Broad Ripple Animal Clinic Blog

Author Archive

It’s high summer in the midwest and that means wave after wave of thunderstorms! Top it off with a nice round of fireworks for the Fourth of July weekend and your dog may be shaking for days. Have no fear, Brad Phifer is here to help you help your pets through these scary situations. He was interviewed on Indy Style this morning on WISH-TV. Click the link below for the interview:

What to do if your pet is afraid of thunderstorms…

Have more specific questions? Brad can be reached via email at b.phifer@bracpet.com

A visit to the swimming pool, the local creek, or the ocean helps us stay cool during the “dog days” of summer.  But what about our canine companions – how do we keep them cool?

Mrs. Jones was frantic! Just an hour before, her dog Snickers was playing in the yard. Now he was listless and having trouble breathing.

Rushing him to the nearest veterinary clinic, a concerned veterinary technician informed her that Snickers’ temperature was over 106 degrees – he was suffering from heat stroke. Luckily for Snickers – and with the help of a quick thinking owner and veterinary technician – he recovered.

Every summer, in cities all over the country, hundreds of dogs find their way to the family veterinarian after spending just a few hours in the hot sun.

It’s important to remember dogs don’t sweat like we do. Cooling themselves by panting, dogs use the moisture evaporating off their tongue as a means to lower their body’s temperature. Anything overwhelming this natural cooling system leads to heat stroke. With more families away from home during the day, our dogs are often left outdoors where it may be difficult to find shady, cool places and water to drink.

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There is an email that has been circulating through pet lovers’ mailboxes since as early as 2001. This particular email warns pet owners about a product called Cocoa Mulch. This email “rumor” has been investigated multiple times, and while parts of the email are in fact “rumor”, the warning itself is very valid.

Commercial mulch products that contain cocoa bean shells are popular in many areas. It is known for its fine texture and sweet aroma, but that sweet smell translates into a dangerous temptation for dogs. Cocoa mulch contains two ingredients also found in chocolate: theobromine and caffeine. These ingredients can make your pet very ill, displaying symptoms such as: upset stomach, bouts of diarrhea, acting jittery, or even beginning to display seizure activity. Theobromine is toxic to dogs, if ingested in a large enough quantity.

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by Dr. Sara Rudwell

My most vivid memory of the Delta Society Pet Partner^® testing session with my golden retriever mix, Gracie, was asking her to obey the simple command, “Come”.  This particular portion of the test required that she ignore the attention she was receiving from the evaluator (a belly rub, in this case) and actually listen to my command.  I knew I was in trouble when I said the word and Gracie, all four paws in the air, lolled her head toward with me with a look in her eyes that said, “Yeah right, and leave this??”  Much to my surprise, after a few missed beats, Gracie made a slow-motion rise to her feet and reluctant saunter my way.  The remainder of the evaluation, which included dealing with loud noises and visual distractions, basic obedience, and handling, was a breeze.  Gracie particularly loved the test during which a group of 6 people were petting her vigorously at the same time – heaven!

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Do you have insurance for your pet? Why not?! If you think you can’t afford it, think again.

Emergencies, accidents and illnesses are a fact of life when you have pets. Many people comment on the cost of veterinary care, comparing it to their affordable health insurance co-pay. We all know that health insurance premiums have been sky-rocketing over the past several years and that the co-pay is only a portion of what health care truly costs. Many of us are not prepared financially to pay for sudden, unexpected veterinary care. That’s where pet insurance can truly help.

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Here at Broad Ripple Animal Clinic and Wellness Center, we use a personal assessment tool with our team to better understand and communicate with one another. This method of self-discovery is called True Colors. We’ve been using it for several years and every member of the BRAC team has found it to be a valuable tool used everyday. We are so excited to let our clients know about a new book called Canine Colors. This book is actually more than just a “book” in that it contains everything you need to discover your personality, as well as your dog’s personality. Through a self-assessment, using a scientifically-based method you will discover your true character.

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So many pet lovers struggle with not only maintaining their own weight, but also their pet’s proper weight. Those beckoning eyes are so hard to resist when it comes to an extra treat….or two or three. How can you better manage your pet’s diet without feeling like you’re depriving them? According to BRACpet Fans, their secret seems to be green beans, among other things.

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If you’ve got four spare minutes in your day, you can help take the stress out of nail trims for your dog! Just four minutes, three to four times a week and your dog will soon be on his or her way. If you continue with these steps, your dog will become more comfortable with this process and won’t run or hide when you clip nails at home or go to the veterinarian or groomer. Read the rest of this entry »

Does your barking dog drive you crazy? Does it seem like the more you try to get him to stop, the worse it becomes? Don’t worry…you’re not alone! This is one of the most common behavior complaints made by dog owners.

Why does your dog bark?

*Dogs bark to warn other dogs of their territory.

*Dogs may bark when separated from their family.

*Dogs sometimes bark when anxious, afraid or frustrated.

*Medical problems, especially as your dog ages could also contribute to barking.

In many cases, we inadvertently make our barking dog problem worse, by yelling or constantly telling them to be quiet when this happens. There are several ways to prevent a barking problem, as well as methods to correct unwanted barking. Read the rest of this entry »

by Elizabeth Murphy, DVM

Everyone knows that doing a crossword puzzle every day helps keep our brains sharp as we get older. But what about our pets? Well, taking your older dogs for a walk every day is the canine equivalent of getting them to do a daily crossword puzzle. Dogs “read” the environment on their walks by sniffing the ground or the closest lamppost for information on the other dogs that have passed by, such as their age, their gender, their health and even the amount of adrenaline coursing through their veins! Dogs have 200,000 olfactory, or smell, receptors, in comparison to the human number of 20,000, so they get a great deal of information from their environment, which their minds must then process and interpret.

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