The Santa Pictures Are Here!

 Hi Again!

  Santa Claus and Hanukkah Harry came to the Hospital last week for our annual Holiday Portraits. And it was super fun!

 I couldn't wait to sit on Santa's lap and tell him everything I'd been wishing for. We had a pretty serious discussion and he told me if I was good that he'd see what he could do. And I've been really, really good! 
  

  Even Ms. Claus was here for photos! She loved seeing all of her Patients who came in for a picture! Some families even joined in the pictures too!

  
   Everyone here at The Hospital helped out with our special two day portrait event. Even I helped! Some of the dogs and cats were a little nervous about seeing Santa. I was scared too at first, but when I explained that Santa and Harry were really their Doctors is disguise, they felt a lot better.

  The best part is watching your Mom's and Dad's picking up the photos! We took some awesome pictures and they're so happy when they see how cute their furry kids are! 

 We're really glad you let us be a part of your Holiday. And I don't know about you, but I can't wait until next year!

Speck 

Speck the Blogging Dog © Chrissie Ratliff 2013-2017 all rights reserved

Holiday Silent Auctions!

Hi  Everyone! 


  The Holidays are one of the busiest times here at the Hospital. And the most exciting!

  We kicked off the Holidays by putting our Holiday Silent Auction Baskets out! 

  You should see all the goodies we have up for bid this year! There's something for everyone on your Christmas list. Including you!

  We have a "Happy Hanukkah Basket", a "Cheese and Crackers Gift Set Basket" and a "Children's Gift Basket"!

  There's also a Bissel Compact Carpet Cleaner that's called a "Spot Bot"! And a $125.00 Gift Certificate to El Toro Gourmet Meats!


   We even have a handmade quilt, made by Aly's mom, a huge White Tiger Stuffed Animal and a Handmade Designer Pet Outfit that was donated by one of our Clients!

  The best part about about the Silent Auctions is that all the proceeds we raise go to our "Pets In Need Fund"!  These funds go to help animals and their owners who are in distress. 

  So hurry into the Hospital today and get your bids in! The winners will be announced on December 20th!

 You'll win some really cool stuff and also help needy pets!

Speck
 

  Speck the Blogging Dog © Chrissie Ratliff 2013-2017 all rights reserved

Keeping Safe This Thanksgiving

 

Happy Thanksgiving!
  
  I know everyone is super excited about Thanksgiving and I am too. But, here's a couple of things you should know to stay safe:

Stay away from the turkey!

  Absolutely don't go near the turkey carcass! I know it looks really good, but the splintery bones can cause you major damage. And too much turkey and leftovers, can really make you sick! 

  It's pretty hard, because it looks and smells so good, but turkey and other "people food" just aren't  a good idea. 

No cocktails!

  They may smell fruity or yummy, but drinking or even licking a glass with alcohol in it is another danger to keep away from. Alcohol can make you vomit and have diarrhea. And that's just the beginning of the problems!

Stay calm.

   Even visitors can be can be stressful at this time of year. It's fun to play with new friends, but on a busy day you might become overwhelmed when people arrive at your house. It's best to meet each visitor,one at a time. Especially if you're feeling timid. 

   Also,if you're not used to children and you might be frightened. Tell your Mom or Dad that you may want to stay

in a safe place, like a quiet bedroom or another spot that's "just for you". The front door will be opening a lot too. So it's best to stay inside and don't venture out.

  I hope these ideas have helped to insure you have a Happy Thanksgiving. We want everyone to have fun, but please stay safe. 

  And remember if you do get into trouble, we're always here to help!

Speck 

  Speck's Blog copyright Chrissie Ratliff 2013-2017 all rights reserved

It's Holday Pet Portrait Time!

I'm so excited!

Santa Claus and Hanukkah Harry are coming! 

The Holidays are here and It's time for our annual Pet Portraits!

  They'll be here really soon too! December 6th and 7th from 9:00am to 3:00pm.

  We all know how busy the real Santa Claus and Hanukkah Harry are this time of year, so our very own Dr.Acton, 
Dr. Sultzer, Dr. Cruz and Dr. Sullos will once again step in to play Santa, Harry and even Ms.Claus!

  The pictures are taken by our professional photographer, Sharon Kay. And they're super fun to pose for! Santa and Harry's lap are really cozy and the Elves even give you treats!

  The best part is that all of the proceeds from the photos go towards our Pets In Need Fund! These funds help needy animals. So we all do our best to make sure the photos are awesome!

    And who wouldn't love a cute picture of you for the Holidays! They'll also perfect for Christmas cards!


So have Mom or Dad call and make an appointment today!

 I have a lot of stuff to ask Santa for this year, so I'll see you there!

Speck

  
Speck the Blogging Dog © Chrissie Ratliff 2013-2017 all rights reserved

Why We Need The Flu Vaccine!

Hi again!

  We've got something pretty serious to talk about this week: The Flu virus! And why it's so important for us dogs to be vaccinated against it.

  Being sick is never fun! And the Dog Flu is very contagious! And it's easily spread by coughing, sneezing and even sharing things like food and toys! 

  So it's really easy to catch the Flu at places like a groomer,the dog park and especially boarding facilities.   

  Basically anywhere you hang out with other dogs, you're at risk!

   Here's a few reasons to get your Flu Vaccine:

• Most dogs have no natural immunity against the Flu virus
• You can't tell if a cough is a sign of the Flu or another infection like Bordetella (canine cough)

• By the time anyone realizes you might be sick, you've already most likely spread the virus 

  

   That's one of the reasons, here at he Hospital, we require you to have the Flu Vaccine when you check into our Boarding Facility or participate in Doggy Day Camp.

  So getting vaccinated against the Flu virus and being protected is really important to us and to you!


  So please have your Mom or Dad call us today and we'll make sure you're vaccinated and healthy and safe! Just the way we want you to be!

And besides, It's not like we can wash our paws and keep the germs away...

Speck

  Speck's Blog copyright Chrissie Ratliff 2013-2017 all rights reserved

Halloween at The Hospital!

Hi!

  It's my favorite time of the year: Halloween! and I'm really excited about it!

So many fun things are happening here at The Hospital!

  First of all, we've decorated the office with pumpkins, bats, ghosts and other spooky things!

Next we've put out our awesome Holiday Gift Basket!

 
 It's full of fun things for you, your family and friends! And the best part is that all your Mom or Dad have to do is enter the drawing! Then on October 17th. we'll pull a winner!

 We also have our annual Pet Photo Contest going on  too! 

  This actually my favorite event! I love to look at all of the cute pictures of the Patients that visit our Hospital!

  Your entry can be either black and white or color. Both  "natural" and "posed" photos are excepted.  Anything that you think looks cute, we will too!

   It's super easy to enter too! Just email, or drop off a picture of yourself. Entries need to be submitted by 
October 31st. So get your photos in soon! 

The prizes for this contest are totally cool too!

First place winner gets a $75 Shopping Spree in our 
Pet Store!

Second Place is One Night Free Boarding in one of our Luxury Dog Suites or Upgraded Cat Condos!

Third Place receives a Free Bath and Flea Treatment!

  So come into The Hospital soon and let the Halloween Fun begin!

Speck

  Speck's Blog copyright Chrissie Ratliff 2013-2017 all rights reserved

Mouse Tale

Hi Everyone,

  This week I have a really scary story to tell you. Everything turns out alright in the end, but it's still really scary!

  A few weeks ago I told you about Violet, my new kitty friend, who was recently adopted by our very own Dr. Sullos.

  Violet is a kitten, so of course she gets into things and thinks everything is fun to play with. And of course, Dr. Sullos has tons of fun cat toys at her house for Violet to choose from. She even has a fun "interactive, touch screen kitty game"!

  The trouble began when she picked out a fuzzy mouse toy and started to play with it. It was all fun and games until she swallowed the mouse toy's six inch tail! 

  The next day, Dr. Sullos knew something was wrong . Violet didn't look or act right. She didn't want to eat her meals and tummy was swollen.

  Dr. Sullos then realized that she must have eaten something, to be so ill, so she rushed her into our Hospital. Dr. Sullos then preformed an emergency exploratory surgery to see what was going on inside of Violet.

  The procedure was long and we were really worried! But after about an hour of searching, Dr. Sullos found a six inch piece of string in her lower intestine. It was the tail from the mouse!

  What a relief! Dr. Sullos removed the foreign body and about an hour or so later, Violet awoke from her surgery, free of the mouse tail!

  We're thrilled to say that Violet made a full recovery! She's back to playing with toys (ones with no tails, of course!) and being a mischief causing kitten.  

  Things like string or ribbons can be VERY dangerous to pets. So please tell your families to be very careful with toys they give to you.

  Violet was a very lucky kitten and I'm really happy my friend is healthy again!

Speck

  Speck's Blog copyright Chrissie Ratliff 2013-2017 all rights reserved

We're Totally Cool!

Hi again!

I've got something "cool" to tell you about this week: 

  How we stay out of the heat here at Laguna Hills Animal Hospital.

  Of course our Hospital is air conditioned, but every day we have Doggie Day Camp. And of course we're taken on many walks through out the day.

  But how do we stay comfortable outside when it's really warm? With a totally awesome water misting system!

  It's the best thing ever! The system actually runs throughout our outside walking and play area. It omits a fine mist of water that actually cools the temperature of the air by 30 degrees!

  It almost feels like your on a tropical vacation! And needless to say all my friend's (especially Labradors and Retrievers!) love it!

  They even make these systems for your Mom or Dad to use at your house!

  So if you want to hang out somewhere totally "cool" this Summer, come see us!

Speck

  Speck's Blog copyright Chrissie Ratliff 2013-2017 all rights reserved

Dr. Reichel To The Rescue!

I've got great news this week!

My new friend found a home!

  The last time you heard from me I was trying to help a lost kitten find a home and guess what? He found one! And an awesome one at that!

  Dr. Reichel, one of our amazing Doctors here at Laguna Hills Animal Hospital adopted him!

  It was love at first sight for Dr. Reichel. She saw his sweet little face and adorable personality and that was it! He had a new Mommy!

  Dr. Reichel named him Gordon. And mysteriously enough that name fits him perfectly!

  Needles to say, we are so grateful to Dr. Reichel for opening her heart and her home to a little kitten in need of love.

Speck


  There's so many other doggies and kitties, like Gordon, that need a home too. If you would like to rescue a dog or cat in need, please visit one of the sites below:

www.ahome4everrescue.org

www.greatpets.org

 Speck's Blog copyright Chrissie Ratliff 2013-2017 all rights reserved

My New Friend Needs A Home!

  

  Sometimes, you find a new friend in the most unexpected place.

Like up a tree!

  That's exactly what happened to Megan, one of our Veterinary assistants, when she was taking a walk through her neighborhood. Megan heard a meow for help and looked up to find a lost kitten!

  The kitten had climbed the tree, probably to escape to safety and was now crying for help! And Megan jumped, literally, to the rescue!  

  After climbing a tree and rescuing the poor kitty she immediately brought him into our Hospital for help.

  Our Doctors said he appears to be about five months old and incredibly, he's in good health!

Wow. Was he lucky!

  It also became apparent that he didn't have a home and certainly needed to find one. 

  So Dr. Acton and Angie said the kitten could stay with us until we found him a home! We're even going to neuter him before he goes to his new home!

  He's absolutely adorable! We hit it off right away! He loves toys, loves playing, and is super friendly!


So, if you're looking for a great new kitten. We've got one! Please call us today if you're interested in adopting this awesome little guy.

Needless to say, all of us have fallen in love with him! And you will too!

Speck

   

  Speck's Blog copyright Chrissie Ratliff 2013-2017 all rights reserved

How To Keep Cool This Summer!

 It's hot out there!

So I thought I might share a few ideas on how to keep cool this Summer.

 Keeping It Cool

  Many people turn their air conditioning down when they leave the house, as a way to save on their electricity bill.  But what about us? 

  Tell your family to leave the air conditioner set at a reasonable temperature while they're gone, so you're comfortable too.
 

 Hang Out Inside

  If you normally spend a lot of time outside, you may want to stay inside on these hot summer days. There will be days when the heat is just too much to for you. Getting overheated is really dangerous!

  For older pets, the heat can really be tough! So take it easy and cool down with a nap in your favorite spot.

 


 Fun “Cool” Play Time

  Some of my brothers and sisters love playing in water! Even if a full size pool isn’t available, a children’s” play pool” can be just as fun! We actually have both at our house, and taking a dip is an awesome way to cool down!



  I'll have more fun ways to stay cool as Summer goes on. And if you have any ideas you'd like to share about staying cool and comfortable, I'd love to hear from you!

Have fun, be safe and stay cool,

Speck

   Speck's Blog copyright Chrissie Ratliff 2013-2017 all rights reserved

How To Stay Safe This 4th of July!

 

Hi again!

  The 4th. of July is a fun time, but it can also be a really scary and dangerous time for us pets.

So here are some tips to keep us safe:


Never use fireworks around pets!

Exposure to lit fireworks can potentially result in severe burns and/or trauma to the face and paws of curious pets! Even unused fireworks can be really dangerous. Many types contain potentially toxic substances, including potassium nitrate, arsenic and other heavy metals. So please, keep an eye on us!


Loud fireworks displays are no fun for pets.

Please resist the urge to take us to Independence Day festivities. Instead, please keep us safe from the noise in a quiet, sheltered and escape-proof area at home. Fireworks are really loud and really scary to us! Your Mom or Dad may even want to ask one of the Veterinarian's for sedatives to keep us calm during celebrations.

Never leave alcoholic drinks unattended where pets can reach them.

 Alcoholic beverages have the potential to poison us. If ingested, we can become very intoxicated and weak. And given the chance, we'll try to sip from anything that looks delicious!
      

Do not put glow jewelry on your pets, or allow them to play with it.

The luminescent substance contained in these is highly toxic! Causing us to drool and even have gastrointestinal irritation problems. An intestinal blockage can even occur too from swallowing pieces of the plastic containers. They may look really cool, but not a good thing for us to be exposed to.

Hope these tips help keep you safe. Have a fun and happy 4th. of July!


Speck     

  Speck's Blog copyright Chrissie Ratliff 2013-2017 all rights reserved
      

Pet Insurance is Really Important!

Hi Everyone,

Sometimes accidents happen. When they do, it's best to be prepared!

  Following your Doctor's advice and trying to manage costs at the time of a sudden heath concern, can really be stressful for your family.

  But with the help of Pet Insurance, difficult decisions can be a lot easier and a lot less stressful!

  Pet Insurance is a great way to plan for an unexpected and costly emergency. 

 There's several companies and many plans to choose from.  Rates and deductibles vary, so there's a plan for every budget!  

  Your family can decide what coverage works best for you and their pocket books.

  One of the companies even offers a trial offer for both dogs and cats!

  So please have your Mom and Dad check out the link below for more information. Or call The Hospital today and we'll be happy to help!

  Having the peace of mind that Pet Insurance provides, can really be comforting. For both you and your family!


Stay healthy!
Speck


http://www.1800petinsurance.com/

  Speck's Blog copyright Chrissie Ratliff 2013-2017 all rights reserved