News – Page 2 – Pismo Beach Veterinary Clinic

Meet Neil, Our February Featured Employee!

Posted on February 6, 2018May 1, 2019 by pismobeachvet

Neil moved to San Luis Obispo in 2007 and began volunteering at Pacific Wildlife Care in Morro Bay. The experience of volunteering at PWC eventually led to attending Cuesta College’s Veterinary Assistant program which included an internship at both Woods Humane Society and Animal Services of SLO. He now looks forward to a long career of helping animals. Neil has been a kennel assistant for most of his time at PBVC but is moving on to be a room nurse! He looks forward to meeting more clients and their owners, and helping out the doctors during exams.

Neil is a lover of all animals and there wasn’t a point in his life when he wasn’t fascinated by them. He has had a number pets throughout his life ranging from cats and dogs to fish and a parakeet. He now lives with a lovable Pitbull named Kopi and two snakes; a Ball Python named Goldy and a Carpet Python named Nygma.

Veterinary Recomended Solutions are at PBVC!

Posted on December 20, 2017May 1, 2019 by pismobeachvet

We’re excited to announce that PBVC has partnered with Veterinarian Recommended Solutions to bring a new line of supplements to our clients! All of the products at VRS are backed by extensive clinical research and third party tested for purity and safety. VRS is owned and operated by veterinarians and a team of veterinary specialists. We’re proud to carry their products including: Omega Benefits, Osteo TruBenefits, Entero TruBenefits, and Hepato TruBenefits.

One of our favorite products is the Omega Benefits. You add a certain number of pumps (based on your animal’s weight range) onto their food daily. This helps with healthy joints, cardiovascular function, skin, brain, and eye health. Our clients also like that it gives their pets a healthy shine in their coat!

Interested in trying one of the products from VRS? Call us! We’re here 7 days a week to discuss which product may be best for your pet.

We’re Growing: Dr. Judit Szamos has joined our team!

Posted on December 6, 2017April 30, 2019 by pismobeachvet

We are excited to announce that Dr. Judit Szamos has joined our PBVC team! Please help us welcome her back to the Central Coast and stop by to say “hi!”

Click here to learn more about Dr. Szamos>>

Canine Cognitive Dysfunction

Posted on October 16, 2017April 30, 2019 by pismobeachvet

Like people, dogs are capable of experiencing “senior moments”. Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD) is somewhat like a dog version of Alzheimer’s disease in people. CCD can occur for many reasons like an accumulation of proteins in the brain, or genetic factors. CCD occurs in many older dogs. A study from UC Davis found that 28% of dogs aged 11-12 years and 68% of dogs aged

15-16 years exhibited at least one or more signs of cognitive impairment. These signs can be variable, but include disorientation, sleep problems, change in physical activities, and having accidents inside the house.

When we see a dog exhibiting signs of CCD, we recommend taking a look at this form from Purina to decide if your dog may benefit from a NeuroCare diet. Purina NC is a great food product to use for dogs who exhibit signs of CCD and can help with cognitive functions. If you have any questions about the NeuroCare diet or CCD in general, you can call to schedule an appointment with us at 805-773-0474.

Halloween Tips for Pet Owners

Posted on October 8, 2017April 30, 2019 by pismobeachvet

Halloween is a favorite holiday of many because of the fun costumes, activities, and of course CANDY! During the festivities we can’t forget about our pets so keep these tips in mind this season.

Check your costumes. Many people love dressing up their dogs and cats for the season. Some pets don’t seem to mind but others can become very uncomfortable. Take your pet’s costume on a test run before the big day to make sure it fits comfortably and your pet can move around easily without getting overheated. Never leave your pet unattended in a costume in case of tangling.
Stay visible. Even with your pet dressed up, it’s important to keep their identification on them at all times. This means leaving their collar with their name and your phone number in easy view in case they should get out.
Keep calm. During trick or treating, pets can become very anxious. It’s best to leave your pet at home while you take your kids out in the neighborhood. If you’re handing out candy at home, make sure your pet is in a safe spot in your house where they will not be able to get out while you answer the door. If your pet is afraid of knocking or door bells, make sure they are in an area that they feel secure.
Keep your candy safe and secure. We all know chocolate is a big no no for pets! Make sure your kids aren’t stashing their candy anywhere that your pets can get to (like under their beds or in their closets). PETS Hospital is open 24/7 if your pet gets into any candy! You can also call Pet Poison Control at 1-888-426-4435.

Meet Laurie, Our October Featured Employee!

Posted on October 5, 2017April 30, 2019 by pismobeachvet

Laurie moved to San Luis Obispo in 1987 to go to Cal Poly as a Dairy Science major and lived at Cal Poly’s project dairy with her 8 Holsteins. She started working in veterinary medicine in 1994 at a small animal and exotic practice and developed a passion and affinity for working with parrots which gave her a nickname of “The Bird Whisperer”. At one point, Laurie was fostering 3 cockatoos, 7 macaws as well as several smaller parrot species. At PBVC, Laurie is one of our lead technicians and assists the doctors in our treatment area with surgeries and procedures. Laurie loves teaching our newer staff and giving great tips and tricks to help make the day go smoother. Laurie is also everyone’s “go to” when we have birds in the clinic!

When she is not at work, you can usually find her out and about in the music scene. Laurie loves playing guitar and Ukulele, travel (her next “Dream Trip” will be to the Tambopata National Reserve in Puerto Maldonado – Peru to see and study macaws in the wild), cooking, photography, knitting, painting and relaxing at home with her critters.

Laurie and her husband Matt’s furred and feathered kids include her trusty pooch Robbie, her five cats, Kiara, Little Sister, Breena, Grizzabella and Ivan and then there is Darlin’, her Congo African Grey parrot. Curly and Gaiden are her Green Wing macaws and Zorro is her Military Macaw.

Meet Kacey, Our September Featured Employee!

Posted on September 5, 2017April 30, 2019 by pismobeachvet

Kacey was born and raised in Mission Viejo, CA and moved to San Luis Obispo in 2015. During high school she raised and showed Market Lambs at the Orange County fair. She recently graduated from Cal Poly with a Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Science and plans to get her Teaching Credential and Masters in Agricultural Education from Cal Poly. Back at home Kacey has a 9 year old cat named Bear.

Kacey’s favorite part about working at Pismo Beach Vet Clinic is being able to help people and their pets. She loves when she is able to help solve a problem or make someone feel better in stressful times with their pets. When Kacey isn’t at the reception desk greeting and helping our human clients, she is in our treatment area helping out with the animals. No matter where she is, she iPhone 6 Home Button not workingis always smiling and ready to help out! Outside of the clinic, she enjoys being at the beach, hiking around SLO, or hanging out with her Mini Holland Lop named Peanut.

Rattlesnake Season

Posted on August 5, 2017April 30, 2019 by pismobeachvet

Rattlesnake season (April – October) can be a scary time for pet owners. Here at PBVC, we urge pet owners to be vigilant and proactive during this time. There are many steps owners can take to increase the safety of their pets. 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. Talk to your veterinarian to hear more about local training resources.

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. Whether or not your pet has been vaccinated, it’s important to know the do’s and don’ts of a rattlesnake bite:
*DO take your pet to the closest hospital immediately. Call PBVC (7 days a week 8-5 Sat-Wed and 8-10 Thur-Fri) or PETS Hospital (Open 24/7)
*DON’T give your pets any type of medication like ibuprofen or aspirin. This could lead to a life-threatening clotting disorder during the bite.
*DON’T try to remove the venom by cutting or sucking it out.

“It is important for community members to be aware of how easy it can be for a snake bite to occur,” said Dr. Joel Conn, owner of PBVC and founder of PETS Hospital. “It can happenVoot apk 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.”

Remembering Kitto

Posted on July 31, 2017April 30, 2019 by pismobeachvet

Last week we lost a great patient, Kitto. We wanted to share with some of our fellow animal lovers what a cool cat he was, particularly because his story is such a touching one. Kitto spent most of his life with the Cal Poly Cat Program, located on Cal Poly campus and run by volunteers (many being Cal Poly students). Some of our own technicians even remember Kitto from their time volunteering t here! Being a long time resident of the shelter, he saw many faces come and go. He was a volunteer favorite for his happy head-butts and cuddling. Kitto had a condition called feline stomatitis that required him to undergo extensive dental work, including full mouth extractions and ultimate lifelong medication. Though this is an extremely painful condition, Kitto never complained. Kitto charmed many at the cat shelter but didn’t find his forever family until very recently. He was so thrilled to have a home, laps to sit in, faces to kiss, and a human bed to nap in. He started out as a foster kitty for them, but they knew he had to be theirs and adopted him and a fellow shelter mate, Reggie. They showered both of them with love, kisses, and cuddles up until Kitto’s final day. Kitto was able to pass away peacefully at home with his people. Though Kitto had different medical problems and a rough start in life, he was very loved by many and will be missed by all.

We’re growing: Dr. Kayla Walti has joined our team!

Posted on June 9, 2017April 30, 2019 by pismobeachvet

We are excited to announce that Dr. Kayla Walti has joined our PBVC team! Please help us welcome her back to the Central Coast and stop by to say “hi!”

Click here to learn more about Dr. Walti >>

Category: News