Mid-Peninsula Animal Hospital™ Blog

Like Home for the Holidays

Mon, 12/20/2010 - 14:13 - M. Penny

Being home for the holidays with family and family-animals conjures warm feelings, if not also a warm fireplace.

But sometimes the home is someone else's and it's just not possible to take the four-legged family members, or they need special attention, and basic boarding facilities just won't do. That's why we offer boarding, so they can be here with us, for the times they can't go with you. 
 
During 2010, we expanded our boarding facility to include new luxury boarding. Luxury boarding means larger suites with deluxe bedding for the comfort of home away from home. As with our regular boarding, we include complimentary twice-daily medication administration and periodic email updates throughout the stay.
Luxury boarding, however, only applies to dogs. Even if your cat's personality can fill up a full suite, they are still designed for canines. Besides, what cat wants to be the only feline in a wing full of dogs? Ewww. 
 
Anyway, here is what they look like:
 
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Of course, all animals are given plenty of attention. During the holidays this is particularly true, since we add staff shifts to accommodate the increased boarding population as well as our desire to play with them and share the festivity of the season. 
 
Apparently word's getting out, since we were completely booked for the Thanksgiving week, and we're sure to book up for Christmas and New Years. Already, we only have a few slots left before we have to break out the waiting list. Fair warning, eh?
 
Oh, and one more thing: if you are boarding with us, you can now download the boarding form, fill it out during the many commercial breaks of your favorite football game (or whatever), bring it with you and save some time checking in. Grab it from the forms page. 
 
Of course, even though we do love taking care of them, we'd still prefer it if you can enjoy a jolly holiday with all of your loved ones, including any fuzzy buddies. Minus any nipping at noses, ho ho ho!
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Holly & Tinsel

Fri, 12/17/2010 - 09:51 - M. Penny

This time of year we deck the halls, and adorn the tree, string-up the lights and hang the stockings by the chinmey with care. For cat lovers extra care with tinsel can prevent what we call a string foreign body emergency, or worse, disaster. 

 
Generally, the culprit is a cat toy on a string, but during the holidays tinsel provides an extra danger.  If a cat ingests a string foreign body it can damage the intestines to a fatal result, unless caught fast enough for surgery. 
 
Your clue is violent vomiting. Now, coughing up a hairball is one thing, but if your feline is violently vomiting, particularly if their favorite toy all-of-a-sudden goes missing, pay immediate attention. Take your cat to an animal hospital without delay.
 
Better yet, be careful with your tinsel, and after hanging it, make sure you clean up any extra. Of course, nowhere does it say that tinsel is mandatory. In any case there's no need to worry, just something to know. 
 
It's like holly or mistletoe; if you like to decorate with holly or mistletoe, don't let your animal eat either one. Above the door? Fine. Where cats don't climb? Sure. Decorate the dog's food dish with holly or mistletoe? Uh, no.  
 
It's fairly straightforward. Doesn't take a wise man. Just a little FYI. 
 
Speaking of info, you already know whether your animal tends to eat people food. If so, try to keep the fat intake low. Use your own judgement since you know your pet's GI tract. If you want tons more information about animal-related potential holiday hazards, read this article.
 
And now that you know, you're good to go have some holiday fun! Deck those halls, trim those trees, and whatever else you do -- to thine own elf be true. 
 
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Welcome to our blog!

Thu, 12/16/2010 - 15:40 - M. Penny

AKA: You're not going to believe this, but we're starting a blog.

While it's true that we tend to follow the cutting edge of veterinary medicine more than, say, internet technology and social media. It's also true that sometimes the old school beats new fangled, while sometimes a new innovation leaves old ways in the dust. At this point, we're not quite sure if a blog is new or old, but we know this much: if you want to follow what we have to say, we're ready to commit the time to saying it.
 
It could be pet health tips. It could be topical news items about pets. Occasionally, we will let you know about the goings on around here so you can get to know us a little better. Whatever the topic, animals will be involved. That much we know. 
 
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