Archive for the ‘Newsletter’ Category

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

The Broad Ripple Animal Clinic and Wellness Center is very proud to announce the addition of a Class IV Therapeutic Laser to our practice! The medical problems that can be treated using the laser are far-reaching and can bring immediate comfort to your pet. While improvement is seen in many pets after an initial treatment, most patients will benefit most from a series of treatments (usually 3 to 8, depending on the ailment). Read the rest of this entry »

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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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 »

Dr. Elizabeth Murphy

by Dr. Elizabeth Murphy

When your dog or cat was very young, it probably seemed as if there were huge changes in size and development every day or every week.  Once adulthood arrived, you may have even breathed a sigh of relief that life with your pet was more peaceful and predictable.  The “senior” years and their changes may have arrived so gradually that you didn’t even notice, but changes can begin to occur in the later stages of life at the same fast pace that you noticed at the beginning. Watching for these changes can help you not only to understand what is going on with your pet, but also to be proactive about medical problems that commonly occur as pets age.  Please keep an eye on this blog in the coming weeks – several articles will be posted that will help you anticipate the good things that come with age as well as plan for the some of the inevitable difficulties. Read the rest of this entry »

Recent policy changes with most airlines has led to a certain amount of confusion when traveling with pets. Today, most airlines are not asking for a health certificate from people who are carrying their pets on board.

This change is probably part of a plan to make the boarding process more efficient. The fact of the matter is that if you are crossing state lines with your pet, within the continental United States, you must carry proper documentation. The legal requirement for documentation when traveling from one state to another is a valid health certificate and a certificate of rabies vaccination. Both certificates must be signed by a veterinarian. Read the rest of this entry »

Dr. Christine Heinz has been chosen as the 2010 Nestle Purina PetCare Award! We are so proud of Dr. Heinz’s accomplishment, as it is a well-deserved recognition for her hard work as a veterinarian.

One American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) member veterinarian is chosen each year in recognition for their outstanding efforts to positively influence the lives of animals and people. This year, Dr. Heinz was nominated by one of her clients. This nomination was supported by two more client essays, telling the stories of their relationships with Dr. Heinz over the past few years.

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