Chestnut Arbor Veterinary Hospital's Top 10 List

We keep promoting that our office is Fear Free - but many people don't know what that means...so I have compiled the list of the 10 things we do as a Fear Free clinic to make you and your pets more comfortable. So here is the top 10 list of what you can expect when you visit us at Chestnut Arbor Veterinary Hospital:

10 - Emotional Notecard- We note that your pet's emotional response is when they visit us - and we notate what works and what doesn't work for your pet. This means on your pet's medical chart it will state - 'likes peanut butter' or 'does well when mom holds in her lap'. We take notice so we can make future visits better.

9- Just say Yes - to pre-visit drugs that is - Drugs are not a bad word in our hospital - often pets need a little something to reduce anxiety before a visit - we can help with that. Whether it be a natural hormone (like milk hormone) or a stronger pharmaceutical like Trazodone - we can prescribe the right medication to alleviate any anxiety your pet may have

8 - No trips to the "BACK" - We keep you and your fur-baby together as much as we can during your visit. This means procedures will be done with you in the exam room unless you request otherwise or an extenuating circumstance requires us to separate you from your pet. If we need to use any particular equipment located in our treatment area, often we will suggest you accompany us and your fur-baby.

7 - Distraction is key - In order to facilitate procedures being done in a fear free way, often our team members will use toys to distract your pet. That means you can bring Fluffy's favorite stuffed animal to her visit!

6 - No white coats here - The white-coat phenomenon is a real thing in both human and veterinary medicine - therefore our staff does not wear white coats (sidenote, I have never really liked wearing one so this was an easy transition for me!). Most often our team is in scrubs or casual attire to help your pet feel more at home.

5 - Food is the way to their heart - Bring your pets hungry! Not only does fasting ensure better lab results but our goal is to offer your pets 60-100 treats during their visit. That's right - we totally and intentionally want to spoil them and bribe them to love us! And what better way then thru yummy treats. In fact you will be presented with a species specific menu to choose from and let our staff know what kinds of yummy foods your pet likes. Dietary restrictions ??? - no problem, we have hypoallergenic alternatives OR even better, you can bring their food/treats from home!

4 -  We look YOU in the eye - eye contact is stressful for pets so you will notice when our staff enters an exam room, we will make eye contact with you but not your fur-baby. Often we will even seem like we are ignoring your baby at first - in reality we are giving them a chance to check us out before we engage them. This gives them a sense of relief and calm, and allows us to get to know you as well!

3 - What's that smell? - Our rooms are equipped with pheromone diffusers - you won't be able to smell them but your pets do! Pheromones are pet-friendly substances that are detected by the central nervous system and help calm your pet. We even spray ourselves with them before entering a room

2- No slippery signs here - Exam room tables, slippery floors, metal scales - these all induce fear and stress in our pets. You will notice that we use yoga mats, blankets and do our procedures/exams on the floor where pets are most comfortable. For those that prefer to be up high we will create a comfortable environment for them on an elevated surface.

And the #1 thing - No waiting here! - Once you enter our office you will be greeted, by name, and placed directly into an exam room so your pet, and you, can relax. The rooms are designed with you and your pet in mind - comfy chairs, relaxing dog beds, cat perches and trees, and calming music greet you in our exam rooms and hopefully make you feel at home.

So there you have it - there is our top 10 list of what we do as a Fear Free Hospital to make you and your fur-baby feel at home. Check out our facebook page (www.facebook.com/chestnutarborvet) for more information.

Find the passion in vet med

There comes a point in every vet's career when they think - 'is this it?'. Is this what I went to school for - is that what I will do forever?  For some it is a fleeting and passing thought but for others, I think it is a turning point. Some people opt to leave the field and find something else to do, some people get out of clinical practice and go into industry or sales and others have to find their passion for this career again.

When I became director of a local ER department I thought I had reached the pinnacle of my career. I was working at a highly regarded hospital, with awesome staff and amongst a group of highly talented and educated doctors. I was getting a chance to see cases I had never seen before and getting to perform procedures weekly that some doctors only perform once in their entire career. I was helping to educate and train new graduate veterinarians and inexperienced technical staff. I was living the dream - or so I thought.

I loved ER - the rush of it all, the fun of not knowing what was coming in the door and the excitement when you saved a life and helped a client. ER has its darkness as well (and not just because we worked at night). Many of my cases ended in sadness - either due to the medical issues of the pet or lack of finances of the owner. Sometimes my cases ended before they started and more often than I care to recall, patients were presented to me solely for euthanasia. Those cases wear on you - emotionally, mentally, physically....and I fell victim to compassion fatigue and burnout. I regret to say that by the time I left my position as a full time ER doctor I had become cold and hardened and frankly I didn't care. I knew something had to change - I thought going back to day practice where I would have a more normal schedule and could see my daughter on weekends and holidays would help. And getting some regular sleep and doses of vitamin D on a daily basis did help, but I still found myself wondering - 'is this really the career I longed for when I was 5 years old'. I just didn't feel the passion and the sense of fulfillment that I once did. I knew it was possible to still be excited about this field - but I needed to find something to reignite my love for what I did.

When I decided to open my own practice, I also made the committment to make it Fear Free - and that is where I found my passion again. Part of my desire to open my own hospital was so that I could practice medicine 'my way'. I knew there had to be a better way to do things - a way that clients could see the value in the experience and a way that pets were happy to come to the veterinary office and a way that gave me that inner satisfaction that I longed for. Becoming Fear Free Certified reinstilled my passion and reignited my desire for this career. I began using techniques at the practice I was working at before I opened Chestnut Arbor Veterinary Hospital, and I could begin to see the difference it made for both the pets and the owners. I knew that this was it - this was  what I needed to make me feel fulfilled again as a doctor and even more so as a practice owner. I knew it would take time to adjust and create the type of practice where clients see the value in this type of approach.  So our practice moves a little slower - we take our time getting to know clients and patients. We spend time allowing pets to get to know us and we don't force them to do anything they don't want to do. And this is an adjustment for everyone - clients, nurses, even myself as a doctor. But seeing a pet who was scared to visit us, now come in wagging its tail and allow us to examine it while it eats some yummy snacks - that is worth it.

When someone asks why we are Fear Free - I say, why would someone not want to be Fear Free?

Fear Free Nail Trim Techniques

We have pets too

It's easy to forget that veterinary professionals have pets at home and when those pets get ill, or develop problems, often times our minds go into overdrive. We are amon
gst that group of people that have enough knowledge to be dangerous and therefore as soon as one of our animals limps, coughs, or vomits, our minds automatically jump to the worst possible conclusion out there. You will find that when it comes to our own pets, we lose all sense of medical knowledge in that immediate moment. I can't help but think of the time my sweet Madeline (a now 5 year old boxer) was only about 12 weeks old and choking on a piece of bedding - from a bed that she had nicely destroyed while at the hospital with me for my overnight ER shift. I completely lost my cool, forgot all sense of emergency veterinary experience I had, and instead handed her off to my colleague to deal with  her because at that moment I was not a doctor - I was a pet parent. Luckily she was fine and continues to shred bedding when at the hospital with me.

I tell you this story to say, we know what you are going through when your pets are sick. Please don't think for a second that just because we see these things day in and day out, that we aren't affected by it or that we can't relate or empathize to your concerns.  We know how scary it can be when your pet is hurt or how worrisome it can be when they just haven't been themselves for a few days. We know how it feels to hear that your pet has cancer, is diagnosed with seizures or needs more extensive testing. My 8 year old Boxer had a seizure today while with me at work - I know how scary those are and just sitting there with him while he recovered, I am thankful for the knowledge I have as a doctor and that I can empathize with my clients. I can relate because I have been there - and I think that helps make us better doctors.

So ask us about our pets - ask us our opinion on what you should do in situations - the odds are, we have been there too.

What Makes us Different

As I embark on this new journey of practice ownership, I knew I had to set my hospital apart from the rest. Let's be honest, there are a LOT of veterinary offices out there. And often we do the same types of things - we offer preventative care (i.e. vaccines, deworming, heartworm and flea prevention) as well as routine surgeries, dental cleanings, x-rays, and often times in house lab work. Some of us may offer services such as emergency care, sick pet hospitalization, emergency surgery and ultrasound exams. Often newer offices have newer technologies, so we are able to advertise that we provide the "Newest technology in digital x-rays" or "Up to date anesthesia monitoring" or "New laser therapy". And most times consumers see New, Up to Date, or Advanced and they assume that means the best. And often times it does. So what makes my office different from the new office around the corner, or the office 10 minutes away that many of my clients have been going to for years, or even the office on the other side of town that has been open for 30+ years?

I can tell you that we are different than the rest, and not just because I am biased and I think we have the BEST staff in town. Part of my passion in opening a new hospital was a movement started roughly 1 year ago by Dr Marty Becker called the Fear Free Movement. It is still new and gaining a lot of momentum in the veterinary field but it is not very well known amongst the general public. Fear Free takes into account that coming to the veterinary office is stressful for everyone - for the clients as well as the patients. I began to learn about Fear Free at my previous job and started to educate myself on the techniques - and I can tell you firsthand that they work! This isn't just some marketing ploy that we use to try to branch out from the rest. These techniques really do put our patients at ease.

I saw a dog last week that was a bundle of energy - he had  come to me because of a hematoma on  his ear and his mom was happy to get an appointment with us the same day she called (obviously as a start up hospital, our appointment book is more open than other clinics). This pup came in with a very ouchy ear and was reluctant to let any of us touch it. Upon entering the exam room I sat down on the floor and this pup climbed into my lap. After a few minutes of rubbing and playing with him, he allowed me to take a look at his ears without any issues. In fact his mom even commented at the end of our time together that she was so impressed by the techniques we used and that a doctor would be willing to be on the floor with her dog. It convinced her that we were the clinic for her and she is willing to drive 30 minutes to see us.

Our office is brand new - so we have all the fancy bells and whistles. We offer high quality medicine and we strive to create individual medical plans for each pet. But what really sets us apart is the time we take to get to know our clients and our patients. We may sit with your pet for 15 minutes and just allow them to sniff us, or explore the exam room, or eat treats from us before we start our exam. If your pet isn't feeling too friendly that day and we can't achieve everything we need to, that's ok. We won't push them or force them - we want them to come see us and be happy about doing so. If that means it takes a few visits for them to adjust to us and to complete their medical care, so be it. The more times they come to see us, the more times they get treats and petted and loved on. And the more our bond with them grows. We believe in Fear Free and we want to educate all our clients and the general public about the positive results it can create. Have questions? Call us and ask what sets us apart. Check out www.fearfreepets.com and our website www.chestnutarborvet.com to learn more. Come see us to see the difference in Veterinary Care. You and your pets will be glad you did!

Please check out my new hospital's website!!


chestnutarborvet.com

Big Changes Coming

It's been a bit since I posted anything....and this is for a number of reasons. My life has taken an interesting series of turns in the past 6 months. Some of these changes have been challenging, to say it nicely, and others are proving to be very exciting. The biggest of which is the decision to open my own veterinary hospital after 13 years of private practice. This decision was one I did not come to lightly but I am extremely excited about the potential this holds and the future it brings me, both personally and professionally.

I have been extremely lucky during my career to work alongside a number of successful veterinarians who have inspired me to pursue this dream. I have learned so much, not only about veterinary medicine, but also about good business and I can't wait to put these lessons into action. Notoriously, veterinarians are not interested in the business aspect of our jobs however I am a bit of an anomaly, in that I actually love the business aspect. I like crunching numbers, determining profitability, comparing market reports, and so on, and so on. I am excited to be able to set up a practice with the quality of medicine I hold dear to my heart, but also to grow a successful business. It's a scary adventure, because at the end of the day, there is no one else to blame if it fails except for me. However, imagine the immense pride when it succeeds.

The building is under construction and I am anxiously awaiting the day when we get to start our portion of the build-out so I can start to see the exam rooms, treatment area, surgery suite etc. I am excited to pick out wall colors, decorations and countertops. I will be ecstatic the day I get to set up my office and the first time the phone rings to schedule an appointment. I can't wait to stand back, my daughter by my side, and say 'this is mommy's other baby'.

We are hoping to open our doors this fall - our website is underway and you can watch progress of our hospital at chestnutarborvet.com or on facebook (https://www.facebook.com/chestnutarborvet/). I'm looking forward to sharing this adventure with all of you!

We call her Fat Cat

My name is Jennifer and my cat is fat.....not just a little chunky, she is fat. In fact her name is "Fat Cat".  And truly there is only one person to blame for it - me. Obesity is a far too common occurrence in many of our patients today. I am unsure if it is a reflection of the busy schedules of us as owners, or our desire to keep our pets 'fat and happy'. Either way, obesity is a problem for our pets. It is one of the few diseases, if it is not a symptom of an underlying entity, that can be 100% controlled by us.  Our pets cannot control the food they eat, how much they eat, nor can they decide to go on a diet or exercise more. They depend on us to make those decisions for them. And in the case of my sweet kitty, I have failed her. She wasn't always this fat - she started off as a sweet little cat. But somewhere along the way, her food bowl remained full at all times (mostly to stop her from meowing at my head at 5 am) and before I knew it she was 12 lbs.

Obesity predisposes our pets to various other problems including diabetes, arthritis, hypertension, heart disease and even cancer.  Therefore, it is more than just cosmetic for our pets - we know that pets that are overweight live shorter lives, have more orthopedic problems and develop more secondary issues. They have a tougher time under anesthesia and don't metabolize drugs appropriately.  Trying to maintain a pet at their ideal, lean weight is vital to a long and healthy life with us.

Often owners feel like they can't do anything to help their pets get in better shape - or they don't want to deprive them of treats or special goodies. I will say that getting a dog to lose weight is easier than a cat- you can take dogs for walks, take them to the park, play fetch etc to get them some exercise. Cats can be more difficult. Some will walk on a leash or chase a laser pointer around the house - or sometimes your dog chases the cat around the house which helps! Substituting healthier options for treats can help - try raw green beans or carrots, plain rice cakes or even ice cubes as treats for your dogs. Stay away from raisins and grapes tho!

If weight loss still eludes your pet be sure to consult with your veterinarian - there are some underlying medical conditions that predispose pets to gaining weight, such as hypothyroidism or Cushing's disease. Your vet will want to run some lab work to make sure this isn't the cause. Sometimes prescription weight loss diets are needed to help a pet get down to a healthier weight.

Whether you do it on your own, or enroll your pet in your veterinarians weight watcher's club - having a lean and healthy pet will benefit you both in the long run!