Archive for the ‘Newsletter’ Category

by Dr. Christine Heinz

Hip dysplasia is a painful and debilitating disease characterized by severe degenerative changes or osteoarthritis in the hip joints.  It has been proven that dogs that have very tight hips, where the head of the femur is well seated in the hip joint, are at a very low risk for developing degenerative joint disease.  The opposite also holds true in that dogs that have very loose hips, where the head of the femur can “wiggle” around in the joint or subluxate, are at a very high risk for developing degenerative changes.  While not every dog that has a high degree of laxity in the hip joint is doomed to problems, being able to detect those that are at risk helps us to do the best we can to prevent or decrease future problems.  PennHIP is one of the tools we have at our disposal to help to combat this disease. Read the rest of this entry »

by Dr. Elizabeth Murphy

Most of us know that snacking can be dangerous for our waistlines, but not all of us are aware that it can be dangerous for our pets as well – not so much because of the snacks themselves, but because of the packaging.  Anyone who has tried to open a potato chip bag in the last few years knows that the materials that snacks now come in are practically impossible to tear open. This is great for keeping air out of the bag when you are a snack, but not so great if you happen to be a dog or cat. Read the rest of this entry »

by Dr. Sara Rudwell

Gingivitis, or gum inflammation, is the earliest sign of periodontal disease in dogs and cats.   When the gums become inflamed, this indicates that plaque, calculus, and/or bacteria has migrated underneath the gum and is causing irritation.   As you might imagine, this can be painful for your pet!   Although gingivitis is reversible with home care and/or a professional dental cleaning, if left untreated it can progress to more serious, irreversible stages of periodontal disease.

Read the rest of this entry »

by Dr. David Lee

Periodontal disease is one of the most common yet under diagnosed and undertreated diseases affecting our pets today.  Periodontal disease begins with the insidious process of plaque buildup. Plaque, a mixture of food particles, cells from gum tissue, bacteria and an armor-like slime coat, is the fuzzy substance we feel on our teeth each morning when we wake up.  Its formation is a process that is constantly ongoing.  Within 48 hours plaque hardens into tartar which is tightly adhered to the teeth.  When tartar is allowed to accumulate, your pet’s gums get inflamed and infected.  Consequently the gums begin to recede, and when left unchecked will ultimately result in gum and bone recession and finally tooth loss.  This is accompanied by a significant amount of pain. Read the rest of this entry »

by Elizabeth Murphy, DVM

Many of us are fighting the battle of the bulge given the recent weather and perhaps some over-indulgence during the holidays – and so are some of our pets! Well, there is no Shake-Weight or Slim-Fast Plan for pets (yet!), so we have to help our dogs and cats lose weight the old-fashioned way – with fewer calories going in, and more calories going out! Read the rest of this entry »

Social media has proven to be an extremely useful tool for us at Broad Ripple Animal Clinic and Wellness Center. We’ve used it in the past few years to connect better with you—our clients! Using media such as Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Pet Portals, we are able to keep you up-to-date on news relevant to you and your pet.

We’ve also had success this year in raising funds and food to help pets in need. Earlier this year, our practice participated in a fundraiser that benefited the American Rescue Dog Association, an organization that was key in rescuing people immediately following the earthquakes in Haiti. Last month with Royal Canin‘s help, we were able to donate 360 cans of dog food to the Humane Society of Indianapolis, using Facebook. Now we’d like to take it a step further! Read the rest of this entry »

The month of December is full of holiday traditions and goodies. When it comes to your pets, these seasonal treats and decor might just be hazardous to your pet’s health! From getting into the gifts that are wrapped under the tree, to playing with ornaments not appropriate as toys, the holidays can spell trouble for your playful pet.

Let’s take a look at some of the most common calls the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center took last year: Read the rest of this entry »

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family! With the holiday season upon us, there are a few safety concerns you should keep in mind when it comes to your pets.

If you are hosting a large Thanksgiving Day dinner, you will want to take a few precautions, especially since your home will probably be a little chaotic. One of the most common reasons for a trip to your veterinarian, post-Thanksgiving is because your cat or dog ate something they shouldn’t have and is now experiencing vomiting and diarrhea. Read the rest of this entry »

Today is Veterans’ Day and the entire team at Broad Ripple Animal Clinic and Wellness Center, and Bark Tutor School for Dogs would like to take a moment to thank all the people who have served our country. You have all made great sacrifices to ensure our freedom, and we humbly appreciate it.

In the spirit of honoring our servicemen and servicewomen, we don’t want to forget the brave service dogs who not only work side-by-side with our troops in the field, but also those that are making an impact on the lives of veterans who are injured, suffer from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or those who are permanently disabled. Read the rest of this entry »

Sometimes we get so caught up in our day-to-day that we forget to value everything that we might take for granted. This week, a very special gift came to our practice in the way of a request from the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Our Director of Pet Behavior Services, Brad Phifer was approached at Bark Tutor by the Make-A-Wish Foundation on behalf of Peyton Medlin and her family. Peyton is a four-year-old little girl with Mitochondrial Disease- Complex 1 and III, with 22q 11.2 Deletion Syndrome. Her wish is to have a dog.

Peyton’s condition has prevented her from a childhood of playing with girlfriends, trips to the park, and everything we take for granted in our lives. To Peyton, having a dog means having a best friend—a companion to keep her company when she’s not feeling well, or someone to play with when she’s having a really good day.

Brad met with Peyton and her family and the first thing he did was determine what kind of dog would be best for Peyton. He used the Canine Colorsmodel to determine the personality types of Peyton’s parents, and then to determine the personality of their family’s ideal dog. After much discussion about Peyton’s needs, as well as the timeliness that was needed for selection, socialization, and training, the Medlin family decided that Peyton’s puppy should be a standard poodle.

As soon as Brad told us Peyton’s story, we knew we could “rally the troops” to make a difference for this little girl. Brad had already approached the owner of Pet Supplies Plus Indy, who agreed to feed Peyton’s new dog for a year. Between Broad Ripple Animal Clinic and Wellness Center and Bark Tutor School for Dogs, we knew we would be able to provide veterinary care for a year, as well as provide the training and socialization. Brad’s plan is to work with Peyton’s family to train the dog to be a Delta certified therapy dog. That way, with Peyton’s doctor’s permission, her dog will be able to accompany Peyton to the hospital for extended stays as her condition worsens. Down the road, Peyton’s parents plan to continue to volunteer at Children’s Hospitals with therapy dog programs, in Peyton’s memory.

Wednesday at our weekly staff meeting, we told the team at Broad Ripple Animal Clinic and Wellness Center and Bark Tutor School for Dogs about Peyton and the cost of purchasing a young standard poodle, with time being of the essence. In less than an hour the employees had pledged and raised more than $1200!!  Additionally, we were able to reach out to Embrace Pet Insurance and the company has generously donated a pet insurance policy for the puppy’s first year with Peyton, to cover accidents and illnesses.

Yesterday, Brad took Peyton and her family to meet potential puppies. They have found her ideal companion—a little 3-month-old male standard poodle! Peyton has named him Manning and he will spend the next two months being socialized and trained by living with Brad and attending Bark Tutor. At Christmas, Manning will go to his furr-ever home with little Peyton! We are looking forward to sharing Peyton and Manning’s story in the coming months.

In the meantime, if you found Peyton’s story as touching as we have, please consider making a donation to Peyton’s medical costs, as her family lives on one income and we’re sure the medical expenses can be overwhelming. To help, please send your donations to: 5/3 Bank of Westfield, Mike Cadenhead , Branch Manager; 3443 E St Rd 32, MD868111, Westfield, IN 46074. You can make the donation payable to: Peyton A. Medlin Account Number: 9653255092