Newsletter Archives
Summer 2001

"Hot Dogs" (and Cats)

Murray, pictured at left, is a very lucky Shetland Sheepdog. He serves as a reminder to all of us that even on a relatively mild 70 degree day, the temperature inside a car can quickly rise to over 100 degrees. Murray was accidentally forgotten inside a car on just such a day. When his owners discovered him, they correctly put him directly in front of a fan while they called us. They were rightfully concerned about sending him into shock by submerging him in cold water.

(You may use tepid water to try to cool off a pet, but do not use ice water!)

When Murray arrived at our hospital, he was weak and in shock from heat stroke. With intravenous fluids, plasma and antibiotics, he has done very well and was released to his grateful family. Please learn from their frightening experience and remember that you should never leave pets in a car for any amount of time. Keep your doors and windows closed so that curious cats and dogs don't climb inside and get overlooked. Remember that even the back of a pick-up truck can get dangerously hot. (We have seen heat stroke cases from both of these situations.) If you think your pet is suffering from heat stroke, call us right away for life-saving advice.

Dog Training

Our hospital staff believes that a well-trained dog is a happy dog that is loved by its owners. The best time to train dogs is while they are puppies. To support this goal, our hospital offers two puppy training programs.

Puppy Socialization classes are designed to introduce young puppies to other people and dogs. The class exercises make them more confident and comfortable in situations with other animals and people.

These classes are conducted by Arleen, one of our veterinary assistants. The classes are for puppies under 6 months of age. The classes are free and are held twice a month at our hospital. Arlene will contact you if your puppy is within the appropriate age group for the class.

Puppy Kindergarten is a new course conducted by Karen Peak of West Wind Dog Training. Karen has over 18 years experience with dogs, including pet therapy programs, raising guide dogs, and with obedience, conformation, and agility training. Her course builds on the skills learned in puppy socialization. Specifically, it focuses on teaching manners and basic commands and on trouble-shooting problem areas such as chewing, biting, and housetraining. The course is $60 for 6 weeks. The next class will begin June 21st. Contact our office if you are interested.

This quarter we would like you to meet Rhonda, a veterinary assistant at our hospital. Rhonda has been caring for your pets at Dale City Animal Hospital for 6-1/2 years. She is a native of the Dale City area.

Rhonda is a familiar face to those of you with morning and afternoon appointments. She works the (very) early shift at the hospital, arriving at 6 A.M. After the departure of our night nurse, she is the first staff member to greet your pets in the morning. In addition to walking and medicating them, she does the initial assessment of any surgical or hospitalized patients. She notifies one of our doctors if any of them require immediate attention. Rhonda's skills are quite extensive. She also serves as the receptionist, provides pre- and post-operative surgical support, and is the primary staff member responsible for follow-up calls on our patients. Rhonda is best known for her fearlessness in handling our most challenging patients.

Rhonda lives in Dale City with her husband, two children, dogs ranging from a Rottweiler to a Shih Tzu, numerous cats and birds, including a Cockatoo named Puppy.

Have a Heart Fund

Once again our clients have contributed generously to our Have a Heart Fund. Beneficiaries during this period include a cat and her five kittens who were brought to us by employees of Pitkins. They found the mother and kittens in their store. Unfortunately, the mother cat had developed an infection in her uterus. However, she was lucky that the Pitkins employees brought her to us. We were able to diagnose the problem and spay her immediately. All are doing well and have owners waiting for them once the kittens are old enough to be spayed/neutered.

Thanks to our contributors for this period:

• Kay Corcoran (in memory of Missy)
• Gregroy Hale (in memory of General and McDuff)
• Jeanette Hirschkowitz (in memory of Whiskey)
• Judith Gallagher
• Liz Shifflett
• David Cummings
• Susan and Alfred Hughes
• Karen Rollins
• Gwen Smith
• Linda Boland
• Italo and Sabina Sigilli (in memory of Phillip and William)

Fourth of July Parade

Our hospital will participate in the annual Dale City Fourth of July Parade again this year. The doctors and staff, with their dogs, are part of our entry. We would like to invite any of you who are interested to join us with your pet. For their safety, no older dogs, very young puppies, or dogs who have recently been ill should participate. Contact our office for details.

Congratulations!

Dr. Patricia Katz and her husband Jeff are the proud parents of a son, Robert Stephen, born on March 29, 2001. Our congratulations to the entire family.

Flea Trivia

Did you know that

• a female flea can lay as many as 40 eggs per day (or 2000 eggs in her lifetime)?
• a flea can accelerate 50 times faster than the space shuttle after lift-off?
• a flea can jump 150 times the length of its body?
• a female flea consumes 15 times its body weight in blood daily?