Oakland Veterinary Referral Services Blog

Quinn, a Golden Retriever who is part of St. John Providence health system’s pet therapy program at the Oakland Center, didn’t know that he was “paying it forward” by helping patients through their illness’ and recovery. He was just being a good dog, and doing what he does best: helping those in need. But, as it turns out, that’s precisely what happened.

Last month (February 2014), Quinn suffered from a ruptured cruciate ligament in his knee, and was in need of TPLO corrective surgery if he was going to continue with the important work he does at St. John’s.

When the staff at OVRS heard about Quinn’s condition, we knew we had to help.  As a result, on February 22, OVRS’s Dr. Saundra Hewitt performed the surgery on Quinn, free of charge, as a way to say thank-you for all the comfort and good works that Quinn and his fellow therapy animals do for the patients for the St. John Providence health system.

Three weeks later, Quinn is doing great! He’s up and moving and enjoying his “time off” while his incision heals and he regains his strength. As soon as the risk of infection (for all involved) has passed, Quinn will be back to making his rounds at St. John Providence’s Oakland Center, but now with a special understanding of what it means to be the one in need of care.

St. John Providence’s Pet Therapy Program

For those of you who are unaware, the St. John Providence health system offers pet therapy for the patients, visitors, and associates throughout the system. Quinn is one of seven dogs participating in the program, along with Parker, Wilbur, Murphy, Mac, and Lilly.

Together, these incredible animals deliver what is often regarded as “the best medicine of all,” a warm heart, a wet nose, and a loving touch. These dogs bring comfort, smiles, and peace to those who spend time at the St. John Providence locations.

As therapy animals, each dog has been specially trained by Paradise Dog Training, and has extensive socialization skills. These amazing volunteers are partnered volunteer dog handlers, and work weekday hours. When not working, Quinn and his associates spend time living with host families as regular dogs.

If you would like to contribute to the pet therapy program at St. John Providence health system, please call Heidi Crisman at (248) 465-4511.

Thank-you Quinn, for all you do. And thank-you Dr. Hewitt, for providing Quinn with the care he needed to continue his work.

This spring, OVRS’ veterinary behaviorist, Dr. Theresa DePorter, DVM, MRCVS, DECAWBM, DACVB, will be spearheading a clinical trial of a new pheromone aimed at alleviating aggression and tension between cats in a multi-cat household.

If your cats are prone to fighting amongst themselves this clinical trial may be an exciting opportunity for you and your cats. If you are interested in participating in the study, here are the qualifications and requirements for your consideration.

Are Your Cats Fighting?

Feline housemates don’t always get along. Aggression may include fighting but often occurs as passive blocking and staring. Feline victims may hide, flee or even scream when attacked. Thankfully, there is new hope for peace and harmony among your feline friends. Continue…

The loss of a beloved family pet is probably the most difficult aspect of pet ownership. This is especially true when there are children in the home. Often, the loss of a pet is the first experience that young children will have with death and grieving, and may be especially difficult to understand. .

Everyone in the family will react to the loss differently, and it is important to understand that age, life experience, and personality all play a part in how a person handles grief.

As parents, it is important to understand how children handle grief, so that you can help them through this difficult time. Here are some insights when it comes to coping with pet loss in a family. Continue…

For many of us, giving back to our community is an important part of our life. But did you know that pets could be volunteers too?

Therapy animals are becoming more common and more active than ever before, and the demand for these special animals is growing by leaps and bounds. Volunteer pets have making the world a better place in senior centers, retirement homes, schools, and rehab centers for years, and their popularity is growing as their good works are proving to be effective.

If you’ve ever asked yourself, “How do I volunteer my dog?” then read on for an introduction to volunteering your pet. Continue…

This past year, the American Heart Association reported scientific evidence to support the notion that pets actually have the ability to improve our heart health.

And while there’s no denying that there are times our pets drive us a little crazy, and can cause us heart ache, most pet owners were not surprised by this “discovery”.

But for all the feel-good reasons there are when it comes to why pets are good for you, do you actually know the reasons that pets can help to keep us healthy? While the list could go on and on, here are the top two reasons that pet’s are (scientifically) good for you…  Continue…

When a dog undergoes a serious surgery, be it planned or as a result of an unexpected trauma, he or she needs life-saving blood donations just like we do.

But where does that blood come from? It’s not often that we see blood drives for pets, or the American Red Cross: Canine Division vans parked in front of local businesses. (No, there’s really no such thing, we’re just kidding)

Instead, blood donations for our four-legged friends often come from local owners volunteering their pets for the cause, and OVRS is one of the local resources for volunteer donations. These donations fuel our Buddies for Life Blood Bank, which helps dogs at both OVRS and throughout our community. Continue…

Your medicine cabinet is probably stocked with the things you need when you are sick or hurt. Bandages, antiseptics, tweezers, and medications for every ailment are commonly found in most people’s homes.

But do you have the things that you might need if your pet has a medical problem? If not, take a few minutes to stock your medicine cabinet or pantry with first-aid supplies for your four-legged family members. You never know when they might come in handy.

Here’s what you need… Continue…

As a country, many of us have learned to turn a blind eye to pets who are overweight. We coo and giggle over fat cats and pudgy pooches, when really there’s nothing funny about it. With over 50% of American pets tipping the scales, obesity in our nation’s pets has truly become an epidemic.

Even just a few extra pounds on your dog or cat can increase his or her risk for some very serious medical problems. Common problems that are directly influenced by weight include: Continue…

Cold winter weather, along with ice and snow, is never unexpected in Michigan come January and into early Spring. With cold, slippery conditions and the extremes of winter weather come unique dangers and concerns for our pets. Don’t risk your pet’s health and safety when the mercury drops. Be on the lookout for these common injuries and risks: Continue…

The New Year has finally arrived and already its days are ticking by. But if you’re still settling on what changes you’d like to make in your life this year, you’re not alone. We know that change can be hard. Even when it’s planned, and even when it’s for the best, change is never easy.

But with your pet by your side, many of the goals you’d like to achieve in 2014 don’t have to be nearly so daunting. Your pet can truly be your best friend and biggest champion when it comes to creating a better life.

Here are some examples…

• Lose weight
When it comes to weight loss, your pet is your judgment-free partner. They may not be able to tell you when your jeans are getting baggy (or tight), but they can be your sounding board, your walking buddy, and your motivation – they are truly your best friends when it comes to meeting this goal.

Continue…