Mission Animal Care Center

Is my veterinarian overcharging?

noreply@blogger.com (Mission Animal Care Center) — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 02:42:00 +0000

Is my veterinarian overcharging?
Every day I talk to people about their pets, the illness their pets have and the veterinary bills they have incurred. One common conception pet owners have is that veterinarians are overcharging. Before we address that question I want to go over what it takes to become a veterinarian.
First is the simple task of getting in to vet school. Most Veterinary schools in the United States have a college credit equivalent of a four year Bachelor Science degree just to apply for their school. Applicants should have a grade point average of 3.4 or above. G.R.E. scores weigh highly on application. Hours worked or volunteered in veterinary industry and total understanding of the inner workings of a hospital and veterinary medicine average over 3000. All applicants must complete an oral exam.
When all this is done there are only 28 veterinary schools in the United States. This means a large percentage of people who apply to veterinary school will be denied admittance because there is not enough space.
Now once the soon to be DVM has received his bachelor degree or equivalent and been accepted in to veterinary school now he or she will spend another four years in veterinary college. Once that is complete are Dr now must get licensed. He must pass both a national and state board examine before being allowed to practice medicine.
Once he has passed these exams he will go out in the working world and most likely take a low paying apprentice type position where he can learn from a more experienced Veterinarian.
Once our Dr is no longer an apprentice and is employed for a hospital his income will range depending on where he is. In Los Angeles Ca where I live DVM make on average anywhere from 60 to 80 dollars per hour. The staff members around him make on average 15 dollars per hour. Each veterinarian requires on average 2.5 staff members. That means just in salaries alone when working on your pet it will cost 97 to 127 dollars per hour. This does not include the cost of any medicine, drugs, suture, equipment, or must I say the O so evil Profit for the hospital. That's right the hospital needs to make a profit. Someone somewhere owns that hospital and I am sure he loves animal but he also has an family to feed just like you. How about the down time? Businesses are not always busy. When they're not busy the staff is still being paid that money has to come from somewhere otherwise the hospital would go out of business and there would be no one to treat your pet.
There is also the ever rising cost of equipment. The average x-ray machine in an animal hospital cost $50,000. Some hospitals spend double or even triple for their laboratory equipment. The Average surgery light cost $2500, Cages $5000, Surgery table $3000. Hospital expenses are higher than imaginable.
Of course there is the government as well. Local government comes up with new ways to make money every day. Hospitals receive a yearly bill for every lab machine they operate, every x-ray machine they have, for being a medical waste generator, for back flow devices on the plumbing and much more.
So the next time you're at the veterinary hospital take at look at how much time they spend on your pet. How long was your pet there? How long did the surgery take the Dr to perform from beginning to end. And think about the hourly cost just for salaries ($127 per hour) and then the cost off drugs, supplies, equipment, government, water, power, gas, etc. Maybe just maybe the bill will not seem quite so expensive.

http://www.missionvet.com
http://www.missionvet.com/orthopedic.htm

Mission Animal Care Center: Is my veterinarian overcharging?

noreply@blogger.com (Mission Animal Care Center) — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 07:01:00 +0000

Mission Animal Care Center: Is my veterinarian overcharging?: "Is my veterinarian overcharging? Every day I talk to people about their pets, the illness their pets have and the veterinary bills they..."

Is my veterinarian overcharging?

noreply@blogger.com (Mission Animal Care Center) — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 06:59:00 +0000

http://www.missionvet.com
I have worked in veterinary medicine for over 20 years. I started working at my first animal hospital in 1988 as an animal health technician. Since then I have worked for a Veterinary pharmaceutical company and for veterinary laboratories. In 1996 I opened my own animal emergency hospital. In 2001 I expanded the hospital to include non emergency services. I find all animals and the outdoors to be therapeutic to my life. I enjoy them every day of my life.
William O'Leary
http://www.missionvet.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=William_Oleary

Mission Animal Clinic (Mission Animal Care Center) - Granada Hills, California (CA) | Company Profile

noreply@blogger.com (Mission Animal Care Center) — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 23:24:00 +0000

Mission Animal Clinic (Mission Animal Care Center) - Granada Hills, California (CA) | Company Profile

Mission Animal Care Center: Videos on Medical conditions in dogs and cats.

noreply@blogger.com (Mission Animal Care Center) — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 04:09:00 +0000

Mission Animal Care Center: Videos on Medical conditions in dogs and cats.: "ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RUPTURE in dogs. anal sac problems in dogs and cats Veterinary information on allergy testing in dogs and cats ..."

Videos on Medical conditions in dogs and cats.

noreply@blogger.com (Mission Animal Care Center) — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 03:58:00 +0000

ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RUPTURE in dogs.

anal sac problems in dogs and cats

Veterinary information on allergy testing in dogs and cats

Mission Animal Care Center: What Is a Veterinary Orthopedic Surgeon?

noreply@blogger.com (Mission Animal Care Center) — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 17:24:00 +0000

Mission Animal Care Center: What Is a Veterinary Orthopedic Surgeon?: "What Is a Veterinary Orthopedic Surgeon? By an eHow Contributor I want to do this! What's This? In most cases, animals wi..."

Mission Animal Care Center: Halloween Candy and pets

noreply@blogger.com (Mission Animal Care Center) — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 17:23:00 +0000

Mission Animal Care Center: Halloween Candy and pets: "Eating a bag full of chocolate Halloween candy is more of a trick than a treat for the average household pet, according to a Kansas State ..."

Mission Animal Care Center: Halloween Candy and pets

noreply@blogger.com (Mission Animal Care Center) — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 18:43:00 +0000

Mission Animal Care Center: Halloween Candy and pets: "Eating a bag full of chocolate Halloween candy is more of a trick than a treat for the average household pet, according to a Kansas State ..."
www.missionvet.com

Halloween Candy and pets

noreply@blogger.com (Mission Animal Care Center) — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 18:38:00 +0000

Eating a bag full of chocolate Halloween candy is more of a trick than a treat for the average household pet, according to a Kansas State University veterinarian. K-State’s Susan Nelson, assistant professor of clinical services, says chocolate consumption by many pets, including dogs, cats, ferrets, birds and rats, can be extremely hazardous.
“Chocolate contains large amounts of methylxanthines,” she said. “Theobromine and caffeine are methylxanthines that are found in chocolate. It is theobromine that causes the majority of symptoms in pets.”
When a pet ingests a small quantity of chocolate, an owner may notice no changes, or they could see such symptoms as vomiting, diarrhea and excessive thirst and urination. As the consumption of chocolate increases, Nelson said the symptoms become more severe and could lead to irregular heartbeats, tremors, seizures and possibly death.
“Symptoms typically occur within 12 hours of ingestion,” she said. “Unlike people, dogs take much longer to clear theobromine from their bodies, which leads to the formation of toxic levels.”
According to Nelson, different types of chocolate can vary in the concentration level of theobromine. Baking chocolate contains the most theobromine, white chocolate contains the least, and semisweet and milk chocolate contain a medium amount.
If a household pet consumes a large quantity of chocolate Nelson advises owners to call a veterinarian or emergency clinic immediately. Inducing vomiting will most likely be advised, but she said this measure is not safe in all situations.
She also recommends keeping all foods — especially Halloween candy — out of a pet’s reach to avoid hazardous consumption situations. Confining pets during parties or family gatherings also will help prevent guests from feeding them toxic foods, she said.
“Chocolate consumption is a very common problem amongst pets, dogs especially,” Nelson said. “It is important to recognize that individual reactions vary by pets, but it is best to assume your pet is one of the sensitive ones and not delay in seeking advice from your veterinarian. Be aware of the chocolate sources in your house, and tell any new dog owner English news online this potential threat to their pet.”

www.missionvet.com

How to Become a Veterinary Orthopedic Specialist | eHow.com

noreply@blogger.com (Mission Animal Care Center) — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 05:11:00 +0000

How to Become a Veterinary Orthopedic Specialist | eHow.com

http://www.missionvet.com/orthopedic.htm

Mission Animal Care Center: Online Pharmacies

noreply@blogger.com (Mission Animal Care Center) — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 02:32:00 +0000

Mission Animal Care Center: Online Pharmacies: "http://www.fda.gov/downloads/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm115432.pdf"

Mission Animal Care Center: Purchasing Pet Drugs Online: Buyer Beware Photo Il...

noreply@blogger.com (Mission Animal Care Center) — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 02:31:00 +0000

Mission Animal Care Center: Purchasing Pet Drugs Online:
Buyer Beware
Photo Il...: "Purchasing Pet Drugs Online: Buyer Beware Photo Illustration: FDA/Michael Ermarth “Discount pet drugs— no prescription required” may appeal ..."

Purchasing Pet Drugs Online

noreply@blogger.com (Mission Animal Care Center) — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 17:02:00 +0000

Purchasing Pet Drugs Online:
Buyer Beware
Photo Illustration: FDA/Michael Ermarth
“Discount pet drugs—
no prescription
required” may appeal
to pet owners surfing the Web,
but FDA experts say it can be
risky to buy drugs online from
sites that tout this message
and others like it.
2 / FDA C o n s ume r He a l t h In f o rma t i o n / U. S . F o o d a n d Dr u g Admin i s t r a t i o n MARCH 2010
Consumer Health Information
www.fda.gov/consumer
drugs are available to U.S. citizens
without a prescription. But, says Hartogensis,
“There is a risk of the drugs
not being FDA-approved.”
A foreign or domestic pharmacy may
claim that one of its veterinarians on
staff will “evaluate” the pet after looking
over a form filled out by the pet
owner, and then prescribe the drug. “A
veterinarian should physically examine
an animal prior to making a diagnosis
to determine the appropriate
therapy,” says Hartogensis.
CVM is especially concerned that
pet owners are going online to buy
two types of commonly used prescription
veterinary drugs—nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
and heartworm preventives.
“Both drugs can be dangerous if
there is no professional involvement,”
says Hartogensis. “It’s not generally
a concern if the owner uses a legitimate
online pharmacy and mails in a
prescription from their veterinarian,
who is monitoring the animal. But if
there is no veterinarian–client–patient
relationship, it’s a dangerous practice.”
NSAIDS and Heartworm Preventives
Veterinarians often prescribe NSAIDs
to relieve pain in dogs. NSAIDs
should not be purchased on the Internet
without a veterinarian’s involvement
because
• dogs should undergo blood
testing and a thorough physical
examination before starting
NSAIDs
• dogs should be monitored by a
veterinarian while they are taking
NSAIDs
• veterinarians should discuss
possible side effects of NSAIDs
with the owner
• the prescription should be
accompanied by a Client
Information Sheet that explains
important safety information to
the owner
Heartworm disease is a potentially
fatal condition transmitted by the
bite of a mosquito that is carrying
infected larvae of the heartworm parasite.
Dogs, cats, and ferrets can get
heartworm. Heartworm preventives,
given daily, monthly, or semiannually
depending on the product, kill the larvae
before they become adult worms.
The American Heartworm Society
recommends
• using heartworm medication for
dogs year-round, no matter where
you live in the United States
• getting dogs tested yearly to make
sure they’re not infected with
heartworm
“Testing is important even in dogs
regularly treated with heartworm preventive
products due to the occasional
reports of product ineffectiveness,”
says Hartogensis. An Internet pharmacy
veterinarian cannot draw blood
from the animal to perform the test. If
the test isn’t done, a pet owner could
be giving heartworm preventives to a
dog that has heartworms, potentially
leading to severe reactions.
Tips for Buying Pet Drugs Online
• Order from a Web site that belongs
to a Vet-VIPPS accredited pharmacy.
Vet-VIPPS—the Veterinary-Verified
Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites—is
a voluntary accreditation program of
the National Association of Boards of
Pharmacy (NABP). NABP gives the
Vet-VIPPS seal to online pharmacies
that dispense prescription animal
drugs and comply with NABP’s strict
criteria, including federal and state
licensing and inspection requirements,
protecting patient confidentiality,
quality assurance, and validity
of prescription orders. Look for the
Vet-VIPPS seal displayed on a pharmacy’s
Web site or check with NABP
at www.nabp.net (click on “Accreditation
Programs”) to find out if a pharmacy
is Vet-VIPPS accredited. Because
this is a new program, begun in 2009,
a small number of pharmacies are
currently Vet-VIPPS accredited.
• Order from an outsourced prescription
management service that your veterinarian
uses.
These state-licensed Internet pharmacy
services work directly with the
veterinarian, require that a prescription
be written by the veterinarian,
and support the veterinarian-clientpatient
relationship. Ask your veterinary
hospital if it uses

www.missionvet.com

What Is a Veterinary Orthopedic Surgeon?

noreply@blogger.com (Mission Animal Care Center) — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 16:15:00 +0000

What Is a Veterinary Orthopedic Surgeon?

By an eHow Contributor

In most cases, animals with injuries and medical problems require the same quality of specialized treatment as humans. Veterinary orthopedic surgeons carry a high level of responsibility. They are competent individuals who possess the necessary background and skills to perform highly specialized surgical tasks. These experts conduct surgical procedures with exceptional dexterity, patience, composure and knowledge.

Job Description

Orthopedic surgery corrects problems in skeleton attachments, ligaments, tendons and some nervous system complications. A veterinary orthopedic surgeon`s main task is to conduct these specialized procedures on animals, primarily dogs and cats. The most common procedures involve repairing a broken bone, joint and associated tissue damage. They also hold consultations with pet owners regarding preoperative issues such as additional testing, prior diagnosis and length of surgery. The veterinary surgeon also plays a key role in managing the recovery and rehabilitation stage of your pet after surgery. Veterinary orthopedic surgery is broken down to further class specializations, such as small animals, large animals, marine, dogs and cats.

Equipment

Veterinary orthopedic surgeons perform complex surgical procedures using very expensive equipment. Before the surgery takes place, your pet may be diagnosed using an x-ray machine, ultrasound or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine. These devices effectively help the surgeon see any existing problems. When the surgery begins, veterinary orthopedic surgeons use knives, scalpels and other sharp tools to enter the affected area. In many cases, they also use tiny video cameras to visualize the areas that they are exploring. Special antibacterial solutions help to minimize infection before, during and after surgery.

Requirements

Becoming a veterinary orthopedic surgeon entails tremendous commitment and intrinsic motivation. You start by becoming a certified veterinarian. This is accomplished by finishing a veterinary course, passing a national board exam and a state specified licensure exam. You then attend a surgery specialization school. Depending on the school, specializing in orthopedics usually takes up to four years. The trend for most veterinary colleges is to offer a one year internship followed by a three year residency. You then must complete a rigorous accreditation test to become board certified by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons.

Expectations

As a veterinary orthopedic surgeon, you are expected to participate in continued education. This ensures that you are update-to-date with new surgery techniques, approaches and diseases. You are also encouraged to subscribe to prominent veterinary medicine journals and join active veterinary associations. You are expected to carry out the professional, medical ethics and values required of a medical practitioner. You should do your share of helping the veterinary surgery community by providing education seminars, writing texts and conducting research related to your area.

Alternatives

If you`re a veterinary orthopedic surgeon, you may have the choice of concentrating on other related endeavors aside from performing surgery. You can be an instructor to veterinary students, including interns and residents. You may provide practical clinical training in hospitals or become a college

http://www.missionvet.com/orthopedic.htm