"Certification"
Two to four years of rigorous academic and practical training.
Passed certification exams and are licensed.
 
“Responsibility”
Patient Care and Treatment
(Blood drawing, bandages, IV’s, injections, wound care, emergency triage and stabilization, anesthesia, dentistries, assisting in surgery, behavior, radiology, care of ICU and isolation patients)
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Exam room and outpatient diagnostic tests
(Interpretation, quality control and trouble-shooting equipment)
 
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Products
(Inventory management, controlled drugs, product evaluation)
 
“Education”
Client education and assistance
Training and development of the assistant staff 
Formal & informal continuing education and subspecialization

Sileo is a new oral gel that calms, without​ causing sedation!

New Jersey is great fun in the summer---unless you're a dog with noise sensitivities.  Silo can be administered 30-60 minutes before noisy events start.  Sileo's effects last for 2-3 hours (enough time for most fireworks, thunderstorms and parades.)  No more sedated or "gorked" dogs stumbling around all day!

If an event is going to last longer than 2-3 hours, you can safely give your dog another dose of Sileo (anytime beyond 2hrs since the previous dose--up to 5 doses!)

There were "official" games dogs could sign up for, but this one preferred "Chase the Bubbles!"

Not all little hot dogs are dachshunds.  Did we mention it was HOT!?

Technically, it was a dog "walk",  but some hopped, some rolled, and some rode along.

Also, technically it was a "dog" walk!  Having the same markings as a dog, does not make you one.

​LEPTOSPIROSIS ("lept-oh-spear-oh-sis")
WHAT HAPPENS
Leptospirosis is a disease that can cause kidney and liver failure.  It can infect both animals AND humans. It is caused by a spirochete (spy-row-keet) which is a type of bacteria.  The bacteria is usually found in the urine of many animals such as mice, opossums, raccoons, rabbits, deer, horses, sheep, goats, cows and others.  

Unfortunately most dogs do lick puddles or stagnant, muddy water which may be contaminated with urine from other pets or wildlife.  Even a "100% indoor dog" is at risk if you've had a mouse in your house.

People can acquire Leptospirosis by contact with an infected pet's body fluids.  People in professions where they are exposed to stagnant water or animal waste (farmers, sewer/drain pipe workers and those who work under porches/crawl-spaces) are at increased risk.  People engaged in water-related recreation (canoeing, white-water kayaking, surfing, swimming) in high-risk bodies of water or locations (ponds, second & third-world vacation destinations) are also at increased risk. 

​DIAGNOSING
Diagnosis can be challenging because there are several phases to the disease.  If Leptospirosis is suspected, a high blood titre can provide good support for a diagnosis.  But a second blood test, done 2-4 weeks later, with a titre 4 times higher than the first, is needed to make a firm diagnosis.

TREATMENT
Fortunately, common antibiotics: penicillin and doxycycline are very good at treating Leptospirosis.  Most dogs are hospitalized on IV fluids and other supportive care.  Treatment is complicated because the dogs need to be kept in an Isolation Ward and strict protocols must be followed to prevent infection of other patients or the veterinary team.  And even once dogs are well enough to go home, until the course of treatment is complete, their urine can be infectious to family members.
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Some dogs however, are much sicker.  If they develop acute kidney failure, then dialysis is recommended.  Dialysis can be very expensive, and needs to be performed at a specialty center.  But most dogs that require dialysis, and receive dialysis, survive.