Tell Your Dog - It's Porcupine Season - No Quills About It

My wife and I were sound asleep on Friday morning, and our Irish Wolfe Hound came to see us but didn't say anything at 4:00 am.  My wife got up to make coffee at 6:00 am and our son comes up stairs and says, "Does anyone know our dog has quills in his mouth from a Porcupine?  My son and I removed as many quills as we could, then took him to our veterinary hospital with me where our Technician assisted me in removing the remaining quills.  Our dog was much happier after they were removed.  They do hurt!

Dogs do not like having porcupine quills removed, but it is necessary.  The removal of porcupine quills in a dogs muzzle is best done as soon as possible.  As the longer they are in the muzzle, the harder they are to remove.  Removing quills are not for the faint of heart.  Removing those quills were as hard on me as it was on my dog.  The agony, pain, and objection to the procedures is not very nice.  Then, making sure all were removed not only from the muzzle and lip but inside the mouth.  If the quill remain, they can work in deeper.

So in the event your dog is a curious one and gets surprised by a porcupine, remove them as soon as possible or call your local veterinarian for assistance.  Your dog will probably not thank you until they are all out.  Then, life is back to normal with a little healing.  Tell your dog "no" to porcupines and let them know it is porcupine season!

http://www.blaisveterinaryhospital.com

Sophia Fund Gift

Sophia Fund Gift

This is Sophia; Sophia had a lot of challenges in her life, but you would never know that by the way she greeted people.  Always happy to see a face, be it known to her or a new one, Sophia brought smiles and laughter to those who were privileged enough to meet her.  This is so true, in fact that when Sophia passed away an out of state friend of Sophia’s owner sent money to Blais Veterinary Hospital & Clinic in Sophia’s memory expressing how grateful she is for the care we give to all pets.  With this, Blais Veterinary Hospital & Clinic has started the “Sophia’s Fund” to help other pets at our clinic receive veterinary care.  If you wish to gift Sophia’s Fund, send a check payable to Blais Veterinary Hospital & Clinic with Sophia’s Fund written in the memo space, and mail to 107 Blais Road, Indiana, PA 15701.  Thank you in advance for reading Sophia’s story, and considering gifting her fund.  We at Blais Veterinary Hospital & Clinic are honored to have served Sophia and sincerely thank her owner for entrusting her care to us.

https://blaisvet.blogspot.com/2018/03/sophia-fund-gift.html

Love your Veterinary Technician

How important are Veterinary Technicians in a Veterinary Office?

Veterinary Technicians are the Veterinarian’s right hand from greeting the pet at an appointment, taking history, and relaying information to the Doctor.  The Doctor will enter the exam room with his Technician at his side.  Then who holds the pet?  Right it is the Technician.  Who prepares the vaccines?  It’s the Technician.  Who is with your pet from the beginning of pre-op surgery to surgery and monitoring the anesthesia and after care for the safety of your pet?   It is the Technician with the Doctor by their side.  Oh and it takes two to hold a pet for a blood draw which could be two technicians or one technician and the doctor.

Veterinary Technicians are equivalent to a physician’s assistant at your doctor’s office.  Veterinary Technicians assist the Veterinarian in all aspects of treating pets.  The work and skill involved for caring for pets is hard work but very rewarding.  A Technician loves animals and wishes to see the best outcome for all pet companions. 

Veterinary Technicians are an essential part of the overall function of a facility, the doctor, and any needs your pet may have.  So love your Veterinary Technician they will help your pet through any situation that may arise.

Acupuncture Channels

14 Acupoint Channels and Number of Acupoint on Each

Lung - 9

Large Intestine - 20

Stomach - 45

Spleen - 21

Heart - 9

Small Intestine - 19

Bladder - 67

Kidney - 27

Periardium - 9

Triple Heater - 23

Gallbladder - 44

Liver 14

Governing Vessel - 28

Conception Vessel - 26

About 150 of these acupoints are commonly used to treat diseases of animals

http://blaisvet.blogspot.com/2017/04/ac

http://blaisveterinaryhospital.com

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture may be defined as the stimulation of a specific point on the body with a specific method, resulting in a therapeutic homeostatic effect.  The specific point on the body is called "Shu-xu" or acupuncture point (acutpoint).  The ancient Chinese people discovered 361 acupoints in human beings and 173 acupoints in animals.

Modern research shows that acupoints are located in the areas where there is a high density of free nerve endings, mast cells, small arterioles and lymphatic vessels.  Most acupoint are motor points. A great number of studies indicate that stimulation of acupoints are induce release of beta-endorphin, serotonin and other neurotransmitters.  Therefore, acupuncture for pain relief is well supported by these scientific studies.  As more studies are conducted, the mechanism of this ancient therapy will be better understood

.http://www.blaisveterinaryhospital.com

http://blaisvet.blogspot.com/2017/04/what-is-acupuncture.html

What Disorders can Acupuncture Treat?

Acupuncture can treat many disorders.  The following are some of the disorders.

Musculoskeletal
Dermatologic
Neurological
Opthalmological
Behavior
Cardiac
Pulmonary
Gastrointestinal
Renal
Reproductive
Endocrine
Immunological
Neoplastic

Is Acupuncture Painful?

http://www.blaisveterinaryhospital.comThis is a question I'm often asked.  I'll go through the various arguments with you here to let you see all sides of the argument.  The first thing to say is that it is impossible to put a needle through the skin without provoking some sensation.

It is not always painful, but can sometimes be a sharp sensation.  If the acupuncturist has chosen a point that is very blocked, then sometimes stimulation of the point when the needle gets through the skin is uncomfortable.

So why do we do it if it is painful sometimes?  Answer:  The benefits outweigh the mild discomfort of the treatment.  The first thing vets are taught that all animal and human healers learn is 'First, do no harm'.

In most cases, after the insertion of the needles, the pet will lay very comfortably on the table or on the clients lap until the treatment is over.