News
THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2012
January 2012 - Winter Newsletter
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2011
WLVC Introduces Digital X-Rays
As part of our ongoing commitment to the highest quality of patient care and to the environment, West Loop Veterinary Care replaced its traditional x-ray system with digital radiography. This new system is an important addition to WLVC services as it:
- Allows for quicker review of x-rays
- Minimizes the need for retakes, thus reducing pet’s exposure to radiation
- Lets viewers enhance images when necessary
- Enables x-ray viewing from any hospital computer
- Allows x-rays to be saved directly into patient records
- Reduces the use of chemicals
- Allows for easy transfer of x-rays to veterinary specialists as needed
“This new technology helps us maintain our ongoing commitment to providing exceptional veterinary medical care while enhancing our commitment to the environment,” said Dr. David Gonsky, Founder and Chief Veterinarian, West Loop Veterinary Care. “We’re pleased to add this state-of-the-art technology to further enhance our care of pets.”
X-rays taken with the new system will become part of the patient’s electronic medical files at WLVC.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 12, 2011
COMMUNITY ALERT: Kennel Cough Outbreak
Recently, the Veterinarians at WLVC have seen a significant increase in dogs with upper respiratory tract infections and even pneumonia. It is suspected that the Kennel cough organism (bordetella) is the cause.
Kennel cough is a highly contagious airborne infection that is often acquired at boarding facilities, dog parks and play groups. Even healthy dogs can catch the disease. Just like our human influenza, vaccinated dogs may still become infected.
If your dog shows symptoms of Kennel Cough, it is very important that you keep your pet isolated from other animals and contact your veterinarian to determine the best course of action. Kennel Cough can lead to complications including pneumonia. Untreated, pneumonia can become a serious or even fatal illness.
Symptoms of Kennel Cough
- A persistent dry cough that may sound like gagging
- Clear vomit after a bout of coughing
- Sneezing and clear nasal discharge may also occur
Symptoms of Pneumonia
- Coughing – usually soft or moist
- Loss of appetite and/or thirst
- Fever
- Difficulty breathing
- Nasal discharge may change to yellow/green
If you think your dog may have pneumonia, please seek immediate medical attention. Working together to isolate infected dogs and treat when necessary, we can quickly bring this outbreak of Kennel Cough under control.
David Gonsky, DVM
Medical Director
West Loop Veterinary Care
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2011
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Prescription Label Recall!
Please be advised of a prescription label recall. If you have received a prescription from West Loop Veterinary Care in the past nine (9) months (since September 2010) covered in a clear prescription label tape, please be aware of this important prescription label recall.
Although all the information on the label is correct, the prescription labels issued by West Loop Veterinary Care in the nine (9) months (since September 2010) that are covered with prescription label tape may be subject to fading, making the label difficult to read. This is particularly of concern for prescriptions that last more than two weeks. Please either:
- Email us at: info@westloopvet.com so that we may print a replacement label and send it to you, or
- Bring your prescription bottle or box to West Loop Veterinary Care for a new label.
Again, the information supplied on the label is correct. The only problem is that the print may fade prematurely due to being covered in prescription label tape. For your pet’s health and safety, we want to be certain that you, or anyone else, knows exactly the type of medication, strength, dose and intended use of your pet’s medicine. We also would like to prevent any possible confusion with human medications!
Please check all of your pet’s prescription labels and contact us as quickly as possible if you are experiencing any label fading at all so that we can correct the situation as quickly as possible. We feel email will work best so that we can process these new labels with minimal inconvenience to you. If it is more convenient for you, please feel free to call us directly at 312-421-2275. Any one of our team members will be able to assist you.
We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this has caused you or your pet and look forward to rectifying any defective labels as quickly as possible. As always, we remain committed to providing superior care to your pet and outstanding service to you.
Sincerely yours,
David Gonsky, DVM
Medical Director
West Loop Veterinary Care
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2011
Our Third Annual Spring Party!
We will be holding our Third Annual Community Event to welcome Spring on Wednesday, March 23rd from 5:00 - 8:00pm at our hospital!
Besides being able to meet the team members of WLVC, you will also be able to tour the facility, meet other West Loop pet owners, enjoy some appetizers or a glass of wine, and usher in the season. WLVC will also be selling raffle tickets from now until the end of our event to win a brand-new iPad 2! Tickets are $10 each with all donations benefiting the Anti-Cruelty Society. The winner of this wonderful prize does not need to be present to win.
As always, if you have questions or concerns about our party or anything else, please feel free to contact us. We look forward to seeing you Wednesday!
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2010
FDA Issues Warning on Buying Pet Drugs Online
Although it may be tempting and convenient to order your pet’s medications online, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning to pet parents about unregulated online pharmacies that sell expired or counterfeit drugs without a prescription. According to the FDA, foreign and domestic web pharmacies may ask pet parents to fill out an online form and then falsely claim that a veterinarian will evaluate the pet’s condition to prescribe the appropriate treatment.
“Some of the Internet sites that sell pet drugs represent legitimate, reputable pharmacies,” says Martine Hartogensis, D.V.M., deputy director of the Office of Surveillance and Compliance in the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM). “But others are fronts for unscrupulous businesses operating against the law.”
The ASPCA does not recommend that pet parents forgo purchasing pet drugs on the Internet altogether, but encourages the active participation of your veterinarian in any decision to medicate your pet. “All pet drugs should be prescribed by a veterinarian after an in-person physical exam, and should either be purchased from that veterinarian or outsourced to a reputable pharmacy, whether on- or off-line,” says Dr. Camille DeClementi, ASPCA Senior Director of Medical Records.
Dr. DeClementi also recommends that pet parents avoid purchasing nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)—one of the most common types of drugs dispensed online without a prescription—to treat their pet’s pain without consulting a veterinarian to determine the underlying cause of the pain. NSAIDs can be dangerous if not dispensed properly, and pets who are taking these drugs should be monitored closely.
If you do decide to purchase your pet’s medications online, please follow these smart practices:
- Bring your pet to a veterinarian for a physical exam and obtain a written prescription for any necessary medications.
- Ask your veterinarian if he or she uses an online pharmacy service. These services are state-licensed and require the active participation of a reputable doctor.
- Only purchase medication from websites that are Vet-VIPPS (Veterinary-Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites) accredited. Check to see whether the online pharmacy you’re considering is accredited at http://www.nabp.net/.
Mail or fax your veterinarian’s written prescription to a Vet-VIPPS accredited pharmacy.
For more helpful tips and to watch an informational video about purchasing pet drugs online, please visit the FDA’s consumer health information page.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2010
Food Recall
The makers of Blue Buffalo pet foods are recallng certain lots of the company's Wilderness Chicken dry dog food, Blue Basics Salmon and Potato Recipe dry dog food, and Blue Large Breed Adult Chicekn dry dog foods due to fears that the food may contain higher levels of Vitamin D than are specified.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to soon issue a public notice on the recall. According to the company, the following production runs distributed to pet specialty stores nationwide are involved:
- 4.5-, 11- and 24-pound bags of Blue Wilderness Chicken dry dog food with best-if-used-by dates of JUL1211B, JUL1311B, JUL2611Z, JUL2711Z and JUL2811Z;
- 11- and 24-pound bags of Blue Basics Salmon and Potato Recipe dry dog food with best-if-used-by dates of AUG2111B and AUG2211B;
- 30-pound bags of Blue Large Breed Adult Chicken dry dog food with best-if-used-by dates of SEP 22 11 P, SEP 23 11 P, OCT 26 11 P.
If your dog has been eating one of these affected batches, please call our office to schedule a simple blood calcium test to see if they have been affected. Effects are reversable with correction to the Vitamin D excess.
As always, please call with any questions or concerns that you may have!