Spring Greening
A letter from Dr. Goodman...

We're all aware of the environmental problems facing our planet. Global warming is a "hot" topic these days. The air we breathe, the water we drink, and even the food we eat is more contaminated and more polluted than any of us would like. And whether we agree or disagree on the validity of global warming, we all can agree that we are polluting our planet at an ever increasing rate. Sadly, our pets are exposed to the same pollutants and toxins that we are. The price for all of us is the same. It not only affects our longevity and our quality of life, but those of future generations.

I started my quest by taking inventory of what we were already doing to be "green". I was pleasantly surprised by just how much we were doing. The hospital team has always been good about recycling. With 8 recycle bins for a vigilant staff, not much in the way of paper, cardboard, or plastic makes it to the trash bin. For materials that cannot be recycled with Metro, such as plastic syringes, we take regular trips to a recycling center.

Besides these recycling efforts, we were one of the first veterinary hospitals in Oregon to convert to Electronic Medical Records (EMR). "Paperless" is the wave of the future and EMR's not only save paper (& trees), but is also a more efficient way to practice medicine and access your pets' medical data. Likewise, we are saving paper by sending initial reminders by e-mail and converting our paper newsletter to the e-newsletter you are reading now. When we made the switch to digital x-rays, we not only made imaging safer for your pet through less radiation, but we are no longer using toxic chemicals and x-ray film. A courier service used to be required to deliver the x-rays to the specialist for reading, but this is all done electronically now. Likewise, we recently began using biodegradable plastic bags to send home medications and food. Behind the scenes, we are also using biodegradable "poop" bags.

Other recent changes we've made include purchasing energy star appliances for the hospital, and using fleece instead of towels in our kennels because they dry faster. We have also replaced all of the lights in the hospital with energy star qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs. Still, with all that we are doing, there is always more to do. I have set goals for the next year including converting all FAX communications to efax and finding "greener" cleaning agents that will still meet our rigorous standards for antimicrobial action. I'm also planning to convert our water heater to a tankless water heater, install a water saving toilet and investigate how the clinic might purchase wind energy.

Ok, so I'm not perfect. I still drive a Yukon, but I'm planning to ride my bike into work on nicer days, AND my wife drives a Prius (which she insists we drive when doing any errands). Please join us in doing your part for the planet. Remember, the answer lies in a million little contributions that each of us can be a part of!

Sincerely,
Dr. Laird Goodman

Dr. Goodman is the Medical Director and Practice Owner of Murrayhill Veterinary Hospital. He lives in Tigard with his family and enjoys spending time with his Golden Retriever, Zoey and his three cats, Lilly, Eileen, and Annie

Dr. Goodman's Bio

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Murrayhill is awarded AAHA Accreditation

Murrayhill Veterinary Hospital is excited to announce that we have achieved renewal of our accreditation by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). Earlier this spring, our hospital was evaluated on almost 900 veterinary standards of excellence. AAHA standards of accreditation cover patient care, pain management, emergency, urgent care and many more that are crucial to delivering the high quality of veterinary care that the team members here at Murrayhill Veterinary Hospital strive for. Only 15% of animal hospitals in the United States and Canada have achieved AAHA accreditaion and we are proud to be one of them!

If you would like to know more about the American Animal Hospital Association please visit their website through the link below.

 

American Animal Hospital Association

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Pets and Parasites
By: Dr. Gabriella Flacke

Spring has sprung, or at least we should be expecting the weather to get nicer in the very near future! People and pets alike will emerge from indoors after a longer, colder, wetter, and snowier than usual winter and frolic in the great outdoors. However, although the warm weather will be welcomed with open arms, there are a few things associated with warmer weather that may not be as welcomed, as far as our beloved four-legged friends are concerned. That's right, parasite season will be in full swing once again! That not only refers to internal parasites, but also external parasites, including fleas and ticks. However, do not despair, there are a variety of options available to protect you, your family, and your beloved furry family members from the myriad of parasites that are lurking in the great outdoors.

The first "family" of parasites that most dog and cat owners are aware of are the gastrointestinal parasites, including roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms, giardia, and coccidia. The first two of these parasites are nematodes, meaning true worms, and are transmitted by the fecal to oral contact route. That means if another animal that was infected with one of these parasites left a fecal sample somewhere in the dirt, there will be thousands to millions of eggs laying in wait for your pet to come along at some point in time later, dig around, lick his or her paws, and ingest some of these eggs. The parasite eggs can be very resilient in the soil and are not easily destroyed by cold or warm temperatures, so even if it's weeks to months later, the eggs can still be infectious to your pet. And not only are roundworms and hookworms contagious to dogs and cats, they are zoonotic as well, meaning they are also contagious to you and your family. Roundworm infection is the number one cause of blindness in small children in the United States, and hookworm larvae can cause an itchy, irritating skin rash, if we come into contact with soil or sand contaminated with hookworm eggs.

The good news is that roundworm and hookworm infestations can easily be prevented in both dogs and cats. Although several good products are available, Murrayhill Veterinary Hospital recommends Sentinel or Interceptor for dogs and Revolution for cats as monthly preventative treatments for these parasites on a year-round basis. Not only do Sentinel/Interceptor and Revolution prevent hookworms and roundworms, they also prevent heartworm, an emerging (meaning previously uncommon but becoming more common in recent years) parasitic disease in the Pacific Northwest. Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoes, so your pet does not even need to contact another animal or spend much time outside to become infected. And as the name implies, this parasite infects the heart, eventually causing irreversible damage to the heart valves and the lungs. Heartworm disease is much easier and safer to prevent than to treat, and treatment is now being recommended for both dogs and cats.

Fleas and ticks are much more active in the warmer months than in the winter. In the Pacific Northwest, even though we are lucky to live in an area of the country where ticks are not as common as in the Midwest, Southeast, or Northeast, they are still present and can cause harm to your pet. Some of the problems caused by fleas and ticks are from biting and causing sores and itchy reactions, but are also due to the transmission of diseases such as Lyme's Disease, Bartonellosis, and Ehrlichiosis. Fortunately, Sentinel for dogs and Revolution for cats prevent and reduce flea infestations; however, neither of these products will target ticks. Murrayhill recommends supplementing with monthly Frontline treatment for both dogs and cats if your pet's lifestyle puts them at risk for tick infestation.

And what about giardia and coccidia, those two other intestinal parasites I mentioned earlier? Unfortunately there are no monthly preventative treatments for these organisms, which are actually protazoa and not nematodes (worms). They are microscopic and thus are not readily seen in the feces. However, they generally cause clinical symptoms if your pet is infected (unlike roundworm and hookworm infections, which often go undetected by the pet owner). If infected, a pet will usually exhibit diarrhea or soft stools and possibly frank blood in the stool. If you notice these symptoms in your pet , please call us, bring in a fresh fecal sample, and we can run a test to determine if these (or other) parasites are present. Although coccidia are species-specific and thus not contagious to people, giardia can cause severe intestinal symptoms in humans as well, so always call your veterinarian if your dog is exhibiting ongoing or bloody diarrhea.

And then there's the final favorite parasite - tapeworm! These parasites generally do not go unnoticed by pet owners as the characteristic "rice grain" in the feces is hard to miss. Most tapeworms are contracted by ingesting the intermediate host, the flea; however, occasionally ingestion of lizards, birds, mice, and other small mammals (mostly by cats) can also cause tapeworm infection. By using flea prevention products, such as Sentinel, Revolution, and Frontline, you will be protecting your pets against tapeworm infections as well.

So get out there and enjoy the great outdoors, but make sure you and your pets are protected first!

Dr. Flacke's Bio

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Join us in welcoming our new practice manager...
Dara Rishwain Joins the Murrayhill Team

As the practice manager, my goal is to create the best environment for the staff and patients. I strive to raise the bar within our hospital by promoting exceptional patient care and client service. I take pride in our hospital and want only the best care for the pets!

 

Murrayhill Veterinary Hospital

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Digital Dental Radiography Comes to Murrayhill!
By: Dr. Alicia Zambelli

Murrayhill is proud to add digital dental radiography to our dental capabilities! What does this mean for you and your pet?

1) Less time under anesthesia: Digital radiographs (x-rays) don't need to be developed by hand, and therefore significantly reduce the time your pet needs to be anesthetized. After they are taken, they instantly appear on a computer monitor for evaluation. We can tell immediately if we need to reposition and take an additional radiograph, or if the radiograph is just right.

2) Instant access to prior radiographs for comparison: We can instantly compare with previous radiograph to track problem areas over time. This is more efficient and reliable than sorting through filed radiographic films.

3) Enhanced detail evaluation: With digital radiography, we are able to enlarge and enhance the images we take to thoroughly and more completely evaluate trouble spots. This gives us superior diagnostic ability, and lets us catch lesions we may have had difficulty seeing before.

With 80% of all pets having oral disease by 3 years of age, dental care is a huge part of maintaining our pets' health. As our understanding of the importance of dental care has evolved, so has our utilization of radiography. Radiographs help us see below the gumline, see which teeth we may be able to save, and identify problems before we can see them with the naked eye.

Just as we have radiographs of our own teeth taken, dental radiographs are critical for ensuring happy, healthy mouths in our four legged family members.

We at Murrayhill are proud to be on the cutting edge of dental heath care for your pet!

Dr. Zambelli's Bio

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