Trupanion has amazed us again!  Since our last discussion, the pet insurance company has now extended its “Free 30 Day Trial” to dogs and cats from 8 weeks to 14 years old.  Previously, the certificate was only valid for dogs and cats from 8 weeks to 12 months old, which may have been discouraging for pet owners whose interest was sparked by such an offer but their pet’s age exceeded the limits in order to take advantage of this deal.  This news is incredible given the misconception  that the older pets get, the less they will benefit from veterinary pet insurance or, that they aren’t eligible to participate in pet insurance programs at all. Trupanion is now aiming to prove otherwise! This trial offers coverage effective immediately once enrolled. No payment information is required, and once the 30 days end the coverage is automatically cancelled, unless the coverage is voluntarily continued by the pet owner.

There is one difference to be mindful of when taking advantage of the 30 day trial for a pet over 1 year old.  The deductible is $0 for pets under 12 months, but it is $250 for pets 1 year to 14 years old.  This is a very generous offer for pet owners should their pet have a major medical expense during that time.  Keep in mind this deductible is per condition over the lifetime of the policy not per visit, so pet owners should not be weary if their pet does not have a medical incident that is over $250, especially if coverage is continued beyond the free trial.

It is feasible that even if there is not a medical expense totaling more than $250 but one which is less during the 30 day trial and coverage is continued, Trupanion will cover 90% of the claim costs related to a condition over the lifetime of the policy once the $250 deductible is met. It is important to note that after the 30 day trial period expires pet owners can always adjust their deductible to fit their financial needs with only that specific condition remaining at the $250 deductible.

Naturally, the next important thing to think about when considering enrolling a pet that is over a year old is pre-existing conditions.  Trupanion’s policy on pre-existing conditions is certainly not any different for a pet that is 8 weeks old  than it is for a pet that is 14 years old, but, unfortunately, pre-existing conditions are much more likely to be present in an older pet than in a puppy or kitten. Trupanion defines a pre-existing condition as an illness that is present at or during the 18 months prior to the enrollment date or an abnormality that is detected or present at or during the 18 months prior to the enrollment date.

So, what does that mean for pet owners? Hopefully that a previously diagnosed or detected condition has not recurred/flared-up within 18 months of enrollment, but if it has pet owners should not overlook the fact that there can always be the unexpected medical expense.   Additionally, medical concerns can arise due to normal aging, so it is very likely that a pet will benefit from pet insurance regardless of age or previous medical history.  Quite simply, even a pet with a “pre-existing” condition still has a need for pet insurance.

Lastly, one additional topic to discuss when addressing Trupanion as a preferred pet insurance provider, even beyond the Free 30 Day Trial Certificate, is “Claims Express.”  “Claims Express” is a service that Trupanion offers to selected veterinary clinics to help pet owners with the unexpected major medical expense by working directly with the veterinarian to give preauthorization for a procedure and by paying the clinic directly.  What does that mean?  That means the pet owner would only be responsible for the cost of the exam fee, 10% of the claim, and his or her deductible (if there even is one) in order for the pet to get the medical treatment needed.  Moreover, that means that the claim is prioritized with Trupanion and treatment can begin immediately following preauthorization, which gives the pet owner piece of mind while also lightening his or her financial burden.  And yes, this offer is available to those pets covered under the 30 day trial period.

If you are interested in enrolling your pet, please contact the main clinic at 317-257-5334 or the Wellness Center at 317-726-2711.  The certificate must be activated within 24 hours of an examination, and with your consent, we will activate the certificate before you leave our office.  That’s one less thing for you to worry about!

In contrast to most of my veterinary colleagues, I do not remember exactly when I knew that I WANTED to be a veterinarian. For some veterinarians, the moment they know is as acutely remembered in all details as some of the big events in our society – like 9/11 or when Kennedy got shot, just more positive!  For me, it was a long slow dawning of realization over many years.  

I loved everything to do with animals as a child, but it never occurred to me, until I was 16 years old, that I could or should make a career out of my interest in animals. I then volunteered with our family veterinarian during my summer vacation, but, unfortunately, fainted when I first watched surgery, and was so embarrassed that I never returned!  The thoughts of that particular career went on hold for a few years after that. When I got to college, I started aiming for a career in science, but focused at that time on human medicine, and later went to grad school to become a physician assistant.  During all those years, despite the interest in human medicine, I still spent most of my time outside of school and work involved with animals.

After about 10 years of being a physician assistant, I realized that I wanted to go further in medicine and started toying with the idea of going to medical school. At about that time, I visited close friends in Ithaca, New York and they had just had their cat treated at the Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine, and raved about the hospital and the veterinary college there. They were absolutely positive that being a veterinarian was the right thing for me and insisted that I take a tour and speak to the admissions director just to see if I had some of the background needed. It made sense to me to combine what I enjoyed doing in work with what I enjoyed doing outside of work, so I went along with it.  I thought this career would be out of reach for me, but, surprisingly, it wasn’t, so I applied.  I DO remember with that crystal-clear detail the moment that I got the news of my admission to the Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine and learned that I actually COULD be a veterinarian.

However, the moment I remember best was when I knew that my decision to become a veterinarian was absolutely the RIGHT one – it was when, in 1997, I walked into the Broad Ripple Animal Clinic for the first time.  That was the moment I will never forget, because I relive it every day that I come to work.

Meet Princess!

by Noel Brunner (as told to Jenni)

Hello, friends! Noel Brunner, here.

I’d have to say fall is my favorite season, and I’m so excited we’re getting a preview of what’s to come this season here in Broad Ripple. I just love the cooler temperatures, Colts football, rolling around in piles of leaves (not mention all the good sticks to chew on), and trick-or-TREATing! Yep, fall is my favorite.

Also starting this fall are Caturdays at the Wellness Center. Every first and third Saturday of the month, the Wellness Center will become a “no dog zone,” as Dr. Birchfield will only be seeing appointments with cats on those days.

Now, don’t get me wrong—I love the Wellness Center (I go there frequently for laser therapy treatments). But no dogs allowed?! That’s just unfair. Everyone knows dogs are soooo much better than cats. Have you ever seen a cat sit on command? Or catch a Frisbee in its mouth? No, I didn’t think so. I don’t mind the cats that come to BRAC, but some of them can be scared of me and my other doggy friends. So, while I wish I were invited to Caturdays, maybe my feline friends will be happier without me there.

Did you know there is a cat who lives at the main clinic? Her name is Princess. She mainly hangs out with the doctors in the treatment area. I guess she doesn’t like all the attention up front, which is great because that means more attention for me! And more attention means more treats!

At some point in their lives, many people want to be a veterinarian “when they grow up”. Most people who successfully achieve their dream of becoming a veterinarian, made this decision at a young age. I was no different. Since elementary school, I have always enjoyed science. I just didn’t know what type of science I wanted to study, or what I wanted to do with science as a career. At first, I thought I would follow in my brother’s footsteps and be an engineer, but that all changed in middle school.

I took my first biology class in the 7th grade and fell in love with life sciences. At about the same time, my family and I moved from the suburbs in northwest Indiana to a 12-acre farm. We were typical “city folk” thrown into a farmer’s world. We didn’t have a crop farm, but cultivated an animal hobby farm. We had free range chickens, ducks, and geese. We also had a horse barn where we rented out space to a local horse trainer, and we also had the occasional steer. I loved everything about the animals I cared for on the farm. I hatched ducks in incubators, sold fresh free range chicken eggs at a roadside stand, and learned so much about nature and life in general, living on the family farm.

When I turned 14, I became active in 4-H and began to put together my love of animals and my love for biology. This is when I had my “ah-ha” moment and decided I wanted to become a veterinarian. My sister-in-law told me how competitive veterinary school was, and that getting accepted was extremely difficult. She suggested I try to get some work experience in a veterinary clinic to help with the veterinary school admissions process. At age 15, I applied to work at the veterinary clinic down the road from our farm. With a lot of persistence on my part, a special “under 16″ work permit, and a moped, I got my first job cleaning kennels for that clinic a few months later. I’ve worked in the veterinary field ever since, and truly love what I do each and every day.

Tooth resorption is a disease process that affects more than 50% of adult cats.  This condition is also referred to as neck lesions, resorptive lesions, or FORL’s (feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions).  Tooth resorption causes defects in the crown and roots of the tooth similar to cavities in a human.  However, while human cavities are caused by decay, tooth resorption is due to the cat’s body attacking the teeth.  

Tooth resorption usually begins on the lower premolars, but can ultimately affect all of the teeth in a cat’s mouth.  The lesions are often first seen as a small red spot on the crown of the tooth at the gumline.  The resorption is progressive, and will ultimately result in the crown of the tooth falling off and the roots being resorbed into the jawbone.  Unfortunately for the pet, nerve exposure of the tooth causes this process to be prolonged and painful.  Usually, cats won’t show any signs of pain until the process is quite advanced or affecting multiple teeth.
The exact cause of tooth resorption unfortunately is unknown.  Since the cause is unknown there is no good way to prevent the disease.  No amount of brushing or preventive oral care will slow or prevent tooth resorption.  Our best defense is complete physical exam every 6 months so that resorptive lesions can be seen as early as possible.  Though fillings are excellent treatment for cavities in humans, they don’t stop the destructive process in cats. Treatment includes complete dental cleaning and full mouth x-rays.  Any affected teeth are either extracted or have the crown amputated, depending on the severity.  The gum tissue is then sutured closed to seal any sensitive nerve exposure.

For more information, or to schedule your cat for a physical examination with Dr. Lee, please call the Broad Ripple Animal Clinic and Wellness Center at 317-257-5334. If you have questions about your pet’s dental health, you can also email Dr. Lee at d.lee.dvm@bracpet.com.

Friends, I have surprising news… I know my dashing good looks make me appear to be a young pup of two years… three tops. But I am, in fact, almost 11 years old. Hard to believe, isn’t it?! And with age come some aches and pains. For example, my neck is often pretty sore in the mornings. The BRACstaff give me an anti-inflammatory drug called Rimadyl, which helps with the pain a lot, but I still need a little bit more help with the arthritis in my legs. And that’s where laser therapy comes in—which, from what I hear from the doctors at BRAC, releases endorphins and stimulates injured cells to heal at a faster rate. From my perspective, I get to wear cool sunglasses and it feels nice!

I get to take a 5-minute road trip down College Avenue to the Broad Ripple Animal Wellness Center for my laser treatments. Have you ever been there? I really like it… except for the extra furry gray cat they call “Kaboom” that lives there. She’s a little scary.

The therapeutic laser treatments are really fast and don’t hurt one bit. And my old, tired legs start feeling better the same day! Some of my kitty and doggy friends go to the Wellness Center for laser treatments, too. Some of them have arthritis, like me; but others have ear infections, open wounds, and skin problems. And each one of them leaves the Wellness Center happier than they were when they arrived… just like me! Yep, without laser therapy, my walks would be a little bit shorter and my play time would be just a little less fun.

…And you want to know what else helps with my aches and pains? Treats. Lots of ’em. So, don’t be shy… help a girl out, here!

We understand how it feels to worry about your pet’s health care and how to pay for it. We have strongly recommended pet health insurance for several years and will continue to be strong advocates for this important part of your pet’s overall care. When you pair pet insurance with one of our BRAChealth Plans, your pet is covered, without your pocketbook taking a major hit all at once!

We have 3 plans available to BRACpets:

• Basic
• Care+
• Premium/Senior

What’s covered? All three plans offer our Core Services:

• Semi-annual wellness examinations (that’s twice-a-year for your pet to be fully examined by a BRAC veterinarian!)
• All immunizations (or titer testing) relevant to your pet’s risks and lifestyle
• Twice-a-year parasite fecal exams to protect your pet AND your family
• Laboratory wellness screening relevant to your pet’s life stage

How are the plans different from one another?

• The BRAChealth Basic Plan includes ALL core services PLUS heartworm testing for dogs, feline leukemia/FIV testing for cats, and interstate health certificates if you travel with your pet. In addition, all Basic Plans include a 5% discount on all other services offered at the main clinic or wellness center.
• The BRAChealth Care+ Plan includes ALL core services PLUS all Basic Plan services. This is sure to be our most popular plan, because your pet also gets the added benefit of all office calls, medical problem exams, and rechecks with any one of our full-time veterinarians, during regular business hours on a complimentary basis! All Care+ Plans include a 10% discount on all other services offered at the main clinic or wellness center.
• The BRAChealth Premium/Senior Plan takes things a step further by including ALL core services, everything in the Basic Plan, everything in the Care+ Plan AND an annual chest radiograph, AND twice-a-year EKGs for your at-risk or aging pet. In addition, all Premium/Senior Plans include a 15% discount on all other services offered at the main clinic or wellness center.

Each BRAChealth Plan was designed with a monthly budget for you and your family. Rather than having to pay for your pet’s preventative care all at once, when things are tight, the BRAChealth Plans are set-up on a monthly payment plan, automatically deducted from your credit or debit card. Several months ago, we conducted a survey of our BRACclients and this was something you asked for, and we hope we have delivered! For more information about the BRAChealth Plans and the monthly costs/pet, please call us at 317-257-5334 or email us at clientrequest@bracpet.com

Deficiency in what?

Our pets have thyroid glands in their neck that function just as ours do!  Interestingly, dogs are prone thyroid problems that cause a deficiency of thyroid hormone, while cats are much more likely to get a benign growth on the thyroids, causing an increase of the hormone.  Decreases in the hormone can be related to immune system malfunctions, problems in the part of the brain that stimulates the thyroid gland, other concurrent diseases that decrease the concentration of circulating hormone, tumors in the thyroid gland, or it can be related to an unknown cause.

But he’s gaining weight even on the diet food!

The signs that we most commonly see with hypothyroid dogs are weight gain, increased drinking and urination, hair loss along the back, sides, and tail that is usually not itchy, poor hair regrowth, oily skin and/or pustules/comedones, lethargy and mental dullness, and aggression.

How do we diagnose?

After we have identified appropriate clinical signs in your pet, we can take a blood sample in order to determine thyroid hormone levels.  This test must be sent out to a lab and is usually back in 1-2 business days.

Treatment

After we have identified a decreased level of hormones in the body, we treat by supplementing your pet with thyroid hormones.  These small tablets are easily given and should be given as directed.  After starting on the medication, we must recheck the thyroid hormone levels at least 2 weeks after starting supplementation.  This helps us regulate your dog’s medication.  It is important that the sample be taken 4-6 hours POST PILL.

If we aren’t seeing any change in physical signs or the hormone levels are too low, we may need to increase dose, keep your dog on the medication a bit longer (some pets can take up to 6 weeks to respond) or consider that there may be a subclinical illness that wasn’t previously identified that is causing the signs.

Signs of too much supplementation are rapid weight loss, hyperactivity, and tremoring.  If we see these signs and/or hormone levels that are too high, we will decrease the supplement dose accordingly.

Once we achieve the correct therapeutic levels for your dog, they will be on this medication lifelong.  We need to recheck hormone levels yearly to ensure that we are continually giving the right levels of supplementation, as problems with this will be evident in the bloodwork before clinical signs reappear. For more information, please call us the Broad Ripple Animal Clinic and Wellness Center at 317-257-5334.

Hello, again! Noel Brunner, here. I hope you all are keeping cool out there in this heat! Thankfully, I get to rest inside in the air conditioning all day:)

In between naps last week, I overheard the BRACstaff talking about an on-call technician that would be available by phone (317-840-3241) from the time we close until 10:00pm Monday through Friday. I think it’s a great idea, but it’s missing something very important… Me!

I mean, I can give great medical advice. You say your dog eats too much and may need to go on a diet? Dr. Noel says no dog can eat too much food—in fact, I think bacon, peanut butter, and ice cream should be in every meal of every day! All your dog wants to do is chase squirrels outside all day? Dr. Noel says that’s A-ok. Us dogs can never have too much play time. Besides, isn’t that what squirrels are for? And that new shampoo you were thinking about cleaning Fido with? Pitch it. Dogs don’t need baths. Trust me.

Personally, I think I’m a shoe-in for the job, but they only want registered veterinary technicians to take BRACclient calls. I guess I don’t blame them… they are pretty smart. For now, I’ll just stick to lying around and being cute.

As a direct result of many, many suggestions and requests to lengthen our hours and offer some level of emergency service, we are launching a new “Technician-On-Call” service beginning Tuesday, July 5, 2011. This new service is free to all our BRACpets and their families! We recognize that in many cases, you are unsure as to whether your pet needs to be seen at an emergency clinic, or if an issue can wait until the next morning. Our hope is to offer guidance and support to you in these cases, until 10:00pm most evenings.

Beginning this week, Monday-Friday we will have a BRAC Registered Veterinary Technician “on-call” for you from the time our switchboard closes (at 7:30pm, Mon-Thurs, and at 5:30pm on Fridays) until 10:00pm. This will allow you to personally speak with one of our highly trained Technicians about your pet’s medical condition after hours. The Technician will work with you to determine if you should seek immediate emergency care for your pet, or schedule a time for your pet to be seen the next morning at BRAC.

How does it work? You can reach the Tech-On-Call by calling our direct office line at 317-257-5334. If the switchboard is closed, you will be given the option to be directly transferred to the Tech-On-Call, if it’s before 10:00pm; or directly to Circle City Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Hospital if it’s after 10:00pm or the weekend.

You can also call the Tech-On-Call directly at 317-840-3241 until 10:00pm Monday-Friday. If you receive the voice mail option when you call, and it is after we have closed, but before 10:00pm Monday-Friday, please leave a message, as the Tech-On-Call may be on the line with another caller. You should receive a return call within 10 minutes, if your message is left between these hours. If you feel you need to speak with someone immediately, please call Circle City Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Hospital directly at 317-872-8387.

We hope to continue to develop more services in the coming year to offer you and your family peace of mind when it comes to your pet’s medical care, no matter what time of day it might be! We hope our new Technician-On-Call service is the first successful step in this direction. If you have any questions or suggestions about this new service, please feel free to leave a reply (see below) or call us directly at the main clinic location, 317-257-5334 or the Wellness Center location, 317-726-2711. We look forward to hearing from you!