SHELOVESMEYEAHYEAH.tumblr.com

Maddy Schiot is a muppet on a mission.

Check out this tumblr from BHSAH superstar “Maddy” Schiot!  Maddy is one of the coolest pooches we know.  She must get it from her mama, Molly Schiot.

We love this video from French electronic musician, Vitalic. We bet you will, too. I personally could watch that little Brussels Griffon jumping in slow motion all darn day.

Wooftsock 90210 was a blast and thank you to all the clients who came out to visit.  Here are some photos from the day taken with our Fuji Instant Camera.  you can find the entire set HERE on our Flickr page.

If you see yourself in any of the photos  and want a copy, drop in and we’ll give it to you as a memory from the day!

The Whole Gang

Last year was a blast, as many of you came by our booth to visit and chat with our staff, including Dr Winters.  We hope you will come out again this year and say hello.

We will be handing out leashes, stickers, magnets, and some other goodies.   Dr Winters will be in attendance once again, and will be posing for take-home polaroid photos with you and your pooch. Most of our staff will be there as well.  There will be plenty of delicious food trucks so come hungry.  More photos from last year can be found on our flickr page.  We would love to see you there.  More info about Woofstock can be found HERE.

We love seeing our clients outside of the hospital!

Jackie, our groomer, getting some love from "Diesel."

Dr WInters: A man who really loves his work.

Rebecca

Robert

Two of our employees, Rebecca(lead technician) and Robert (kennel manager), attended the Veterinary Technician Nutrient Counseling Class at the Hills Pet Food Plant, that included a tour of the plant itself.   It is important to us that we learn about the companies that supply the foods that we feed your pets.  That way we can be confident in knowing that we have made an educated and appropriate recommendation with your pet’s best interest in mind.  Here is Rebecca’s synopsis of their trip.

We started our day by learning some facts about Hills and where their “Prescription Diets” originated.  Hills Pet Food was founded in 1939 by a Veterinarian, Dr. Mark Morris.  Their first food was designed to save a guide dog, Buddy, who was suffering from kidney failure.  The results of Dr. Morris’ efforts became the first product in the Hill’s Prescription Diet line of therapeutic foods.  The kidney diet (K/d) is still sold today along with many other special foods formulated specifically for diseases.

After a great breakfast, our group was taken on a tour of the plant.  The plant was spotless.  Walking through, seeing exactly how much work goes into each bag of food was impressive.  Every half an hour a sample is taken and tested to ensure its quality.  I was blown away by the staff’s professionalism, over all cleanliness, and product knowledge.  They really enjoyed their work and seemed to take pride in their products.

I’ve noticed that many of our clients are concerned that Science Diet products contain corn and by-products.  Statistically corn is least likely to cause food allergies, it’s an excellent source of carbohydrates and highly digestible. Beef, dairy, and wheat are the lead causes of food allergies for dogs and cats (68% for dogs and 80% for cats).  Corn contains less carbohydrate than a sweet potato, and is also a good source of fatty acids, beta-carotene, and antioxidants.

By definition, by- products are secondary products produced in addition to the principle product.  For example, soy products are a by – product of the soybean.  Dr. Smith (one of the many Hills Veterinarians) used the example of animals hunting their food in the wild; they instinctually go for the internal organs first because they are so nutrient rich, the by-product of choice.

One the reasons I feed my three dogs (Annie, Bronco & Steve) Science diet is due to the rigorous food trials and AAFCO guidelines (Association of American Feed Control Officials) Hills abides by.  Learning to read food labels proved just how many so called ‘high quality’ foods do not meet regulations or participate in any food trials.  Would you feed your baby a food that had little or no regulations?  Many foods are designed for all life stages, meaning the food is really just for puppies and nursing mothers.   These high calorie foods contribute to the overwhelming problem of overweight pets.  W/d and R/d are two diets recommended for overweight animals.  They are both very palatable and high in fiber.

I have first hand experience with R/d (reduced calorie diet).  My big Bronco Bo had become less active in his old age.  He spent most of his time lounging on the couch or sitting on my front porch.  I’m guilty of spoiling my dogs with treats, especially when life becomes busy.  I started to notice Bronco having a hard time jumping into and out of my car.  After taking some x-rays I confirmed my suspicion; Bronco had terrible arthritis.  It was imperative that I get the pounds off.  I gradually changed his food to R/d and within three weeks he had lost five pounds!

If you have any other questions about Science Diet Hills food please do not hesitate to contact Robert (BHSAH Kennel Manager) or myself, Rebecca (Lead   technician).  We would be thrilled to talk to you about these great foods, as well as your pet’s nutrition.

Dr Abalos and Dexter

Dr Margarita Abalos has been working regularly as a relief vet at BHSAH for over 7 years.  To see Dr Abalos work is to see a person who is truly doing what they love for a living. She has a great passion for her work and her patients.  She has built a wonderful rapport with the staff of BHSAH, and everyone seems to work even harder when she is around.  She graduated form Washington State University (the same as Drs Winters and Suehiro!) and has worked in the Los Angeles area for the past 8 years.  She also has practiced in Arizona, Texas, and Washington.  She is residency trained in Emergency and Critical Care Medicine and has a special interest in surgery.  Dr Abalos treats exotic patients, as well as dogs and cats.  On her time off, she enjoys spending time with her dog, Dexter, as well as surfing and golfing.  She is a big sports fan and a die hard LA Clippers fan.

Dr Laubach in the Maldives.

Dr Gary Laubach is a California native, born in Monrovia. He moved to Washington in grade school, where he remained all the way through vet school, attending Washington State University.  He and Dr Suehiro actually attended vet school together and are old friends.  Dr Laubach moved back to California right after Vet School, and worked in Victorville for 12 years at a practice that he eventually became part owner of. In 2001, Dr Laubach moved to San Clemente, where he splits his time between working vet relief and surfing.  He makes the journey up to Los Angeles to cover for our doctors quite often and we love having him.   Dr Laubach brings a very relaxed, but professional, vibe with him.  Being a very versatile and seasoned veterinarian, Dr Laubach sees walk-in patients and performs in surgery.  The staff always looks forward to when Dr Laubach does relief work here, and we are confident that our clients will be very happy with his no-nonsense, yet compassionate approach to veterinary medicine.  In his spare time, he enjoys going on surfing travel adventures and spending time with his wife and kids.

Dr Suehiro recently attended a seminar on diagnostic cytology and advancements in veterinary oncology.  The talk was lead by nationally recognized pathologist, Dr Bjorneby, as well as Animal Specialty Group’s highly respected oncologist, Dr Blake.  It is worth mentioning that Dr Bjorneby is in great demand across the country for his excellent cytology reading and interpretation skills, and we are fortunate enough to have him as the pathologist who reads all of the cytologies that are sent from Beverly Hills Small Animal Hospital.

When patients come in to our hospital with abnormal lesions or lumps, we like to perform fine needle aspirates to help us make a definitive diagnosis.  A fine needle aspirate is a minimally invasive procedure, whereby a needle is inserted into the growth, and then the sample is placed onto glass slides. These slides are then stained and read  microscopically by a pathologist.  The diagnosis informs us how to treat the growth.  Sometimes, they can be treated topically, or with oral medication. Other times they are benign, needing no further attention, unless it grows larger and affects the patient’s quality of life.  And, of course, sometimes, they are a concern and need to be surgically removed, whereby they are further tested.  Part of Dr Bjorneby’s lecture emphasized how to obtain good quality samples, as well as the extreme importance of an accurate and comprehensive description of the growth.

Even though we do not practice oncology at Beverly Hills Small Animal Hospital, as general practitioners, we have to be up-to-date on new diagnostic technology and treatment for our patients that have cancer or neoplasia.  This allows us to help our clients to make the best decisions for their pets.  Dr Blake gave a very informative synopsis of the recent advances in veterinary oncology.

The current general trend in the treatment of neoplasia is getting away from non-specific chemotherapy to treatments that are much more targeted.  This extends to radiation therapy, with a move towards concentrating the dose of radiation specifically in the tumor, thereby preventing damage to the normal healthy tissue surrounding it.  What’s most heartening and exciting is that it seems that the goal of veterinary oncology is changing from its previous goal of remission, and moving towards the ultimate goal of cure.

The Doctors and Staff of Beverly Hills Small Animal Hospital