Articles Archives - Pismo Beach Veterinary Clinic

SUSTAINABILITY Matters at PBVC

Posted on July 7, 2022July 7, 2022 by Joel Conn

SUSTAINABILITY MATTERS AT PBVC

Pismo Beach Veterinary Clinic believes in sustainability and doing our part to preserve our planet.

We feel so lucky to live, work, and play in this amazing, diverse, and beautiful place we call the Central Coast. Even after 16 years living here, I still get a little tingle of excitement and gratitude when I pass Ontario Ridge heading south from SLO on 101 and get my first glimpse of the ocean. It is easy, sometimes, to forget that despite our idyllic weather and picturesque surroundings, our planet is in trouble.

Pismo Beach Veterinary Clinic exists, at its core, to help our clients and our patients live happier, healthier, and more fulfilling lives. As such, we feel a responsibility to take whatever actions we can to help decrease our carbon footprint and to set an example in our community for environmental stewardship. Though Sarah and I have always emphasized sustainability in all aspects of our private life, we (for some reason) never really considered the importance of bringing these concepts into our business. We now recognize that taking these steps as a business is even more important than doing so individually because we are potentially able to have a much larger sphere of influence and have a trickle-down effect on our staff, clients, and community.

Here are a few of the many things we are doing to reduce our environmental impact:

We have fully revamped our recycling program to maximize our waste reduction, including recycling of e-waste, alternative plastics, and composting green waste.
We have replaced all of our toilets with ultra-low water toilets.
We have installed a huge solar array and Tesla power walls, allowing us to be nearly 100% self-powered off of the sun.
We have installed a Tesla car charger to encourage green commuting.
We have replaced all of our fluorescent and incandescent lights with LED bulbs.
We have replaced all of our paper products with recycled paper and have installed reusable fabric hand dryers and electric air hand dryers.
We will be installing an instant water heater to replace our conventional gas heater.
We have worked with our suppliers to reduce packaging, plastics, and shipments for our medical supplies.
We have incentivized the staff to commute more responsibly via bike, carpool, and electric vehicles.
We have installed energy efficient computer monitors, refrigerators, laundry, and other appliances.
We have switched to non-toxic and low waste cleaners and laundry products.
We regularly conduct staff training and updates on green friendly practices.
We purchase carbon offset credits for any continued education air travel.
We only buy food from restaurants that use eco-friendly packaging and DON’T send a million individually wrapped plastic utensils.
We have stocked our breakroom with reusable plates and utensils.
We have a paperless electronic medical records system and have digitized all of our faxes.
We have invited many local businesses to join our sustainability efforts and facilitated several outreach events with Eco-SLO.
We have established a “Green Team” to help coordinate our business’s eco activities and incentives and to continuously look for more ways to “go green.”

Finally, as of 2022, we are super excited to announce that we are one of only a handful of businesses in the county to have become SLO GREEN BUSINESS CERTIFIED!

At Pismo Beach Veterinary Clinic, we believe that actions speak louder than words. We recognize that living on the Central Coast and serving our wonderful clients and patients is a true gift. We will continue to do all that we can to promote the highest standard of sustainability in everything we do.

Our Response to COVID19

Posted on June 13, 2021May 5, 2022 by Joel Conn

Pismo Beach Veterinary Clinic is committed to helping our staff and clients remain as safe and healthy as possible. As such, we are closely monitoring the ongoing COVID-19 situation and are acting according to the guidelines and recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control, as well as local and state authorities.

UPDATE 5/5/2022:

We are happy to report that we have returned to “normal” appointments. However, in the interest of reducing crowding in our small lobby, please call when you arrive and the staff will direct you from there. If you prefer to have your appointment “curbside” please let us know because we are happy to accommodate that as well. If you are just picking up a prescription or dropping something off, please come on in! Masks are optional but we recommend that anyone feeling sick wear a mask or reschedule their appointment (or request curbside). As always, the health of our staff and that of our clients is our utmost priority.

We hope to see you soon!

We want to share with you the actions we are taking to help protect our employees and clients.

Wiping down all phones, computers and door handles continuously.
Wiping down exam room door knobs / frames, benches and counters after each visit.
No sharing pens, sharpies, food/communal food, stethoscopes – and where it is necessary cleaning after each use.
No hugging, hand shaking, etc.
Washing our hands after all appointments and often.
Hand sanitizer is available in the lobby and the hallway.
We recommend that you not come to the clinic if you are feeling ill, and we expect the same of our staff. Please give us a call to reschedule your appointment to a later date.

We appreciate the trust that you place in us. We will continue to closely monitor the situation and take actions necessary to help keep our staff and clients safe while providing the products and services you and your pet need.

We stand for equality.

Posted on July 20, 2020July 20, 2020 by Joel Conn

Pismo Beach Veterinary Clinic stands for equality.

Now, more than ever, I feel so fortunate to be able to live, work, and play on the beautiful Central Coast. I cannot imagine a better place to shelter-in-place and enjoy the incredible and diverse environment that we inhabit. I feel, though, that I should preface this with the fact that I am lucky enough to have a psychologically and financially rewarding job and a supportive family. I was raised Jewish so I have some experience with intolerance, but as a white male I am able to “hide in plain sight.” I recognize that this is a huge privilege and has sheltered me from many, many challenges that others in our community face daily.

Though in many ways the Central Coast is idyllic, I think that it’s critical to acknowledge the ever-present undercurrent of racial, sexual/gender, religious, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparity and prejudice that exists in our community.

Pismo Beach Veterinary Clinic exists, at its core, to help our clients and our patients live happier, healthier, and more fulfilling lives. To this end, we feel that we cannot remain silent when insidious issues threaten the very livelihoods of so many of our friends, colleagues, and clients. We cannot stand idly by in the face of hate speech, ignorance, intolerance, and racism. We are greatly saddened to hear racial slurs pour from the mouths of locals and to see an image of a gallows and noose marring the wall of a local school.

Though I have always been involved in issues of tolerance and diversity in my personal life, I struggled with the appropriateness of involving my business. I have come to the conclusion that as local business owners and leaders we have an obligation to make our opinions heard and step beyond the bounds of day-to-day business. Only in this way can we hope to de-radicalize and de-politicize the ideals of racial justice and tolerance.

So, here goes…

At Pismo Beach Veterinary Clinic, we believe that Black Lives Matter. We believe in the equality of all people, regardless of race, religion, or sexual and gender identity. We believe that all life has inherent value. We believe that science is real and fear the loss of trust in our scientific community. We worry about a willingness from many to accept the concept of alternate truths and facts, treating statements from laypeople and pundits with equal weight to those of experts. We believe that we should be open to discussion, continuous education, and always be striving to learn (and teach). We believe that we, humankind, represent a huge threat to our environment and climate and that every day is an opportunity to reduce our carbon footprint. We believe that history is important and should be taught honestly and remembered but not necessarily celebrated. We believe that COVID-19 is a real threat, and we wear masks to show respect and to help keep community members safe. We believe in the fallacy of false balance: not all issues have two sides and not all sides of an issue deserve equal treatment or are equally worthy of consideration.

At Pismo Beach Veterinary Clinic, we believe that actions speak louder than words. We love our community and get involved whenever and wherever we can. Being active and giving our time to great local organizations like Rotary, the Diversity Coalition San Luis Obispo County, Stand Strong, and the YMCA of SLO County is more important now than ever.

At Pismo Beach Veterinary Clinic, we believe in love, tolerance, and understanding. It’s a time for unity, not division. We believe that NOW is the time for kindness.

Joel Conn
July 20, 2020

National Pet Diabetes Month

Posted on November 13, 2019July 20, 2020 by Odessa Boettger

November is National Pet Diabetes month! Did you know diabetes affects about 1 in 424 dogs, and 1 in 230 cats?

Similarly to humans, there are different types of diabetes that our furry companions can get. The main types are type 1 (insulin dependent diabetes) and type 2 (insulin resistant diabetes). Dogs most commonly have type 1, while type 2 is more common in cats.

There are different causes to type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Insulin dependent diabetes refers to the destruction of the beta cells of the pancreas and their inability to produce insulin. Insulin resistant diabetes describes the resistance to insulin caused by other medical conditions or by hormonal drugs.

Type 1 (insulin dependent diabetes) requires insulin to be replaced via daily injections. There is genetic susceptibility of certain breeds but there are lifestyle factors as well, such as environmental and dietary factors in play.

Type 2 diabetes may be caused by over use of medications like steroids, hormones during pregnancy, or other medical conditions like Cushing’s disease. In some cases, the primary medical problem can be treated and the affected animal can go to non-diabetic status.

Some symptoms to look out for in diabetic dogs and cats are polydipsia (excessive thirst), frequent/excessive urination (polyuria), increased appetite (polyphagia), weight loss, vision changes, vomiting, anorexia, lethargy, or weakness.

It’s important for pet parents to know the symptoms of diabetes, and to bring their pets in for regular veterinary visits. Diabetes can be medically managed with the help of your veterinarian. Many animals are able to live fairly normal lives with medication and lifestyle changes.

Rattlesnake Bites: Should You Vaccinate?

Posted on May 15, 2019May 15, 2019 by Odessa Boettger

Rattlesnake season (April – October) can be a scary time for pet owners. With our climate in the central coast, rattlesnakes can be seen nearly year round. Here at PBVC, we urge pet owners to always be vigilant and proactive. There are many steps owners can take to increase the safety of their pets.

Although a rattlesnake vaccine does exist, PBVC along with the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of California, Davis does not advocate for its use because of the lack of independent verification to prove that it is effective and safe. There is no concrete scientific proof that this vaccine makes a difference for the affected pet. There are many different types of snakes (40+ in our area) that can pose a threat to your animal, and the vaccine only claims to produce antibodies for one. We also aren’t sure how long this “resistance” lasts, or if it works at all. In a study done with 272 cases of rattlesnake envenomation in dogs, there was no evidence that vaccination lessened morbidity or mortality in these dogs.

Rattlesnake aversion training is the most effective method to avoid rattlesnake bites and is highly recommended as a proactive measure for pets with a high risk of exposure. This training is performed by professionals who teach your pets that rattlesnakes are dangerous and can hurt them. Scent and sight are used to train your dog to recognize a snake and the risks that come with interacting with them. The training, recommended yearly, is a great tool to keep your pets safe.

Whether or not your pet has been vaccinated, it’s important to know the do’s and don’ts of a rattlesnake bite:

DO try to find the wound. You may not immediately know it was a snake bite. Be aware of increased lethargy, small puncture wounds, swelling/bruising near the wound, slow breathing, and whining in pain.
DO take your pet to the closest hospital immediately. Call PBVC (M-F 8am-10pm, and weekends 8am-5:30pm) or PETS Hospital (24/7).
DO NOT give any medication like ibuprofen or aspirin. This can lead to clotting disorders that can be life threatening.
DO keep the wound below heart level. This will help keep the venom from the heart for as long as possible before you can get your pet to the vet.
DO NOT try to remove the venom by sucking on the wound or cutting it out.

“It is important for community members to be aware of how easy it can be for a snake bite to occur. It can happen in a backyard without you realizing it. If you notice that your pet’s face, leg or paw seems swollen, painful or bruised, seek medical attention immediately. Snake bites happen to cats as well as dogs.”
Dr. Joel Conn, owner of PBVC and founder of PETS Hospital

Memorial Day Safety

Posted on April 30, 2019April 30, 2019 by Odessa Boettger

Memorial day is a time of celebration, good food, great company and an overall fun filled weekend! Here are some tips to keep the weekend fun for everyone, including your furry friends.

BBQ Safety

No table scraps! Grapes, avocados, onions, alcohol and chocolates are all common foods to find at a BBQ but are extremely toxic to dogs.
Bones are not a good treat. Delicious bones from the grill are very dangerous to dogs. They can splinter, causing tears in the stomach or intestines of your pup. This is life threatening, painful, and includes a long recovery process.

Supervision

Always keep an eye on your pet when you are near water, whether that be in a pool or out at a lake. Some pets can swim better than others, and even the best swimmers can get tired out.
Pets don’t always understand danger. Watch your pet when you are near bonfires or fireworks. It’s best to keep your pet indoors where they are safe from these threats.

Heat Warning

Never leave your pup in the car! Temperatures can skyrocket in a car, even with the windows cracked! When in doubt, leave your pet in your temperature controlled home.
When outside, be sure to provide your pet with access to shade and fresh drinking water at all times.

Keep these tips in mind while you’re celebrating this weekend. If you have an emergency, please call PETS Hospital at (805) 250-5600

Creating a Pet Safe Garden

Posted on April 10, 2019May 1, 2019 by Odessa Boettger

Spring has sprung and it’s officially gardening season for many people. While beautiful, many plants and flowers can be toxic and potentially deadly to pets. Want to create a beautiful space that both you and your pets can enjoy? Check out some of our tips below.

Cat Safe Gardening

Cats are the ultimate adventurers and explorers. A safe garden can provide hours of entertainment and fun for a cat. If your outdoor kitty enjoys romping in the garden, you might as well make it a safe and enjoyable place for them to play. While usually selective in what they choose to eat, try to only use cat-friendly plants in your garden. Some of these include:

Cat nip
Asters
Geraniums
Sunflowers
Cosmos
Maiden Grass
Cucumbers

Basil
Cilantro
Parsley
Petunias
Zenias
Pumpkin
Squash

These plants can attract butterflies, an excellent source of entertainment for your kitties to chase! Be sure to use cat safe organic soil/mulch. You can also include sand for your cat to play and dig in. Another fun touch is to add posts or sun spots where your cat can bask in the light. Cats also enjoy a little bit of cover, so plant some hardy shrubs.

Dog Safe Gardening

Many common house plants can be dangerous for your pups. You should always keep these on shelves or hang them from your ceilings. Outdoor gardens can also have hazards, but there’s plenty of dog safe plant options to make your space pretty and still stimulating to your pets.

Zinnias
Roses
Sunflowers
Marigolds
African Violets

Mint
Sage
Lavender
Rosemary
Barley

If you’d prefer a safe but dog-free garden, an important part to keeping it that way is landscaping. If you plant areas densely, your pets are less likely to run through. You can also strategically use paths and fences to keep your dogs from running right through all your hard work. Use raised flower beds and plant hardy shrubs around the outside that can take a little bit of potential paw-traffic.

We hope you learned a few tips to create a livable, secure, and purposeful area that both you and your pets can enjoy!

Easter Dangers for Pets

Posted on April 9, 2019May 1, 2019 by Odessa Boettger

Easter is fun for people but can be a potentially dangerous time for pets! With all the festivities and treats, things can get a little hectic for our furry friends. Keep these tips in mind this Easter to keep things safe!

Chocolate – Keep chocolate away from dogs and cats as it can be very toxic. Think your pup got into candy? Don’t wait, call PETS Hospital or ASCPA Poison Control right away.
Easter basket fillers – This shiny bedding can look like a great toy to a dog or a cat, but can easily become a choking hazard or become lodged in the intestines. This can lead to difficulty keeping food down and may result in a lengthy surgery for your pet.
Raw eggs – Cooked eggs can be a great snack for your pet but raw eggs are not due to potential risk of salmonella.
Ham – This can be too fatty for your pet and can cause inflammation in the pancreas, called pancreatitis.
Lilies – Possibly the most dangerous part of spring time for cats is lilies! These are extremely toxic to cats and can cause kidney failure.

We are closed on Easter Sunday to allow our staff time with their families, but if your pet has an emergency please call our friends at PETS Hospital, who are available 24/7, 365 days a year.

Can My Dog Eat Thanksgiving Leftovers?

Posted on November 19, 2018May 1, 2019 by pismobeachvet

Everybody loves holidays and the delicious food that comes with it and many people want to share this joy with their pets, but is it safe? Learn what foods are ok (in moderation) for your festive pup and what foods to keep on your plate and away from Fido.

Turkey
- Plain meat is usually just fine, just be sure to remove the skin before you feed it to your pet. The heavily seasoned skin on the turkey can cause pancreatitis and in large chunks can even be a choking hazard. Never allow your pet to chew on leftover bones as they can easily splinter or get stuck in the intestines.

Ham
- Pork is usually pretty high in fat content and can really pack on the calories. This can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and pancreatitis. Save your pet from a tummy ache, and skip on the ham.

Mashed Potatoes
- While plain potatoes may be ok, mashed potatoes usually contain lots of butter, milk, and cheese. This can cause diarrhea in lactose sensitive pets. Mashed potatoes also sometimes contain garlic or onion powder, both of which are seasonings to stay far away from!

Stuffing
- Stuffing usually contains garlic, onions, and all sorts of other delicious human ingredients. These can cause life threatening anemia in dogs so it’s best to skip it.

Cranberry Sauce
- Cranberry sauce is too high in sugar for your pup.

Salads
- Be sure your salad does not include things like grapes or raisins, as both are very toxic to dogs.

Veggies
- Plain old green beans and carrots are great treats for your furry loved ones, but not when they are in casserole form or heavily seasoned. The cream in green bean casserole is far too rich and can cause stomach upset. Sweet potatoes are ok in moderation but candied yams are not.
Desserts
- While pumpkin can sometimes be beneficial in the diet of a canine, pumpkin pie is not. Steer clear of offering desserts to your pets, including pies, ice creams, and anything containing chocolate!

If you do decide to let your dog have a little taste of the holiday, only feed these things in moderation, as any change to a normal diet can cause an upset stomach. When in doubt, don’t risk it. If you think your pet may have eaten something toxic, call us or PETS Emergency Hospital!

The Dangers of Foxtails

Posted on July 7, 2018May 1, 2019 by pismobeachvet

So we’ve all heard of a foxtail but what really is it? A foxtail is a a barbed plant seed of a foxtail plant, a grass-like weed. They grow throughout the West of the US and are especially prevalent in the dry summers. Foxtails can embed themselves into your shoes, clothes, and even your dog’s skin. These tough seeds don’t break down in the body, but actually continue to migrate until your pet is left with a nasty infection and painful sore. Here at Pismo Beach Vet Clinic, we see foxtails all the time. They can be in between toes, inside of ears, eyes, vulvas, mouths, and just about anywhere else you can imagine! If left untreated, they can lead to severe infections and possibly travel into the chest cavity or abdominal cavity. Sometimes you can pluck the foxtail right out, but many times we will need to sedate patients and follow the foxtail’s tract in order to remove it entirely.

Here are some steps you can take to ensure that foxtails don’t ruin your summer.

Know what foxtails look like and remove them when possible. Removing them from your yard might not be the easiest thing, but will make a huge difference to your pet. Lessening your pets exposure to foxtails will decrease the likelihood of getting one embedded. Try fencing off part of the yard where there are no foxtails so your pet can hang out worry free.
Stay on the path. Also easier said than done, try not to let your pet run through fields or parks during foxtail season. Keep your walks on the path or in areas without foxtails.
Keep vigilant. When caught early, foxtails are usually fairly easy to remove. Take a moment each night to search through your pet’s coat and in between their toes for any foxtails.
Know the signs. When your pet starts excessively licking at a paw, holding an eye shut, shaking their head, or violently sneezing, you should consider the possibility of a foxtail. Call us to schedule an appointment, where we will try to find the foxtail and get it out as soon as possible. Left untreated, these little seeds can cause massive infections and a lot of discomfort to your pet.
Try alternative methods. There are some products that may help with keeping foxtails away. It’s best just to avoid foxtails all together, but you can always try to use booties or a mask on your pet when the foxtails are especially bad!

Foxtails can be a pain, but hopefully with the steps listed above you can try to keep them off of your pet!

Category: Articles