Posts in Category: News and Events

To My Friends at SDMVC,

It is with a heavy heart, I say goodbye to 32 years of working at South Des Moines Veterinary Center.  I have been blessed by three wonderful bosses, Dr. John Matson, Dr. Brenda Flaming and Dr. Melissa Beyer.  I learned a great deal from all three, but I like to think I taught them a little too.

I have worked with countless great people over the years, but I will tell you the team you have now is terrific.  This crew is full of energy, great ideas and compassion for you and your furry kids.

Many of you have become my friends over the years as we have bonded over the joy, love, frustration and even sorrow of letting these furry critters into our hearts.  This has been a great gift to me and has made my life richer.  So thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing those special times.

I look forward to whatever the future has in store, but I wanted you to know you all have a special place in my heart.

Love,

Kathy Parker

They say “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.”

While that is certainly true, things can quickly change if your cat slips out the door as company arrives or if the dog gets sick on the long drive to Grandma’s  house.  Here are 6 tips to help the holidays go smooth with pets.

1. Traveling: Whether you are going across town or to another state, traveling can be stressful for our pets.  A pet carrier with pheromones is a simple way to help your pet remain calm during travel.  If your pet gets sick or has anxiety during travel, contact us.  We may be able to help.
2.  Interaction With Other Pets: If your pet is boarding or will be interacting with other animals, make sure your pet is up to date on their vaccines.  Canines should be vaccinated against kennel cough and influenza to ensure they are protected if they will be interacting with other dogs.
3. Guest In the Home: Having extra people in the home can be overwhelming for our pets.  Designate a crate or quiet room for them to retreat to.  Play soft music and give them interactive toys to help them feel more at ease.
4. Probiotics:  The holidays always cause a disruption in the daily routine.  70% of your pet’s immune system is in the gut, so when disruptions hit your furry friend is more likely to have soft stools and be more prone to illness.  The good new is a probiotic is  great      way to strengthen your pet’s immune system.  We have a very easy to give your pets during the holiday season.  You just sprinkle it over your pet’s food once daily.  We have it in the clinic or online. 
5. Decorations:  Supervise your pets around the decor.  Christmas trees can be easily tipped over by our pets.  Plus, all the shiny ornaments look like new toys in their eyes.  Skip the tinsel: cats are notorious for eating tinsel which can cause some major GI upset. Also, watch those holiday plants and flowers.  Many are toxic to our pets.
6. Food & Snacks:  Especially with guest in the home, make sure your pets don’t get anything to eat that will make them
   sick.  Most people know that chocolate is toxic to our pets, but did you know an artificial sweetner called xylitol can be deadly to our pets?  It is found in many types of desserts and candies.  Turkey may seem safe, but it can be just enough to cause an upset stomach or worse, pancreatitis.  Yeast/Dough is never safe for your furry companions.  Pet Poison Helpline is a 24-hour resource if your pet gets into something over the holidays.

 If you need to set up an appointment before the holidays, click here.

National Kids and Pets Day is a fun day to celebrate the special bond that is held between our pets and kids.  It also reminds us what pets can teach our children as they grow up.

RESPONSIBILITY:   If your child is old enough to get involved with activities taking care of your pet, let her help!  She can fill the water bowl, brush the fur, or help pick up the pet toys.  As she grows older, she can assist with the feeding schedule, clean up feces from the yard, and even help with training.

COMPASSION: The compassion and nurturing that a child can learn from a pet will extend to other people as they grow, and even to their own kids one day.

HEALTH: In a world where technology is king, having pets can be a positive distraction from our devices.  It’s also a great way to encourage the kids to get outside more!

SOCIAL: A pet can help teach a child social skills and build their confidence.  Is your child learning how to read?  Have her read a story to the cat!  What’s better than having a best friend to talk to who will never judge you?

SAFETY: A pet helps teach our kids how to be safe with animals.  As parents, it’s our responsibility to teach our kids how to interact with animals appropriately and always supervise their interactions.  If you meet a new dog on a walk, does your child know to ask permission first before petting?

Thinking about adding a furry companion to your family?  Consider adoption first.

If you have visited our clinic in the last couple of months you have probably noticed some construction taking place.  We appreciate everyone’s patience during the renovation and we are very excited to share with you what it is all about.

Why are we renovating?

Since we are restricted in expanding our building outward, renovating the inside allows us to better utilize the space we have to better suit the needs of our patients. One of these needs is our Doggy Daycare program.

What specifically is being renovated?

In 2010 we started promoting Doggy Daycare at our clinic. It began with Bella, a Vizsla whose family’s previous dog Continue…

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