The Modern Veterinarian

Medical science with regards to human beings has evolved over the years to take into account not just the treatment of  disease and injury, but also the prevention of avoidable maladies and conditions through vaccinations, wellness programs, regular checkups and interval examinations.  The point of these types of treatments is to avoid the long-term and more expensive and life-threatening conditions that arise from poor maintenance of the machine that is your body.  Keeping yourself healthy is one of the best ways to avoid being unhealthy, and knowledge and research based programs give you the tools to keep yourself healthier than if you had no guidance.  Most people would have no idea when to get vaccinations, when to get checkups, when to exercise and what to eat if they had no programs to follow.  This approach to “avoiding getting sick” prevents the types of conditions that potentially grow to a far worse status if left unregulated.

The same approach to “avoiding sickness through prevention” is now being applied to the veterinary trade, and has been spearheaded by Las Vegas veterinarian Dr. Mark Beerenstrauch in his clinic Pet Health Hospital & Lifetime Care Center On Desert Inn.  Through specific wellness programs that have been formulated through years of veterinary research and science, Dr. Beerenstrauch is creating healthier animals instead of just treating sick or injured ones.  “The conditions that cause extreme treatment costs and have life-threatening potentials can be prevented in many cases through routine exams, vaccinations, checkups and wellness plans that take place at specific intervals in a pet’s life,” Dr. Beerenstrauch explained.  “Our approach is to prevent disease instead of just treating it once it has taken hold.  We know that very specific procedures over the course of a pet’s life will have beneficial effects, and could potentially avoid the conditions that could lead to early death and suffering.”

The “Canine Wellness” and “Feline Wellness” programs created by Dr. Beerenstrauch act as a playbook for your pet’s life, and spell out the points at which certain things should be done in order to keep your pet as healthy as possible.  The belief that this approach can create healthier animals for both their own benefit as well as the benefit of their owners is the cornerstone of Pet Health Hospital.  By not having to put a owner in the position of having to put an animal down due to an inability to afford expensive therapies or medications later in life, lives are being saved even if they are not apparent at the time the preventive treatments are done.  “Our goal is to assist owners in the ability to give their pets the best by only having small costs and inconveniences spread out over the lifespan of an animal, instead of letting it all go until an avoidable condition or disease forces you to either pay far more for treatments or make a decision that nobody wants to make.”

The modern veterinarian and the methods that shape the discipline of veterinary care has finally been brought into practice, and Las Vegas animals and pet owners are the beneficiaries.  Make your appointment today to begin your pet’s “lifetime care program.”

8 Things To NEVER Feed Your Pet

There are many human foods that are very bad for pets to eat, but some can be downright deadly. Here is a quick list of foods to never let your pets eat, and if they were to eat them it is best to get them to a veterinarian very quickly.

  1. CHOCOLATE – Although primarily a food to never let a dog eat, nearly all animals will have an adverse reaction to eating chocolate.  It overstimulates the nervous system and heart, causing potential permanent damage or even death if enough is consumed.
  2. GRAPES AND RAISINS – Even small amounts of grapes and raisins can have adverse effects on dogs and cats, so it is best to keep them away from the availability because animals will naturally eat large amounts of the sweet treats.  Grapes and raising can cause kidney damage in dogs and cats.
  3. GARLIC AND ONIONS – A common occurrence when cutting onions at a counter is to have some of the chopped pieces fall to the floor.  Animals are very curious about foods that they may have never tried before, and potentially will move very quickly to grab the pieces that have dropped.  Garlic and onions can cause damage to red blood cells in animals.
  4. XYLITOL (SUGARLESS GUM) – Xylitol is a common ingredient in sugar-free gums and candies.  Because the sweet flavor of the gum in very interesting to dogs, and many times gum is stored in purses, pocketbooks or pants that are left on the floor, animals will commonly sniff them out and eat entire packs.  Xylitol causes increased insulin secretion in animals that can be very harmful to their health.
  5. ALCOHOL – Alcohol depresses the nervous system in animals, and can cause large and rapid health issues if consumed.  This is complicated by the common occurrence of interest being shown by dogs when people are drinking beer.  “Look, my dog likes the taste of beer” leads to people allowing their dogs to drink some in order to see if it makes them drunk.  This is to be avoided at all costs, as it can cause immediate adverse reactions like alcohol poisoning.  Animal bodies do not synthesize alcohol the same way human bodies do, and it can be very dangerous for them to drink.
  6. RAW YEAST AND BREAD DOUGH – The fermentation effects of yeast that take place in the animal’s stomach can cause alcohol poisoning, which can be deadly to dogs.  The gasses that will quickly build up in the digestive tract can also cause severe pain.
  7. MACADAMIA NUTS – Macadamia nuts do not process in dog’s and cat’s bodies very effectively, which can bring on muscle and nervous system problems.
  8. AVOCADOS – Avocados are known to contain persin, which causes damage to animal’s heart muscle and can lead to cardiac arrest.
  9. BONUS – MINOXIDIL – This is the primary ingredient in Rogain, as well as other hair-loss treatments in humans.  Minoxidil is deadly for cats to ingest, and even slight contact with the ingredient can have large-scale health effects.  If your cat likes to rub your head with their body, make sure you do not let them touch your head if you are using Rogain.

Choosing The Right Las Vegas Veterinarian

One of the single most important choices you will make regarding the health and well-being of your pet is the finding of the best veterinarian available in the area. In Las Vegas, there are a lot of veterinarians and animal hospitals to choose from, and the decision to simply visit the once closest to your home might be convenient, but might not be the best decision you can make. Far more important than the convenience of a few less minutes driving to the clinic should be finding the veterinarian that can provide the highest quality care for your animal.

The first step towards choosing the right veterinarian for your pet is deciding when you should make your choice. One of the biggest mistakes that you can make is never securing a veterinarian until a time of emergency or crisis arises. When your pet becomes sick or injured, you are probably not in the best state of mind to make choices that are based on research. Chances are if you do not have a number handy to call for a clinic that you already know because you have been there in the past, you are simply going to choose the first one you see on Google or in the phone book. This veterinarian that you have chosen may not have experience with your type of pet, and will have nearly no knowledge or records on your pet from which he can provide good quality care. For this reason, our suggestion is to choose your veterinarian before you ever adopt or purchase your animal. Get references and do research to make sure that this is the right veterinarian for you and your friend.

The best way to go about making a decision about the right veterinarian for you is to visit the clinics yourself and introduce yourself to the staff. Ask to look around a little bit and get a sense as far as the cleanliness and professionalism of the practice. Make a note of what hours they are open, and if they offer emergency visits or only appointments. Ask other pet owners that you might know or have contact with for references for the best veterinarians and who they use for their animals. Call the local rescues and ask them who they would recommend. In Las Vegas, there are lots of resources to find people who would refer you to a veterinarian. You can actually get a list of local animal rescues in Las Vegas as well as local Las Vegas dog parks by clicking the links.

How do you decide the right veterinarian for your dog? The best thing to do first is go visit the veterinary clinics within driving distance of your home. Make an appointment to bring your dog in and be checked out by the veterinarians that are within a reasonable distance from your house, and whom you feel would not be so inconvenient that you would not take your dog in routinely for examinations. While you are there ask lots of questions about the facility and the staff. Ask how many veterinarians they have on staff at any point, and if any of them are specialized in something that you are concerned may effect your dog. Ask if they have dental services, offer vaccinations, and most of all if they offer PET WELLNESS PROGRAMS that will assist your dog in staying healthy, instead of only treating them when they are sick. A great veterinarian is interested in the health of your pet, not just treating them when they are sick and injured. Ongoing health and wellness programs are a better way to care for your pet and are only offered by a few very special veterinarians nation-wide. Pet Health Hospital is one of those veterinary clinics.

What kinds of questions should you ask when you visit? Here is a good list to start:
How are overnight pet patients monitored in this clinic?
What types of equipment does this veterinary clinic have?
Does this veterinary clinic refer to specialists, or are there any specialists on staff?
How are the pet patients evaluated before surgery and anesthesia?
Does this clinic have licensed veterinarians and technicians on staff?
What do you do for pain management of animals in this clinic?
Do you offer lifetime care and wellness programs and advice?

By taking the steps to choose the right veterinarian for you and your pet, if you live in the Las Vegas area or not, you are making a decision that will have long-term implications on the health and well-being of your friend. Choose your veterinarian wisely, and if you are looking for a veterinarian in Las Vegas we certainly hope we are your choice.