Dr. Berger's Blog

Summer Safety!

2011-05-03T06:34:00.000-07:00

It is great to see so many people out and about and it is great to see them enjoying the beautiful weather with their canine companions. The staff at PetWell knows how fun this can be but unfortunately we all have experience dealing with the negatives associated with fun in the sun. Things like heat stroke, sunburn, solar-induced cancer and dehydration. These types of things happen more than we’re aware of, and the reality of the issue is that they can all be fatal.

The good news is that they are all preventable!

It’s as simple as considering your furry family members and their needs prior to venturing out into the sun – Needs that your dog may not be aware of themselves.

We strongly recommend limiting your dog’s exposure to sun and heat during the months of May through September.

This does not mean that they can’t go outdoors, but it does mean that you must use discretion prior to assuming that your pups can handle long hours in the sun just like you.

Please consider providing plenty of water for your dog whether in the yard or at the park.

Please consider using a dog-safe sunscreen, especially on the lightly haired regions of the body like the abdomen, the ears and the nose. This is especially important for white dogs and dogs with thin or sparse fur.

Dogs with dark or thick fur get hot more quickly and cannot cool down as well, and therefore should spend even less time in the sun.

All dogs should avoid heavy exercise during the day and into the evening. We recommend exercising in the morning prior to the heat of the day. Also, on this topic, please consider that your dog likely took the entire winter off from exercising too, so start out with some short periods of exercise prior to jumping right into a 10K!

We’ve all heard about the risks of leaving your dogs in the car. We strongly recommend NOT leaving your dog in the car for even one minute. If you must leave your pup in the car, then keep it running with the air conditioning on.

Finally, please consider that asphalt gets hot! Do your best to avoid walking on hot asphalt with your pups. Burns and blisters on the foot pads are common this time of year and can be easily avoided with a little forethought.

At PetWell we encourage you all to have fun in the sun. After all this is the greatest time of the year! Taking these tips into consideration can help ensure that your summer is safe and fun. Please feel free to call or email with any further questions or concerns!

Fleas: The harsh truth...

2011-03-04T11:01:00.000-08:00

If you live in GA, and most of you do, its only a matter of time before your pet is constantly exposed to fleas. Did you know that you live in the flea capital of the United States? Flea's live year-round in Georgia and whether your pet is showing symptoms or not, fleas are present.

Some of you might say; "Well, I've never seen a flea on my pet."

This is a good thing but it doesn't mean that your pet doesn't have fleas. The adult flea (The bug that you can see with the naked eye) represents only 5% of the flea population. This means that you can not visualize 95% of the flea population including eggs, larva and pupa. These are the things that live in your carpet, couch and in your pets bedding. These flea offspring also live in the cracks of your floors and in that spot under your bed where your pet sleeps. Fleas also live in your yard, under trees, in mulch, also under crawl spaces, decks and stairs.

Some may be mildly offended by the notion that I am telling you that your pet has fleas despite the fact that you've never seen them. Please allow me to clarify, I am not saying that all pets are INFESTED. I am simply saying that it is bold to suggest that your pets don't have fleas as these bugs have been around for millions of years with only one goal: Find a host.

It is also bold for us (Veterinary Scientists) to think that we can 'prevent' flea infestations. Again, fleas have been in existence for a very long time and no topical or oral chemical is going to eradicate these bugs.

Each female flea can lay up to 20 eggs per day. Flea eggs hatch in about 21 days and those new fleas start laying promptly. The flea population can grow exponentially in just one month and that's if you start with only one flea!

Here are the facts: fleas exist and they thrive in our climate. There are 2 big flea 'blooms' each year in this area of the country (SE United States) One in September and one in April. The best way to prevent a problem in your yard, in your home and on your pet is to use a flea management product year round.

Flea management products include but are not limited to: Frontline, Capstar, Comfortis and Sentinel. Notice that I did not call these products flea prevention...Using these products in appropriate combinations can really limit the chances of an out of control flea population. Using these products as directed, year-round, virtually eliminates the possibility of an infestation :)

Once again allow me to give you a reality check: No flea management product provides a force field around your pet. The manufacturing company's actually rely on the fact that fleas are going to jump on your pet at some time. If fact, all flea management products require the flea to be on your pet for for the product to work.

In a nut shell, at PetWell we believe that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound cure. In the case of fleas we believe that an ounce of management is worth a pound of cure. Fleas can cause significant gastrointestinal and dermatological issues in your pets. Issue's that usually require multiple veterinary visits each requiring workups, medications and ultimately exorbitant bills. The stress of these trips to the vet is un-necessary and can be prevented simply by utilizing a monthly flea preventative year-round.

Please feel free to write, email, call or stop in to learn more about flea management products as we'd be happy to customize a flea management protocol for your pets.

Longer Saturday Hours

2011-02-25T15:25:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone!

We're extending our hours! :)

People have been inquiring and now we're responding: We will be open until 4pm on Saturday starting on the first Saturday in March.

Looking forward to seeing you...

Dr B

February is Dental Month!

2011-01-31T05:41:00.000-08:00

Did you know that 85% of dogs and cats over the age of three have dental disease?

Most dogs and cats do not receive the daily brushings that help prevent tartar accumulation and infection. Once bacteria begins to colonize it forms plaque, which leads to tartar, gingivitis, and bad breath. From this point, additional health concerns arise.

Untreated periodontal disease can lead to compromised kidney, liver, respiratory and cardiac function. You may greatly reduce the rate at which dental disease develops by brushing your pet’s teeth on a regular basis. You should incorporate this into your young puppy or kitten’s routine. Practice opening your pet’s mouth and using a finger-brush.

Even with multiple brushings daily, people visit a dentist semi-annually for specialized evaluations and treatments. Just like humans, pets require regular professional dental cleanings. Even though routine

at-home care will lessen the frequency at which this anesthetic procedure will need to be performed, it will not eliminate bacteria and infection once it is already present. The staff at PetWell is happy to demonstrate tooth brushing techniques and advise you on canine/feline-specific oral health products. If a professional cleaning is recommended, PetWell is fully equipped with an experienced team to provide these services.

Please feel free to take advantage of the promotions offered by both Doguroo and PetWell during the National Pet Dental Month.

A word about Canine Influenza:

2011-01-06T11:30:00.000-08:00

What is Canine Influenza?

Canine influenza is a newly emerging (last 8-10 years) infectious disease caused by a flu virus in dogs. Just like the human flu, Canine Influenza is highly contagious and 100% of dogs will get the virus if they come in contact with it.

What are the signs of Canine Influenza?

Persistent Coughing
Low-grade fever
Nasal discharge
Lack of energy
Loss of appetite

How serious is Canine Influenza?

This virus is typically mild but some cases can become quite serious. Pneumonia can occur in about 20% of cases along with a very high fever (104°-106°). A small number of dogs have succumb to the disease or complications associated with the disease. Most dogs don’t show signs of this disease until they have already been spreading the disease for one week!
Is you dog at risk for contracting Canine Influenza?

Dogs at a greater risk include dogs that:

· Came from a shelter, rescue center, breeding kennel or a pet store.
· Board regularly or go to day care
· Attend group training
· Go to grooming facilities, dog parks
· Come in contact with other dogs

At PetWell we believe that being proactive in an effort to prevent Canine Influenza is the best way to avoid an outbreak. Immunized dogs have a significantly decreased risk of contracting this disease. Furthermore, immunized dogs pose a lesser risk to the dogs that they come in contact with. We are urging you as responsible pet owners to talk to your veterinarian about this disease and determine if the Canine Influenza vaccination is right for your pet.

Thanks for reading and we hope to see you soon!

Resolution 2011

2011-01-06T11:17:00.000-08:00

I'm going to post one blog per month! I think that that is very do-able. I think I got overwhelmed last year with PetWells' growth, my familys' growth, etc. Blogging just wasn't a priority.

Please feel free to write, email or call with topic suggestions. The first and second topic are predetermined as January will be canine influenza awareness month and February is Dental Healthcare month. Please stand by for more information on canine influenza as I'll be posting soon...

Thanks again and happy new year to everyone!

Dr B

Weekend hours!

2010-04-02T15:25:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone!

Just a quick note to let you know that I will not be in the office this weekend! We will be checking messages though so call or email if you have questions or concerns...

Thanks,

Dr B

Zoonotic disease!

2010-02-25T08:05:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone,

It's been a while since I posted, as usual, but not without good reason! We are very busy :) Things are going very well at PetWell. Our client base continues to grow and we are so pleased to continually visit with so many pet lovers.

I wanted to drop a line today to briefly discuss Zoonotic diseases. Zoonotic diseases are ones that are can be transmitted from dogs or cats to humans.

These include, but are not limited to:

Intestinal parasites:

Round worms

Hook worms

Intestinal protozoa:

Giardia

Fungi:

Ring worm

I am seeing a large increase in the volume of pets with these issues and I think that the reason for this is multifaceted.

First, there has been so much rain over the last year that these little bugs are more easily accessible in the moist ground and in puddles.

Second, with the advent of dog parks (it seems like there is one on every corner now:) so many pups are coming in contact with more parasites. These parasites are ubiquitous, meaning that they are everywhere and that they are constantly encountered, but they are certainly in higher concentrations in areas where there is a higher concentration of dogs.

There is no way to eradicate these bugs for good but we can minimize the chance of transmission (from dog-to-dog and from dog-to-human) by following a few simple rules.

1. clean up after your pup whether in the dog park, on a walk OR in your yard. dogs can actually reinfest themselves after treatment by sniffing their own droppings!

2. try to prevent your pup from sniffing droppings in the park and in your yard. I realize that this is nearly impossible but do your best to minimize the behavior.

3. practice good hygiene habits. This is especially true with puppies. We (veterinarians) typically assume that all puppies have worms. make sure to minimize face licking behavior, etc especially with children, elderly and immuno-compromised folks as worm transmission is more likely in these groups of people.

Now, before everyone gets upset and starts giving away their dogs for fear of catching worms from them let me qualify the above statements: This is simply information passed along for your own good. Zoonosis happens very rarely but we can make it even less common by following this advice...

Feel free to call or write with any questions

Dr B :)

Hey everyone!

2010-01-08T07:57:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year! I hope that everyone had a great holiday season and a safe New Year. Things are going well at PetWell - We have been very busy lately. So busy, that we had to hire some new employees.

Please help me welcome Melissa and Zena to our staff.

You will get to know Melissa quickly as she is going to be answering the phones most of the time. She is very eager to learn, however, and I could see her becoming a nurse before long.

Zena is a registered veterinary technician with years of experience and we are very fortunate to have her on board. Her knowledge base is exceptional and her bed-side-manner is second-to-none!

Looking forward to seeing everyone soon,

Happy New Year!

Brian

We are AAHA Accredited!!!

2009-12-12T05:50:00.000-08:00

It's been 4 months of hard work but we did it! We passed our AAHA accreditation on Monday, December 7th :)

Anyone know what AAHA is? It's the American Animal Hospital Association and It's the Standard of Excellence in the Veterinary Profession.

You can check AAHA out at WWW.AAHAnet.org.

In a nutshell, PetWell Veterinary Healthcare is now one of 15% of Veterinary Clinics in North America and Canada to boast this prestigious accreditation. It is something that we voluntarily elected to pursue in an effort to let you know how much we care about you and your pets!

What does being AAHA accredited mean?

It means that we have protocols and standards. It means our records are accurate. It means we are up to OSHA standards and it means we have excellent client service practices. It means that we have protocols for almost every scenario including how to handle potentially contagious diseases in an effort to minimize the chance of spread and it means we are prepared to handle any emergency situations.

At PetWell Veterinary Healthcare we strive to practice excellent patient care and provide excellent customer service.

This AAHA accreditation means we are the standard of excellence and I am proud of that! :)

Looking forward to seeing you soon. Have a great holiday season and a safe new year

Brian

Is it almost Halloween?!

2009-10-23T13:10:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone!

Hope you are all doing well. Things have really picked up at PetWell and we are grateful! October was a very busy month for us. Lots of new pups and kittens and lots of great new owners. I feel very fortunate when I think about how wonderful all of my interactions with my new clients have been :)

Just a quick reminder - There is alot of chocolate available this time of year. please keep it out of the reach of your pets as some sweets can cause some pretty significant damage!

Take care...

Brian

Almost done with September

2009-09-25T15:09:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone!

I hope that everyone is doing well and I hope that everyone is recovering from all that rain that we had! I have never seen anything like that. We had over 5 feet of water in our PetWell parking lot but I cant complain compared to what some people are dealing with.

Things are going well from a business standpoint and I am really thankful for all the new pets we met this month.

We have decided to start a re-FUR-al progam at PetWell. We will be offering $25 to clients who are given credit for referring new clients to our location. This can be spent at our business on any services that you would like. Refer enough people and you could get a yearly exam with vaccination on the house :)

Keep your eyes peeled for the mailers that we sent out too. These were sent to 2000 people in our area and they are worth $25 toward services too.

We are working toward setting up and sponsoring treat stations at a few of the nearby pet friendly apartment complexes. We will have fliers and price schedules available for everyone too.

Finally, keep a look out for our new street signage that should be out by the end of next week.

If you have any ideas about how PetWell can improve or increase our community presence please let us know. I really enjoy going to events and schools just to talk about PetWell or Veterinary Medicine in general!

Hope everyone has a great weekend and stay dry!

Brian

Already in September!

2009-09-05T05:59:00.000-07:00

Wow! I cant believe we've already been open for 2 months! What a great 2 months it has been. We have met many wonderful people and we have met many wonderful pets! I am very excited about the relationships that my staff and I have developed with all of our clients and we are looking forward to fostering those relationships into the future :)

July was a great month at PetWell. We hit the ground running on July 6th and things were very busy for the entire month. We did some very routine things in July and we did some not-so-routine things in July. There were several emergencies including a venomous snake bite and a GDV (bloat) and I am very proud to say that our team fielded all concerns efficiently and compassionately. Both of the afore mentioned emergencies were life threatening and both patients went home with an excellent prognosis :)

Things slowed down a bit in August as people were getting ready to go back to school. We did our first state funded procedures in August including a canine spay and a canine neuter. PetWell is one of only a few clinics in Atlanta that can offer the services of an accredited veterinarian. Accredited veterinarians have the authority to sign off on interstate and international travel certificates. Accredited veterinarians are also the only ones that have access to the funds collected by the state for the spay and neuter license plates. I can do up to three state funded procedures per month!

Thankfully things have started to pick up again in September. We can only clean the hospital so many times! :) Hopefully you'll appreciate how clean and tidy things are when you come in...My staff had of alot practice cleaning during the down time in August!

I have put "contribute blog entry" on my weekly calendar for Fridays so look for some more news next week!

Have a great holiday,

Brian

Two weeks in...

2009-07-25T12:49:00.000-07:00

It has been two weeks since we officially opened our doors and it has been so rewarding to start meeting new clients and pets. We have had such a warm welcome from Doguroo and the Midtown West community! Thank You All!

My staff and I are working diligently to exceed your expectations with our progressive and thorough approach to veterinary medicine. We have been very well received with lots of positive feedback. Please continue to inquire about our services and contribute your ideas on how we can accommodate all of your needs. We want to provide outstanding quality and ultimate convenience. If you have not made it by to check out the practice, please feel free to drop in anytime. We are happy to give you a tour and introduce you to the staff. We want our clients to feel welcomed and involved :)

Looking forward to seeing you and your pets!

Brian and staff

More news and pictures

2009-06-22T20:08:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone!

Things have been going very well at PetWell. So many things have taken place since my last post. We have received our certificate of occupancy and we have decided upon an opening date: July 6th! Inventory orders have been arriving daily and we are stocking our shelves getting ready for the big day.

Here are some new pictures: These are of our Special Procedures suite. The first picture is from the hall way looking INTO the suite. This room is ventilated separately from all of the other rooms in the hospital. This is where our dental cleanings will be done and this is where dental radiographs will be taken. Ultrasound will be preformed in this suite and this room can even be transformed into an isolation ward if necessary.

This is a view inside the suite. The tub is about 17 inches deep incase one of our patients needs a bath before leaving. The cabinetry was designed specially to house the dental xray unit (above) and the dental cleaning unit on the right (underneath). There are oxygen and anesthesia scavenging units in the ceiling as well as space for a large bank of dens.

We have started to take appointments reservations today for our opening day (July 6th) and beyond. We cant wait to hear from you :)

More pictures soon!

2009-06-15T16:16:00.000-07:00

Computers been on the fritz lately...I will continue the tour soon! We should have our certificate of occupancy on Wednesday :)

Finally, some pictures :)

2009-06-11T11:09:00.000-07:00

OK! Here are some pictures of our Lobby. Things aren't TOTALLY done but we're pretty close.
Picture number was taken just inside the door that connects our lobby to the Wag-a-lot lobby. This door is going to be open at all times during business hours to provide easy access from our reception area to Wag-a-lot's retail area.

The second picture is from the same point in our lobby. I have turned 90 degrees to the left and I am looking out the front door into the parking lot in front of the building. You can see a small portion of the front desk on the left...

The next photo was taken facing toward the door that leads out of our lobby into the back part of the hospital. This door provides access to the lab/pharmacy, treatment area, surgical suite, ICU and cat ward. The door on the right side of this nook (barely visible) goes into exam room number one. The door on the left side of the nook goes into exam room two...

Next is a wider angle of the same space. This photo allows you to visualize more of the front desk. Ultimately, the blue wall will be lined with comfortable chairs.

Finally, this picture is taken facing the front desk from a central point in the lobby. Unseen in the this photo is the front door immediately to my right and the entrance into the Wag-a-lot lobby which is directly behind me.

Isn't it fantastic?! We are very proud of how things are turning out and we are looking forward to showing everyone around in the near future. I hope you enjoyed the tour of our lobby and I will continue the tour tomorrow with photos of our special procedures area. Take care until then!

-Dr. Berger

Pictures

2009-06-08T18:27:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone!

I finally have pictures to post! Tomorrow I will begin a room-by-room tour of the hospital as it currently looks. I will start with the lobby...Hope you enjoy!

Thursday 6/4

2009-06-04T15:35:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone! I have been shaking hands with alot of people over at Wag-a-lot. I can't wait to start seeing patients! Everyone that I have met has been very nice and everyone seems to be just as excited about the clinic opening as I am :) Things are going really well - It's really interesting how many horror stories I have heard regarding construction projects like this one. It's interesting because I havn't experienced one problem. Things are on schedule and we are under budget!!! I couldn't have asked for a better experience - I plan on transferring this great experience that I am having with the construction of PetWell Veterinary Healthcare to all of our clients :)

Today, at the construction site, all of the millwork and cabinetry was completed. Our wet-tables have been installed and most of the recovery suites have been installed in our ICU. We have running water and our own power! All very exciting!! I am being told that we should have our certificate of occupancy be next week :)

Most of the equipment has arrived and next on the agenda is inventory. As you can imagine this is all very motivating.

Thats all for now and I hope you all have a great evening...

Week 3 comes to an end.

2009-05-15T18:13:00.000-07:00

As week three of construction draws to a close, I must admit, I am surprised with the progress. We are ahead of schedule! I am very impressed with the contractor we elected to use as everyday items are being completed with efficiency. We already have all the walls in place, all the sheetrock in place and all the doors cut in. The oxygen, anesthesia scavenger and central vacuum lines have all been placed. Painting should begin early next week :) Other items that should take place next week include installation of cabinetry, wet and dry tables, and maybe even floors!

The contractor says that we should be in business by the beginning of June - I'd love to be treating patients and meeting owners by June especially since I was told the build out could take 70 days!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Build out - Day 20

2009-05-14T16:04:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone! It's been a while since I've blogged...I do apologize. I am a first time blogger.

Things are going well at the buildout site. To those of you that frequent Wag-a-lot, thank you for your patience. We broke through the walls today and put in the doors. Things are really on schedule.

I plan on checking back daily now that I know how to do this blogging thing. Stay tuned for pictures

Welcome!!

2009-05-02T08:30:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my Petwell Veterinary Healthcare blog!! I will be sharing lots of info on the practice and posting updates on how the construction is proceeding in the coming weeks. We will be making out first appearance on TV today on "Movie and a Makeover" which airs during the movie "Must Love Dogs' on TBS. So set your DVR's!! Also, take a peak at http://www.tbs.com/stories/story/0,,173689,00.html for great tips and trends for your pet.

2009-04-30T10:43:00.001-07:00