A Little About Me

Ahh, since a new year is upon us, I thought maybe I'd write a short post and share a few things about myself, so that those of you who don't know me for now, might get to know me in 2013.  :)

I'm originally from Louisiana.  I graduated from Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2003.  Soon after, I moved here to California where I immediately started working in a small animal practice.

After about 4 years of that, I decided to make the leap into practice ownership - mostly because I wanted to stay in Apple Valley and needed to do more to build my future here and entrench myself into our small community.  So, in 2007, I bought Animal Care Hospital and started turning it into my own homey little practice.

I'm currently 43 years old and married to my wonderful husband, Steve Reynolds.  Here's a recent picture of us, taken this past Christmas:

 I don't have any children but I do have the world's GREATEST dog name Vinnie.  He's a rescue doggy, and I got him through a rescue called Almost Home, through petfinders.org.  I've gotten most of my dogs through petfinders, and after looking through hundreds of pictures last year, I came across the cutest face ever and had to take him home!

Here's a picture of Vinnie in his Monkey Hat costume:

No he's not happy.  :)

I have a lot of hobbies and I really love living in the desert.  Sure, I miss green trees and rain, but the trade offs for those things are NO MOSQUITOES (remember, I'm from Louisiana) and beautiful weather.  I love that I can sit on my patio every evening in the summer and not get bitten by any bugs.  :)  I guess I'm kind of a bug-phobe in that I very much dislike them.   I'm one of those girls who will scream if you put a spider on me.  :)

I love hiking and traveling to our National Park.  I am also an avid SCUBA diver and try to go on a dive trip every other year or so.  I started diving when I was 20 - that's a long time!  But also something I am very proud of doing.   

Every year we throw a good ol' southern crawfish boil for our staff.  It's something we really enjoy doing, and our staff loves it!  It's quickly become a popular event.  :)  You can see pics of this on our website, or go to:

Annual Cajun Fest

So there ya have it.  A little about me.  :)

Don't Let Your Pets Get Turkey Tummy!

Just thought I'd post a pic of myself and Dr. Natalia so some of you who may not recognize us can see our smiling faces.  :)  That's me, Dr. Deb, on the right and Dr. Natalia on the left.  Happy Times celebrating our 5th anniversary of owning Animal Care Hospital!

Thank you for reading my blog!  :)

An Important Service We Offer

I had a client call and ask me about this, and I wanted to write a short post about it just to help get the word out.

We don't heavily advertise it, but we do offer at-home euthanasia services through Animal Care Hospital.  We have to schedule it appropriately and there are fees involved, but we can go to your home and help you with the passing of your beloved pets if you want or need that help.

Give us a call if you need this service and we can give you more information.  We know it's a very difficult and emotional decision and the team at ACH is there for you when you need us.

Peace to everyone.

Another Important Rabies Story

Based on my last post, I wanted to make sure I shared this link regarding vaccinating your INDOOR cats against rabies. 

Remember, the vaccine not only saves your pet, but can potentially save YOU.

http://www.wrcbtv.com/story/19963080/two-in-whitfield-county-exposed-to-rabies-by-indoor-cat

Please keep your doggies and kitties safe from this fatal disease.

Rabies

One thing that I, as a doctor, have great difficulty understanding is why anyone would decline to vaccinate their dog or their cat for rabies.  Yes I get the concerns about vaccines that some people have, and there are situations where the pet cannot tolerate the vaccine, but I truly believe that most people do not understand that RABIES KILLS PEOPLE.  They aren't gonna save you if your cat catches an infected bat then gives rabies to YOU.  So vaccinate ALL of your cats and dogs against rabies!

Yes I also know that some cats live indoors and do not go outside.  But, we do not live in a perfect environment and critters sometimes get into our homes.  Yes sometimes bats get into our homes too!  And even indoor cats CAN GET RABIES.

In the state of California, it is REQUIRED that you give the rabies vaccine to your dog.  It is NOT required but HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that it be given to your cats.  In my practice, I try to encourage EVERYONE to give it to their dogs AND their cats, regardless of the law.

I hear this all of the time:  "Oh I don't rabies vaccinate my indoor cat because he never goes outside and therefore cannot catch rabies."   Or, "I don't rabies vaccinate my little dog because he never goes outside of our yard!"  People say these things as if there is never any exposure and unfortunately, they put not only their pet's lives at risk, but also their own.

There was a recent case of a man in CA who touched a bat and contracted rabies and DIED.   This disease is carried in our local wildlife - bats, raccoons, rodents, etc - and we must protect ourselves and our pets from this deadly disease.  We DO have it in California and I do my darnedest to convince people to simply give the vaccine to their pets. 

http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_21703098/contra-costa-county-man-dies-from-rabies-believed

If you're a client of mine and you've signed up for Free Vaccines For Life, then the rabies vaccine is included in that!!!  The cheap cost of this vaccine leaves ZERO EXCUSE for giving it!!

PLEASE bring your pets in for this very important vaccine!  Call my office to find out how we can help!!  760-247-0292

Free Vaccines for Life!

After watching our community suffer from this dreaded economy, we are happy to announce a new Wellness Program that we will be offering at ACH:  Free Vaccines for Life!

The way it works:  bring your pet in for an exam and sign up for the program with a one-time enrollment fee.  Restrictions do apply**.  Please call or come in for more information!

Animal Care Hospital
21554 Hwy 18
Apple Valley, CA.  92307
760-247-0292

What you get:  as long as you bring your pet in every year for their exam and stay current with the program, you will never pay for their core vaccines again!  That's right, simply keep your pets current on their annual exams and their core vaccines will be free for the rest of their lives! 

Why it's a good thing:  We know a lot of people need to save money but they also want to provide quality care for their pets.   Dr. Deb has always believed in and emphasized the annual exam, which she believes is extremely important for the well-being of our animals.  With this program, once you enroll, you never have to worry about where you're going to get their vaccines again!

Benefits of the Free Vaccines for Life Program:

    1.  Never wait in long lines again at the vaccine clinics.  Schedule an exam and wait in our beautiful hospital without having to worry about the safety of your pets.  Vaccine clinics are often crowded and hectic, and you don't get to spend any time with the doctor, if you even see a doctor at all!  They are also extremely dangerous for our feline friends and injuries can and do occur.

    2.  You will always have access to current, accurate veterinary records for your pets.   Never worry about their rabies vaccine again! 

    3.  By enrolling in the program, you eliminate the need for paying for those vaccines every year, and that makes it easier to afford an annual exam which is the most important thing we can do for our furry friends.

    4.  By seeing the veterinarian, instead of just going to a "vaccine clinic", you get all of the information you need to make decisions about your pet's health, ask questions and obtain valuable information that can help you keep your beloved friends around for many years!

We are very aware of how difficult this economy has been for our clients.  We are striving to do things to help our community so that we can all keep our pets happy and healthy for many years to come! 


                                                   Frequently Asked Questions

*The program is non transferable, refundable, or exchangeable for any reason.*

*If I purchase the program from you can I use it at any other veterinarian?

No, the Free Vaccines for Life program is exclusively offered at Animal Care Hospital.

*If I have more then one animal do I get a discount on any other animals?

No, we do not offer any discounts to go along with this program, it is a one time fee per pet, per owner.

*Can I transfer the program to another pet?

No the policy is for one pet.

*If my pet dies or runs away shortly after enrolling in the program can I get a refund?

No, we do not give refunds after purchase for any reason.

*If I give away my pet will the new owner be able to use the program?
No. If you give your pet away then the new owners will have to purchase their own program.

*What happens if I do not make it in to see the doctor before my year passes?

Your pet is due an exam once yearly and we give a 30 day grace period before your enrollment is void, after which you must re-enroll to take advantage of the benefits.


**Restrictions do apply.  Not applicable to puppies and kittens as they are well covered by heavily discounted puppy and kitten packages that include much more than exam and vaccines.  

Recommended start time to maximize the benefits of the program is at the time of one year vaccine boosters.

Vaccines included in the program are as follows:
Dogs:  Rabies vaccine, Distemper/Parvo combo vaccine, Bordetella vaccine and where indicated, Lepto vaccine.
Cats:  Rabies vaccine, RCP vaccine and when indicated, FeLV vaccine.

Vaccines not included:  Rattlesnake vaccine, Lyme vaccine.

Clients who do not keep their pets current on their annual exam will forfeit their enrollment fee and must re-enroll to enjoy the benefits of the program.

A Nice Article in The Daily Press and an Exciting New Wellness Plan!

Wanted to share an article about us from The Daily press this past weekend!

Animal Care Hospital Pet Care Education Series

Please come out and join us, and find out about an exciting new wellness plan we are going to start offering at ACH!

Dr. Deb's Top Ten Tips To Remember

1.  Exam - Always schedule an annual exam at ACH for your pet.  This is how we make sure they live long, healthy lives!

2.  Dentistry - Dogs and cats need regular dental care.  Problems are often found on the physical exam that need to be addressed.  (**Note:  Dr. Deb does not support or encourage non-anesthetic dentistry.  It is considered below the standard of care in the state of CA)

3. Travel -  Because most of us live in the desert, we tend to forget that there are parasites and other concerns to be considered when we travel with our pets outside of the desert.  We want to make sure your pets are protected!  This is something that can and should be discussed during the physical exam so we can make the appropriate recommendations for you.  Sometimes this includes flea preventatives, heartworm tests and preventatives, etc. 

4.  Parasites - It is a MYTH that we do not have parasites in the desert!  We routinely find fleas, ticks, intestinal parasites, etc. in our patients.  We hear all of the time, "we don't have fleas in the desert!" and it's not true!

5.  Obesity - Obesity is an epidemic in people, and it's an epidemic with our pets.  We can talk about your pet's weight during the physical exam.

6.  Foxtails - Foxtails are those nasty little grass awns that plague us here in the desert!  We often find them in the ears of pets on routine physical exam.  Don't let your pet suffer with these painful little objects!!

7. Weather -  Changes in the weather bring about changes in recommendations for the health and safety of your pets.  It's important to know what you should and should not be doing through the various seasons.

8.  Toxicity - There are a lot of toxins that can be dangerous and fatal to your pets.  Be sure to ask us about any concerns you may have.

9.  Holidays - The holidays bring about their own challenges for our pet's health, including overeating the wrong foods and exposure to toxins and dangerous items like tinsel off the Christmas tree!

10.  Wildlife - Wildlife are part of life here in the desert, and they can be fatal to our pets.  Be aware and take precautions to ensure that your pets are kept safe from predators.


As always, we recommend you discuss any issue with us so that we can make recommendations and help with any problems or concerns you might have.  We encourage good communication with the staff at Animal Care Hospital in order to keep everyone safe, healthy and happy!

The ACH Standards of Care

Standards of Care

Exams – We believe all pets should be examined at least once yearly in order to maintain good health.  Evaluating their full body system is important in giving them the happiest, healthiest lives possible.  This is why we do full exams at Animal Care Hospital and require it once a year on all of our patients.

Vaccinations – We do not perform vaccine-only clinics at ACH because we believe in the annual physical exam.  We also find that many clients are misinformed or simply unaware of what their pets receive at vaccine clinics.  Most people have no idea that there are several vaccines that do not have to be given annually any more, especially in cats.  No one educates people during a vaccine clinic.   We are often asked why our vaccines cost more than what they cost at a vaccine clinic and our answer is that if you consider what it costs you to give the same vaccine yearly as opposed to every 3 years (as we do at ACH), it actually costs you less!  We also offer heavily discounted packages for puppies and kittens in order to help clients get the most information and best care possible without having to try to guess at what is needed for their pets!   

Annual Wellness Testing – Early detection is very important in managing the health of our furry friends, which is why we encourage annual bloodwork and sometimes other tests such as xrays, ECG, or ultrasound.  The sooner we can detect a problem, the better chance we have to address it and manage it. 

Pain management – We believe strongly in pain management at ACH.   We can vastly improve the quality of life of senior pets with combinations of medications and supplements.  Surgical patients all receive pre-emptive pain medication and pain medication to go home.  We strongly believe that pets feel pain despite some of the varied opinions on the subject and treat our patients accordingly.   Some hospitals give pain medication as an “option” and we disagree strongly with this, so we include it with our procedures.

Dentistry –  Our doctors and RVTs are trained under a board certified veterinary dentist in San Diego and we also do continuing education on dentistry every year.  We feel this is a  very important aspect to proper care for our pets.  Proper dentistry also includes dental xray, polishing, probing and charting.  Any hospital that does not do this is not following the current Standard of Care.  Know what you are getting with your pet’s dentals!!!!

System support during surgery – IV catheter placement and IV fluid therapy, (known as fluid support through a vein), intubation (breathing tube placement), monitoring oxygen levels, monitoring the heart through ECG, and maintaining and monitoring body temperatures are all standards of care at ACH.  Most surgeries and all dental procedures should be done with these minimum standards in order to provide the best care possible for your pets.  If you are not sure if your pet is receiving this level of care, then you should be sure to ask questions about what level of care is being provided to your pet!  “Cheap” is not always “equivalent”!

Client communication -  We strive to do a follow up call with every client who visits our clinic for any medical service.  We want to know how our patients are doing after something simple like a vaccine, to something more complex like surgery.  We also strive to call clients back the day that labwork is available.  We understand how scary it can be to wait for lab results and we try to minimize that concern as much as possible with our call backs.  Doctors and staff all call clients daily.

Continuing Education – Our doctors are all required to obtain a minimum amount of continuing education per year as determined by the California Board of Veterinary Medicine, but they usually get a lot more training than the minimum required.  We believe that continuing to learn and grow is what allows us to maintain our Standard of Care.  It also allows us to continue to offer the best care possible to our patients.

Remember that all veterinary hospitals are NOT created equal!  You should be able to make informed decisions and know the right questions to ask about what is being provided for your pet.   Many clinics cut costs by not providing basic standards of care such as IV support, intubation, etc.  Many also do not use Registered Technicians which is an important difference that sets ACH apart from “cheaper” clinics.  You do get the most for your money at ACH!  Come visit us any time for a tour and ask questions – that’s how we learn and can make better decisions for our beloved pets, and the ACH Team can help!

Welcome to Dr. Deb's Animal Care Hospital Blog!

I'd like to extend a big WELCOME to everyone reading the Animal Care Hospital blog!  I hope to post important information here to help educate our clients on even more topics!  There is so much information out there and it's getting harder and harder to determine what's accurate and what's not, so my goal is to try to reach as many of our current clients and potential clients as possible!

If you have specific topics you'd like covered, please feel free to leave a comment and I'll do my best to accommodate these requests in a timely fashion.

Peace,
Dr. Deb  :)