At ACCESS, we take using our PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) very seriously. And sometimes we get by with a little help from our friends. #SafetyFirst #SafetyGear #Teamwork #PPEsafety 👷♀️🦺😷🥽🧤⛑️
Welcome to ACCESS South Bay!
We've created this video to allow you the opportunity to tour our hospital from the comfort of your own home. So take a few moments to relax and see what we have to offer at 2551 West 190th Street in Torrance, California.
Get ready for a unique case!
Pet owners noticed blood around their house but could not figure out where it was coming from--no one was injured and they didn't notice any sneezing or odd behavior from their dog.
Concerned, they brought their dog to our San Fernando Valley location to get checked out.
The team determined the blood was coming from the dog's nose and performed a rhinoscopy.
A rhinoscopy is a type of scope in which a tiny camera goes into the nose or throat to see what's going on. Sometimes scopes can be used for procedures as well.
This scope revealed nasal mites! Nasal mites typically cause sneezing, and occasionally bleeding but are considered an uncommon finding. In this video you can see the mite walking around inside the dog's nasal cavity.
This patient went home with his owners, along with medication to treat the nasal mites and he had some other tests done to rule out any other issues.
Surgery on A White Tiger
In December 2018 we saw Vishnu, a ten-year-old White Tiger who came to ACCESS Specialty Animal Hospital, San Fernando Valley, after his sanctuary found a cancerous mass in his right ear.
He arrived at the hospital sedated and came with his crew comprised of his veterinarian, a Registered Veterinary Technician, the sanctuary founder, and the founder’s right-hand man. It took nine people to lift the 485lb Tiger out of the truck and get him on our gurney. From there, he was brought through our lobby and into the treatment area, where we quickly realized the gurney with Tiger board would not fit around the corners in our hallway. Thinking quickly, he was moved to a cargo net and carried to our Neurology Department.
Board-certified surgeon, Dr. Yonathan Buks, worked with his team and the Neuro team to put Vishnu under anesthesia and lift him onto the table to position him for an MRI. Abel, one of our MRI technicians, scanned Vishnu’s head to give Dr. Buks a better idea of what the mass looked like and where it was located. Dr. Jeremy O’Neill, a board-certified Neurologist, oversaw the MRI and interpreted the images to help Dr. Buks diagnose the issue. Vishnu was then carried into one of our operating rooms where Dr. Buks and the team removed the mass and closed using absorbable sutures that will dissolve over time, so Vishnu doesn’t have to go under anesthesia again to have them removed.
After surgery, he was sent home with all of the regular medications a patient might get after surgery, but in super-size doses suitable for a cat of his size. Everyone worked together to get him safely and comfortably back into his cage and into the truck. He went home and woke up from anesthesia without any issues and was even up and walking around later that day.
Please note: wild animals are never to be kept as pets. Vishnu is part of a wildlife sanctuary and is cared for by a team of licensed professionals that understand the needs of such a large and endangered species.
Good Boy Bruno here is under anesthesia for a procedure called a gastroscopy.
Bruno came in for an emergency exam after vomiting for 1-2 days and a visit to his primary vet where they found foreign material (things that don't belong in the belly) on x-ray.
Dr. Joyce Lee, a critical care specialist, performed the gastroscopy. Bruno was put under anesthesia and Dr. Lee used the scope, which has a light, a camera, and a little grabbing device, to see what was in his belly causing the issues.
Dr. Lee successfully removed hairballs and pieces of a blue cloth bag and Bruno went home with his family the same day!
Fixing A Pug Pupy's Leg
Phoebe is a pug puppy who, at just a few months old, was diagnosed with a congenital elbow luxation. Because of this, she was unable to use her arm to walk, run, or play.
That's where Dr. Laurent Guiot and his team come in. Check out the video to find out how Dr. Guiot corrected the issue!
What is a Total Knee Replacement for Dogs?
Your relatives may have had hip and knee replacements, but did you know we do the same thing for dogs? In fact, we are the only active total knee replacement center on the West Coast!
Dr. Laurent Guiot of our Bone & Joint Center for Orthopedics explains what exactly a total knee replacement is for dogs in this video!
Think your dog could benefit from this procedure? Give us a call at 310-558-6100 to schedule a consultation.
Saving a Dog from China - Knee Replacement Surgery
Seb is a young Husky who came to our Los Angeles hospital all the way from China! He needed a total joint replacement after an injury, a few unsuccessful surgeries, and muscle atrophy.
Luckily for him, the Bone & Joint Center couldnt wait to help! Seb is now the first dog to receive a total knee replacement combined with a corrective osteotomy of the femur to address a limb deformity on the West Coast.
Check out his story in this video!
What Does It Mean If Your Pet Has A Head Tilt?
Does your dog or cat have an ongoing head tilt?
Here, board-certified neurologist, Dr. Timothy Krebs, explains what a head tilt can mean, and explains what to do if you recognize your pet has one.
ACCESS Staff Accolades
We get a lot of feedback on our team--online reviews, social media comments, e-mails, surveys, and more--and we like to highlight the employees that were mentioned positively by name.
Check out the list of ACCESS team members that were recently mentioned!
Long Beach Pride Vlog
Guys, we made our first vlog! We had a booth at Long Beach Pride and we were there all weekend meeting people and seeing old friends, handing out pet safety tips, giving away goodie bags, and showing our support for the LGBTQ+ community!
Want more vlogs from our events or even our every day work life? Let us know in the comments!
Wii Challenge - Los Angeles
Part of our LA Emergency & Critical Care team did their very own #WiiChallenge video and Dr. Anthony Gonzalez joined in the fun!
Wii Challenge - South Bay
Our South Bay team did their very own #WiiChallenge video and Dr. Danielle Sawyer joined in the fun!
Wii Challenge - San Fernando Valley
We heard about the #WiiChallenge and our San Fernando Valley team had to try it!
Marijuana Toxicity in Pets
While marijuana may be legal in California, it can be harmful to pets! Dr. Adam Eatroff explains the complications behind your pet ingesting marijuana, including edibles!
Marijuana toxicity affects animals for a variety of reasons and can require hospitalization. If you think your pet has ingested marijuana, or anything they shouldn't have, please contact a veterinarian immediately.
Saving Bhakti the Lynx
Bhakti is a Lynx that is in the care of an approved sanctuary and she wasn't doing well.
At just five years old, she was experiencing lameness and ataxia, meaning she wasn't in full control of her movements. Bhakti wasn't able to jump, run or play--until she met Dr. Jeremy O'Neill and Dr. Yonathan Buks! Check out our video to learn more.
*Certain exotic animals, like Bhakti the Lynx, are not meant to be kept as pets. She's in the care of a sanctuary and is not kept as a house pet. Speak with a veterinarian, zoologist, or exotic animal professional when looking for a proper avian or exotic pet.
Team Surgery
Our Surgery Departments are made up of fast-thinkers, innovators, and most importantly, animal lovers. Need a board-certified veterinary surgeon? Give us a call.
Congrats Justin!
We get reviews and comments all the time and do our best to respond to each individually.
But did you know we keep track of each review and comment that mentions our team members by name?
We want to congratulate Justin Weller for having the most positive mentions to date!
We’re so proud of him and decided to reward him for his hard work. Thanks Justin! ✨
Why Did You Become A Vet?
"I started thinking about what made people better. Around that same time, I got my first dog and I realized that she made me better."
Find out why Dr. Jodi Kuntz became a veterinarian!
