Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

The Iowa Department of Public Health has confirmed a case of people passing the H1N1 virus to their family pet. The IDPH issued the following statement today, “Two of the three members of the family that owns the pet had suffered from influenza-like illness before the cat became ill,” said IDPH Public Health Veterinarian, Dr. Ann Garvey. “This is not completely unexpected, as other strains of influenza have been found in cats in the past.” All members of the household, including the cat have recovered from their illnesses. Read the rest of this entry »

Diabetes mellitus is a disease caused by a deficiency of insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas, and is necessary for body tissues to use blood sugar. Without insulin, sugar remains in the blood and eventually passes into the urine. This causes increased urine production and thirst. Hunger increases because the body cannot use the sugar in the blood. As the disease progresses, chemicals called ketones accumulate, resulting in vomiting and dehydration. Eventually coma and then death occur in untreated animals.

Diabetes is not a curable disease, but with proper insulin administration, this disease can be controlled. Read the rest of this entry »

World Rabies Day was just a few short weeks ago. The purpose of this day, was to raise awareness of the fact that rabies is still present in our society and that our pets need to be vaccinated against this potentially lethal disease.

While rabies cases continue to exist predominantly in wildlife, our pets are still at-risk, especially cats. Why cats? Cats are curious stalkers and bats carrying rabies have exposed cats to this deadly risk…even indoor only cats! Most people can remember an instance when a bat has entered the home by way of the chimney, becoming trapped, unable to find its way back outside. It’s only natural that a cat’s instincts would kick-in when this happens, causing your mild-mannered house cat to pursue this tiny intruder.

Nationwide, rabies cases have dropped by 3.1% this year. But in Indiana the number of cases seen so far in 2009 has increased by 160%, reports the Indiana State Board of Animal Health. How does this impact you and your household? Read the rest of this entry »

No one ever wants their pet to become lost, but the fact of the matter is that it does happen. Unfortunately, there are many pets who are never reconnected with their families because they lack proper identification to find their way home. Permanent identification is a must for our furry companions. Microchipping is a great form of permanent identification, which we highly recommend. But, what if your pet requires medications for a medical condition and becomes lost?

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U.S. representative Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich) has proposed a congressional bill to make pet care expenses tax deductible. H.R. 3501, more commonly known as the ‘Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years (HAPPY) Act’ if passed, would allow individuals to claim up to $3,500 in tax deductions per year.

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A new virus has hit the dog population in many states, with Virginia being the latest to report the highly contagious dog flu, H3N8. While we haven’t seen it in Indiana yet, it’s important to learn as much as we can to prevent the spread of this virus.

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Broad Ripple Animal Clinic and Wellness Center would like to introduce everyone to our newest Associate Veterinarian, Dr. Sara Rudwell. Dr. Rudwell received her DVM degree from the Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2009. Prior to attending veterinary school, Dr. Rudwell was a proud graduate of Indiana University, where she received a BS in Business in 1997. After working in the Information Technology industry for over 5 years, she made the choice to return to school and pursue a degree in veterinary medicine, a career much closer to her heart. She began working at BRAC in 2003, where she quickly realized that she was learning from the best! She continued to work as a customer service representative and veterinary assistant throughout her schooling, and now continues her years at BRAC as a veterinarian. Read the rest of this entry »

Got Fleas? Billboard raises awareness of the dangers of fleas & parasites

Got fleas? Maybe not, but could there be other bugs in the system? A variety of internal and external parasites can invade your pet’s system, causing everything from acute discomfort to full system shutdown. Fortunately, most of these difficulties can be avoided through careful maintenance and prompt medical attention. Read the rest of this entry »

The following is a true story written by a staff member of the Broad Ripple Animal Clinic.

My grandparents are in their 80′s and last year, they went through a very difficult time in their lives. My grandmother was hospitalized for many months with a life-threatening condition and there were many days our family thought she was nearing the end of her life. During this time, my grandfather was spending most of his days going back and forth between being at her side in the hospital, and caring for their 15 year-old teacup poodle, Niki who was on medications that had to be given multiple times a day. One day, Niki began having horrible seizures and my grandfather knew in his heart that it was time to let her go. He took Niki to their veterinarian and said his good-byes. He then tried to focus all his energy on my grandmother, whose condition slowly improved. She went through extensive physical rehabilitation, and spent more than a month in a nursing facility before she was able to go home again. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s the great month of May here in Indianapolis….the Indy 500, the Broad Ripple Art Fair…and wicked thunderstorms! Many dogs are afraid of thunderstorms. In most cases, this fear worsens as the dog gets older. In worst cases, thunder and lightening instill a “flight” response where the dog feels the need to outrun the storm. If your dog suffers from this phobia, it is very important to make sure he or she is indoors when the weather forecasts thunderstorms in your area.

So, what can you do to lessen the effects of thunderstorm phobia? If your dog only reacts to the sound of thunder, you can try behavior modification. Begin by playing a recording of a thunderstorm. Keep the volume low at first and gradually increase the intensity. Reward with treats, as you ask your dog to sit, come, or lie down while the recording is playing. Don’t offer a sympathetic voice while you do this, instead use your normal voice and lots of petting and praise.

Many dogs are reactive to the atmospheric changes that occur before the storm actually hits. In these situations, the dog may not respond to the technique described above. Many dogs need medication in order to get through thunderstorm terror, so please consult with your veterinarian.

There are herbal remedies that have been found to work well. Rescue Remedy is a homeopathic stress relief formula for pets. You can put a few drops in your dogs water when storms are on the way, or give them a few drops orally if you are caught by surprise. You can use Rescue Remedy alone, or pair it with an essential oil such as Peace & Calming. This oil is formulated specifically for anxiety, stress and emotional discomfort. Rub a drop onto your pet’s forehead, or under the chin prior to a storm as an aromatherapy treatment. In addition to these herbal products, a snug-fitting t-shirt or doggie sweater also helps calm many dogs who suffer from thunderstorm phobia.

You can purchase Rescue Remedy and Peace & Calming at Broad Ripple Animal Wellness Center (the corner of Kessler & College Ave.). For more information, or a tailored behavior program to help your dog with this phobia, please contact our behavior team: Dr. Cara Gardner and Brad Phifer, CPDT at the Broad Ripple Animal Wellness Center, 317.726.2711 or via email: c.gardner.dvm@bracpet.com and b.phifer@bracpet.com