February

Saturday, February 11: Closed for installation of our new Midmark M9 Auto-sterilization System. The M9 is a human-grade autoclave machine used to sterilize surgical instruments. For more information on Meridian Park Veterinary Hospital’s state-of-the art surgical protocols, call us at 503-692-3300 or read about them here!

Saturday, February 25: Closed for staff training on the new M9 system.

March

Saturday, March 10: Closed for general staff training

Saturday, March 31: Closed for staff training on our new Sevoflurane anesthesia machines. For more information about how Sevoflurane can benefit YOUR pet during a surgical procedure or dental cleaning, call us at 503.692.3300 or read about it here!

We apologize for any inconvenience!

We now give Wilsonville pet parents even more peace of mind in two new ways!

1.  Our new Healthy Paws program

2. Meridian Park Veterinary Hospital is partnering with Paws 4 Perks to give P4P members exclusive discounts on premium veterinary care for their pets. Lori, The Groomer at Meridian Park, is also participating in the program with discounts to keep your dog or cat looking their best!

If you are looking for a Veterinarian near Wilsonville Oregon, come visit Meridian Park Veterinary Hospital or give us a call at 503-692-3300 to schedule an appointment today!

A pet is an incredible source of joy and companionship. Along with these joys come the responsibilities of pet ownership, including: food, shelter, grooming, licensing, training, and regular examinations with a veterinarian. Those who wish to bring a pet into their families are encouraged to consider their ability to provide for the pet’s care in these areas.

Additionally, pet owners should plan for the costs of unexpected illness or injury.

Potential Avenues for Meeting the Cost of Medical Expenses

• Existing savings
• Credit cards
• Pet health insurance policies
• Medical payment cards or payment plans, such as Care Credit or Citi Card
• Proactive savings earmarked specifically for pet health care expenses
• Ask your veterinarian if you can be put on a payment plan
• Personal loan from family or friends
• Garage sales, eBay sales, a temporary second job
• Your veterinarian may have a fund to assist clients with unexpected expenses
• Check with your veterinarian about whether they offer short-term promotions and discounts (for example, many veterinarians offer a discount on dental care during February, which is National Pet Dental Health month)
• Other sources of financial assistance (may have income requirements)

Tips for Saving Money on Pet Care Expenses

• Shop for pet beds, toys and accessories at discount or chain stores. Some outlet-type stores have a pet section.
• Rotate existing toys so that every few weeks “new” toys appear.
• Shop at thrift stores. Buy used kids’ toys that are suitable for pets.
• Shop the clearance racks at the end of a season for pet toys and other supplies.
• Save on pet food by reducing quantity, not quality. Many pets are overweight. A high-quality food fed in the appropriate portions for your pet’s age and activity level will be better for your pet’s waistline and you will save money by needing to buy less.
• Schedule procedures such as vaccinations, dental cleanings or senior health exams during “discount” days or months; these discount periods are offered by most veterinarians.

Other Sources of Assistance

Oregon

• Animal Aid (Portland)
• DoveLewis Velvet Assistance Fund (emergencies at DL only)
• Spay/Neuter Surgery Assistance

National

• AAHA Helping Pets Fund
• Angels for Animals
• American Humane Second Chance Fund
• Canine Cancer Awareness
• Cats in Crisis
• Feline Outreach
• Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance
• Help a Pet
• Jake Brady Memorial Fund
• In Memory of Magic (IMOM)
• The Magic Bullet Fund
• The Mosby Foundation
• The Pet Fund
• United Animal Nations

Breed specific (from United Animal Nations)

• Akita Club of America Rescue Fund
• Berner Emergency Health Assistance Fund
• Boston Terrier Rescue Net
• Boxer Rescue Foundation
• CorgiAid, Inc.
• The Chow Chow Club’s Welfare Fund
• Dougal’s Fund
• Goldstock Fund
• Keeshond Sunshine Rescue Foundation
• LABMED
• Labrador Lifeline
• Pit Bull Rescue Central
• PYRAMEDIC Trust
• Special Needs Dobermans
• WestieMed, Inc.

Medical diagnosis (from United Animal Nations)

• Cats in Crisis Crisis Care Fund
• Cats in Crisis Mesa Fund
• Cats in Crisis Stripes Fund
• Cats in Crisis Gillie Fund
• Cody’s Club
• Muffin Pets Diabetic Pets Fund
• Resources for dogs with cancer

Payment Programs

• Care Credit
• Citi Card

Pet Health Insurance Providers

• ASPCA Pet Health Insurance
• Embrace Pet Insurance
• PetCare Pet Insurance
• Pets Best Insurance
• Petshealth Care Plan
• PurinaCare Pet Insurance
• Trupanion Pet Insurance
• Veterinary Pet Insurance Inc.

Financial Assistance

• Animal Aid (Portland)
• DoveLewis Velvet Assistance Fund
  Emergencies at DoveLewis only
• Spay/Neuter Surgery Assistance

Food Banks

• Cat Adoption Team Cat Food Bank
• FIDO Pet Food Bank
• Pet Food Bank Listing (state of Oregon)
• The Pongo Fund

Quality of Life

• Fences for Fido

Pets of the Homeless

• Pixie Project
• Portland Animal Welfare Team (PAW)
• Pro-Bone-O (Eugene)
• United Pets of Tillamook

Strong acidic or alkaline cleaners pose highest risk – the most dangerous cleaning products are those which may cause corrosive injury or chemical burns. These include rust removers, toilet bowel cleaners, lye, drain cleaners and calcium/lime removers.

General cleaners are safe in small doses – cleaners such as glass cleaners, spot removers and most surface cleaners have a wide margin of safety. If ingested in small amounts, most only cause mild vomiting or diarrhea. Also, if they touch pet’s skin, they may cause mild irritation. Therefore, it’s still wise to keep these products out of reach.

Read the label – cleaning labels can provide helpful information, as long as you understand the terminology. Key words to look for include “danger” and “warning” as this indicates products with higher toxicity or the potential to cause chemical burns. Items that use “caution” as their primary signal word are “less toxic” than those using “danger.”

Risk varies by type of animal – birds and other exotic pets may be more sensitive to cleaning products, especially products that are aerosolized. “Birds have a unique respiratory anatomy called air sacs, which results in particular sensitivity to fragrances and aerosolized chemicals,” says Dr. Justine Lee, Associate Director of Veterinary Services at Pet Poison Helpline. To be safe, aerosolized products should not be used in the same room as caged or free birds.

“Natural” does not always mean “safe” – some natural products can and will cause just as many problems as more traditional cleaners.

No need to worry about Swiffer Wet-Jets – it is a common internet rumor that Swiffer Wet-Jets are dangerous for dogs. In fact, no evidence exists that suggests Swiffer products are dangerous to animals when used properly.

When spring cleaning, be safe and keep all pets out of the area of cleaning until the room is well ventilated and all cleaning products have dried.

The best thing any pet owner can do is to be educated on common household toxins, and to make sure you pet-proof your house appropriately. Make sure to keep cleaning products up and out of your pet’s reach, but when in doubt, if you think your pet has been poisoned, contact Meridian Park Veterinary Hospital at 503-692-3300 with any questions or concerns.

Veterinary anesthetic protocols are rapidly changing for the better and we at Meridian Park Veterinary Hospital believe that every pet deserves the smoothest, fastest, safest anesthesia available.

When discussing surgeries, a common question we hear from clients is: “Why shouldn’t I get the ‘same’ surgery at the clinic down the road?”. The best answer is that,  for about a hundred different reasons, it isn’t the same surgery. One of these reasons is our state-of-the-art anesthetic protocol which now includes Sevo, the benefits of which are significant over older agents used at “low cost” clinics.

Sevoflurane is a new anesthsetic agent that is also used for human pediatric procedures. It makes surgical procedures safer and speeds up recovery with minimal problems that are often associated with older anesthetics – with no significant difference in cost!

• Sevo does not have a pungency that irritates the respiratory system. It is better tolerated and results in low airway irritability.
• Sevo has a low blood gas solubility, which allows anesthesia to be induced faster.
• Sevo has been show to be less of a respiratory depressant than older anesthetic agents when used for the same amount of time. This is especially beneficial for older pets with certain medical conditions that would otherwise prevent the procedure from being performed using older protocols.
• Patient recovery with Sevo is smoother and faster.

In addition, the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) has released new guidelines (www.aahanet.org/Library/Anesthesia_Guidelines.aspx) covering all aspects of surgical anesthetic protocols.  The new guidelines call for a thorough patient history, comprehensive labwork, and a complete examination before determining the best course of action for the procedure. According to AAHA, anesthesia-related complications are responsible for a significant number of liability insurance claims, with most anesthetic-associated deaths occuring during the first three hours of recovery. Adding Sevoflurane to our already-stringent anesthetic protocols helps MPVH provide your pet with the best care before, during, and after anesthesia.

If you have any questions or concerns about Sevoflurane, do not hesitate to call us at 503-692-3300 or e-mail us at mpvhospital@frontier.com.

What is on YOUR Pet’s Wishlist this Holiday Season?

“Sit!” “Stay!” “Come!” “Good Boy!”

Your pet has been so good this year, why not show them how much you appreciate their unconditional love and loyalty? Not sure what your pet may want in his or her stocking? We’ve come up with a list (and checked it twice!) of our most popular feel-good items that our patients enjoy:

Lupine Collars and Leashes - Lupine guarantees EVERY product they carry. Seems crazy but we’re not kidding! Whether Spot thinks his collar is more fun to chew than his bone, Fido prefers to walk himself or Fluffy seems to like the ‘feather boa’ look, they’re gonna replace it. No return shipping, no receipt, no questions asked! It’s that simple! And the best part? Your replacement goes back in the mail the next business day after the damaged item is received. Lupine collars and leashes come in various sizes and colors, a few of which are shown below:

Treats – We have a variety of treats, including HypoAllergenic, Rawhides, and Low-Calorie Fruitables!

Joint Supplements – Cold weather means sore joints in humans AND animals. If you think your pet would love some treats, but want a little more bang for your buck, try our Dasuquin Joint Supplement Chews! For more information about joint health and supplements, click here or give us a call at 503.692.3300.

Spa Day – If you are looking for something a little more decadent for the favorite animal in your life, a day at the spa with our Groomer is perfect! A high-quality groom at MPVH not only keeps your pet looking and smelling like a million bucks, but it is also good for their health!

Squeaky Clean Teeth – A healthy, white smile is the best gift you can give your pet. It is the gift that keeps on giving and your pet will keep thanking you with nice-smelling kisses long after the holidays are over. For more information about dental health or for a FREE Dental Consultation, call us at 503.692.3300!

For more pet gift ideas, visit Klondike’s Toy Box at www.mpvhospital.com or come on in to Meridian Park Veterinary Hospital today!

When you board your pet at Meridian Park Veterinary Hospital, our dedicated staff spends one-on-one time with each pet. Our canine friends get at least 3 walks per day and enjoy lots of affection. For our feline friends, you have the choice of our standard boarding or our luxury cat boarding known as “The Cat Chalet”. This upgraded option includes a luxurious suite with a water fountain, a selection of cat toys, fresh cat nip, climbing structures, a private kitty “restroom”, and a selection of cozy beds. Both boarding options include petting and snuggling.

We can also accommodate birds, reptiles, pocket pets, and other exotics!

Please see our Price List for our boarding fee schedule. Also, to help speed up the check-in process, you can now print and fill out out our Boarding Check-In Form ahead of time! Call 503-692-3300 for more information!

Molly - Labrador Retriever, 6 Years Old

While being chosen as the November Pet of the Month is an honor in itselt, Molly has also won a free nail trim AND a bag of treats!

Molly is a bouncy, lovable labrador with a penchant for squeaky toys. She also has a tendancy to attract ear infections, a common problem among our floppy-eared patients. Most ear infections are easily and successfully treated. But, if left untreated, they often result in serious damage. To learn more about the causes of ear infections and how to prevent them from causing your dog or cat pain and long-term damage, click here or call us at 503.692.3300!

To have your pet in the running of Pet of the Month, send us a picture and bio of your pet to mpvhospital@frontier.com.

10 million pets in the US get lost every year. 90% of those pets will never return home.

We proudly feature the new HomeAgain microchipping system which is designed to increase the chance or reuniting you with your lost pet. The identification system requires a single, relatively painless injection of a microchip about the size of a grain of rice under your pet’s skin. The newest 134.2 Hz, 15 digit chip is the standard recognized in the United States and around the world.

Over 94% of pets microchipped with HomeAgain are reunited with their families.

During the month of October, MPVH is helping pet owners find peace of mind by offering microchipping services for just $29.99 with an exam, a savings of 40%!!!