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Avondale Is In The News!
Visit our website often to keep up
with all the news about Avondale. We'll keep you up-to-date with all the
news concerning our hospital, our doctors, and the latest procedures being
offered to keep your pet healthy and happy.
Meet our Practice Manager, Char Cooper!
CLICK HERE to read the December 7,
2009 article appearing in the
Des Moines
Business Record about Avondale's new Canine Rehabilitation Facility
Recent
article from the Des Moines South Register by Lisa Colonno
profiles
Avondale's new Pet Rehabilitation
and Physical Therapy Center
PET WEEK AT AVONDALE
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In honor of National Pet Week, Avondale Veterinary
Healthcare Complex once again hosted the 4th graders from Hartford
Upper Elementary School. These students were among the first people
to view the new addition at the complex. The new addition features
a central treatment area, an orthopedic surgery suite, a soft tissue
surgery suite and a double dental suite, as well as a rehabilitation
center which includes a state-of-the-art under water treadmill.
The student’s tour began in the new treatment area
at the animal hospital where they viewed digital radiographs,
learned about the different types of intestinal parasites that
animals can get, and viewed a variety of stones removed from cats,
dogs, and even horses. They also learned how to use a stethoscope,
and were able to listen to the heart and lungs of special guest
“Staley.” The students then moved on to view the two new
surgery suites. In here they were able to dress up just like the
surgeon. They were able to try on a surgical gown, cap, mask, and
gloves. The students were also taught about patient monitoring, and
the importance of the animal’s heart rate. From there it was on to the new rehabilitation
unit, where they were able to watch the under water treadmill in use
and learn about the tools used for animal rehabilitation. “Diesel”
was an excellent sport and allowed the kids to watch him run in the
under water treadmill, although he was quite tired at the end of the
day!
Next, it was off to the Pet Resort where they met “Brodie,”
a crazy Pug puppy and “Bear,” Avondale’s beloved three-legged German
Shepherd. These two crazy dogs loved all the attention and were
happy to give kisses to anyone. The students toured the themed
suites, such as Disney, Africa, and Sports, to name a few, and the
dorm rooms available for boarding. The 4th graders then took a trip
downstairs to see the new Doggy Daycare where there were a variety
of adult dogs and puppies playing. The Cat Hospital was the last stop on the Avondale
Veterinary Healthcare Complex tour. Here they were greeted by four
very active kittens that were ready to play. These kittens came
from Animal Lifeline of Iowa, and they all need loving homes! They
also viewed the exam rooms and looked at the cat condos. They also
met “Ami”, a Bengal kitten, and “Hailey”, the resident house cat.
Students also got to watch an informative video on how and where
intestinal parasites live in animals. Each Carlisle 4th grade student received a fun
parting gift donated by Avondale. Each student’s baggie contained
informational pamphlets on animal care and fun toys. The staff at
Avondale Veterinary Healthcare Complex is pleased to honor National
Pet Week with the students, and cannot wait until next year! |
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Meet Some Of
Our Very Special Visitors Below! |
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Jacki Strovers, CVT is showing the
students what types of worms dogs and cats can get. |
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Sarah Carter is
giving the students a tour of
the Pet Resort. |
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This student is
wearing the traditional attire of a surgeon - is this a future
veterinarian? |
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Angella Moore is
showing the new under-water
treadmill in the brand
new Rehabilitation room. |
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Mia Green is showing the students
the new Orthopedic surgery room
and how patient vitals are
monitored.
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The following article was published by
www.DMJuice.com on 9/9/2008
Just click below to
watch the KCCI, Channel 8 video of "Bear, the 3-Legged Dog" which
recently covered a
story about Avondale Veterinary Healthcare Complex!
"Angel" Experience Reflects Generosity
of Many
CAPS provides last-chance care
for abandoned puppy found shot
In mid-December in a Fairfield, Iowa field, Elsie Evans and
her neighbor, CAPS member, Colette Guay-Brezner tried to coax a frightened,
Samoyed-mix puppy to take some food. The dog had been seen running in the
area for a few weeks and was malnourished, yet she shied from the women trying
to help her with some canned dog food and treats. Two days later, the two
Iowa women found the dog lying in the field, shot and left for dead - or left to
die.
Days later, the veterinarian who performed the orthopedic
surgery on the dog postulated on his patient's history. "We think the puppy
had been abandoned. That it had been seen circling the area for weeks
suggests strongly it had not wandered there on its own from home, but had been
dropped in the area where it was found," said Dr. Kyle Malter of the
Avondale Animal Hospital in Des Moines. Dr. Malter called the female white
puppy - estimated to be about six months old based on the presence of adult
teeth - "Angel".
NOT AN ACCIDENT
Dr. Malter detailed Angel's condition when she arrived at the
hospital. "Both right legs had been hit with a single shot. The
projectile shattered the bone of the front leg, exited and embedded in the rear
leg, which suffered a compound fracture of the tibia. While the majority
of the projectile remained in the rear leg, there were fragments of the
projectile in her abdomen, near the thorax. We can't confirm the caliber
of the projectile. It was open hunting season, but we can't say for
certain a hunter shot Angel, because the impact of the shot suggests is was from
a high-powered rifle, not a shotgun or rifle normally used by game hunters.
However, there is little doubt the shot was intentional, and it was a shot meant
to kill the dog."
A CONCERTED EFFORT
When Mrs. Evans and Mrs. Guay-Brezner had gone back to the
field on Saturday, December 16, with dog food to help the puppy that had eluded
them for two days previously, they found the dog standing briefly, then she
dropped stiffly to her side. "There was a lot of blood," said Mrs.
Suay-Brezer, "so we couldn't tell what the injury was at the time." Carefully
, they transported the injured puppy to the Fairfield Veterinary Clinic, where a
staffer opened the facility to provide emergency care. There, Angel
received injections of antibiotic and cortisone, was cleaned up and bandaged,
and provided water and rest. On Monday, the attending veterinarian had
read X-rays and recommended Angel be euthanized, since the front leg,
decomposing, required amputation and the back leg would require major repair
surgery. Seeking help to avoid the dog's euthanasia, Mrs. Guay-Brezner,
who fosters kittens for the Noah's Ark Animal Foundation, contacted a board
member of that group, who also was a principal of Neighborhood Cats, a group
that targets the capture, neutering, and fostering of stray cats.
Together, they considered options for help. Mrs. Guay-Brezner E-mailed
CAPS president, Deborah Howard, about the dire situation hoping that CAPS could
suggest a practical solution for the needed surgery, based on the organization's
experience with animal rescue. "Within hours," related Mrs.
Guay-Brezer, "Ms. Howard had gotten back to me advising that CAPS would cover
the cost of the surgery needed to save the dog. So my husband and I covered the
expenses at the Fairfield Clinic, and my associate at Noah's Ark personally
covered the expense of transporting Angel to Avondale in Des Moines, 120 miles
northwest of Fairfield, where the attending veterinarian recommended we transfer
her."
A STOIC ANIMAL
When Avondale Animal Hospital received Angel, she was
emaciated and septic. "Her front leg was necrotic," said Dr. Malter.
"We fluid-loaded her to stabilize her, and prepared her for surgery.
Her stats were good through the amputation of the front right leg, but while we
were preparing the back leg for surgical repair, Angel's heart stopped. We
did CPR and administered emergency drugs. It was probably a thrombolitic
embolism - a loose blood clot, and a surgeon's worst nightmare. She was a
stoic animal, a sweet dog, amazingly stable. It was a heartbreak for all
of us to lose her."
"ADMIRABLE"
INVOLVEMENT", SAYS VET
 The puppy that likely was abandoned by her owner, then left to
die by a shootist, was given another chance at life by strangers who came
together to help save the animal. "Ms. Howard was very willing to help
this dog, after being advised the cost of major surgery for multiple injuries
and hospitalization could run from $2,000 to $2,500. And we gave this
patient the best care we could. With help from so many, including those
animal friends in Fairfield who helped get her her, this patient probably
received better care in the last few days of her life than all the rest of her
life," summed Dr. Malter, who himself owns a three-legged retriever-mix
named "Annie" that he adopted from Animal Lifeline in Des Moines. Angel's
tragic story appeared in the "Des Moines Register" newspaper the first of
January, prompting much compassionate feedback from readers. But the
article implied that CAPS was involved with Angel only after her death.
"We needed someone to be responsible for this animal, and Ms. Howard stepped
up," explained Mrs. Guay-Brezer. "Angel wouldn't even had made it
to Des Moines for a chance for recovery without the offer to help from CAPS.
And it was very kind of her to give me the option of dealing with Angel's
remains." She added that Angel was cremated, with the remains spread
in a pet cemetery in Des Moines. (Ms. Howard added that the Avondale
Animal Hospital supported the effort to save Angel by generously discounting the
cost of the hospital's veterinary care.) "Although Angel didn't
survive, there was generosity, caring and willingness demonstrated by several
people," Dr. Malter concluded. "Especially because it doesn't have
a happy ending, it is admirable that CAPS is sharing Angel's story to help raise
awareness."
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