Protect The Pets Blog

The Importance of Medical Records

2007-06-29T09:11:00.001-07:00

The Importance of Medical Records

When a doctor of any kind is trying to make a diagnosis – determine the underlying disease so it can be treated aggressively and correctly –they have to be a detective. Like a detective each piece of evidence is critical to solving the crime or in our case making an accurate diagnosis. One key piece of information that is often overlooked is the medical history. Now when I say medical history I am not talking about invoices. Over the years when asked by the pet owner for the medical history they often hand the receptionist invoices of visits to previous veterinary hospitals. These list things the owner was charged for and give minimal information. When I say medical records I am talking about what was written in the pets chart by the receptionist, technician, and doctors. It would include history given by the owner, vaccination history, all laboratory results, treatments given, physical exam findings, differential diagnosis, treatment sheets during hospitalization , x rays taken etc. Often times the diagnosis is actually made by reading the records and getting a good history rather than the physical exam findings.
It’s sad to say but some veterinary hospitals are reluctant to give out this information. There are multiple reasons for this including illegible records, (can’t read the doctors handwriting), incomplete records, missing records or even doctors who withhold records because the owner is going elsewhere for a second opinion.
I own an emergency hospital in Avon, Ct and we cover when the owners regular vet is closed. In some cases the pet is being treated for cancer with chemotherapy or other serious diseases. When the referring vet is available after hours to give us the medical history we can treat the pet quickly appropriately often saving its life. When medical records and history are not available our ability to treat quickly and correctly drops dramatically even to the loss of the pet. There is hope however and that is with a visionary website. With this website a pet owner can have their pet’s records current and available. When the need arises the veterinarian treating the pet can quickly access the records and have this crucial information. Technology is wonderful when used appropriately and this is one of those times. I applaud the visionaries who started this concept and encourage all pet owners to utilize the service. It could save your pets life!
Sincerely,
Dr. Robb

Dr. Robb speaks with Animal Radio about an Urgent Matter

2007-06-20T12:21:00.000-07:00

I had the opportunity to talk about a very urgent issue for us with Animal Radio: Who’s Caring for your Pets After Business Hours? Listen to the interview here, or read about it at Animal Radio. Thank you Judy & Hal!

One Stop Shop for Special Needs Pets

2007-06-19T11:28:00.000-07:00

There are many pets with special needs, and this one stop shop for pet owners with special needs pets is a great idea. Handicappedpets.com offers support, products and services to pet owners with disabled pets with special needs; senior, geriatric, disabled, injured, recovering from surgery, cancer, terminal illness, and handicapped pets. The site includes a list of resources for care givers and a community where people can share ideas and stories. And here’s a nod to HandicappedPets for sharing this truth on its home page.

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." -- Gandhi

The Pets tongue came Off!

2007-06-15T11:15:00.000-07:00

Years ago I was treating a boa constrictor for "mouth rot". The name aptly describes the condition as infection sets into the mouth resulting in abscesses and sometime loss of life. I had hospitalized the snake for treatment and after a week he improved and the big day came for the snake to go home. The owner would have to do some flushing of the mouth but otherwise he seemed good to go. By the way I knew it was a male because I "probed" him but we will leave that for another story or if your super curious ask I and I will tell you what probing a snake means... Anyway I had a tech and the owner in the room and was demonstration how to flush the snake’s mouth out with an antibiotic wash. All of the sudden I see the snakes tongue on the gauze detached from the mouth. I said," Excuse me Mrs. Smith we have to take your snake into the other room to check on something". The tech and I left the room as the owner did not see the tongue come off. This is not a common occurrence as it never happened to me before. The tech looked at me horrified and said, "Can he live without a tongue?". I said I hope so. We then went back in the room and explained it all to the owner. Mrs. Smith didn't seem too worried because it was her son's snake and honestly she didn't want it anyway. I never did hear how he did. I can only tell you he stopped singing in the bathtub. Have a great weekend! Dr. Robb

This Veterinarian's Worst Nightmare

2007-06-13T19:55:00.000-07:00

Let’s face it, when a pet dies it’s over, there is no going back. Like the loss of any life it’s the most difficult thing we as humans go through. It’s so final, never to see that beloved animal again. The worst nightmare for me as a vet was to call a pet owner to tell them their pet had died, especially if it was unexpected. I remember once I made the call and said, “ Mrs. Smith I have bad news, Fluffy died” I will never forget it, the phone hit the floor and then a scream of sheer anguish pierced my ears as she cried at the top of her lungs NO! NO! NO! I held the phone waiting for someone to pick up again, more screams followed and finally the husband picked up the phone, muttered something to me and hung up. I stood there in shock and said to myself, “I can’t do this anymore”.
I often think of being a plumber and fixing a leaky faucet. What happens if I make a mistake - a flooded cellar? - a ruined chair or warped floor? All these things are replacable, fixable but not when the animal dies. For those of us who are doctors it’s a huge weight on our shoulders. Being a vet is not for everyone.
It’s inevitable that all pets die. Sadly their life span is so much less than ours we will have many come and go in a lifetime. People often respond to their pet’s death with the statement I will never have another one again – it hurts too much. I remember one lady had a toy poodle. She and her husband loved the little guy and he lived 15 years. Eventually he developed kidney failure and we had to put him to sleep. I never liked to say euthanize. It sounds much better to say put them to sleep. Three years went by since I saw this couple. Then one day I was in the supermarket and they came up the aisle. The wife saw me and began to cry and literally left the shopping cart full and walked out of the store. One week later she came to my hospital with a toy poodle. She told me the dog showed up at her door and she was beaming with her new dog. The circle was complete and she finally healed.
We as veterinarians must walk with integrity and do all we can to help the pet. This is why we can never put profits over pets. This is why there must be a Protect the Pets movement. We can’t save them all. Sometimes we too make mistakes. We are human after all. The important thing is our heart must be in the right place. The pets and the owners who love them are depending on us.

Join the Protect the Pets Movement

2007-06-06T09:08:00.000-07:00

Veterinary Medicine is changing rapidly. Its important pet owners understand what’s changing and why in order to get great veterinary care for their pets. Dr. Robb leads a national movement called Protect the Pets. He believes educating pet owners allows them to get great veterinary care and drive the changes necessary to improve the profession. Forty veterinarians have joined the movement and subscribe to his Code of Conduct. This Code of Conduct is the heart and soul of the movement. You can view this Code of Conduct by going to the website - ProtectthePets.com and clicking on the Veterinary section. Remember, being an educated consumer is the most important thing you can do to Protect the Pets.Join the movement by going to the website and signing up. Talk to your veterinarian about joining the movement and subscribing to the Protect the Pets Code of Conduct. Your Pets life may depend on it!

PTP Welcomes more new Member Vets

2007-05-22T12:33:00.000-07:00

Marcy Hammerle DVM, The Pet Doctor, O'Fallon, MO

Dr. Freeland Dunker, San Francisco Zoo, San Francisco, CA

James Gaines DVM, Grantline Veterinary Hospital, Elk Grove, CA

Cody Alcott DVM, Iowa State University, Boone, IA

Protect the Pets in DVM

2007-05-22T12:10:00.000-07:00

Protect the Pets announces its first pioneer veterinary members in DVM, The Newsmagazine of Veterinary Medicine:

NEW FAIRFIELD, CT. — Focused on providing high quality, trustworthy veterinary medicine, Protect the Pets has recruited 32 DVMs nationwide who agree to uphold the group's code of conduct ....

Protect the Pets in the Herald News

2007-05-22T11:49:00.000-07:00

Has pollen got your pet itching for relief? Protect the Pets shares important advice about safely treating pet allergies with The Herald News in Chicago! Read the article:

How to safely treat pet allergies

May 14, 2007

Just as we suffer the allergic reactions to high pollen counts and increased pollution levels that come from the season's warmer weather, our pets may be feeling a little under the weather too.

In animals, seasonal allergies are typically manifest as a skin reaction, causing chronic itching and scratching. Other symptoms include hair loss, chewing on the feet, ear and eye infections, tearing of the eyes and bacterial and yeast infections of the skin.

Your vet may prescribe a round of cortisone shots to alleviate the itching, but Dr. John Robb, veterinarian and founder of national organization Protect the Pets, urges you to think twice about this common treatment, explaining long-term use can cause Cushing's disease in dogs and diabetes in cats and potentially be fatal.

"Cortisone shots must be used judiciously, not as a first-line defense," Robb warns. "Many times, cortisone treatments only mask the problem and ending up costing the owner more money and the animal more suffering in the long run."

Cortisone shots can be valuable to alleviate severe reactions or to treat certain autoimmune disorders like lupus, but in the treatment of seasonal allergies, they simply offer a quick fix for a lasting problem. For effective treatment, Robb recommends seeking safer alternatives that boost your pet's immunity rather than suppressing his symptoms.

• Consider allergy shots -- Pet owners sometimes avoid allergy shots because they require a greater commitment of time and money. But this remedy should not be overlooked. Allergy shots are made to treat the exact cause of your pet's symptoms and boost his immunity, rather than suppressing the itch.

• Re-examine the diet -- Air-borne allergens like pollen may not be the only cause of your pet's allergies. Dietary changes can make a world of difference in some pets. Elimination diets and hypo-allergenic diets are tried-and-true treatments that can help pet owners identify and eliminate food-based allergens.

• Seek natural remedies -- With its focus on strengthening the body's natural defenses without drugs, naturopathic medicine has been on the rise in recent years for people and their pets. Naturopathic veterinarians treat allergies with herbs, supplements and changes in diet and lifestyle. While you should trust a board-certified naturopathic veterinarian to create a regimen of herbs and supplements, you can try a few simple drug-free remedies at home. Dr. Mark Haimann, of Animal Holistic Care in New York [and a PTP Member Vet], recommends frequent baths with oatmeal shampoos to gently soothe the itch, and using an air purifier to help remove allergens from the air.

Teleseminar with Dr. Robb!

2007-04-02T12:01:00.001-07:00

You’re invited to special dial-in Protect the Pets Seminar with John Robb, DVM.

In this exclusive Dial-In Seminar, Dr. Robb will tell you:

• Why Protect the Pets needs to exist
• The realities of veterinary medicine today, and how it’s not equivalent
to human medicine
• How to make sure you’re getting the best veterinary care for your pet
• Red Flags to watch out for
• Valuable tips about spring season pet health concerns and veterinary visits

Attendees will also have an exclusive Q&A session with Dr. Robb.

Don’t miss this chance to talk with the veterinarian who’s telling the truth
about veterinary medicine, and sharing important advice on how you can
protect your pet.

Dial-in from your own home!

Wednesday, April 4th @ 7pm* OR Wednesday, April 11 @ 9PM*
*Eastern Time

Cost: $10.00

Sign up at www.protectthepets.com/teleseminar or call Protect the Pets at
203.312.9419 to get your dial-in number and access code.

Newest PTP Member Vets!

2007-04-02T12:01:00.000-07:00

Welcome!!

Karen Updike, Milwood Animal Clinic, Portage, MI

Stephen Dubin, Emas Pet Hospital and Pennsauken Animal Hospital, in PA and NJ

Greg Burkett, The Birdie Boutique, Durham, NC

Christine Slowiak, Surgical Referral Service & Veterinary Specialty Center, Buffalo Grove, IL

Susan Krebsbach, Creature Counseling, Oregon, WI

Jim McKiernan, GreatBay Animal Hospital, Durham, NH

Sylvia O. Padgett, Cuddle Care Animal Hospital, Marietta, GA

Stephen Leonard & Daniel Kittel, Grantline Veterinary Hospital, Elk Grove, CA

PTP on Yahoo News

2007-02-13T11:46:00.000-08:00

Veterinarians Around Nation Join Protect the Pets™, Pledge Code of Conduct to Help Pet Owners Find Trustworthy Care

Wed Feb 7, 2:01 AM ET

NEW FAIRFIELD, Conn. (PRWeb) February 7, 2007 -- Pet owners are finally getting a clearer way to choose their veterinarians, and find trustworthy care. Protect the Pets™ - the national movement of veterinary professionals and pet owners promoting high quality veterinary medicine that values pets over profits - has recruited its first group of pioneer member veterinarians.

Read more...

Dr Robb on the radio with Mary Jones

2007-01-26T07:37:00.000-08:00

Download the interview here to listen as Dr Robb discusses Protect the Pets and Farmington Valley Veterinary Emergency Hospital on The Mary Jones Midday Magazine Show on WDRC – Hartford.

Dr. Robb on Channel 3 News

2007-01-16T12:53:00.000-08:00

Dr. Robb on Pet Talk with Lauren Collier, Channel 12

2007-01-16T12:51:00.000-08:00

Diabetes in Pets

2006-12-15T07:56:00.000-08:00

Diabetes is a very common problem in pets – specifically dogs and cats. Two major causes are obesity, and as a side effect of steroid use, specifically in cats. Depo Medro, also known as methylprednisilone, is a long acting steroid often used for skin conditions in cats. Sometimes it is warranted but other times it is being used without working up the skin problem completely.

For example, let's say the cat has ringworm infection. This infection can look a lot like allergies with scabs, hairlessness and itchiness. If appropriate tests are done, the vet would treat the etiology, ringworm, with an antifungal and cure the cat. However, if not worked up completely, the cat might receive a steroid injection, get diabetes and make the ringworm infection worse due to immunosuppression.

The point here is being an educated consumer. Make sure your vet works the case up to determine the etiology of the disease and then treats specifically and appropriately. “Shotgun” medicine – let's try this and if that doesn’t work, lets try that - is a recipe for disaster. Not only will you spend more money in the long run, you may lose your cat to diabetes caused by a drug that never should have been used in the first place! Go to ProtectthePets.com and learn how to Protect your Pet!

Protect the Pets on Live Radio

2006-12-01T11:20:00.000-08:00

Hear Dr. John Robb speak about Protect the Pets and issues concerning veterinarian medicine LIVE on Animal Talk with Suzanne Dragon. Tune into 1450 AM in the New York/New Jersey Metro Area or listen online. Don’t miss it! We encourage you to listen and participate by calling in at 1-888-545-9282

Central Jersey 1450 AM WCTC

Sunday, December 3 @ 12pm – 2pm EST

Dr. Robb's interview is scheduled to begin between 1pm – 1:30pm EST

Why are vets joining Protect the Pets?

2006-11-03T13:42:00.000-08:00

"I think your concepts embody all of the ethics that we were all supposed to abide by, but have lost sight of, and the code of conduct tells us how to behave in a totally professional manner!"

"Thanks for doing all this!"

"The code of conduct is basically my existing philosophy. It's time vets speak out against the corporate practices going on. Clients fall for the hype so easily. We need our own way to stand out."

"I wish all practicing veterinarians could and would practice by the guidelines of Dr. Robb's Protect the Pets Code of Conduct."

"I practice with the pets' health and welfare in mind, charging what I need to charge to maintain and upgrade equipment and offer better services. I want to be able to converse with other like-minded doctors."

PTP's Newest Member Vets

2006-11-03T13:14:00.000-08:00

* Dr. Ian Kupkee
Sabal Chase Animal Clinic, Miami, FL

* Dr. Nancy Kicherer
Chiefland Veterinary Services, Chiefland, FL

* Dr. Laura Townshend
South Hall Veterinary Hospital, Gainesville, GA

* Dr. Dennis (Tim) Crowe
Veterinary Surgery, Emergency and Critical Care Services and Consulting, Bogart, GA

* Dr. Maurine Fritch
Cascade Park Animal Hospital, Vancouver, WA

Human cancer treatment goes to the dogs

2006-10-27T09:35:00.000-07:00

I was very pleased to see this news story about a vaccine to treat melanoma in dogs. Melanoma is one of the most aggressive cancers in dogs and despite equally aggressive treatment, once diagnosed, often leads to death. This vaccine holds hope for the future and reinforces the fact that human medicine and veterinary medicine are very similar. This idea is central to the Protect the Pets movement. The pet owning public believes when they go to their veterinarian they will get the same level of care and variety of treatment options offered to people. Although true in some instances, this is not the industry standard. Protect the Pets is all about driving the changes necessary to improve veterinary medicine to bring it closer to the standards available for people. I believe this can be accomplished by informing the public, and with the help of the like-minded veterinarians who have joined the movement.

Newest member of the PTP team

2006-10-27T09:29:00.000-07:00

I'm so happy to be able to share the arrival of a new member of the Robb family. Our son, Bruno Noah Robb was born on Monday Oct 23. He's a healthy 9 lbs, 9 ounces. Mom, Aldona and new big sister Tiffany are also doing well.

Dr Robb on Pet Insurance

2006-10-19T11:03:00.000-07:00

from the TimesOnline.com, as published in the Beaver County/Allegheny County Times:

Dr. John Robb of New Fairfield, Conn., founded Protect the Pets to educate pet owners about the realities of unsafe veterinary medicine and to inspire veterinary professionals to value the health of pets over the drive for profits. He said like anything, pet insurance is something that can be good, with the right resources.

"I'm a straight shooter and the truth is the truth," he said. "There are good companies and there are bad companies. It's a hot topic and it's an important topic."

Provided a person does research and understands specific policies, purchasing pet insurance can definitely be a good thing, he said.

"The key thing is to find out if a veterinarian promotes pet insurance and has clients who use it so he or she can educate their beliefs," he said. "If a person doesn't have a veterinarian to make a recommendation, they need to be an educated consumer and call companies and get a client list and make some calls.

"They need to check references and it would be nice if they knew someone who used it."

PTP on allpetsradio.com

2006-10-17T10:55:00.000-07:00

Here's the full article.

Evacuation Laws

2006-10-16T09:36:00.000-07:00

These new laws being enacted to Protect the Pets in cases where evacuation of people is necessary are long overdue. The laws have lagged behind the change in attitude of the American people as the human-animal bond has strengthened over the last 50 years. Of course, I am thrilled this is happening and this reinforces the need for similar changes in veterinary medicine. Laws that would require veterinary technicians to be certified and that would give pet owners more legal options when harm is done to their pets are necessary and a worthy goal for the Protect the Pets movement.

(Thanks to the Humane Society for the article and photo)

Avon PtP Seminar

2006-10-13T11:08:00.000-07:00

I held my first Protect the Pets Seminar at the Old Farm Hotel in Avon last night. It was standing room only as pet lovers from the greater Hartford area gathered together to learn how to Protect the Pets. Our discussion was wide-ranging and touched on issues concerning vaccinations, pet insurance, wellness testing, when to consult a specialist and much more. The pet owners were thrilled to get the truth concerning these important issues and, more importantly, to learn how to take a pro-active stance to make sure they receive the best veterinary care for their pets. Keep checking this blog for news about Protect the Pets Seminars in your area. You won’t want to miss it; the pets are depending on you!