Meet Melissa Reuter-Wagoner, RVT!! Our Featured Employee of the Week!

Melissa is another smooth, easy-going addition to the Animal Care Clinic Team. She grew up near Santa Clarita, California and graduated with a B.S. in Animal Science from Cal Poly in June 2007. Melissa is a very inquisitive part of the Veterinary Nursing team, joining ACC in July 2006. We are so happy to have Melissa as one of our Registered Veterinary Technicians. Melissa’s passions include riding her jumping horse, music, ballet, and traveling.

Adopt-A-Senior-Pet-Month Commercial

Animal shelters are full of dogs and cats that desperately need homes. Most people focus on puppies, kittens and young adults when adopting. However, a senior pet may be less rambunctious and better behaved than a younger dog or cat and can still add years of love and joy to your home. Animal Care Clinic is celebrating Adopt-A-Senior-Pet Month by providing free physical exams and discounts on our wellness laboratory profiles for all senior pets adopted from local shelters before the end of 2010. Join us in celebrating life. Adopt a senior pet for the holidays.

Happy Holidays from Animal Care Clinic!

Entire Animal Care Clinic Team!

Written by Nicole Gunkel, RVT

December is here along with all our winter holidays!  I'd like to take a moment today to wish everyone a fabulous December!  As a group each December, our entire team likes to highlight an individual charity group and offer a unique way to give a nice gift while also helping a benefitting cause.  We had such a good experience with "Women At Risk, International" last year that we decided to stick with them again this year.  "Women At Risk, International" unites and educates women to create circles of protection and hope around women at risk through culturally sensitive, value-added intervention projects.  These women and children are individuals who are at risk for human trafficking sexual slavery.  You find more information about this group, their call to action, their programs and how to get more involved at their website,WarInternational.org.

We are currently offering beautiful egyptian hand-blown glass ornaments for $15 each.  Proceeds benefit "Women At Risk, International."  There areornaments of different colors, shapes, and sizes.  They would be lovely to adorn your own home or tree and also make great gifts.  Please come and visit us to pick out your ornaments!

Adopt-A-Senior-Pet-Month Video

Animal Care Clinic's lodge manager, Julie Wilson, interview one of our great clients, Patti Holanda, about her experiences adopting "senior" pets from the local shelters. Patti tells us how they have enriched her and her husband's lives and what a joy it is to bring some loving years to their lives for whatever years they have to share left. Senior pets are often the first to be euthanized at shelters as they become overpopulated. These pets can be wonderful as many already have a fair amount of training in them and are already potty-trained as opposed to puppies. If you adopt a senior pet from a local shelter, Animal Care Clinic is offering a free doctor exam and a discount on wellness lab work through the end of the December 2010.

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

Nikki, as known here at Animal Care Clinic, has been on the veterinary nursing team since November 2006. She grew up locally here in Paso Robles. Nikki spent her first couple college years in Massachusetts She is currently an Animal Science major at Cal Poly, after which she hopes to attend vet school. Nikki has a Siberian husky, Kokoyah, and her cat, Buddy. She enjoys taking her dog to the beach, running, music, and whitewater rafting. Nikki is also one of a couple ACC workers who are vegetarian, and has never eaten meat in her life.

Diabetes in Pets

Written by Richard Tao, DVM

Diabetes is a disease most people are familiar with. Whether it is on a personal level affecting a family member or a close acquaintance, there is no denying that it creates a strain on the physical health of our nation. However personal diabetes is in your life, it’s important not to forget that our pets can also suffer from the condition. Many pet owners are unaware that diabetes is found in dogs and cats too! It is a serious disease that deserves a serious detailed discussion with your veterinarian.

Insulin and glucose testing supplies.

Our pets have no way of communicating the presence of a serious disease like diabetes to us. Owners need to be able to recognize early signs of diabetes, because as conventional wisdom teaches us early detection can lead to early cures. The most common signs of diabetes are an increase in water intake, an increase in urination, and weight loss. Subtle signs like cataracts and muscle weakness can occur in the later stages of the disease. You can expect your veterinarian to obtain a blood and urine sample and perform an ultrasound of the abdomen to make a diagnosis of diabetes.

Diabetes mellitus is the result of the body’s inability to absorb and use a form of sugar called glucose. Without the ability to use glucose from the blood stream the cells in the body literally starve and ultimately cause the disease associated with diabetes. Insulin is the hormone produced by the pancreas that allows the cells to utilize glucose. Treating diabetes will inevitably require insulin injections. The very act of poking your own furry companion may seem difficult, yet it is something even the most needle shy person can manage. We will walk you through each and every step of treating a diabetic pet from diagnosis to treatment and management. With proper care even a diabetic animal can live a long life.

Meet Erin Hickey! Our Featured Employee of the Week!!

Erin joined the veterinary nursing team at Animal Care Clinic in November 2006. She originally grew up in Mt. View, CA and is a graduate of Cal Poly. She earned her Registered Veterinary Technician license in June 2008. Erin loves her 3 dogs, Bean, Tannin and Charlie, as well as her cats Grady and Baldwin. She loves to hike with her dogs and also really enjoys gardening, cooking, and caring for her 16 chickens. The employees at ACC also really enjoy Erin’s baking skills!