Health Benefits

It’s highly likely that spaying your female pets will guarantee them a life that is longer and healthier.  Female pets who are not spayed are more prone to uterine infections and pyometra. Breast tumors are also more likely to occur. These are found in 50 percent of dogs and 90 percent of cats—they can be cancerous or malignant. Making sure your pet is spayed before her first heat is a great preventative measure, protecting your pet against these issues. For male pets, neutering is a great preventative measure against testicular cancer and prostate issues.

Behavioral Effects

Spaying your female pet means she will not go into heat, which will prevent mating behaviors. When she is in heat, she is more likely to cry out and urinate around the house, making herself known to potential mates. Male pets who are neutered will have less reason to wander away from home searching for a mate. Pets who are not neutered may mark their territory, even in the house. They may also mount people, other dogs, and furniture. Neutering your pet is a great way to prevent these behaviors.

Other Benefits

Animal overpopulation and pet homelessness are big problems in the United States. Spaying and neutering your pets is a great way to help improve these issues. By spaying and neutering your pets, you will not add to the continually growing number of healthy dogs and cats who are euthanized each year because there are not enough homes available for them. Along with this, spaying and neutering your pets will benefit your pocketbook. The cost of this routine surgery is less than raising a litter of puppies or kittens. 

When to Spay or Neuter Your Pet

The typical age range for spaying or neutering a dog is six to nine months old. It is possible to have an adult dog spayed or neutered, however, there may be more complications following surgery. It is typically safe for kittens to be spayed or neutered as young as eight weeks old, and it is advised to have the procedure done before the cat is five months old. Give us a call for more information on the best time to spay or neuter your pet.

Schedule Today

Contact Anasazi Animal Clinic in Gilbert today to discuss spaying and neutering options for your pet and to schedule your pet’s procedure. We will discuss what the procedure entails, along with pre-operative and post-operative care care for your furry friend. Making sure your pet gets spayed or neutered is an important action that will make a world of difference for the health and happiness of your pet.

Image by Gerhard Gellinger from Pixabay

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Chocolate’s Toxic Properties

How can it be that chocolate is such a delight for us, but so dangerous for our pets? Not only can it cause illness for your pup, it can lead to death. It is that dangerous! Chocolate itself contains caffeine and a chemical called theobromine. These two chemicals separately are not good for dogs and other pets, but when put together, they are a very dangerous combination. Humans are able to digest and quickly process these two chemicals when eaten, but your pet’s system is unable to quickly process them. With the slow processing of their system, the chemicals become toxic in your pet’s body. The darker the chocolate, the higher the amount of toxins it contains and thus the more dangerous it is for animals.

Symptoms of Chocolate Poisoning

Humans have symptoms following eating chocolate and they usually include bouts of happiness. Animals, however, have very unpleasant symptoms such as:

• Cardiac Arrest
• Diarhea
• Increased Heart Rate
• Respiratory Failure
• Tremors
• Vomiting

While the amount of chocolate ingested affects the symptoms, it can take hours for the symptoms to show. By the time symptoms show, the ingredients could reach highly toxic levels in your dog’s body. It is imperative to get your pet to the clinic as soon as you realize they are being affected by these toxins.

Treatment

The sooner you realize that your pet has consumed chocolate, the more effective treatment can be. When you arrive at the clinic, vomiting will be induced right away to expel the chocolate from the body and prevent as much as we can from entering the animal’s system. Depending on circumstances of amount and time since ingestion, activated charcoal may be needed to soak up the toxins.

Providing knowledgeable emergency care to your pet after chocolate ingestion is very important. Anasazi Animal Clinic understands the frustrations and fears that occur when your beloved pet is unwell, but we are here to provide the best pet care possible. Contact us today for a specified emergency plan for your pet.

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Signs to Be Aware Of

Making good decisions when the unexpected happens can be very difficult. Having a plan for an emergency can help you to not lose your head and act irrationally in the midst of a frightening and stressful moment. The best preparation is being aware of what signs to pay attention to and know what to do when you see them. Signs that indicate your pet may need emergency care are:

• Change in Body Temperature
• Excessive Bleeding
• Loss of Consciousness
• Rapid Breathing
• Seizures
• Weak or Rapid Pulse

Recognizing these signs quickly will help you get immediate treatment that could save your pet’s life.

At Home Treatment

When you recognize the signs of an emergency situation, there are a few things you can do at home before you are able to get to our emergency clinic. Ways to help stabilize your pet are:

• Apply Pressure: If there is external bleeding happening due to a trauma, apply pressure to the wound to stop the bleeding and elevate if possible.
• CPR: If your pet is not breathing, CPR may be possible. Put your pet on its side, extend the head and neck, and blow once every three seconds into your pet’s nostrils. Three quick firm chest compressions can be done between respirations if there is no heart beat. It is ideal to get specific training by your veterinarian for your pet.
• Remove Blockage: If your pet is choking, sweep your fingers in their mouth to attempt to remove whatever is blocking their throat but be careful as they can bite down on your hand.
• Heimlich: If you are unable to remove the blockage in their throat, you can modify the Heimlich Maneuver modified for your pet. Applying a sharp rap to the chest of your pet should dislodge the object blocking the throat.  

Be prepared for a pet emergency. It is better to know how to address the unexpected and never use that knowledge than to have the unexpected happen without knowing what to do. Anasazi Animal Clinic is passionate about pet care in the best of times, and when emergency situations occur. Contact us today to schedule an appointment or learn more about emergency pet response.

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First-Class Veterinary Services in Gilbert

• Preventative Care Plans — Our team believes strongly that being proactive is the best approach when it comes for your pet’s health. All of our preventative care plans include all necessary exams, vaccines, lab tests, and other services that are essential to protect your pet against illness and disease. Upgraded plans are available that include services like dental cleanings, radiographs, and more extensive blood work.
• Emergency & Urgent Care — We have a veterinarian and team on duty six days a week, trained and equipped to handle any urgent care your pet may have. We can also assist with non-life-threatening situations when your pet needs to be seen but can’t get an appointment.
• Dental Care — We will examine your pet’s teeth during his annual checkup. But when something goes wrong or there is a specific dental issue, we can perform dental radiographs to help evaluate the situation. Once known, our professional and experienced team will work to fix the problem, including root canals when needed.
• CO2 Laser Procedures — Laser surgery is the most humane, state-of-the-art technique for surgical procedures.
• Vaccinations — An important part of being a pet owner is making sure your pet has all of his shots. Vaccines stimulate protective immune responses and prepare them to fight future infections and diseases. It’s never too late to get your pet vaccinated.

If you are looking for cat or dog kennels or your pet has specific health care needs, let the experienced team at Anasazi Animal Clinic help you out. Contact us today and we’ll work with you get you started on crafting a personalized care plan for your pet’s unique needs.

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Preventative Care

Making sure you beloved pet never gets sick is your ultimate goal and we work with you to ensure your pet’s on-going health and happiness. With regular check ups and routine tests and exams you can make sure your animal companion is happy, safe, and healthy.

Emergency/Urgent Care

Despite your best efforts, things do happen sometimes. When you need to get help right now for your pet, we are here for you. We accept emergency cases any time the clinic is open and offer superior emergency care.

Dental Care

Your pet’s teeth are just as important as any other part of their body so make sure you pay attention to their teeth. We offer routine cleanings, exams, and medical procedures to correct problems if necessary.

Laser Surgery

Along with normal surgical procedures, Anasazi Animal Clinic also has a state of the art laser surgery program offering superior surgical options with minimal invasion and recovery needed. Ask our vets about this new service.

Vaccinations

One of the most important things you can do to keep your pet healthy is to stay up to date with their vaccinations. We offer all the main required vaccinations your pet needs to have.

Ultrasound/Diagnostics

Anasazi Animal Clinic also offers a range of other routine test and exams that can help keep your furry friend healthy and happy. From ultrasound and x-ray to blood tests, we have the skills and tools to take care of your pet!

So when you need trustworthy pet care and want the confidence that comes with years of experience and a proven track record, turn to our experts here at Anasazi Animal Clinic. Contact us today, we look forward to talking with you!

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One method for keeping your pet from chewing himself is by using an Elizabethan collar. Most commercial Elizabethan collars are made from hard plastic, and when attached around the animal’s head, gives the appearance of a lampshade. Most E-collars are opaque; however, clear ones have recently become available. Pets appear to accept the clear collars more readily as they are able to see and get around much better.

Most veterinary hospitals and major pet supply stores carry Elizabethan collars, or if you really feel ambitious, you can make one at home. A homemade E-collar can be made from a cardboard box or a sheet of poster board.

Before using your E-collar, make sure that your veterinarian knows what you are doing. He or she may have suggestions or may feel that an Elizabethan collar is not appropriate for your pet. For certain animals, this type of treatment may be contraindicated!

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Which breeds require the Zeep operation more frequently?

Some dogs have small external ear canal openings, while other dogs have narrow ear canal diameters. Certain breeds have heavy ear flaps (cocker spaniels) that prevent adequate ventilation of the ear canal. Without proper ventilation, the humidity in the interior of the ear canal increases, making it favorable for bacterial growth. This bacterial growth is responsible for creating an inflammation in the lateral ear canal wall. The ear canal wall thickens causing inadequate ventilation and drainage.

What is the Zepp operation procedure like?

This surgery is performed under general anesthesia. Presurgical blood tests are sometimes required since the surgery is often performed on middle-and older-aged dogs.

After the surgery, the dog often goes home wearing an Elizabethan collar. This collar is used to protects the delicate surgery area from trauma. If the pet removes the collar, or if the surgical site looks unusual, the veterinary hospital should be called.

An appointment for a recheck, Elizabethan collar removal, and suture removal should be made.

If you are looking for a Gilbert vet who will treat your pet like family, then make an appointment for your furry companion at Anasazi Animal Clinic today!

Image by Sonja Kalee from Pixabay (7/1/2019)

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Dr. Lukasik is available upon request for consultations and procedures involving higher risk patients. Please speak to Dr. Nossaman regarding Dr. Lukasik’s services and availability.

Dr. Lukasik received her undergraduate degree from the University of Arizona and her doctorate in veterinary medicine from Washington State University, where she was awarded the Outstanding Senior Student in Medicine and Surgery (across all disciplines) and the Dorothy Eggerman Memorial Compassion Award. She has received awards from the American College of Veterinary Anesthesiologists, American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), research awards from the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute, and actively participates on a committee at the National Cancer Institute. In addition, Dr. Lukasik is involved in research at the Arizona Health Sciences Center at the University of Arizona and has published numerous professional articles and contributed to textbooks on the field of anesthesia. She is a nationally and internationally recognized speaker and has been presented with several professional awards, including one for compassion.

Dr. Lukasik completed her residency in anesthesiology at Cornell University and received her Diplomate status from the American College of Veterinary Medicine (DACVA) in anesthesia in 1997. A Diplomate signifies advanced training and is the highest medical designation for veterinarians.

Dr. Lukasik likes to hike with her big, mixed breed dog Jackpot. She has African Chiclid fish, a blue tongued skink (a lizard from Australia), and has stewardship of a desert tortoise. The desert tortoise was previously attacked by dogs and cannot be released back into the wild, so Dr. Lukasik planted a garden for him with all edible native plants. Her outside interests include opera, fine art and paragliding.

Dr. Lukasik is a member of the following professional organizations:
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• American College of Veterinary Anesthesiologists
• American Veterinary Medical Association
• American Animal Hospital Association
• American Association of Equine Practitioners
• Arizona Veterinary Medical Association
• Southern Arizona Veterinary Medical Association
• Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society
• International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management (IVAPM)

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Anasazi Animal Clinic features state-of-the-art anesthetic monitoring equipment with the most reliable and accurate measurements of important parameters affecting your pet’s anesthesia during dental and surgical procedures. We know that anesthesia is a scary prospect and we take every step to ensure the safety and well being of your animal. Below are a list of measurements and readings that are recorded throughout an anesthetic procedure.

ECG (Electrocardiogram)

Continuous reading of the heart rate and rhythm, so that any abnormalities can be addressed in a timely manner
Especially critical with any history of heart disease

SPO2 (Oxygen saturation)

Continuous reading of oxygen availability to the tissues of the body
Important monitor of adequate breathing and lung function during anesthesia

CO2 (Carbon dioxide expelled)

Important monitor of adequate breathing and lung function during anesthesia

Blood pressure

Monitored to ensure that blood, with oxygen and nutrients, is being delivered to the organs throughout the body for normal function during anesthesia and afterward

Body temperature

Hypothermia is always a concern with anesthesia and ensuring adequate body temperature is important for appropriate anesthetic metabolism and quick recovery from anesthesia

**Additionally, a board certified veterinary anesthesiologist is available upon request. Click here for more information!**

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