Thank you for entrusting us with your pet’s health and happiness. As pet owners ourselves, we know the great joys our furry friends can bring to our lives, and sadly, we know the heartache that comes with saying goodbye.

Because of the deep bond we have with pets and their owners, we are honored to have the pleasure of partnering with you through all phases of your baby’s life journey. We are proud to offer pet lovers a place where all of your needs can be met.

We look forward to meeting you and your pet soon!

Dr. Steve Hotchkiss and Staff

When traveling on an airplane, it’s not unusual for our veterinarians to hear from their seat mate, “Oh, I always wanted to be a veterinarian!” which is usually quickly followed by a show-and-tell of photos and a bevy of questions from the complex to, “Why does my dog eat his own poop?” Veterinary medicine consistently ranks among the most respected and admired professions. Pet owners and animal lovers do think highly of veterinarians, but many don’t know the incredible schooling that these animal doctors must complete.

Additionally, when asked what a veterinarian does, most people will respond with a phrase about “taking care of animals.” While that is certainly true, most are unaware of the incredible diversity of careers found in the veterinary profession. Not only do veterinarians care for our companion animals and our livestock, but they are also found doing important research that benefits both people and pets or even helping governments track and prepare for newly-emerging diseases. Veterinarians are active in the military, our food inspection services, in the public health sector and even in designing new foods and medications to help animals.

So, what does it take to become a veterinarian?

First, good grades throughout high school and an undergraduate program in college are essential. Course work should be strong in math and sciences, but it is also important for the student to be well rounded. As an example, communication courses are vital as the majority of veterinarians will need to effectively explain complex medical diseases and terminology to pet owners or ranchers and farmers.

These early years are also a great time to focus on finding a job or volunteer opportunity that gives hand on experiences with animals. Animal shelters often accept school age volunteers, but don’t forget about the possibilities offered by Future Farmers of America programs or the local 4H. These days, weeks and months of working closely with animals can help a prospective veterinary student understand the challenges of animal care.

After a minimum of two years of undergraduate work, the process for applying to veterinary school can begin. Competition for the open spots is extremely fierce. There are 28 schools of veterinary medicine in the United States with 4 in Canada and another 4 located in the Caribbean. Compare that to the 134 human medical schools in the US! Also, each of these universities generally only accepts about 100 students for each veterinary class, meaning that about 3000 slots are available for each new class. Again, human medical schools graduate about 20,000 new doctors each year.

Once accepted, new veterinary students will find that their school days will be very regimented and filled with an incredible amount of information. For the first two years, the focus is on the sciences.   Lectures on the anatomy of various animal species, physiology, microbiology and many more subjects are the focus on the student’s days.

Then, as the students progress into their third and fourth years, all of the information they committed to memory can now be used in a practical manner as they move towards more hands on work in the veterinary teaching hospitals and labs. We have hosted many 4^th-year veterinary students who have interacted with our doctors and clients as they learned the important skills of client interaction. These students have assisted with emergencies, surgeries, dental procedures, and routine wellness appointments.

When graduation finally arrives, the learning and education process is not over for these brand new animal doctors. In order to practice veterinary medicine, new graduates must pass national and state board exams. Then, even as they are learning the expertise of daily routines at their new job, continuing education (CE) is a requirement of all veterinarians. This CE helps veterinarians stay on top of a variety of technological and treatment protocol changes.

Some veterinarians continue their education, specializing in areas like dentistry, radiology, or even lab animal medicine. There are almost 40 different specialty organizations and veterinarians who seek to become a specialist may add another 4-6 years on to their education.

As you can see, becoming a veterinarian not only takes passion and intelligence, but a fair amount of sacrifice and commitment as well. The degree of “Doctor of Veterinary Medicine” or “Veterinary Medical Doctor” is one of diversity and certainly a rewarding profession.

The following is a letter sent to our clients from Dr. Hotchkiss on 9/15/11.

Given the current economic challenges and the uncertainty it creates in all of our lives, I wanted to thank you for allowing us the privilege of caring for your pets. I know that you have many choices of veterinary care available to you and that you spend your hard-earned dollars with great care and scrutiny. I am extremely grateful for your loyalty and trust. My desire is to continue to provide your pets with quality care that you can depend upon.

As budgets become tighter, and jobs continue to be lost, many families are making the hard decision to surrender their pets to shelters. It’s a sad reality. Our shelters are filled with great pets who are victims of a struggling economy. This weekend, dogs destined to live, or more likely, die in a North Texas animal shelter will receive a new “leash” on life as the Mustang Heritage Foundation (MHF) and the North Texas Humane Society team up to host Extreme Mutt Makeover 2011.

Rachel, our trainer at The Grand Pet Resort and Salon, was chosen to participate in this unique event. Fifteen trainers were assigned a shelter dog through random draw and were given eight weeks to train it. These duos are gathering at Will Rogers Coliseum this weekend to compete for prizes and show off the dogs’ skills in front of many potential adopters. As the MHF Executive Director Patti Colbert said, “This is taking rescue to an extreme by including accomplished dog trainers in the lives of these abandoned and unwanted animals, proving that they can be truly valuable to the lives of the adopters.”

Rachel was partnered up with Hitch, a 1 ½ year old American Pit Bull Terrier. He was discovered at the ASPCA in Solano County, CA, where he’d lived since he was a young puppy. He was chosen for this competition by a canine trainer for the federal government who recognized a focus in Hitch that he couldn’t pass up. He packed Hitch up and brought him to Texas where he’s been living and training in the lap of luxury at The Grand! It has been a pleasure watching his potential come to fruition. He’s a great dog deserving of an owner who can provide him with the home he’s never had. Click on the video link below to meet our Extreme Mutt. 

Are You a Fit for Hitch?

Rachel and Hitch welcome your support this weekend at the Extreme Mutt Makeover. Thank you again, for your loyalty! It truly is an honor partnering with you through all phases of your pet’s life journey.

Sincerely,

Dr. Steve Hotchkiss

The ever growing pet product market ranges from fashion to fun, exercise to IQ puzzles, gourmet pet foods and treats….and everything in between. These products are available on on-line pet specialty sites, at pet boutiques and in many superstores. 

In considering which new products to purchase, it’s important to evaluate what your pet will enjoy, if the product provides healthy, fun activity and the value to your pocketbook. Here’s a look at some innovative products by major categories.   

EXERCISE & PLAY products are dually beneficial. Look for pet-engaging toys with healthful options such as the following products:

1)    The Hydro Freeze® family of toys. This toy product group provides hours of dog-chewing, fetching fun while simultaneously hydrating the dog. The award winning HydroBone® is now being joined by their new HydroBall® and HydroSaucer®.

2)    If your pet needs more exercise than you have time for, check out the DogTread® treadmill. It provides great fitness at home, and there will be no more traipsing out in the rain, snow, or mud with Fido!

3)     Let your pet go wild with the Bubble Buddy® (pictured above)! This bubble blower, specially designed for dogs, uses SCENTED bubbles…like chicken or bacon! Just sit back, blow the bubbler, and let the dog exercise while chasing those tasty bubbles!

4)    For those tough pups, try Kong’s Wubba…specially designed for durability and keeping your pup entertained!
 
BOREDOM or BEHAVIOR ISSUES can be positively handled if you have the right product.

5)    The ThunderShirt® (pictured above) has a calming effect on the pet’s nervous system and has proven successful for that anxious canine, especially during summer storms. This helpful product will be available for purchase soon at Hulen Hills Animal Hospital and The Grand Pet Resort!

6)    Felines are not forgotten either when it comes to good therapeutic products! Cats that suffer from cabin fever, can safely enjoy the outdoors in their Kritter Kondo®. This easy-to-set up enclosure gives the cat a fun way to enjoy the outdoors in a safe environment.

7)    A great indoor cat product is the eco-friendly cathouse system® (pictured above). These cardboard kitty play houses are foldable, stackable and changeable and they provide hours of play fun for indoor cats.

NUTRITION AND FEEDING PRODUCTS. You can even find innovation on the pet food aisle!

8)    Award winning and very popular KONG®  continues  to introduce new toys for dogs and cats (pictured above). Their new KONG Wobbler® dispenses food while providing entertainment too. And now KONG® has come out with KONG Stuffin’®- a pepperoni-paste filler for the KONG toys!

9)    New pet food diets are released almost every week. We like Royal Canin products. We strongly advise everyone to consult with one of our veterinarians to find the right food for your pet!

10)    Veterinarians know the importance of fresh water…so much so that a veterinarian invented the fresh-flowing Drinkwell Water Fountain® system for cats and dogs.

11)    Pooches LOVE treats. We LOVE Pink Poodle Gourmet company (pictured above). These beautiful and tasty treats will be available for purchase at The Grand Pet Resort soon!

TRAVEL & SAFETY PRODUCTS. Today more folks are traveling with their pets, and there are many great travel and safety products available.  There’s everything from GPS collars for tracking that wayward pet to cute pet themed totes, safety belts, and of course—haute couture for the pet traveler. Fun travel products are sure to add charm to Fido’s adventures.

With so many new and great pet products in the marketplace, it’s easy to be overwhelmed. Key things to look for include: Award winning designations, American- made, Eco-friendly, and, of course, veterinarian endorsed products. Other important factors to consider when selecting the right products are your pet’s age, agility, and interests.

With a little research on-line or through your veterinarian, you’re sure to become an educated pet product consumer…and a real hero to your pet too!

You might not know what Parvo is, but if you have an unvaccinated adult dog or are the proud parent of a new puppy, you should keep reading. Parvovirus is a disease that can kill your dog and break your heart. It’s shed into the environment through an infected dog’s feces. It’s extremely contagious, and, amazingly, the virus can stay alive in grass and dirt for years, meaning a simple walk through the neighborhood can put your unvaccinated pooch at risk!

Parvo is a viral infection that attacks the lining of the intestinal track causing severe, bloody diarrhea, lethargy, anorexia, fever, vomiting and weight loss. The infection interferes with the body’s ability to absorb nutrients, which causes a dog to become dehydrated and completely defenseless against the aggressive and deadly virus. Krista, whose newly adopted American Bulldog puppy named Wylie (shown above) battled Parvo, said, “We knew something was really wrong when he started sleeping 24/7 on the couch and hardly moving.”

Puppies are especially at risk of the disease. That’s why it’s important to keep new puppies close to home until they’ve received a complete cycle of vaccinations (which takes 3 – 4 visits). Unfortunately for Wylie, he came in contact with Parvovirus when he was about 6-weeks old. Although he’d already begun his cycle of vaccines, his immunity against Parvo had not yet developed.  Krista first noticed that Wylie stopped eating. Then he started having “projectile” diarrhea. A simple test determined he was Parvo positive. Krista remembers the moment she and her family got the news from Dr. Hotchkiss, “We were all devastated and completely heartbroken. Even though we only had him for a couple of weeks, we had already fallen in love with this little guy.”

Like most Parvo patients, we hospitalized Wylie so our medical team could combat his symptoms and keep him hydrated while his immune system fought the virus. Since the disease is an infection, there is no real cure for it and, sadly, about 25% of infected dogs die from severe dehydration, secondary bacterial infections, and shock.  Although Parvo is a terrible infection, we’ve had a lot of success saving the ones we have a chance to help. Thankfully, Wylie is a survivor. As Krista recalls, “The staff told us that Wylie was a fighter and that this was one of the best Parvo puppy cases that they had seen because of his speedy recovery,” Krista recalls.

Let’s hope that after his rough start, Wylie’s life is filled with refreshing romps in the pool, long naps on the couch, savory treats, and loving hugs and kisses from Krista and his adoring family. 

CANINE PARVOVIRUS FACTS

• Canine Parvovirus is a serious, often deadly disease of dogs. Parvo causes severe vomiting and diarrhea and can be especially devastating to puppies.
• Canine Parvovirus arrived in the US in the late 1970s causing great concern among dog breeders, dog showers, veterinarians and all pet owners. Fortunately, development of effective vaccines helped check the spread of Parvo.
• The treatment for Parvovirus can be extremely expensive depending on the severity of the strain. Treatment can range from $1,000 to $10,000 and beyond.
• The cost of the annual vaccine that protects a dog from Parvo is $9.
• Oprah Winfrey rescued two Cocker Spaniel puppies named Ivan and Sadie from a shelter in Chicago in 2009. Sadly, Oprah’s dog Ivan died of Parvo soon after his adoption. After a lengthy stay at a veterinary hospital, Sadie survived the disease and is now well-known for being one of the mogul’s most steady companions.

In an effort to promote adoption of homeless animals (some shown above), the Mustang Heritage Foundation is working in conjunction with the Humane Society of North Texas to host The Extreme Mutt Makeover, a unique event that will showcase the talents of dogs who have lived many days or months in shelters across North Texas (and one from California). The Extreme Mutt Makeover will be held in conjunction with the “Supreme Extreme Mustang Makeover,” September 16 and 17, 2011 at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Ft. Worth, Texas.

Selected trainers will be assigned a shelter dog through random draw, train it for eight weeks and return to compete for prizes during the Supreme Extreme Mustang Makeover.

The Grand Pet Resort & Salon nominated Rachel to be one of the trainers. We were just notified that she has been selected to participate. On July 23, Rachel will learn who our shelter Mutt is through a random draw. This lucky homeless pooch will live and train at The Grand until the event in September. We will also be tasked to give our Mutt a makeover! During the Extreme Mutt Makeover, Rachel and our dog will have a few minutes to demonstrate basic obedience skills and showcase any special talents. The event culminates with people having the opportunity to adopt these great dogs. We hope our Mutt wins the ultimate prize – A NEW FAMILY!

Check out the video we submitted along with Rachel’s application:

Rachel Application Video — Extreme Mutt Makeover 2011

Xylitol is a sugar substitute that is commonly used in sugar-free candy and gum, as well as baked goods and toothpaste. Introduced to the United States in 1975, xylitol has become an increasingly common way to satisfy a sweet tooth while promoting a healthy lifestyle. This sweetener has little effect on human blood glucose levels, making it useful for people with diabetes who are trying to control their blood sugar levels. Additionally, xylitol has been approved by the FDA as a way to prevent tooth decay. Although this sweetener has health benefits for people, xylitol has serious toxic effects in our canine companions!

Xylitol has long been known to cause hypoglycemia, or abnormally low blood glucose levels, in dogs. Within 30 minutes of ingestion, xylitol can cause the pancreas to secrete large amounts of insulin. This encourages the dog’s muscle and fat tissue to use too much blood glucose. The result, hypoglycemia, has devastating effects on a dog’s neurological system, which can lead to seizures or death. Symptoms of hypoglycemia are often lethargy, confusion, sudden blindness, stumbling, and shaking. More recently, xylitol has been shown to cause acute liver failure within 72 hours of ingestion.

Even small doses of xylitol can cause a pooch to become gravely ill. Only 0.1 gram of xylitol per 2.2 pounds of body weight can cause hypoglycemia, while only .5 grams can cause liver failure. Since a piece of sugarless gum can have between 0.3 and 1 gram of xylitol, it will only take a few pieces to poison a dog. There are 190 grams of xylitol in 1 cup of the sweetener. This means that if a recipe for 12 cupcakes call for a cup of xylitol, a 50 pound pup can become ill after eating 1 cupcake!

If you suspect your canine companion has ingested a product containing xylitol, it is important that a veterinarian intervenes as soon as possible. Xylitol can be digested and reach maximum levels in the body in as few as 30 minutes. Treatment focuses on managing the results of xylitol poisoning, which involves a great deal of intensive supportive care. A patient will be placed on I.V. fluids to help flush xylitol from the bloodstream. Additionally, a veterinarian will closely monitor liver enzymes to watch for signs of liver damage, as well as check blood sugar levels so that low glucose can be supplemented as needed. At Hulen Hills, this important care occurs around the clock. 

The best treatment is to avoid giving pets access to products containing xylitol. Many times, xylitol toxicity happens when a pooch gets into a purse or bag containing sugarless gum. If such an accident happens, remember that our doctors and staff are available to help 24 hours a day!

Holiday dining often incorporates foods that are higher in fat and more heavily seasoned than summer fare. The season, after all, lends itself to turning inward to home and family. Our pets often join us as we celebrate, and we can be tempted to share our meals with our fur-babies. Nina, one of our nurses, reminds us that feeding our four-legged kids from the dinner table can lead to a serious medical condition known as pancreatitis. “Our pets may love the rich food we eat, but too often table snacks leads these guys straight to us!”

When a pet eats a high-fat meal, the pancreas can become inflamed and begin to leak digestive enzymes, a process akin to the organ digesting itself.  Known as pancreatitis, this condition is common when pets have a diet that is consistently high-fat. But it only takes one high-fat meal to cause pancreatitis, as Barry (the white poodle pictured above) found out after eating a lamb shank as a special treat! Barry had many of the symptoms of pancreatitis, including lethargy, depression, vomiting, diarrhea, and a very painful abdomen.

It takes a lot of love to help a pet through this illness. Pancreatitis is usually treated using supportive measures, meaning that Hulen Hills’ veterinarians and nurses work together around the clock to aggressively control a baby’s pain, and to hydrate and nourish them while giving the pancreas time to heal. Barry was with us for several days while Nina and the rest of our staff helped him recover. Barry’s mom reports that he is 100% back to normal, which gives us the satisfaction of a job well done!

The best defense against pancreatitis is to ensure your pet is eating a diet that is not too high in fat. We know that giving our pets a special treat is one way we show our love, and that it can be hard to say no when our babies want a bite of our delicious meals. Replace bonding over food with bonding during a walk or play. Nina offers a unique way to show your baby special attention. “One of the best parts of the holidays is snuggling under the covers,” says Nina. Instead of giving your pet a chocolate chip cookie, offer them a treat by inviting them to snuggle with you!

Coughing. Hacking. Sneezing. Runny noses. We all know that cold season is upon us, so many of us take steps to keep the sniffles at bay. We may wash our hands more often, give a wide berth to anyone who sneezes, and take supplements to give our immune systems an advantage over attacking viruses.  But did you know your pooches need help to ward off their own colds?

Colds in dogs are commonly referred to as “kennel cough” or “infectious tracheobronchitis.” These terms describe a variety of highly contagious respiratory infections. Krista, a member of The Grand Pet Resort and Salon’s Guest Services team, knows a lot about keeping The Grand Guests safe from this condition. “It’s important that our Guests have a fun and healthy stay with us,” Krista says. Fun is easy to achieve at The Grand, since Krista can offer Guests activities such as play dates, pool time, and personal displays of affection.

Keeping Guests healthy at The Grand takes a bit more work. “We always make sure our environment is clean, and that our Guests’ medical needs are met,” Krista says. “A Guest who doesn’t act normally or shows symptoms of illness is taken to Hulen Hills Animal Hospital so that a veterinarian can examine and, if needed, treat them.” Yet, all this hard work isn’t enough to prevent a pup from catching kennel cough.

The most effective way to prevent kennel cough is to keep the environment free from the pathogens which cause kennel cough by ensuring guests are vaccinated.  “A regularly vaccinated pet is at a much lower risk of contracting kennel cough, so we require that all of our Guests are vaccinated for their stay,” Krista explains. The specific vaccine that protects dogs from kennel cough is Bordetella.

Following this recommendation, all pooches staying at The Grand must receive the Bordetella vaccine once every six months, in addition to a number of other vaccines that are required each year.

Like the human cold, kennel cough can be spread through the air. An infected pup will shed the infection-causing pathogens by coughing or sneezing. The bacteria and viruses become aerosolized, like the tiny bit of oil in cooking spray. Any nearby pooches can catch the same illness simply by breathing in the germs. 

If your pup shows symptoms of kennel cough at home—such as coughing, sneezing, and runny nose or eyes—it’s best to let them rest away from other pets until you can schedule an appointment with your veterinarian.

Krista and the rest of the Guest Services team will ensure every Guest checking in for an overnight stay at The Grand has gotten these shots. She is also able to offer a convenient service if a Guest hasn’t had the vaccinations required. She can arrange for pets to visit Hulen Hills Animal Hospital, which is located right next door, and the medical staff there will update the vaccines that are due.

Krista finds all of her hard work to keep The Grand Guest’s happy and healthy very rewarding. “My favorite part of the day is when pet parents come to pick up their babies after boarding with us,” Krista says. “Seeing their faces when they pick up their babies who got great care while they were here reassures us that we are all doing a great job! We hate to see our babies go, but look forward to them coming back!”

If you have any questions about The Grand Pet Resort and Spa or our vaccine requirements, feel free to contact us at (817) 989-PAWS.

Recent frosty days and freezing nights remind many of us to prepare for winter. Sweaters are brought out, firewood is stacked, and our vehicles need to be winterized — including changing the antifreeze. Such preparations sometimes lead to ethylene glycol poisoning, which effects over 10,000 dogs and cats a year, and is the most common form of pet poisoning in the United States.

Ethylene glycol is the primary ingredient in antifreeze, making up 95 to 97% of the product.  A tiny amount of antifreeze is enough to cause pets to become dangerously ill. Only a teaspoon or two will poison a cat, while three tablespoons will poison a fifteen pound dog. A dog only needs to ingest 2 to 3 milliliters of ethylene glycol per pound of body weight to get a lethal dose of the toxin; cats only need to ingest 0.64 milliliters for the same effect.

Dr. Trista Pleimann, one of our emergency veterinarians, says that what makes ethylene glycol such a dangerous and common form of poisoning is that the toxin’s sweet smell and taste appeals to an animal’s sweet tooth. “Dogs and cats are attracted to sweetness because sweetness suggests that a food has a lot of energy,” Dr. Pleimann explains. Dogs and cats will ingest large quantities of antifreeze to take advantage of what they perceive to be a good source of energy. 

When looking for clinical signs of ethylene glycol poisoning, Dr. Pleimann advises pet owners that the toxin has an immediate and a long-term affect on the body, and that the symptoms of each depend on how long it has been since the pet drank the antifreeze as well as the amount they drank.

Antifreeze is rapidly absorbed and metabolized once it has been consumed. Thirty minutes after drinking antifreeze, a pet can appear to be drunken or wobbly, a condition known as ataxia. Pets may also drink excessive amounts of water, and urinate more frequently. The toxin can also irritate the stomach lining, causing the dog or cat to vomit.

Within three hours of ingestion, the level of ethylene glycol in a dog or cat’s blood has usually reached its peak. “Eventually, the drunken, ataxic behavior lessens,” says Dr. Pleimann, “and the pet appears to be recovering.” However, this stage is the biological equivalent of fool’s gold because at this point the ethylene glycol will begin to damage the pet’s kidneys.

Preventing the patient from metabolizing ethylene glycol is essential to effectively treating antifreeze poisoning. When the liver and kidneys process ethylene glycol, the toxin is broken down into three individual toxins: glycolic acid, formic acid, and oxalate. The resulting toxins then cause severe kidney damage, resulting in a condition known as uremia, in which the kidneys can no longer remove waste from the dog or cat’s body. They may become lethargic and dehydrated, or may develop diarrhea, mouth ulcers, rapid breathing and seizures. “Once the kidneys are damaged to the extent that the dog or cat develops uremia,” Dr. Pleimann explains, “there is no good treatment for antifreeze poisoning.”

When Dr. Pleimann suspects that one of her patients has been poisoned by antifreeze, the first step is to do a blood test to confirm the presence of the poison in the patient’s blood stream. “In about 15 minutes, we know whether the pet is positive or negative for ethylene glycol,” she explains. “Because the poison is a type of alcohol, it is absorbed very quickly. Speed is the key to treating antifreeze poisoning.”

The best treatment for ethylene glycol poisoning requires a great deal of TLC, and, usually, for the pet to be hospitalized. During that time, our nurses and doctors will keep the patient pain-free and comfortable while administering an antidote and fluids and monitoring for kidney damage with blood tests. Since our team is always here, subtle changes and improvements in the pet’s health can be observed all day and night.

Dr. Pleimann stresses that the best treatment for ethylene glycol poisoning is prevention, and offers the following tips for keeping your baby safe:

• Store antifreeze in sealed, clearly marked containers, out of the reach of children and pets.
• Regularly check your vehicle(s) for antifreeze leaks.
• Clean up any antifreeze spills immediately and dispose of any antifreeze-contaminated rags or paper towels in a sealed container.
• Switch to a brand of antifreeze that contains propylene glycol instead of ethylene glycol. Propylene glycol is not as toxic as ethylene glycol.
• Never allow pets access to the area when draining radiator fluid from a vehicle.
• Use products that do not contain ethylene glycol.
• Do not allow pets to drink out of or walk through puddles as water runoff may contain antifreeze from other vehicles.
• If your pet may have walked through antifreeze, wash the pet’s paws when finished with the walk.