work great!

Get Out

River wearing her children's sweater.

It’s good for us to get moving, even if it means you are just walking around the block.  If you and you’re pet are dressed appropriately it won’t matter if it’s a little cool.  In San Luis Obispo County, we are lucky to have pretty moderate temperatures and weather compared to other parts of the country.  [In yucky or cold weather be sure to bundle up appropriately.  If your dog has a short hair coat, get them a jacket or sweater.  I got a children’s sweater at a thrift store as an inexpensive way to keep my dog warm.]  Schedule a play date with friend’s pets outside or at someone’s house.  Enroll in an obedience or agility class.  You can also take your pet to visit a local pet store that allows leashed pets. 

Enjoy those winter months and stay fit so you will be ready to play hard this spring!

Meet Tara Pantano! Our Featured Employee of the Week!!

Tara moved to California from Farmington, Connecticut and joined the Veterinary Nursing team in January 2009. Tara graduated from the University of Connecticut. She has earned her Registered Veterinary Technician license in California, after previously being certified in Connecticut, and wants to continually find challenge in this profession. Tara enjoys hiking with her husband and dogs, Kona and Raylan. They also have 2 cats at home, Figo and Bailey. Tara also likes riding mountain bikes, traveling, photography, and is a volunteer with the Marine Mammal Center. Tara says, “I am a self-proclaimed ‘cat person,’ they are just way cooler than people give them credit for!”

Specialty Surgery at Animal Care Clinic

Written by Marissa Greenberg, DVM

As general practitioners at Animal Care Clinic, we all perform surgeries like spays and neuters.  Sometimes we do more extensive surgeries like taking out a spleen (called a splenectomy), taking out bladder stones, or removing an object from the gastrointestinal tract that a patient shouldn’t have eaten!  But sometimes there are surgeries that are better left to the hands of a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (DACVS).  We generally refer to these veterinarians as “boarded surgeons.”  This means that they have gone through at least 4 more years of training after vet school, honing their surgery skills.  They then must publish articles and take a test to become a boarded surgeon. 

At Animal Care Clinic, we are fortunate to have a working relationship with Dr. Greg Marsolais, MS, DVM, DACVS.  Dr. Marsolais worked at Animal Care Clinic as a veterinary nursing assistant while he was a pre-vet student at Cal Poly.  He then went on to receive his DVM and Master of Science Degree from Iowa State University.  He did his surgical residency at the University of Illinois.  He now runs his own practice called Pet Surgeons, Inc.  He travels to clinics to provide consultations and perform surgeries.  Because of his previous relationship with Animal Care Clinic, we are happy to be able to have him visit us to perform these services for our clients and patients. 

Dr. Marsolais is generally at Animal Care Clinic at least once a month.  He spends his morning doing consultations and meeting the clients whose pets are to have surgery that day.  One of our Animal Care Clinic doctors are always involved with each case to be sure that we are in the know and can follow through once Dr. Marsolais leaves for the day.  Our Animal Care Clinic doctor works with Dr. Marsolais to create an anesthesia and pain management plan for each patient that is having surgery.  Our staff monitors anesthesia for his surgeries just as they do for all of the surgeries our doctors perform.  Many of the surgeries that Dr. Marsolais performs are orthopedic procedures, but he does many others as well. 

Most of Dr. Marsolais surgeries spend at least one night in the hospital.  This is so that our staff can monitor the patient’s vital signs and control any post-operative pain.  We discourage owners from visiting patients post-operatively because it often excites them too much, and they can become very distressed when their owner leaves.  This can put patients at risk for post-operative complications.   Patients are generally discharged with very specific post -operative instructions and medications, and our doctors are always able to contact Dr. Marsolais regarding his cases for further follow-up. 

If your pet has any issues that you think may warrant a consultation with Dr. Marsolais, please contact us so we can help schedule an appointment!  

Meet Cate Morris! Our Featured Employee of the Week!!

Caitlin goes by Cate here at ACC, and has been a part of the Customer Service Team since November 2007. Cate grew up in rural Mc Arthur located in Northern California. She is married to Travis of our nursing team and has two children, her stepson Skyler and daughter Hailey. Cate loves hiking, tide pooling and spending time with her family.

Matted Fur - KSBY Local Experts Question

By Bonnie Markoff, DVM

Thank you, Shawna for your question about grooming Persian cats. This can be a big problem for many cat owners! The fine hair of a Persian easily clumps together to form matts – those Rastafarian type clumps of fur that cannot be broken up with a brush. Matts can be very painful and even cause damage to the skin because they pull on the skin like an over-tight ponytail. Many animals resent any effort we make to remove the matts, and it seems that Persian cats have the most pain associated with the procedure.

To remove matts that are not painful, try a brush designed specifically for that purpose. These brushes actually have sharp edges that cut through the matt. Once you break the matt into smaller parts, it is less painful and easier to remove. In some instances, you may be able to cut them off with scissors – BUT BE CAREFUL!! It is extremely easy to cut the skin. Never pull up on a matt and cut below it. The process of pulling up on the matt will tent the skin and almost guarantee your scissors will cut your pet. Electric clippers are usually the best way to remove the matts. Groomers can often do this. If the process is painful or your pet just hates being groomed, we may need to sedate your pet for the treatment. Shawna, you quoted a very high dollar amount for this procedure. Our hospital should be able to help you for about half that price, maybe less on subsequent visits.

Prevention is the best way to manage matts. Animals who are prone to matting their fur should be brushed every day with a good rake type brush. If you find any small matts while brushing, remove them with a matt rake or scissors when they are small and not painful. Some animals benefit from removing the hair that typically matts. A groomer can keep the hair in these areas clipped short or even shaved down to the skin. It is usually much easier to clip the hair short before matts develop than to remove the matts later. I hope this helps, Shawna!

Cat and Dog Buds

Written by Jennifer Evans, DVM

We’ve all heard the saying ‘fighting like cats and dogs’ but sometimes cats and dogs can be the best of friends!!  If raised together, dogs and cats are often great buddies; playing, sleeping and even eating together.  There is something quite profound about seeing a large pit bull snuggled up with a cat, they should be enemies yet they aren’t.  Kind of makes you wonder what we should be capable of as a ‘more intelligent’ species! 

Baldwin (cat) and Bean (dog)

While it’s true that some dogs just simply can’t safely be around cats, many can be taught appropriate ‘cat manners.’  The easiest way to start integrating the two species is either with a youngster of each or with an adult dog or cat that is used to the other species and a youngster who doesn’t know they should be afraid.  An adult cat that runs unfortunately becomes a really fun game for a puppy and can actually become ‘prey’ for adult dogs that don’t know better.   Whenever introducing the two, always have the dog under control with a leash and have the cat’s nails trimmed.  See how they do and progress from there.  Keeping the cat in a crate for short training periods and rewarding the dog when he ignores the cat or possibly squirting him with water if he’s too fixated will sometimes help an adult dog learn how to peacefully co-exist with a cat.  Always be cautious when introducing new critters to each other and never leave them alone unsupervised until they have proven they can get along safely.   Sometimes it takes a while for them to become friends. 

Rocky (cat) and Petey (dog)

Our office manager Lavella adopted her “chiweenie” from the shelter months ago and it took a while for her cat ‘Rocky’ to accept the new addition, but in time he realized the benefits of having another four-legged buddy in the house.  The rewards of having a dog and cat that love each other are quite numerous, not the least of which includes really awesome photo ops!