Happy Valentine's Day!

This is Jackson, a Miniature Schnauzer with a BIG heart.  Jackson came to us almost two years ago with symptoms of congestive heart failure.  Although Jackson had never had a problem with his heart, he now had a severe heart murmur and labored breathing.

Jackson was admitted to the hospital and given oxygen as well as a diuretic, to help remove fluid from his lungs.  Diagnostic testing showed that his mitral valve was not working at full capacity.  This caused the tendons in his heart, called chordae tendineae, to rupture.  In a larger dog, this may have been a fatal event, but Jackson's small body was able to compensate until he received treatment.

His heart will never return to normal, but proper medication, lifestyle management, and regular checkups have helped him maintain a good quality of life.  He also receives plenty of tender loving care!

Happy Valentine's Day, Jackson!

The Merit of Microchips

Is your pet microchipped?  If not, I would encourage you to consider this service carefully.  Microchips are a safe, permanent way to identify your pet.  Many lost pets are returned to their owners each year because they could be identified via microchip.    

Microchips are easily implanted using a needle and syringe (similar to how a vaccine is administered).  In dogs and cats, the microchip is placed under the skin on the back of the neck or between the shoulder blades.  Most microchips remain in place and are readable throughout the life of the pet. 

Microchips can be seen on an x-ray, but the microchip number can only be read by a scanner.  Most scanners available today are universal, which means they read most types of microchips.

A microchip (green circle) implanted in a dog 

Close-up view of the microchip.

Once your pet is microchipped, you'll need to register with the manufacturer.  Be sure to keep your contact information current so you can be easily contacted in an emergency.  Microchip number and manufacturer information should be kept for the life of your pet.