Mandy: April Team Member of the Month

Mandy is our April Team Member of the Month! Mandy is a veterinary technician who has a special interest in pet dentistry. She has been with Avondale Animal Hospital since the winter of 2011. Mandy has a Basenji named "Zeppelin". When not working, she enjoys softball, shopping and attending courses dealing with veterinary medicine. Mandy keeps busy caring for her son, Hansen.

Pets & Cookouts

Did you know that some of the most common foods we eat during our cookouts are the most dangerous foods for our pets? Meat with bones in it, such as chicken and ribs, are extremely dangerous for our pets to get a hold of…bones can puncture the stomach and other organs if swallowed because they cannot be digested. Corn-on-the-cob can also be dangerous because dogs have been known to swallow the cob whole! What do you do to keep your dog busy with something else during the barbeque?

Pets & Easter Eggs

Easter egg hunts are so much fun for kids, and sometimes even for adults! Finding that brightly colored egg stuffed with a surprise is exciting! But don't forget the dangers of failing to find an egg that's been stuffed with candy. Your dog leads with their nose, and if you don't find it, your pet might! Consider stuffing your eggs with something safe for pets this year. If Fido finds them, he'll be less likely to break them open and eat what's inside.

March is Poison Prevention Month

March is Poison Prevention Month. Did you know that some of the most common household items that poison pets include human medication, both prescription and over the counter? With over 25,000 reported cases of pets poisoned by eating human medicine, it’s important to exercise extreme caution when it comes to storing these items! Keep your medications high up on shelves and closed inside cabinets, where your pet cannot access them. It’s also important to open bottles over counters so that any dropped pills don’t end up on the floor where they can be snapped up by a curious pet. Use precaution, and give your pet a long, healthy life.

Tomorrow is 'If Pets Had Thumbs Day'

Dental Myth: Natural or "Anesthesia-Free" cleaning is just as good

A veterinary teeth-cleaning must be done under general anesthesia, and many pet parents are rightfully concerned about subjecting their pets to these medications. However, trying to clean pets’ teeth while they’re awake is inefficient and dangerous. When pets are squirming, it’s impossible to get a good enough look to examine their teeth, and what can’t be seen won’t get cleaned properly. Wiggling pets are also more likely to be injured by the sharp instruments. People who attempt anesthesia-free cleanings are usually not properly trained in veterinary care, so they have no way of diagnosing illnesses, taking X-rays, or performing any of the medical tests needed to determine the health of a pet’s teeth. There may be risks associated with anesthesia, but they’re small compared with the risks of entrusting your pet’s health to someone unlicensed and inexperienced in veterinary dentistry. Besides, if your pet has gingivitis, his or her teeth are bound to be sensitive…imagine how painful the dentistry would be without anesthesia. Who would want to subject their pet to that?



Our pets’ teeth are subject to many of the same hazards as our own teeth, and when we don’t take care of them, it shows. Although brushing a pet’s teeth may be a hassle (as well as a hazard, at first), it’s worth it to add so many healthy years to your pet’s life, as well as prevent expensive medical care down the road. I know my pets are worth five minutes per day, and I’d bet that yours are, too.

Valentine's Day is almost here! This means flowers, gifts and candy for you...but what about your pet? Do you buy your pet a gift for Valentine's Day and if so, what kind of gift do you usually buy?