May Team Member of the Month: Shelly

Shelly Gordanier, Pet Groomer is our May Team Member of the Month! Shelly has been with Avondale Grooming since the fall of 2011. She has 16 years of grooming experience and is a talented pet stylist. Shelly enjoys doing the latest in "funky" styles for pets -- anything from mohawks to special pet colors and blueberry facials! In her free time she loves spending time with her daughter and enjoys all kinds of music. We are glad she is a part of our team!

Pets & Swimming

Is your dog a swimmer? Remember to protect their ears from infection. Dogs can develop chronic “swimmer’s ear” from water that gets lodged in the ear canal after a dip in the water. Because of the shape of a dog’s descending ear canal, it is difficult for water to drip out. The moisture left over in the ear canal is the perfect environment for ear infections. After your dog is finished playing in the water, take a towel and gently cover your dog’s ear and gently shake their head. This will keep any excess water from settling in your dog’s ear canal. When bathing, water can get trapped in a pet’s ear canals and cause the same kind of infection. If your pet is still experiencing irritation, call us and we'll be happy to help in any way we can.

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'