Mid-Peninsula Animal Hospital™ Blog | Mid Peninsula Animal Hospital

Taking the Fear out of Earthquakes

Tue, 05/01/2012 - 11:54 - M. Penny

Often people get scared just thinking about earthquakes and being prepared, and that's not fun, so they don't. Can't blame them. We've wondered how to take fear out of the picture, while empowering the anxious and non-anxious alike.

Essentially, watching events unfold in Japan and the process of putting together the Stand By You and 'Pet Ready' event projects really brought this home for us, and served to reiterate the importance of being prepared in earthquake country.

Since the seismic event date is unknown, it's easy to procrastinate. But please don't: your animals depend on you and need you to be ready. They need you to take care of yourself in an emergency so you can take care of them. And they need a few extra considerations for you to be earthquake prepared for them too.

In return, readiness will reduce your anxiety as well. To help, we will provide action items in digestible steps, including the why and wherefore. If you act on our steps, you'll be ready before you know it. So, set your RSS reader or check in as we post a series of snackable nuggets -- taking earthquake prep one step at a time.

If you're already ready, tune in anyways, since we look at everything through animal-colored glasses and may mention something you'd not thought about before. Worst case scenario, your own thinking is validated and that never hurts anyone.

First thing to know is there are limits. We do not live in a subduction zone, like Japan or Seattle, which is where one tectonic plate is pushing under another. Our faults are strike-slip, where plates rub against each other horizontally, producing less violent events, relatively speaking. ;^) The Hayward fault is expected to top out around Magnitude 7.5(a), while the San Andreas has a max probable Magnitude of 8.3(b). So, in a lot of ways we're lucky, but the point is that it's absolutely possible, and some would argue necessary, to be equipped for a maximum event.

You don't have to do it all at once. You can start to get ready for a basic earthquake, say mid-to-high M6s or low M7s (where M stands for magnitude). You can pretty much bank on these happening, it's just a matter of when. Consider it baseline readiness for living here. Then you can add and get ready for a bigger earthquake, say in the middle M7s, and sleep much better. Once you've got that covered, if you want, you can get ready for the biggest M8 and sleep like a baby knowing you're prepared. Call us crazy, but we want our clients to sleep like a baby knowing they're ready to take care of themselves and their animals, no matter what. To quote Martha, It's a good thing.

We'll start with food and water -> tune in on Thursday!

(a) Steinbrugge et al (1987)

(b) Wesson et. al (1975)

Earthquake: are you Pet Ready?

Sat, 04/21/2012 - 18:41 - M. Penny

Over the last several weeks, earthquakes have remained very much in the news. Our neighbor, Mexico, had a quake. Then there was the day with the four large earthquakes around the ring of fire (an old school term, before the relationship between volcanoes and tectonic plates was understood). One of the earthquakes set a record as the most powerful strike-slip quake in recorded history, coming in at a M8.6. Then, of course the M6.8 off of Baja California in the Gulf of California.

We're not geologists. We don't know whether the earthquakes are related, any more than we could opine on the Mayan calendar. We're animal people: veterinarians, RVTs and animal-loving support staff.

We do make a hobby of disaster preparedness, particularly as it relates to animals. Like many here in the Bay Area, we consider pets as family, and as such, we consider them in our disaster preparedness planning. We'd like to include you too! To this end, first, we at Mid-Peninsula Animal Hospital are co-sponsoring an event, with Adobe, to help you get pet ready for a disaster, such as an earthquake. The event is free! Sat. April 28, from 1pm to 4pm at Foothill College.

You can learn how to plan for your pet, apply first aid, bandage a broken limb and make a first aid kit. Peter Gross, a search dog handler from FEMA, who led the search-and-rescue teams after Hurricane Katrina and 9/11 will demonstrate search and rescue dogs in action.

The Foothill College student vet tech club is organizing and hosting the event. More information is available at www.foothillscnavta.com>. You don't have to pre-register; just come on by!

In addition, starting soon, we will post a series of Earthquake Prep articles here on the blog. If you want to be notified when a new article is posted, you can follow @midpen on twitter.

Let there be light?

Fri, 03/23/2012 - 12:49 - M. Penny

You'd expect us, in the heart of the Silicon Valley, to have the latest technologies. You'd also expect we don't jump on every new idea until it's been reasonably vetted (pardon the pun) by the medical scientific community. Sometimes animal research precedes human research; sometimes it's the other way around, as is the case with laser therapy.

It's only been recently that so many anecdotal veterinary reports started circulating on top of the many laser therapy studies on people -- on everything about inflammation and from treating carpel tunnel to low back pain to arthritic knees -- that we considered it. The research that most interests us, as vets, involves arthritis pain and hip dysplasia. We're also interested in healing wounds and injuries, and treating infections. We don't get a lot of carpel tunnel here. ;^)

As we received good reports from Dr. Lowery's experiences with the laser at Scout's House, and watched anecdotal reports mounting in the veterinary world, at a certain point we wanted to see for ourselves first hand. So, we brought in a K-laser Class IV laser unit in for a 30-day trial. We observed that it appeared to reduce inflammation and to accelerate the healing of chronic wounds.

The process, called photobiomodulation (read therapeutic laser application), modifies the oxidation/reduction status of mitochondria in the cells of the body. Remember your high school biology? Mitochondria are the powerhouses of cells. Stimulating the mitochondria appears to result in multiple types of activities which loosely translate to more energy for the cells to use intra- and inter-cellularly in repair and recovery from injury.

When used properly, laser therapy is free of side-effects and non-addictive (important for pain). It is not absolutely risk free however. Our licensed staff underwent the training needed to be confident using the K-laser safely.

So, it's official: We've recently acquired a Class IV laser therapy capability. We have the equipment; we've been properly trained on it. It's another option to offer as an adjunct to standard therapies, say after surgery, after injury, or for a wound, an infection or for inflammation. If this sounds like something you'd like to consider further, just let us know.

And The Award Goes To...

Wed, 02/29/2012 - 14:21 - M. Penny

Thank you to Daily News Readers for your support of Dr. Blount, in voting for her in the 2012 Daily News People's Choice Awards.

It's available today, if you want to see it. The paper is running a special section in today's paper, available in newsstands at just about every corner around town.

Congratulations to Dr. Blount for the well-earned honor, winning 2nd place in the category for best veterinarian in the area by a vote of Daily News readers. It's one thing to know we're proud of her, and always have been, but it's quite something when so many independent minds think alike! Congratulations!

Of Turkey, Jerky and Treats for Pets

Wed, 11/23/2011 - 15:03 - M. Penny

If you tend to reward your dog with chicken jerky treats, a little common sense may be in order. Moderation, as in all things, right?

The FDA actually came out with an official warning and reminds us that Chicken jerky products should not be substituted for a balanced diet and are intended to be fed occasionally in small quantities. Apparently this isn't just another, well

Our Trip to the AKC World Championships

Wed, 11/09/2011 - 11:55 - M. Penny

Dog agility has rapidly become the most popular of dog sports, with thousands of trials put on each year around the U.S. In 2010, AKC recorded a record 947,137 entries at agility trials around the country. Each year AKC picks about a dozen of the top dogs in the country to compete at the world championships. This year the championships were held in Lievin, France.

I was fortunate enough to accompany Scout's House and local house call veterinarian, Dr. Janet Dunn, and her very talented young Papillon, “Tantrum,” to the championships. Dr. Dunn (J.D. to her friends) and Tantrum had tried out for their first time for the AKC world team in May and won a spot on the team. That's J.D. and Tantrum at work in the photo. The chance to represent the USA at an international event is quite an honor and we were excited about the pending adventure.

The competition was everything we imagined and then some. The stadium seats up to 6,000 people and those seats were sold out weeks before the event. A record 36 countries competed this year and it was also the first year that China sent a team. Between the cheers, horns, music and dogs barking, we knew that we were in for a wild ride!

Three days of competition by some of the top dog and handler teams in the world followed and the US team had some amazing runs. A local dog and handler (a Redwood City resident) won the All Around Medium dog Gold Medal! And Tantrum and J.D. were amazing at their first World Championships, placing fourth in the small dog team jumping round.

I’m sure this is just the beginning of a very long and successful agility career for these two. Next year the championships are in the Czech Republic. Sounds like the possibility for another great adventure!

Come meet Nelly and Pansy

Thu, 10/20/2011 - 12:54 - Holly

Mid-Peninsula Animal Hospital would like to introduce two rescued Papillons we are fostering through Paphaven rescue.

Meet Nelly, a young (2-3 year old) spayed female. Nelly came with hardly a hair on her body due to severe internal and external parasites. We treated the condition successfully. Her new coat is coming in and you can really see what a beauty she is going to be. Nelly is a happy-go-lucky girl and quite often lets loose with a melodic chortle!

Pansy is, most likely, Nelly’s daughter. We are guessing her age at somewhere around a year, and she too has been spayed. Pansy is a beautiful tri-color and she is quite the character. Her nickname could be Happy Feet because she sure loves to dance!

A little bit about the Papillon breed, although small in stature they are quite the athletes. Very quick on their feet they are becoming popular in dog sports such as agility. Papillons are often included in the top 5 most intelligent dog breeds. So if you are looking for a small companion who is game enough for a nice hike or game of ball then the Papillon is for you.

They love visitors. Even if you're not interested in adopting, if you would like to meet and play with them, they would love to meet you! So, come by and say Hi!

Hot -> Cool -> Hot Season

Wed, 09/28/2011 - 10:02 - M. Penny

We're not complaining, but it is a little odd. The weather warms up. It cools down. It warms up again. Fast too.

It's a little schizophrenic, this weather. Because of that, we wanted to issue a little shout out reminder about how the hot side of this wackiness can get bad quickly for animal overheating. Just like the fog burn-off can happen very quickly, the result renders the animal in the car helplessly overheated in a hurry. Weather doesn't care that it was cool when you went in the store.

Or when you left the house. Which is the point. Perhaps consider treating this period like it was hot all the time, at least when it comes to your beloved animals. Like a good hat, put on your best sense of humor, lay out the extra water, set the thermostat to have your back, and pretend it's hot when your skin says its cool. Because it will be. Apparently.

And yes, the Bay Area weather may be a little wacky, a little quirky, but it's still some of the best weather in the world.

Hospital Update update

Wed, 09/21/2011 - 11:32 - Carol

What do we look like, fabulous interior designers? Turns out we have one in our midst. By day she's our Hospital Administrator. But under the cloak of night, and of course the company picnic, she's taken this building from 'mid-century modern' (last century) into the new millinneum.

Cindy's not the type to brag on her work, but I have no problem telling you all about what she did. I'm so impressed with the result.

The new look is much more up to date, and a bit more functional, which is pretty amazing considering that we didn't remodel or change the structure of the building. Yet when one of the functions involves a nervous animal remaining calm, it is amazing what aesthetics and color achieves.

We wanted to update the lobby to achieve a more contemporary look and a serene feeling

Hot dawg: the company picnic!

Mon, 09/19/2011 - 14:12 - M. Penny

You may have noticed that our lobby has recently had a facelift in the form of new and colorful paint. Since we needed to close the practice in order to paint we decided to take advantage of the opportunity and host a company-wide family fun day.

We feel that Mid-Peninsula Animal Hospital has some of the most skilled and compassionate animal health care professionals in the business. Rarely does a day go by that we do not receive compliments regarding our wonderful staff.

Each day at the hospital can also bring both joy and heartache. Nothing brightens our day more than meeting the newest member of your four legged family, or sharing in the joy of a patient’s recovery and seeing them return home to their anxiously awaiting families. We are also there to share in the hardest act of all - when it is time to say goodbye.

Ours is not an easy profession; so, Jan, Carol and I wanted to thank our wonderful and amazing Mid-Peninsula Animal Hospital team members for all of their hard work and dedication.

The family fun day let us celebrate with our families, both two and four legged. The day included a BBQ, an agility course for anyone brave enough to try it with their dogs, swimming and a bounce house for the youngest party attendees. Judging by the pictures I think a good time was had by all!