Veterinary Wellness Blog
Terrific Technicians!
October 4, 2013October 13-19 is national veterinary technician week. We appreciate the technicians year round, but this is the special time of the year where we make sure they know how much we appreciate them! To become a certified veterinary technician requires graduating from an accredited 2 or 4 year program, and passing the Veterinary Technician National Examination. Many of these programs require an internship for a couple of months at a clinic in addition to book courses and hands on laboratory classes. To maintain certification, technicians must complete a number of continuing education hours per year. Veterinary technicians perform many duties within the clinic. They are the nurses of the veterinary world-helping schedule and triage appointments, taking medical histories, and going over discharge instructions. They are dental hygienists and nurse anesthetists. They are phlebotomists and microbiologists, collecting blood and other samples, and running the tests in the laboratory. They are pet whisperers, helping restrain animals for their safety and comfort during minor procedures such as vaccinations, ear cleanings, or nail trims. They are janitors, mopping floors and washing laundry. They are pet sitters, feeding pets, walking dogs, scooping poop, and cleaning litter boxes. They are inventory specialists, ordering the food, medications, and other supplies necessary to run the clinic. Without their assistance we would […]
Read PostDon’t let a bum knee bum out your pet (Part II)
September 3, 2013The most common injury to a dog’s knee is an ACL tear, which stands for anterior cruciate ligament tear. In dogs, the more correct term is cranial cruciate ligament tear or rupture, CCLR. This is simply because of the fact that dogs walk on all fours instead of upright, but the ligament is the same and serves the same function regardless of what it is called. The ACL attaches at the rear of the femur, and crosses to the front of the knee to attach to the front of the tibia. It’s function is to prevent abnormal forward movement of the tibia relative to the knee joint. When torn, a veterinarian may be able to demonstrate this forward movement, called a drawer sign upon physical examination. A pet that has torn it’s ACL may suddenly become non weight bearing lame on a rear leg, or may only toe touch with that leg. If left alone, the pet seems to improve in a week or two, but this is simply because the body starts to make changes to the knee joint to try to stabilize it. There are usually significant arthritic changes that occur if the torn ligament is not repaired. In addition, dogs that tear one ligament are more likely to tear the other […]
Read PostDon’t let a bum knee bum out your pet (Part I)
August 2, 2013In this first of two articles about knee injuries and issues, we will be talking about medial luxating patellas (MPLs), or in less medical speak, knee caps that pop out of place. This condition can be very common in smaller breed dogs, but can also occur in other pets and larger dogs. Often as a pet owner, the first sign of an issue that you may notice is that a pet may be running around and suddenly skips a step or starts running with only 3 legs, then a few steps later they may be back to running around like normal. Other times you don’t even notice and issue and the vet is the first to identify the problem. In severe cases, the knee cap may luxate out of position and remain out, causing discomfort and a lasting limp which may cause you to seek medical attention. The knee cap, or patella, usually sits in a groove on thigh bone or femur. In some dogs, this groove is not deep enough, and the forces of moving the leg cause the ligaments and patella to move out of the groove. About half of the dogs that have one leg affected will have both legs affected. There are 4 grades of MPLs based on their […]
Read PostProviding the best possible veterinary care for your pet.
Heritage Animal Hospital is a full-service veterinarian clinic that provides examinations, diagnostic services, dental care, surgical services, medicine, grooming and boarding services in Maple Grove, Minnesota. We are dedicated to providing the highest level of pet care possible and facilitating an environment where client communication and education are at the forefront of our practice.
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