Category: Uncategorized

Grass-fed Beef for sale

As many of you know, my husband and I raise grass-fed beef, that we sell by the side (1/2 cow). We are selling 3 sides of beef, which will be available to pick up in mid July. Our 2 steers have been born and raised on our ranch, our grass, without hormones, fertilizer or pesticides. Each finished out side will weight ~300-400#. We are asking $6/pound plus the processing fee. It will include individually packaged, shrink wrapped steaks, roasts, stew meat, and hamburger. Many people split a “side” with another family member to make it more affordable and easier to fit into a freezer. A side will usually take 9-12 cubic feet of freezer space.

We are taking deposits now. We won’t graduate more steers until next year. Please call my farm manager now for more details if your are interested. 903-473-1487.

UPDATE 6/8/21 We are all sold out for 2021. We will have more beef sides in 2022.

160 It’s Bloodwork Special Time

Every year before Halloween, our reference laboratory offers us some “wicked” deals on wellness blood for dogs and cats. There are bundles for young dogs, old dogs, young cats, and old cats. It usually included a CBC, some blood chemistries, Heartworm testing for dogs, fecal parasite check, urinalysis, and some extra testing like thyroid and new early detection kidney testing. We get different bundles for dogs and cats, young and old. These are 25-35% off regular prices, and a great value.

This is a quick way to monitor your pet’s health and avoid scary surprises later. We commonly catch animals with early kidney disease, liver disease, thyroid disease, enlarging hearts, anemia and more. The earlier we catch them, the better chance of managing or curing them.

We are still limiting the inside of the hospital to animals only, so humans stay curbside. Please call to schedule an appointment, call when you are in the parking lot, and our trained staff will take the history, and bring your pet inside. In a few minutes, you pet will be brought back to you. Payment is usually via credit card, but we still accept checks and cash.

The lab will get the results back in 24-48 hours. The doctors will call, email, and/or Facetime you with the results. You don’t need to make an appointment to get results, unlike with our human doctors.

Call soon- this special pricing ends on Halloween!

Here is what is included in the different Profiles:

Young Dog: $125 with CBC, Chemistry, Heartworm test, fecal with giardia

Old Dog: $175 with CBC, Chemistry with T4, heart pro BNP, Heartworm test, fecal & Urinalysis

Young Cat: $ 125 with CBC, Chemistry, fecal with giardia

Old Cat: $175 with CBC, Chemistry with T4, heart pro BNP, fecal & Urinalysis

Call 972-436-2199 now to set up an appointment



149 Open with Curbside Appointments

Here at Garden Ridge Animal Hospital we have decided to stay open with curbside appointments so we can serve the pets and still maintain social distancing. And lots of sanitizing.

Curbside appointments work like a “drop off” but the human stays in the car. We use phones to communicate and pay. We are still getting our supplies from our distributors and prescription foods and can still fill prescriptions. And we work closely with our online pharmacy, Vetsource, to make online shopping easy and convenient.

We are close to rolling out a Telemedicine option for minor illnesses. Stay tuned.

We are getting a lot of calls about if COVID-19 is zoonotic. We have no evidence that it is, but the one 17 year old Pomeranian in Hong Kong that tested positive back on February 24 was just released after 2 negative tests. Then went home, died, and no autopsy was performed. It is very easy for this virus to linger in droplets one an animals fur or feathers and allow transmission person to person just like a door knob or light switch. Don’t let pets be around a coughing person.

112 All Good Things …

No, I am not retiring. But I am sad that two of my favorite TV shows are over and finished. I am of course referring to Game of Thrones and Big Bang Theory. I was really rooting for more dragons, but at least I got the reunion between Jon Snow and Ghost, the dire wolf.

I especially liked the ending for Big Bang Theory. Nerds need love too, and friends to help them be their best versions of themselves. Girls can be geeks too. Vets in general are pretty nerdy. We actually have a higher suicide rate than many other professionals.

We are also saying goodbye to one of our staff, Kayla. She got married recently and will be moving to be with her husband in the Navy. We wish her well, and hope she finds another animal hospital with which to share her talents. We lost 2 staff women to relationships last summer. Something must be in the water.

I also have three grass fed steers ready to graduate to the freezer. Most people get ½ a cow ( ~300# of meat), or split it with another close family member. See Blog 100 for more info about the meat.

The last ending is my son’s college days. He graduated last week from University of Texas at Dallas with a degree in Electrical Engineering. He was my home schooled child, and this achievement is very sweet for me too. I am so proud of him. Yes, the Aggie in me had trouble writing those checks to the University of Texas system. So I am no longer a single mother with 2 school aged kids, but happily remarried wife now for 14 years with 2 adult, college graduated, married children, and one grandchild.

“All Good Things” was also the title of the final episode of Star Trek/ Next Generation, which coincidentally was aired on May 23, 1994, exactly 25 years ago today!  I can’t wait to see the new Picard Series.

Life is good.

104 Online Pharmacies

Many of us have used human or pet online pharmacies. They are not all created equal. They aren’t great for getting antibiotics for a sinus infection, acute anti-nausea medicine, or pain medicines that we need right now, but they serve a big niche for chronic medications for all of us. Plus they offer convenience, and often are cheaper than I can even offer them.

How can you tell a good online pharmacy from a shady one? https://www.verywellhealth.com/how-to-find-an-online-pharmacy-you-can-trust-1123983 is a good resource for human pharmacies, but the principals are the same for vet pharmacies. We especially look for the VIPPS certificate. I also look for reviews among my peers, and past legal problems. Pet Med Express has had numerous legal violations and less than average customer service so I am not a fan of their business practices.

Here at Garden Ridge Animal Hospital we have linked to online pharmacies for over 10 years. They are great at offering pet parents choices on brands and prices on products like heartworm and flea preventions, arthritis medicines, and even prescription diets (like Hills , Purina, and Royal Canin). Currently, we are using Vet Source, and the link is on our website, gardenridgevet.com. You can look at all their products before having to create an account. For instance, your dog is a picky treat taker but has always like Heartgard. This is no problem because Vet Source always has Heartgard, in every size, even though I don’t carry that particular heartworm prevention.

The other niche that online pharmacies fill is getting automatic refills on medicines. The Vet Source ”autoship” monthly heartworm prevention dose (shipped free) is very popular in a household with multiple dogs or busy lives where we forget to give the medicine monthly. When it arrives once a month, it’s a built in reminder to give it on time. Plus the cost of those twelve doses of prevention is split into 12 payments on your credit card instead of one big hit. That is better for some families’ budgets.
Prescription foods are another popular item to “autoship”. You set up the interval for the next shipment, so you never run out on a late Friday afternoon. Vet Source carries Hill’s Prescription diets, Purinas, and Royal Canin, and they are shipped conveniently to your door, so you won’t have to carry heavy dog food from your car.

As always, any prescription item will have to be approved by me, or my staff. We make sure you are getting the correct product, in the correct dosage. Most clients receive their order in 3-5 days. They are working on 2 day turn around, but we aren’t there yet.

Vet Source won’t price match Pet Med Express, but they are always “comparable”. These large pharmacies get big discounts from the manufacturers that I can’t begin to compete with. Vet Source often has weekly discount codes on selected items to rack up the savings. I wouldn’t be surprised to see selected heartworm and flea preventions on sale in the next month or two. I will try to put alerts up on my website or the Facebook page when we see a good one.

If you haven’t used Vet Source before, check it out. You might save some time and money while offered excellent vet approved products to your four legged children.

http://gardenridgeanimalhospital.vetsourceweb.com/site/view/HomeDelivery.pml

91 Santa’s ELVES Certified

As a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, and USDA accredited vet to write health certificates, I am signed up to be an official “Santa’s E.L.V.E.S.” (Emergency Landing and Veterinary Expert System).

Many of you know that I treat exotic pets, and some done some cattle work, but I have also had a “crash course” on reindeer medicine. Larissa, our new head nurse, and Kayla up front both have worked in mixed animal practice before with cattle. In the event that Santa’s reindeer team needs to make an unscheduled Christmas Eve stop for sled repairs, refueling, or veterinary care, staff at Garden Ridge Animal Hospital will be available to provide needed assistance and ensure a safe and on-time delivery of Santa’s cargo.

Our new illuminated sign will be in soon, maybe in time for Santa to find us easily.

Just like you and your pets, Santa’s reindeer need to be examined and issued health certificates in order to travel between U.S. states or across national borders. Thankfully, they’ve never had a problem being certified for flight, due in good measure to the regular examinations and preventive veterinary care they receive from AVMA’s president to keep them healthy.
AVMA’s current president, Dr. John de Jong, examined the reindeer shortly before their 2018 Christmas flight to make sure their paperwork was up to date and that they were all healthy enough to fly. And … good news! All the reindeer have received full “RTF” (“Ready To Fly”) status, so be prepared to hear on your roof “The prancing and pawing of each little hoof!”
To learn more about Santa’s reindeer, visit AVMA.org/Santa

To find the answers that kids ask about Santa’s Reindeer-

72 Ears and allergies

This week I have seen a big uptick in my ear cases. We see dogs year round that have ear problems, ear infections, itchy ears, smelly ears, head shaking, but this week was different.

Ear infection doesn’t just happen. Yeast and bacteria don’t come out the dirt, jump in your dog’s ear and cause an infection. There has to be an underlying cause for ear problems. The common triggers are allergies (inhalant pollen or food), wet ears (swimming or bathing), hairy ears, underlying general skin problems (often hormonal like low thyroid), ear conformation ( floppy, or old scar tissue from previous ear infections), foreign bodies (like grass),and rarely parasites like ear mites or ticks. In my practice, it is usually allergies, hair ears, or swimming.

Allergies cause ear infection? Really? Most people either have some seasonal allergies to pollen or mold themselves or know someone who does. Humans experience sneezing, runny noses, itchy nose and eyes, and nasal congestion from the histamines released and can be partially blocked with antihistamines. Dogs also experience allergies to ragweed pollen and mold spores, but have different symptoms. Dogs have more mast cell receptors that release histamine on the skin of their feet, muzzle, ears, and elbow fold, than their membranes of nose and eyes. So when you see a dog frequently licking their feet, it isn’t a foot fetish, they are really itchy and trying to soothe that itch. Those ears when inflamed will make a lot more wax, and if you have a moist, waxy, hairy, folded ear you have the perfect conditions for the normal skin flora of yeast and bacteria ( usually staph) to thrive.

How do you know if your dog has an ear infection? Check Fluffy’s ears when you see head shaking, scratching at ears (or feet), and use all your senses. Look for redness and discharge. Smell for abnormal odors. Many of my clients say they can smell the yeast, because it smells like moldy bread. Listen for a wet squishy sound before you clean then. Feel the ears for warmth because an inflamed ear is often warmer than the other ear or the rest of the skin.

How do you treat ear problems at home? The biggest trick is to catch it early. Check those ears often, especially if Fido has risk factors or is itchy already. Frequent ear washing at home, during/after baths, and after swimming really helps. Using a pet ear cleaning is much better than tap water. They all contain a solution of water, mild acids, and alcohols to help “dry“ the ear when it evaporates. And they smell nicer than a nasty ear. Use ear washes frequently if Spot has ear problems.

What if cleaning isn’t enough? If home care doesn’t stop the head shaking, redness, and tenderness, it is time to come see the vet. We will gently examine the ears, collect samples to look for infection, and prescribe medicine. Occasionally, we will even prescribe pain medicine, because some dogs are truly painful and miserable with ear infections.

How do I prevent the next infection? It is all about managing those causes of ear problems: allergies with antihistamines or stronger prescription medicine like Apoquel, plucking hairy ears, washing weekly at least in allergy season, washing after swimming, and managing underlying skin diseases.

Ear infections can be prevented, treated, and managed. We can help.

For more information:
https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951507
https://www.petmd.com/blogs/thedailyvet/dr-coates/2014/june/top-five-tips-treating-ear-infections-dogs-and-cats-31848
https://www.petmd.com/dog/slideshows/7-signs-your-pet-has-seasonal-allergies

67 AAHA – Accredited Hospital Day- July 22, 2018

Every year on July 22, the American Animal Hospital Association celebrates hospitals that are accredited. Nationwide, less than 15% of animal hospitals are accredited. Garden Ridge Animal Hospital is Lewisville’s only AAHA Accredited animal hospital. I build it in 1990, with the eventual plan to be accredited. In 2005 we were accredited, and have passed every inspection since then. I had the good fortune to work in two AAHA accredited hospital before opening Garden Ridge. My first experience was with Dr Thomes in Irving, at his hospital on 183. It grew to become VCA Metroplex Animal Hospital, a big 24 hour multi-doctor referral hospital. I worked there as an intern in 1982 and later as one of the night doctors in the winter of 1989/90. After graduation in 1982 until 1989 I worked at Hines North Animal Hospital, which was also AAHA accredited. I remember referring to the AAHA charts of standards as we got ready for inspection. They have standards in anesthesia, dentistry, pain management, patient care, surgery, client service, safety, medical records, laboratory, imaging, and housekeeping. I compare it getting ready for a visit from your loving Mother- in -law. You want everything to be ship shape. The other thing I remember was the constant “raising of the bar” with standards. One time something was optional, and later it was mandatory. The goal is constant improvement.
AAHA motto is The Standard of Veterinary Excellence and its tagline is Champions for Excellent Care. That is the goal for Garden Ridge Animal Hospital, too. Our mission is Quality Care for Quality Lives, for pets, owners and staff. AAHA does more than inspections. It sponsors some awesome Continuing Veterinary Educations, for management and medicine. And they publish lots of training tools and books that help manage a small hospital like mine to the same standards as a large hospital. It also helps us stand out and reach new clients. When I have an existing client that is moving, I always suggest they look for the AAHA Logo in their new locale to find consistently excellent hospitals.
We expect to be celebrating Monday, July 23, after our inspection! Until then, stay cool!! Stay inside & drink lots of water.

https://www.aaha.org/pet_owner/about_aaha/default.aspx

65 Early July 4th advice on Noise Phobias

Almost daily, I hear from owners that they have dogs (and occasionally cats) that are noise sensitive, to a small or large degree. This can happen with ANY noise, but especially thunderstorms, fireworks, vacuum cleaners, or noisy vehicles like motorcycles, trucks, and buses. I even had one this week that barks if the microwave beeps. A mild noise phobia (fear) is some whining, or pacing, or aversion to the noise (running away to hide). A severe phobia has dogs scratching up doors, jumping through windows, digging to get under covers. I had one client whose large Labrador would hide in the upstairs bathroom during thunderstorms. One time he got wedged behind the commode, and started shaking and busted loose the water supply line to the toilet. The next thing the client saw downstairs was water leaking through the ceiling! So we need to look seriously at the effects of noise and anxiety on own individual pets.

Noise is hard to avoid, but there are some tips that might help. Ideas include staying inside during thunderstorms and planned firework displays. My clients in Flower Mound complain about the weekly Friday night fireworks from the Gaylord Hotel in Grapevine upsetting the dogs. This year I see many cities are planning events on July 3. Some sounds can be masked by a TV or soft music. There have been lots of studies on calming music for dogs. There are even playlists that shelters use! https://www.aspcapro.org/blog/2017/05/04/turning-page-music-shelters; http://rescueanimalmp3.org/;   http://throughadogsear.com/free-music-to-shelters/ 

There are some non-drug therapies that I recommend for mild to moderate noise phobias. The first is calming pheromones (hormones that travel through the air). The brand I recommend is Adaptil,  and is designed after the natural pheromone a momma dog makes between her breasts to calm puppies. It is available as a 30 day diffuser/plug in, a spray (like on a neck bandana, towel, or bedding), and is available at local pet stores or Amazon. The second is the Thundershirt idea, which is just like swaddling a baby. I actually find my noise sensitive sheltie does pretty well with a Thundershirt, so we can all sleep at night when storms pop up unexpectedly. The third therapy is aroma therapy, like lavender. I love essential oils, but I am very cautious about using them topically across the board on pets. Use a diffuser, and keep it out of range of licking or eating.

Lastly, we have prescription medicines. The two medicines I most commonly use in 2018 are Trazadone and Sileo. Trazadone is a human drug, originally an antidepressant, but most commonly used as a sleep aid now. I prescribe Trazadone for all forms of anxiety in my canine patients, to be used intermittently for anxious situation to help them not be scared and have a positive experience (like at the vet). It takes 90 minutes to work, causes only mild drowsiness, and lasts 6-8 hours. This might be overkill for a 10 minute thunderstorm, but Fido still might appreciate it. The other drug, Sileo, is an oral paste based on an injectable sedative we commonly use. It works great, easy to administer by mouth, only lasts 2-3 hours, but can be redosed if needed. The downside is once the multidose syringe is opened, the paste is only labeled for 14 days.

So as we come down to the week before Independence Day, think about your pets needs and contact our staff at 972-436-2199 if you need advice or medicines. We will be closed July 4th only, and reopen July 5, 2018. Have a happy and safe Independence Day.

53 Local Pet Friendly Events April 5, 2018

I have found 4 fun family and pet events to share with you.

Colorpalooza, Saturday. April 14, 2018. 10am-5 pm. This will be in Downtown Lewisville, at the new Wayne Ferguson Plaza across from City Hall. There will be lots of kid events, and a Pet art activity is scheduled at 10 am.
For more information: https://www.cityoflewisville.com/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/21170/668

Paws in the Park, Saturday April 21, 2018. 9am-2 pm This Annual event will be at the Gene Carey Animal Adoption Center (formerly Animal Shelter) at Railroad Park. There will be dozens of booths, Weenie dog races and food vendors. For more information call 972.219.3478.
https://www.cityoflewisville.com/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/24880/22

Campout at Pilot Knoll Park In Highland Village. Sat April 21 2:30 pm- Sun April 22 11 am
This is a fun family campout, and pets on leashes are welcome. The cost is $50 for the campsite, meals, S’mores and a movie! Registration deadline is April 13.
http://highlandvillage.org/Calendar.aspx?EID=1240&month=4&year=2018&day=21&calType=0

Flower Mound Concerts in the Park, Friday nights starting in May, 7pm. These will be at Heritage Park in south Flower Mound and is free. Pets on leashes are allowed and there are nearby dog parks. No alcohol or glass is permitted.
http://www.flower-mound.com/1370/Concerts