Employee Spotlight - Maryanne

It's time for our monthly Employee Spotlight again. This month, we're talking to Maryanne, one of our newest veterinary technicians. Maryanne has been working here since April of this year. She has one pet of her own, an 8 year old Westie named Sammy. She loves working at Somerset Veterinary Group for a lot of reasons but especially because of the rest of the staff who are, she says, so knowledgeable and always willing to help and answer questions. She's amazed by the true teamwork and the lack of drama among the staff, which makes it a great place to work. Switching careers to one where she can work with animals is what she considers her biggest joy.

When she's not at work, she volunteers at an animal sanctuary - talk about dedication to animals - and likes going to the beach and to the movies.

Some other random facts about Maryanne that we just HAD to know -

1 - How do you take your coffee?
     With half and half and equal, and lots of it!

2 -  What is your favorite candy?
       Cadbury Mini Eggs and Cream Eggs

3 - What is your favorite song?
     Anything by Billy Joel

4 - What three items would you bring if you were stranded on an island?
      My cell phone, a TV and my kindle

5 - If your life was turned into a movie, which actor would play you?
    Sandra Bullock

6 - If you were an animal, what kind of animal would you be?
    A Golden Retriever - loyal and easygoing

More Favorites -
TV show - Law and Order SVU and any reality show
Guilty Pleasure - Pizza
Color - Red
Sports team - She doesn't watch sports
Car - Convertible BMW

Employee Spotlight

Welcome to our new and improved Blog. Here, we plan to blog about all things veterinary, from training to medicine to heartwarming pet stuff to behind-the-scenes at the hospital. And for our first post, we're going to introduce our Employee Spotlight, and highlight one of our amazing employees each month. 

Say hello to Alicia! 

Alicia has been a veterinary technician here at Somerset Veterinary Group since May of 2012. Prior to coming to SVG, she worked as a technician in Fanwood alongside Dr. Feeney, and in fact followed Dr. Feeney here to SVG. A typical day for Alicia consists of assisting the veterinarians, caring for the hospitalized patients (giving them warm blankets, yummy treats and hugs and kisses), and filling prescriptions in the pharmacy. What she loves most about working for SVG is how everyone works together as a team and everyone really cares about each other and about doing their jobs well.

When she's not at work, she's home taking care of her furry children - Max the terrier, Oscar and Madison the chihuahuas and Martini the cat - and her human children too :) And if she has a spare moment, you might find her exercising, reading, scrapbooking, or shopping.  

We caught up with her and asked her a few silly questions. Read on to see her answers.

1-What three items would you bring with you if you were stranded on an island?
    A book (James Patterson or Janet Evanovich), my iPad and sunscreen

2- What are your top three favorite movies of all time?
     Clueless, So I Married an Axe Murderer, Finding Nemo (did we mention she has little kids?!)

3- Favorite TV show?
    Friends (even though it's no longer on) and Big Bang Theory, a very close second

4- Where would you go on a "dream" vacation?
    Fiji, I have heard that it's amazing

5- If you were an animal, what kind of animal would you be?
    A mixed breed dog

6- If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
    Being invisible

7- Biggest pet peeve?
    Dirty laundry being thrown next to the hamper, not in it.

MORE FAVORITES
Color - Purple
Sports Team - NY Jets
Candy - Skittles
Car - Anything without chocolate or a lollipop stuck to the seats :)
Guilty Pleasure - Lots of chocolate!!

If you read this far, why don't you leave a comment to give a Shout Out to Alicia for all the great work she does, caring for pets and their people.

Tips on Flying With Your Pet

If you’re planning on traveling with your pet this summer, there many important things to keep in mind. Your pet’s first flight can be a somewhat traumatic experience, especially if they are used to sticking their head out the car window and enjoying the sights along the way.

Here are some tips to help your pet have a safe flying experience:

 Book Early- Most airlines have their own pet policies, so it is important to find out what their rules are in regards to traveling with your pet.

 Visit The Veterinarian- It is important to make an appointment with your pet’s veterinarian for a check-up and make sure all vaccinations are up to date. Obtain a health certificate from your veterinarian dated within 10 days of departure.

 Buy A Carrier- Whether your dog is a Chihuahua or a Great Dane, there's a pet carrier to match. Carriers are available in both hard-sided and soft-sided. Soft-sided carriers are more suitable for carry-on and tend to fit better under the seat, but they're only permitted in the cabin only. To make sure the carrier will fit under the seat on your flight check the size restrictions of the airline in our Airline Pet Policies section.

 After you've purchased an appropriate carrier, write your dog's name on it and include identification tags with your home address and phone number as well as the address and phone number of someone who can be reached at your destination. Carry a current photograph of your pet as well. If he's lost during the trip, a photograph will make it much easier for airline employees or the local authorities to search effectively.

Take A Test Drive- Animals travel under less stress when they are accustomed to their carrier before they travel. In the weeks prior to your trip, put your dog in his carrier as often as possible for trips around town. 


Source: http://www.bringfido.com/travel/top_10_tips/

Seasonal Allergies for Pets

The spring season is upon us, and while we may be experiencing seasonal allergies, it’s important to note that our pets may be as well! In our pets, seasonal allergies look a little different. We may have headaches, coughs, and runny noses, but our pets have different symptoms. They may have itchy ears and skin.

If you notice your pet shaking their head excessively or scratching their skin a lot this season, we recommend contacting us right away for advice. We have options for helping pets that are experiencing uncomfortable seasonal allergies. Ask us today! 

Seasonal Allergies for Pets

The spring season is upon us, and while we may be experiencing seasonal allergies, it’s important to note that our pets may be as well! In our pets, seasonal allergies look a little different. We may have headaches, coughs, and runny noses, but our pets have different symptoms. They may have itchy ears and skin.

If you notice your pet shaking their head excessively or scratching their skin a lot this season, we recommend contacting us right away for advice. We have options for helping pets that are experiencing uncomfortable seasonal allergies. Ask us today! 

Tips on How to Prepare Your Pet for Severe Weather

If faced with sudden disaster, would you be prepared to help your entire family – including pets – prevent dangerous situations? 

Here are some tips to help you better prepare your pet for severe weather:

·         Identifying shelter. For public health reasons, many emergency shelters cannot accept pets. Find out which motels and hotels in the area you plan to evacuate  to allow pets. There are also a number of guides that list hotels/motels that permit pets and could serve as a starting point. Include your local animal shelter's number in your list of emergency numbers. They might be able to provide information concerning pets during a disaster.

·     

    Take pet food, bottled water, medications, veterinary records, cat litter/pan, manual can opener, food dishes, first aid kit and other supplies with you in case they're not available later. Before you find yourself in an emergency situation, consider packing a "pet survival" kit which could be easily deployed if disaster hits.

Make sure identification tags are up-to-date and securely fastened to your pet's collar. If possible, attach the address and/or phone number of your evacuation site. If your pet gets lost, his tag is his ticket home.

Make sure you have a current photo of your pet for identification purposes.

Make sure you have a secure pet carrier, leash or harness for your pet so that if he panics, he can't escape.

Why Spay and Neuter?

Spaying and neutering pets is a very simple, but also very important procedure. If your pet is not going to be used for breeding, we recommend spaying or neutering as early as possible. Not only does this procedure eliminate the risk of unwanted litters, it also helps to prolong your pet’s life by minimizing the risks of a number of health conditions!

In female pets, spaying lessens the threat of mammary tumors and cancer and ultimately eliminates the possibility of uterine and ovarian cancers. In male pets, neutering eliminates the possibility of testicular cancer and decreases the odds of prostate cancer.

Additionally, spaying or neutering your pet eliminates a lot of negative behaviors. Female pets will no longer enter a heat cycle or attempt to escape in hopes of procreating, and male pets will become more contented house pets, not out seeking females throughout the neighborhood. 

This tendency to roam can cause a lot of problems, such as danger in the roads (males seeking females are a lot more likely to be hit by cars!) and dog fights (males seeking the same female often fight to determine the winner).

Spaying and neutering can be done early in a pet’s life. We recommend for females it is performed before they have had their first heat cycle.

Winter safety tips

General Concerns

   Winter's cold air brings many concerns for responsible dog owners. Keep the following precautions in mind:

• Don't leave your dog outside in the cold for long periods of time. Wind chill makes days colder than actual temperature readings. Be attentive to your dog's body temperature, and limit its time outdoors.
• Adequate shelter is a necessity. Keep your dog warm, dry and away from drafts. Tiles and uncarpeted areas may become extremely cold, so make sure to place blankets and pads on floors in these areas.
• Be extra careful when walking or playing with your dog near frozen lakes, rivers or ponds. Your dog could slip or jump in and get seriously injured.
• Groom your dog regularly. Your dog needs a well-groomed coat to keep properly insulated. Short- or coarse-haired dogs may get extra cold, so consider a sweater or coat. Long-haired dogs should have excess hair around the toes and foot pads trimmed to ease snow removal and cleaning. If you do the trimming, take care not to cut the pads or other delicate area of the foot.
• Feed your dog additional calories if it spends a lot of time outdoors or is a working animal. It takes more energy in the winter to keep body temperature regulated, so additional calories are necessary.
• Towel or blow-dry your dog if it gets wet from rain or snow. It is important to dry and clean its paws, too. This helps avoid tiny cuts and cracked pads. A little petroleum jelly may soften the pads and prevent further cracking.
• Don't leave your dog alone in a car without proper precautions. If the car engine is left on, the carbon monoxide will endanger your dog's life. If the engine is off, the temperature in the car will get too cold.

              

                                                                                           

Health Tips

Dogs cannot talk to us when they are sick. As a responsible dog owner, it is important to pay special attention to your dog's well-being during the winter season. Remember the following health concerns:

• Antifreeze, which often collects on driveways and roadways, is highly poisonous. Although it smells and tastes good to your dog, it can be lethal.
• Rock salt, used to melt ice on sidewalks, may irritate footpads. Be sure to rinse and dry your dog's feet after a walk.
• Provide plenty of fresh water. Your dog is just as likely to get dehydrated in the winter as in the summer. Snow is not a satisfactory substitute for water.
• Frostbite is your dog's winter hazard. To prevent frostbite on its ears, tail and feet, don't leave your dog outdoors for too long.
• Be very careful of supplemental heat sources. Fireplaces and portable heaters can severely burn your dog. Make sure all fireplaces have screens, and keep portable heaters out of reach.
• Like people, dogs seem to be more susceptible to illness in the winter. Take your dog to a veterinarian if you see any suspicious symptoms.
• Don't use over-the-counter medications on your dog without consulting a veterinarian.

Published in http://www.akc.org