Archive for the ‘Conversations’ Category

 

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!

by Dr. Bill Neumann

 

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. Read the rest of this entry »

by Dr. David Lee

 

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.   Read the rest of this entry »

by Noel Brunner (as told to Jenni)

 

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! Read the rest of this entry »

Today marks a very important day at Broad Ripple Animal Clinic and Wellness Center. It’s important because we have just launched our BRAChealth Plans! Why is THAT important, you ask? It’s important because the doctors and staff at Broad Ripple Animal Clinic and Wellness Center have created three plans that help you manage your adult pet’s health AND your wallet. Read the rest of this entry »

 

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. Read the rest of this entry »

by Noel Brunner (as told to Jenni)

 

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! Read the rest of this entry »

We initiated a survey near the end of March 2011, seeking your feedback on our services. We really appreciated each and every response we received, and have been working on ways to serve you and your pets’ needs even better!

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.

Read the rest of this entry »

 
 
By Noel Brunner (as told to Jenni)

Hi, all! I’m Noel. I’m sure you’ve seen those signs around the Broad Ripple Animal Clinic lobby instructing you not to feed me. Kudos to you guys who have disregarded the signs and have fed me anyway. For those of you “rule-followers”… I will crack you with my cuteness soon enough!
 
I’m staying at Broad Ripple Animal Clinic while my mom and dad are in California. Now, I know what you’re thinking… Life doesn’t really get much better than soaking up some sun and burying some bones at the dog beach… Or does it? The way I see it is– I have it made! Let me walk you through my typical day here and you’ll see what I mean.
 
Mornings are great at Broad Ripple Animal Clinic–I get to meet all the other dogs and cats that are staying the day for various surgeries and procedures. Sometimes they’re a little nervous when they get here, but I let them know everything is going to be “A-ok.” Some aren’t allowed to eat breakfast that morning because they’re going under anesthesia, and I tell them I feel their pain… I’m on a strict diet, which always makes me a hungry, hungry hippo!
 
I usually nap on my little red bed in the reception area while the BRACstaff run around me for the majority of the day. It makes me tired just to watch them sometimes! In between naps, I like to get up and stretch my legs, which consists of scouring open exam rooms for treats left behind by other pets. Every now and then I victoriously discover a tasty treat or two, but that BRACstaff and those doctors are so good at cleaning up after appointments that by the time I make it to a room, any leftovers have disappeared!
 
What’s the best part of my day, you ask? Dinner time. No explanation needed.
 
After my belly is full of Honest Kitchen-goodness, I try to guess who will be taking me home with them for the night. Will it be Ryan, who gives me lots of treats (shhh… don’t tell anyone!)? Or is it Holly, whose dog, Aggie, is one of my best friends (I just love slumber parties!)?
 
Yep… Life is good here. I have no complaints:) Well… except that there should be an all-day buffet in the lobby.
 
…Until next time!
 
 Wags & wet kisses……Noel
 
 
 
 
 
 

by Brenda Tassava, CVPM, CVJ

 

It was a Monday, like any other day and Meggan, a dog trainer at Bark Tutor School for Dogs, was just getting ready to go to work. As she was reaching down to apply lotion to her legs, she smacked her chin on her dog’s crate and things got really foggy.

 

An hour later, Roxie, another trainer at Bark Tutor called her supervisor to report that Meggan hadn’t shown up for work or called in. She was worried because this wasn’t like Meggan and she wasn’t answering her phone either. Roxie made sure her students were in good hands, and then drove to Meggan’s apartment to make sure she was okay. Read the rest of this entry »