Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

It’s early December and the cold weather is about to hit the Midwest with a vengeance. Are you and your pet prepared for freezing temperatures, snow and ice?

Unless your dog is a Husky, Samoyed or Malamute, he’s probably not all that thrilled with winter weather and being outdoors for too long. Going on walks will be more challenging, but with a few precautions, you and your dog can continue to enjoy exercising outdoors.

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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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Broad Ripple Animal Clinic and Wellness Center is pleased to announce a new level of client service for our loyal BRACpet clients! We now offer a text messaging service for members of the BRACpet Club. What are the benefits to joining?

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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 »