I wanted to put out a new blog to discuss the current Coronavirus pandemic.  More specifically,  how this may impact you as pet owner and veterinary client. 
 
First, the World Health Organization has determined that the current Coronavirus, COVID-19 is not infectious to dogs and cats.  While viruses can change and mutate, there is no evidence of risk for infection at this time. 
 
However, pets can help spread the virus if they are contaminated with infectious particles.  Just like a doorknob, pen or any other object, if your pet comes into contact with infectious particles, it can pass those along to others that touch them.  If you are having respiratory symptoms (coughing, sneezing, runny nose) try to avoid direct contact with your pets or ensure that they are being bathed frequently.  WHO states that COVID-19 may survive on surfaces for hours to several days. 
 
The State of Michigan, like many others, have declared a state of emergency and closed schools and cancelled public gatherings.  The idea behind this is to limit close human interaction and to slow or stall the spread of the illness.  While this is not intended to be a “lock yourself in your home and live off of canned soup” measure, it is meant to limit close contact where people could be swapping infectious droplets.  If you have never seen a high speed photography image of a sneeze, here is one provided by the Centers for Disease Control at the following link: https://phil.cdc.gov/details.aspx?pid=11161

 

 







Social distancing is an easy and socially responsible thing we can all do to help slow the spread of this illness.  By having fewer cases, we can reserve more medical services for those that do become infected and will be adversely affected due to age or concurrent health conditions.   Cancelling schools, concerts and sporting events is more large scale.  We can help on the smaller scale by limiting shopping trips to a single store, standing farther apart when in lines and in public, wiping down shopping cart handles and washing hands frequently.  Last, not going out if we have respiratory symptoms.  Many will get a mild form of the illness and may not even know they are sick.  However, the person they give it to may have other health issues and become seriously ill. 
 
In order to reduce the risk of transmission and infection in our veterinary clinic, we are introducing new appointment policies based on the idea of social distancing.   First and foremost, we will try to prevent having many people in the lobby all at one time. 
 
We ask that our clients bringing in pets for rehab, hydrotherapy and laser pull around to the back door and call to let us know you are here for your appointment.  We will bring you into the rehab room through the back door as soon as we are ready for your pet. 
 
We ask that our general medicine and surgery appointment park out front as usual but please call from the car to let us know you have arrived.  As soon as we have a room open for you, we will come out to get you and your pet. 
 
We ask that only one person accompany each pet for their appointment to decrease the number of people in the exam rooms.  We ask that if you are sick, please call to reschedule any routine care appointments for your pet.  If you are ill and your pet is ill or hurt and needs to be seen, please inform us of this, we can obtain history over the phone and take your pet in to be examined while you wait in your car. 
 
While this may sound overprotective, remember that you are coming in for one appointment and will interact with 2-3 people while at our clinic.  We, however will be seeing appointments all day and interacting with anywhere from 15 to 30 people on an average day.  We want to remain open and provide the best possible care for your pets during this time, but we have families also and want to limit our contact to prevent spreading anything to them. 
 
Thank you very much for your understanding and please let us know if we can answer any additional questions.  There are links below to provide more information.  The CDC and WHO pages are being updated daily.  We will continue to monitor those pages and the AVMA and if any changes arise that will affect the health of your pet, we will post to our FaceBook page at: https://www.facebook.com/mackinawvet/?ref=bookmarks
 
 
 
American Veterinary Medical Association – FAQs for Pet Owners
https://www.avma.org/sites/default/files/2020-03/covid-19-faq-pet-owners.pdf
 
Centers for Disease Control
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html
 
World Health Organization
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

In the veterinary world, we often see pets that have serious problems with only mild clinical signs.  “He only vomited the one time”, “She has been coughing for a month, but only when she lays on her side to sleep”, and so on. 
 
Sometimes little clinical signs are indications of mild illness, allergy or aging process.  Other times they can be warning signs for a life threatening condition.  It is often impossible to tell the difference when you are seeing these signs at home. 
 
The radiographs below show a dog that presented for a physical exam after one day of diarrhea.  I am sharing these radiographs with the owner’s permission.  This was an older dog, who was well cared for, very well loved and current on his veterinary care.  On exam, I could feel that there was a mass in his abdomen.  We took radiographs and found not one, but two HUGE masses or tumors in his abdomen.  The first picture shows the original radiograph.  The second pictures shows the radiograph with the tumors highlighted.

This dog’s only clinical sign was a sudden onset of diarrhea, which had only been going on for one day.  Due to the size, these masses had probably been growing for some time, but finally reached the point where they were compressing the intestines and causing loose stools. 
 
All too often we see pets that have a long history of clinical signs that the pet owner has been noticing, but did not seem severe enough to warrant the trip to the vet.  All too often, this delay in diagnosis has allowed the issue to advance to the point where more drastic treatment is needed, such as major surgery or referral to specialists, or it is no longer at a stage were treatment is a good option.  The decision to delay is never made out of disregard for the pet.  Most pet owners love their pets like family members.  Postponing veterinary care is usually due to busy schedules, financial constraints or lack of understanding of health issues.
 
Our pets can have almost any medical problem that people can have, and a few more just to keep us vets on our toes.  The body is very complex and animals have an amazing capacity to compensate for illness and injury, often without showing clinical signs.  If your pet has a change in his or her usual habits, contact your veterinarian to ask their advice on whether or not the change is something that should be explored immediately, or if it can be monitored briefly and an exam set up if not resolved on its own in a reasonable time frame. 
 
We cannot always save pets with early intervention, but there is a much better chance when problems are discovered and diagnosed early on.

My name is Dr. Sarah Zuker.  My first blog for MVA is to introduce myself as I recently purchased Mackinaw Veterinary Associates from Dr. Michael Scott.  I have had the pleasure of meeting some of you while working with Dr. Scott over the past two months. 
 
I was born and raised in Owosso, Michigan, and grew up in a small, family run business.
I graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in Veterinary Medicine in May of 2012.  While in vet school, I had the unique opportunity to work in MSU’s Advanced Rehabilitation Center for Animals.  I was instantly drawn to how many different ways physical rehabilitation could help pets.  I completed my rehab training concurrently with vet school and received my Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner (C.C.R.P.) certificate in June of 2012.
 
After graduation, I accepted an associate position in Florida and have spent the last four years practicing veterinary medicine and physical rehabilitation in the sunshine state.  My husband and I have been keeping an eye out for the perfect practice in mid-Michigan for a few years now.  We were very excited when we first spoke with Dr. Scott and when we came up to visit Mackinaw Veterinary Associates last May. We knew we had found our home. 
 
In addition to physical rehabilitation, I have a strong interest in surgery, hospice and advanced therapies such as stem cell and immunotherapy.  I truly enjoy getting to know clients and their pets.  The best way to learn how to help owners best care for their beloved pets, and the best way to manage medical issues when they arise, is to have a good understanding of the family and the dynamic role each pet plays in that family.
 
You will likely get a chance to meet my husband Andrew, as well.  He is the practice manager at MVA and has been helping out with appointments while both Dr. Scott and I have been seeing patients.  We are both very happy to be home in mid-Michigan and to raise our daughter with her family and small town values. 
 
We look forward to meeting all of you and to help you give your pets a long, happy and healthy life.  Please feel welcome to call and schedule an appointment to meet with me and discuss how rehabilitation or newer therapies could benefit your pet.