Stress Free Visit

                Happy March! Is this weather confusing everyone or is it just me?! I don’t know if I should stay sleeping or run around like a crazy cat with spring fever! Who am I kidding, I will probably just sleep! Ha! Well, I wanted to fill you guys in on some new little improvements we have added to pet visits. Our goal is to make visits with us as stress free as possible and we are hoping these new arrangements will help!

                First, the kitties! We know that even just getting them in the carrier is a major stressor so they arrive at the clinic already worked up. To try and ease some of this anxiety we are now offering a towel to cover the carrier that is sprayed with Feliway. Feliway is a pheromone that mimics a cat’s natural facial pheromone. This then helps them feel safe and secure. Once you arrive at SAH, a staff member will offer your kitty a towel to place over the carrier. Now, while your kitty is safe and comfortable in their carrier, they inhale the pheromone spray and begin to relax. This towel will then stay with you and your kitty during your entire visit. It will be used on the exam table for the exam with the doctor and again once back in the carrier and waiting to go home. This way, we continue to ensure they feel safe and secure and not anxious or scared. So far, we have seen significant improvement with our kitty friends, they seem to really appreciate the extra touch!

                Secondly, the pups! Now, covering dogs with a towel just didn’t seem like a good idea! Ha! So we have lavender oil to use instead! This can be applied behind the ears, under the chin, or to any area of the body really. The lavender will help calm the dogs and lessen anxiety while waiting to see the doctor. Again, once you arrive at SAH, a staff member will offer some lavender to you and your pup. Fingers crossed, they will feel a little more at home!

                We are very excited to continue to offer these little tricks! We would love to hear you and your pets’ feedback! Feel free to share your thoughts or any of your ideas that you think we should try out. Suggestions are always welcome!

               Until next time!

                     - Murphy Cat

 

NAVC Conference

                I know, I know, I have been such a slacker lately! Sorry is has been so long since my last blog. There is just so much to do and not enough time to do it!

                Any who… As some of you may already know, Dr. Ellis, Tammi and Brittney had the privilege of attending the annual NAVC Conference in Florida at the beginning of February. Lucky ducks! I can’t believe they left me behind, how rude! Meow!

OK, so what is NAVC? Well, NAVC stands for The North American Veterinary Community. This is a wondering conference where veterinary professionals, support staff, business’ and speakers gather in one location to teach and learn. Dr. Ellis, Tammi and Brittney were able to attend several lectures on multiple topics to help expand their knowledge to better serve our clients and patients. Very exciting!

                So, stay tuned in the upcoming weeks for some new products and information! Also keep your eyes and ears open when you visit the office, there may be some new items, new calming techniques and new information for everyone to share!

                I’ll be back!

  --Murphy Cat

Prescription Diets

Hello All!

Is everyone else as depressed with the time change as I am?! Gosh, I feel like the day is so short now… I’m not able to get in as many snuggles as I want and I’m tired at 4:00! Not to mention, this means winter is near! Well, what can we do…

Any ways, I wanted to fill you in on some new information regarding your pet’s food. I know some pets are on specific diets for health reasons and that is where we come in! SAH carries Royal Canin Veterinary Diets as well as Young Again Cat Food (which is what I eat, so it’s the best). So, we do keep a small amount of these diets in stock 24/7 however, we do run out at times, sorry guys! So we are asking you to work with us and help us out a little. We want to be sure all fur babies are covered an get the diet they need… to help us do that we are asking that folks let us know a week in advance if they are running low and need to purchase another bag. This way we can be sure we have the specific diet in stock, if we don’t we will have ample time to place an order! A win-win for both parties!

Another swell option is to order online. If you go to our website, sunderlandvet.com and click the ‘shop online’ icon, that will direct you to our online pharmacy. You will be able to search for your pet’s specific diet and purchase then and there! If it requires a script from us, don’t fret, the girls will be notified and will authorize it for you! Talk about easy peasy! To sweeten the deal, you can even get discounts like free shipping. They also offer auto shipping where you can schedule when the food will be delivered to your door step! If you are a Young Again customer they have a website as well, youngagainpetfood.com. Here you can do the same thing. Order online, receive free shipping and auto ship!

Whelp, there you have it! Some purrfect options to get ahold of your fur baby’s food. Feel free to call my girls at the office if you need any assistance or have some questions. Enjoy all the savings and the convenience!

Until Next Time
     -Murphy Cat

Happy Halloween

Boo!

Did I scare you?! Just trying to get into the Halloween spirit, I am a black cat after all. I’m not much into Halloween and scaring people but, the girls here think it is a great idea to dress me up… Ugh … Let’s just say they are lucky I love them! Meow! Don’t get me wrong, I do love my festive bandannas I get to wear, so make sure you take note if you stop in around Halloween!

Halloween… it certainly is fun but it may not be for your fur baby… I did some research on the AVMA website https://www.avma.org/public/PetCare/Pages/halloween.aspx) to see what you folks can do to make sure we all have a good time celebrating this Halloween. You’re welcome…

1.       Pets and candy do NOT mix! Even if it is not chocolate it may contain xylitol (a sugar substitute) which is very harmful for animals.

2.       Be sure your pet has an ID tag or microchip… just in case they decide to slip out the door to join the kids trick-or-treating!

3.       Keep all flames out of our reach! This means jack-o-lanterns too. Come on, we are very curious creatures; we will try to sniff the flame or knock it over!

4.       Costumes… please make sure they fit well and do not hinder your pets’ movement, breathing, sight, hearing etc. Also be mindful of small pieces they could eat.

5.       Keep glow sticks and glow accessories to human use only. We don’t need pets to think these are new chew toys!

6.       If your fur baby is unsure of strangers or is anxious during hectic times, keep them in a separate area of the house where it is quiet and they can feel safe.

7.       Keep pets inside!

Well, there you have it! Hopefully these tips will help keep everyone happy this Halloween. Be sure to share pictures on our Facebook page if your fur babies do join in the festivities. Enjoy!

Until next time,

       -Murphy Cat

I'm Back!

I know I know… it has been FURever since I have blessed you with my presence on here! Man oh man have I been busy! From meeting all of our new clients and their owners, to gaining TWO new employees, I can’t keep track of what day it is! I miss writing to ya’ll so I will try to be better!

First off, we are so honored to have new clients seek us out and believe in us to care for their fur babies. We love adding new family members to the SAH family! Don’t get me wrong, we love our regulars and long standing clients just as much! One thing to keep in mind you long time clients… if you refer a friend, family member, or acquaintance to SAH, there is a gift for you! Yup, you heard me correctly… If you send someone our way you will get a $10.00 credit on your account! Yahoo! Do you know how much $10.00 can get you… a lot! So be sure they mention your name or you fill out one of our referral cards. You can find those at the front desk, usually where I’m lounging. 

Secondly, we have TWO new employees, yup, two! Arynn and Jaimie are both wonderful, caring gals who are here to help! Arynn has been with us since May but recently started full time. Jaimie has just started this month! Be sure you meet these lovely ladies the next time you are in.

Well, I have some socializing to do, gotta go!

Until next time

-Murphy Cat

4th of July Safety

Howdy!

I hope everyone has been enjoying their summer so far! I can’t believe June is almost over! With that happening, you know what comes next, July 4^th celebrations! How fun right?! Well… it is not all fun for your fur babies. Most pets do not enjoy the sound or smell of fireworks and get very stressed out with all of the commotion. So, I thought I would share some tips on ways to keep them safe and worry free!

• Keep all fur babies inside! This is especially important during firework displays. Pets are more likely to jump a fence, break their leash or collar and run off during this high level of stress situation. So help them out and have a quite area in the house they can retreat to for relaxation.

• Never use fireworks around your pets! They can suffer burns or trauma to their face, paws etc. Unused fireworks are just as dangerous as they contain toxic substances. Lighter fluid and matches are also a no go! These can also cause burns and skin irritations. They can cause respiratory issues if inhaled and gastric issues if ingested.

• Insect repellent and citronella insect control substances… Just because these products are safe for humans does not mean they are safe for pets! Be sure to get pet friendly bug spray and keep the human forms away.

If you tuned in last week you would have learned so much about products that help with anxiety (I am such a wonderful teacher)… Remember Feliway and Adaptil products? Well those are great things to consider using during your celebrations to be sure your fur babies are at ease.

Bonus lesson! I have another fabulous product for you! Wahoo! I’m just full of good info! Composure Chews! Yup, these are CHEWABLE TREATS that help with anxiety! How great is that?! So these chews are for dogs and cats during times of stress. Here is a little description for you direct from the makers of Composure…

“The ingredients in Composure™ work synergistically to support relaxation without changing your dog’s personality or energy levels. The C3™ colostrum calming complex supports stress reduction and cognitive function; L-Theanine helps the body produce other amino acids to bring specific neurotransmitters back into balance; and B vitamins (thiamine) affect the central nervous system to help calm anxious animals.” –VetriScience Laboratories

Doesn’t that sound lovely?! It is great to know there are products out there that are safe for us animals and will not alter our ability to function or think! Composure along with Feliway and Adaptil are products that everyone should know about!

Now, it’s not all dangerous and scary, but it is better to be safe than sorry! I for one love the commotion of several humans around with their pets having a good time! But, that’s just the life I live!

Until Next Time

       -Murphy Cat