Laguna Hills Animal Hospital

Monday, July 28, 2014

Splashin' Around and Stayin' Safe!

Hi!

It's me again!

It’s really hot out there. Heading off to the beach or just staying at home by the pool are great ways to beat the heat. But always remember: Safety first!

So here are some simple rules to follow to stay safe:

Don’t leave pets unsupervised around water—not all dogs are good swimmers.
Heat from the sun is more intense around water. Watch your dog for signs of sunburn or heat stroke, and keep him off hot sand as it can blister paws.
Get your dog a Life Jacket. Just like with people, it’s easy for us to develop a cramp in our leg, become exhausted too far from shore or when in the ocean, to become over come by strong tides.
Rinse your dog off after swimming to remove chlorine or salt.
Try to keep your dog from drinking pool water, which contains chlorine and other chemicals that can easily cause stomach issues and diarrhea.

Children's play pools are super fun too! You can beat the heat and not feel overwhelmed. And for an older Doggie or a little guy like me, a small pool is a lot safer.

A lot of cats are water lovers too! It may not be their way to "cool down", but some cats like to play in their water bowl! Other kitties are fascinated by running water and prefer to drink from a faucet!

So stay cool, be safe and have a fun summer!

Speck

Monday, June 23, 2014

Welcome Dr. Bohn!

We have a new Doctor here at The Hospital, and she's really cool!

Her name is Dr. Kari Bohn. She joined us about six weeks ago, and we LOVE her!

Dr. Bohn is a Graduate of The University of California at The Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and has a Bachelors of Science degree in Ecology, Animal Behavior and Evolution!

She has been an Associate Veterinarian in California since 2006. So really really knows her stuff! She can even speak Spanish, which really helps with client communication.

And she loves wildlife! One of her first days here at the Hospital, she jumped right in and helped a injured baby bird! We were really impressed!

And Dr. Bohn loves horses! She has a beautiful horse named Dora! And they even do jumping events together!

Her kitty, Mr. Furious, is super cute too! And from the looks of this photo, he has a pretty awesome life! And I bet he gets spoiled even more than I do!

Dr. Bohn was also an exchange student. She grew up in a family that shared their home with thirteen exchange students though the years. Even her Mom and her sister were exchange students too!

She also has done an internship The San Diego Zoo in Pathology! So she's seen some pretty amazing things and can treat a bunch of little guys. Like rabbits, guinea pigs, rats and other interesting creatures that we normally don't see around here!

So the next time your Mom or Dad makes an appointment, meet Dr. Bohn!

I really like her! And I know you will too!

Speck

Monday, May 26, 2014

Minding Your Manners

Hi Everyone!

I have really good manners. Well, sometimes.....

So this week, I think we should talk about practicing good behavior.

First of all, always be excepting of being "handled". Like when you go to the groomer or to your Veterinarian.

Try to not beg for table food at your family's meal times. This one is really, really hard for me....and, I usually blow it.

Remember to always wait before going in or out of any door. Not only is it good manners, but it could save your life!

Always be curtious when someone is feeding you, or touching your toys. Getting aggressive and not wanting to share, just isn't cool.

A really important manner is to not pull on your leash. You could make someone fall or even get into a scuffle with another dog. And that's no fun.

Learn to "sit" when someone comes into your home. Sure it's fun to jump all over people, but it's not fun for the person getting jumped on.

This is a big one: try to always go potty where you're supposed to. Doing this will really impress your family and make life easier for everyone. Including you!

Try to perform one or more commands without a food reward. I know it's hard, but don't pout. This is really impressive when you can pull it off.

Some of these manners are really tough, but you can do it! And the more you behave yourself, the more attention and friends you'll have!

Until next time, try hard to be good!

And I'll try my best not to beg for table scraps...

Speck

Friday, April 18, 2014

Staying Out Of Trouble At Eatser Time!

Hi. It's me again.

It's Easter time, so I thought we should talk about some things you should be careful of during the Holiday:

Chocolate

Is typically more of a dog hazard, because many of us have a sweet tooth and a great nose, but cats may consume chocolate too.

The toxic components in chocolate are theobromine and caffeine, and the level of toxicity is based on the type and quantity of chocolate consumed.

Different types of chocolate have different amounts of theobromine and caffeine. Dark chocolate contains the highest concentrations. Early signs are vomiting, diarrhea and trembling.

So chocolate may taste really good, but stay away! It's just not worth it.

Easter Grass

Cats love anything that moves. Easter grass, for some cats, is simply irresistible and must be eaten.

Stringy things like Easter grass pose a deadly threat if ingested. Don't let your kitties sample Easter grass! It's a really bad idea.

Easter Lillies

The Easter Lily is very common this time of year. This plant, and related plants in the lily family, are highly toxic if ingested!

The first signs seen are vomiting and lethargy, and if untreated, may progress to kidney failure.

Daffodils too, are also toxic to cats. Please, keep these plants out of your kitties reach!

So be careful and stay safe! And if you do get into any trouble, everyone here at The Hospital is ready yo help.

Happy Easter!

Speck

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Good Bye, My Friend

Charlie was more my Mommy's friend, than mine.

She knew him almost all of his life. And she always told me what a sweet and loving Doggie he was. I always felt as if I knew him through her stories.

Charlie's Mommy rescued him when he wasn't quite two years old. She knew then that he had epilepsy. But, she didn't know that he had other health issues too. And that he would eventually need two major surgeries.

Charlie, after one of his surgeries.

His Mommy loved him so much, that it didn't matter. And Charlie made such a great friend for his sister Sophie. They loved each other very much.

Throughout all of his surgeries and medical treatments, Charlie's Mom said he was always a happy boy. He was always willing to do fun things and made everyone around him smile. He was more than willing to "dress up" to make us laugh!

Last Summer Charlie started to get sick and Dr. Sultzer told his Mom that Charlie had major heart problems. The news broke all of our hearts. Especially Charlie's Mommy.

We all knew that Charlie had an limited amount of time. But you never would have known from his happy spirit. He continued to smile and wag his tail every time he saw us.

Charile's Mom, Dr. Sultzer and all of the specialist Doctors he saw, did their very best. But one day, one very sad day, Charlie couldn't fight any more. And his Mommy made the most difficult decision of all. To let him go in peace.

My Mom says that saying good bye is the hardest thing of all. But she always tells me that memories are what keep us going. That over time sadness lessens and remembering, will always comfort us.

Thank you Charlie. For being a loving brother to Sophie, a wonderful doggie for your Mommy and for filling all of our lives with happiness.

We will never forget you.

Speck

Monday, March 10, 2014

St Patricks Day

There once was a Boxer named Pete,

Who had an obsession with feet;

And when he sniffed toes,

He dove in with his nose,

‘Cause nothing ever smelled quite as sweet.

Max was a fine Border Collie,

Who took twenty minutes to pee;

It was never a race,

To find the right place,

And that’s why he sniffed every tree.

Rex always sat at Ms. Morgan’s heel,

When she sat down to eat every meal;

When she got up for more bread,

He grabbed her steak and fled,

And thought she made too big a deal.

Sarah O’Malley knew Maxwell shed,

Still he constantly napped on her bed;

On all her clothes fur would stick,

And she gave not a lick,

In fact, his fur blessed her dress when she wed.

A feisty young Dachshund named Bruce,

Thought he as was big as a moose;

The neighbor dog who was buff,

Liked to call Bruce’s bluff,

But the little dog thought him obtuse.

Friday, March 7, 2014

Stayin' Warm and Lookin' Cool!

My Mommy dresses me funny.

And I'm not the only one. She does it to my sisters too!

Well, it's really not that "funny" it's just that she likes to put clothes on us.

I have to be honest. When my Mom first started "dressing me up", I wasn't too happy about it. I thought I looked funny and it felt kind of strange too.

But then, one cold winter morning, I was slipped into a cozy sweater for our car ride to work. And you know what? I liked it! I felt totally warm and toasty!

After that, I was sold! I found out that sweaters and other soft comfy outfits actually protected me from the chilly weather.

Now that I'm used to it, it's kinda fun too! I actually get some extra attention when I'm wearing something super cute!

I even have my own little "wardrobe"! I've got T-Shirts, jackets, sweaters and even a bunch of Holiday themed fun things too!

It's something you might want to try. Especially if you're a bit older or don't have a thick coat, a nice warm sweater might really help!

Of course, when the weather is warm, you won't need all that extra protection. That would kind of be like wearing a heavy jacket in the house. But don't worry. I'm sure your Mom or Dad will make sure you're comfortable.

So don't be afraid to try a sweater or a shirt. You'll be surprised how cozy you'll feel! It's a great way to stay warm on chilly days. And like I said, you might get some extra attention too!

Stay warm out there!

Speck