Meet Eileen O’Neill-Hitch!! Our Featured Employee of the Week!

Eileen started at Animal Care Clinic as a veterinary nurse in April 2004. In November of 2008, Eileen moved up front to Customer Service and has been there ever since. Originally from the East Coast, Eileen has lived most of her life in California so she considers herself a “California Girl.” Eileen previously worked as a technical writer in Silicon Valley for 20 years, so this is her second career. She loves working with animals and says, “You’re never too old to keep on learning and growing. You CAN teach an old dog new tricks – they proved it on Myth Busters!” In her spare time, Eileen enjoys reading, knitting, and hiking. Eileen and her husband are also employed as staff by their cats.

How To Brush Your Dog's Teeth

Just like people, dogs and cats are recommended to get their teeth brushed as a part of their preventive care regimen. Teeth brushing should occur a minimum of 5 days a week to be beneficial. Use a child size soft bristled tooth brush and dog/cat formulated enzymatic toothpaste. Watch this video for some helpful tips in making brushing your pet's teeth an easy and fun process. Come by Animal Care Clinic or give us a call at 805-545-8212 for questions or to schedule a tooth brushing demonstration!

Meet Morgan York!! Our Featured Employee of the Week!

Morgan is a local from Santa Margarita, CA. She started working in veterinary nursing and lodging at Animal Care Clinic in December 2009. Morgan is studying Animal Science at Cal Poly and hopes to eventually go to vet school. Morgan has several pets including 2 dogs and her Quarter Horse, Rio. Some of Morgans hobbies are horseback riding, hiking, camping, spending time with family and friends and laughing. Morgan also loves working with kids and has been a volunteer in her church’s Sunday school classes for a few years.

Service Dogs in the News

Written by Nicole Gunkel, RVT

You may already know that two of our own staff members are currently raising puppies for Guide Dogs of America, but did you know that dogs can be used to help autistic kids, U.S. soldiers/veterans, and even sniff out cancer?! As a part of my job in the veterinary industry, as well as my interests in pets and medicine, I’m always trying to keep up with the latest news. I’ve been seeing quite a few articles recently that talk about pets and their many different ways they are used to service both people individually as well as our community as a whole, and wanted to share some of these really cool stories! Please click the links below to read the original articles and comment or let me know if you have heard about any other really cool stories!

In recent years there have been several stories documenting how dogs have helped autistic children to connect with others around them. They learn about feelings and needs and help to reduce stress. Meet Wyatt, the Rhodesian ridgeback and his owner Janice Wolfe who is taking the steps forward to help many more children in this USA TODAY article, “Rhodesian ridgeback stands tall as service dog for autism.”

Dogs are also helping those people currently serving in the military across seas and back home. Just as dogs have a calming effect with autistic children, they can help alleviate stress of soldiers deployed across seas. The News Tribune in Tacoma, Washington had an article about two dogs that prepared for a mission to Iraq.

Just as the healing effect’s of dogs in the armed forces have been shown, they are now being advocated for veterans after they have served in the military. The Veterans Dog Training Therapy Act has currently been referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. You can follow the progress on GovTrack.us. Check out this article on USA TODAY “Man’s best friend could soon be veteran’s best medicine.”

Auburn University researchers have developed a custom harness that will allow dogs to be guided remotely. This could be used for dogs to take on dangerous tasks in military and security operations and provide benefits for helping disabled people. I found this article really fascinating on Discovery News called, “Dogs Guided Remotely by Stealth System.”

We all know that one of dog’s best senses is their sense of smell. Dogs are used in search and rescue in events like avalanches and fallen buildings to sniffing bombs and drugs. But you probably have never heard of a dog that could sniff out cancer! Well, think again! Several dogs in Turkey are being trained and their sense honed to do just that. Check out this really cool article, “Canine Cancer Detectors Introduced in Turkey.”

I know that there are so many other avenues that dogs, and even cats, are being used to help others. As I find other current news stories I’ll try to share them with you as well. If you would like to learn more about dogs in service or think your dog would make a great service pet, let us know! Guide Dogs of America is always looking for more great puppy raisers. The Delta Society trains and screens volunteers and their pets to share their healing powers in places like, hospitals, schools, rehabilitation centers and many more. Of course nothing takes away from the amazing benefits of owning a pet and the human-animal bond!

Tooth Brushing Tips & Techniques

Written by Nicole Gunkel, RVT

You may have heard how beneficial it is to brush your pet’s teeth at home.  You might think, “really?”  “That’s too difficult” or “that’s crazy!”  I want to tell you that for many pets, it really isn’t that hard to accomplish.  Brushing your pet’s teeth is the MOST beneficial thing you can do at home to minimize and even help prevent dental and gingival disease.  According to the American Dental Association, 80% of people brush twice daily.  Imagine what would happen to your own teeth if you didn’t brush twice daily, floss daily and have your teeth cleaned every 6 months!  Now think about your dog and/or cat not having anything done to protect their dental health!  I’m going to give you some tips to make brushing your pet’s teeth at home an easier and less stressful process.  It can even be fun!      

River likes to lick the flavored toothpaste!

        1)   First, remember that tooth brushing must be done a minimum of 5 days a week, and is ideally done everyday.  Tartar builds up fast and as soon as it begins to calcify into calculus (48 hours), no toothbrush will be able to remove it. 

        2)    Begin by letting your dog or cat lick the toothpaste.  Make sure to use toothpaste made especially for pets.  Human toothpastes have detergents in them that make them foam, like hydrogen peroxide.  These agents are not meant to be swallowed and could cause your pet to vomit if ingested. 

       

        3)   It’s best to start when your pet is young (but not necessary) and take baby steps.  You may want a helper to keep your pet from wiggling away at first.  I started out by sitting on the floor and had my puppy lay on her back between my legs, head closest to my body.  This allowed me to hold my squirmy puppy by squeezing my legs.  That left both of my hands free to manipulate the toothbrush and hold her mouth.  I have now progressed to letting my dog sit in front of me.  You can also have your dog sit in a corner where they can’t back away.

        4)   The best toothbrush is a child size brush with soft bristles.  This is also inexpensive.  I wouldn’t recommend the finger brushes, because it makes it just too easy to be accidentally bitten.  Ouch!

        5)   When starting, brush with the toothpaste for no more than 30 seconds.  Over time you can increase the duration.  You could even start out using a little peanut butter or beef broth for dogs or tuna water for cats to help make the experience more pleasant, as long as you eventually phase over to using toothpaste.

        6)   With one hand hold the mouth closed.  Insert the brush beneath the lips and along the teeth, and hold the brush at a 45-degree angle.  Brush in a circular motion.  The goal is to gently massage the gums and move tartar away from the gum line.  Work the brush along the upper and lower teeth on both sides.  Due to the location of the salivary glands, most tartar builds up on the outside of the teeth, so only the outside surfaces need to be brushed.  Your pet will move toothpaste around to the inside of the teeth when licking after you are done brushing.

        7)   Every time after brushing teeth, reward your pet with a treat or something they will think is special!  I like to brush my dog’s teeth before dinnertime, so her dinner is her reward.  

        8)   Make it a habit!  I already mentioned that tooth brushing needs to be done 5-7 times per week to be of any benefit.  I keep my dog’s toothbrush and toothpaste inside her food container, so every time I feed her those items stare me in the face and remind me of what I should do before feeding dinner.

River has learned this is not so bad, and will
now sit in front of me awaiting a special treat!

Even with the utmost patience, not all dogs or cats will allow tooth brushing.  For those pets, it is best to stick with other methods of at home prevention and keep up with dental cleanings as your veterinarian recommends.  My dog is currently almost 3 ½ years old and her teeth are sparkling clean and look way better than her buddies the same age.  If you have any questions about tooth brushing or dental health, please call or come in.  We can give you a tooth brushing demonstration! 

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

Travis joined the veterinary nursing team in July 2008. Travis is a native of San Luis Obispo, and would eventually like to attend vet school. Travis has an interest in reptiles and currently his pets include 3 cats and 6 snakes. Travis practices martial arts, such as Kendo and Brazilian Ju Jitsu. He also loves to play with his son and teach him about animals. Travis is married to Cate (of our Customer Service Team) and they now have a beautiful baby girl as well.

At Home Dental Health Tips

Written by Nicole Gunkel, RVT

At Animal Care Clinic, dental disease & obesity are the top two health concerns that we see – and both can be life threatening!  About 70% of cats and 80% of dogs have some degree of gingival (gum) disease by the age of three!  Unhappy gums are caused by a build-up of plaque and tartar on the teeth, where it causes infection and mechanical irritation.   Most dogs and cats need their first dental cleaning by age three and about once per year afterwards.  After teeth are cleaned, plaque begins to develop within a few hours.  This plaque will calcify in just 48 hours!  Luckily there are things you can do at home to prolong the time needed before your pet’s first dental cleaning and extend the time in between anesthetic cleanings!

1)   Brushing teeth is the best thing to do!  80% of Americans brush their teeth twice daily, while most of our pets don’t get them brushed at all.  Everyone knows how much tartar builds up on his or her teeth in between brushings and it is the same for Fluffy.  Please see the following blog article for tips specifically on brushing teeth – it is easier than you think!
2)   Dental chews can be very helpful.  It is important to use the proper size chew for each pet – small treats can be swallowed by big dogs and get stuck in the intestines!  Treats that are too large will be hard for a small dog to chew.  Cats who will chew on dental treats can benefit greatly also – just be sure they are treats designed for cats!  We offer CET chews at Animal Care Clinic.  These are a rawhide based chew and some even add chlorhexidine, which is an anti-bacterial ingredient.  Most dogs love them!  Come by for a free sample.
3)   There are many chew toys that will also help keep teeth cleaner and gums healthier.  If your dog is a chewer try one of the rubber type toys that have ridges and different textures of surfaces that will rub against teeth and gums.  You can even squirt some pet toothpaste onto the toy.  Nylabones can be good for strong chewers.  Rope toys will also provide mechanical action against teeth and can even act like floss.
4) Oravet is a gel that is applied immediately after the teeth are cleaned.  The initial application must be applied to very dry teeth (done under anesthesia) to adhere properly.  You will then apply the gel to the outsides of the teeth once per week at home.  This product will help prevent the build-up of tartar by acting as a barrier.

Even if you use these products at home, your pet will need regular dental cleanings, just as we still have our dental hygienist clean our teeth every 6 months.  If you have any questions about any of these products or services, call or come by Animal Care Clinic.  We would be happy to help you!  Any of our veterinary nursing staff can assess your pet’s dental health at any time, so swing on by!

Meet Michaela Hoffman! Our Featured Employee of the Week!

Michaela grew up in Mission Viejo, California and graduated from Cal Poly in 2009. She joined the veterinary nursing team in January 2010 and would like to someday attend veterinary school. Michaela enjoys hiking with her shepherd mix, Cosmo. She also loves swimming and playing water polo and gardening and has a special interest in marine wildlife.

KSBY Central Coast Experts – Feeding Pets

Written by Bonnie Markoff, DVM, ABVP

Many clients at Animal Care Clinic ask about how to feed their pets - free choice or meals. Veterinarians disagree to some extent as which is better, and there are medical benefits to both systems.Many owners find it convenient to leave food out all the time for their animals, especially cats. Others prefer to put a set amount of food down for a few minutes and let the pets eat what they want, and then put the food away. At Animal Care Clinic we have found that pets who are given free choice to food are more often overweight, and that it can be extremely difficult to get a pet to lose weight without using meal feeding as a strategy.

We strongly recommend that you start all puppies and kittens on meals from the very beginning. This can help greatly with potty training. Animals 7-16 weeks of age should get at least 3 meals a day. Once they reach 4 months of age you can cut back to two meals daily and continue this throughout adulthood. By starting meals when pets are young you can prevent obesity. Feeding your pets to their proper lean body weight can add 2 years to their lives!

But what do you do if you want to make a habituated free choice feeder accept meals? Every animal will respond to this differently. Dogs who know how to manipulate their owners (that would be most dogs!) will follow you around, whine a little and then flash those big, brown eyes and make you feel really guilty. Do not cave in! Most pets are not "always hungry" - they are "always bored." When you are watching TV and feel like getting a snack, is it because you are hungry or because you like to have a snack while you watch TV? Very few Americans (pets or people) get truly hungry before meals. So.....in most cases, you can just start feeding meals: set down the food bowl, wait 30 minutes and then pick it up. Don't put it down again until dinnertime.

Cats and some dogs present a bigger challenge. Cats deprived of food at night have been known to jump into the owner's bed and attack! Some pets pester us so badly that we just can't relax or function in our homes without appeasing the pet's demands. In these cases we have to be more subtle. Start picking up the food in the middle of the day - just for an hour or two. Your pets probably won't even notice. Each week add 30 minutes to the time the food is unavailable. If you will be out of the house, pick up the food for the entire time (your pets can't retaliate when you are not home.) Try picking up the food just as you go to bed and set it back down when you wake up. By gradually extending the times that the food is unavailable, you will eventually get to the point where food is available for only 30 minutes, twice a day. My dogs & cat eat their meals in less than 5 minutes.

It is also important to have a separate bowl for each pet. We must prevent the gluttons from eating food out of the bowls of their friends. Supervised meals can help with this. Sometimes we must separate pets into different rooms during mealtime.

By feeding meals and using a separate bowl for each pet, you will be ready to conquer almost all nutritional problems. Weight loss is much easier for animals on this regimen. It is much easier to change diets for pets who eat meals. It is also easier to hide medications in the food of pets who eat meals because they tend to eat faster. (Now, eating too fast is an entirely separate subject!)

For more nutritional tips call us at 545-8212.

Special Needs Companions

Stephanie and Red Fred

Written by Stephanie Ruggerone, Practice Administrator

In the movie “Seabiscuit”, trainer Tom Smith states, “You don’t throw a whole life away just because it’s banged up a little”.  Oh how I wish more people would view the world this way!  While I have loved many animals in my life, it is the ones who had “special needs” that have taught me the most valuable lessons.

Our animal companions do not feel sorry for themselves nor do they expect special treatment.  Regardless of the origin of their “defects”, by birth, illness or injury; they forge ahead with life and find ways to overcome disability.  They possess the same devotion and love as normal animals but we often discard them because they don’t look right or require a little extra care on our part.  While some of these wonderful creatures may require additional financial means, most simply need someone to accept them as they are and allow them to burrow into a human heart.

Blind animals can quickly learn to navigate a home and yard and enjoy leashed excursions once they know you will be their “guide human”.  They compensate for their lack of sight tactility and with sound.  Keeping a radio playing in a specific part of the home or hearing a water fountain gives them points of reference.

Deaf pets can learn hand signals and feel vibrations.  Oh, but how do you get their attention to teach the signals?  Use the nose!  Food will keep their attention for quite some time.  They often learn to “check in” with their human friends by frequently turning to look for signals.  Yes, it takes some additional time to ensure these animals are safe in their environment but well worth the effort!

Missing body parts often seem to be a big factor for us but rarely a problem for the animal.  We often fail to look beyond the appearance and can’t imagine these animals being happy.   With proper exercise they can frequently run like the wind, keeping up with their full-bodied friends.  Some even excel in agility!

Napoleon is one of my current special needs “kids”.  He was born with a syndrome called “swimmer puppy” and his future was questionable.  He learned to walk (and run) through he isn’t exactly graceful and he is absolutely wonderful with my two year old grand daughter.  He has given my family seven years of snuggles, smiles and lots of laughs.  He may not be “normal” but has endless value to me via unconditional love.

Never thought of adopting a special needs pet?  Try it! I think you may find you not only like it but it may become habit forming.