Pekin Animal Hospital

09/22/2024

September is also Pet Memorial Month. Of course we are always here willing to look at photos of your pets, even ones who have passed. If they were patients of ours, you can bet they were grieved here, too.

But, have any of you done anything special with your pets' ashes or another kind of memorial for them? We currently provide a paw print impression, called PawPals, with our dog and cat euthanasias, here. For our exotics, we still do imprints using clay that you bake at home. These show scales, feather and little lizard or mammal toes better. It's something small we can do to remind you these babies mean something to us, too, and we understand how hard it is.

There are other options such as glass ornaments created using some of the ashes. The very talented ladies at https://jdraperglass.com/memorials/ in Peoria do these.

Our friends at https://www.facebook.com/tailsofabookworm also have various items available to help memorialize your pets, too. They carry the PawPals, there, as well as memory stones and charms.

09/21/2024

Today is Puppy Mill Awareness Day. A Puppy Mill is loosely defined as a "factory farm" for dogs, where profit takes priority over the health, comfort and welfare of the dogs. Even though more and more Americans are taking a stand against them, the U.S. still has thousands of puppy mills.

Did you know that many full blooded dogs end up in breed specific rescues, because of puppy mills? They sell to pet stores and new owners have NO idea what they are getting into, and they give them up to rescues or shelters.The lucky ones end up in breed specific. We are happy to see thoughtful and successful breed rescues, and feel this is a really good way for people looking for a specific breed to get the dog of their dreams but still adopting rather than buying from a breeder.

Several of our pets have come from rescues but originally bred in puppy mills. How about you? Did any of yours come from rescue that may have been bred in a puppy mill? Below are Dr. Nikki and Shannon's Akitas, all of which came from the same Akita rescue, https://akitas.org/ where many of their puppies and dogs come from puppy mills.

Here's some more information if anyone is curious how you can help or just to learn about.

https://www.humanesociety.org/all-our-fights/stopping-puppy-mills

09/18/2024

Did you know there was such thing as a Small Pet Rodent Awareness Week? We didn't, but we do, now! You can take a look here to learn more https://www.facebook.com/smallpetrodentawarenessweek

We love our little mammal friends. Here are some of our own rats and guinea pigs just for fun.

Which small mammal exotic do you think is our most commonly seen in the practice? And remember, rabbits don't count, they aren't mammals. :)

09/17/2024

It's sharing time, again! Today is National Pet Bird Day. Some of you know we have our own, Twinky, who is sometimes in our lobby, sometimes in room one, and sometimes in Ally's office. He's a lot of fun and enjoys flying all around the clinic. He also LOVES his coconut house, even though he barely fits in it. He will often sleep with his front half in and his tail out, of the coconut.

Pet birds are fun, but a huge commitment as many of them outlive their owners...and they are messy!

We need photos, though... show us your pet birds!

09/16/2024

September 16–22 is Adopt-a-Less-Adoptable-Pet Week

What makes an animal considered "less adoptable"? Age? Pre existing disease or needed medical procedure? Black cats and dogs are often less adoptable than their colorful littermates.

We've had amputees, blindness, heartworm positive dogs or FIV/Felv cats, geriatric, and, of course, black dogs and cats as part of the PAH family.

Did YOU adopt a "less adoptable" pet? If so, can we see them and hear their story?

09/15/2024

September is National Disaster Preparedness Month. There are some things we can do to help our pets stay safer during this time as well as in case you get separated from them.

Microchipping is a great way to help you get your pet back quicker, if that does happen. The tornado we had in 2013 created some serious issues with that. We had dogs, cats, birds and even a couple rats, that were displaced and separated from their families back then. Some never made it home.

The company we currently use for our microchips is called Save This Life. Here is some information about them, if you have any questions.

https://www.savethislife.com/

Below are some check lists to help you put together a kit and plan, just in case. We never expect anything like this to happen, but that's exactly why it's so important to be ready.

09/13/2024

Today is Pet Birth Defect Awareness Day!

Believe it or not, none of our staff really has any pets with any visible birth defects! Not sure how that happened since it seems to be the law that those in the vet med field HAVE to take home those with defects. ;) Seems like we're more likely to take home the ones that have to lose a limb due to an accident, go blind due to neglect or illness, or have skin issues due to allergies, rather than true birth defects.

Some common birth defects in dogs include:

Cleft palate: A facial and jaw defect that can lead to respiratory infections and difficulty nursing
Umbilical hernia: A bulge that occurs when the umbilical cord doesn't heal properly after birth, allowing organs, fat, or abdominal lining to push through
Limb deformities: These can include being born without feet, missing toes, or toes fused together
Congenital heart murmurs: A structural heart defect that causes extra noises in the heartbeat
Spinal vertebrae abnormalities: These can include vertebrae that are misshapen, shortened, or fused together
Cryptorchidism: A condition where one or both testicles don't descend into the sc***um
Hip dysplasia: A common condition in many breeds

Some common birth defects in cats include:

Heart defects
The most common congenital heart defect is a ventricular septal defect (VSD), which is a hole in the muscular tissue that separates the left and right ventricles of the heart. A small VSD usually doesn't cause problems, but a larger one can lead to congestive heart failure.
Polydactyly
This condition causes cats to have more than the normal number of toes, usually on the front paws. It's more common in certain breeds and areas, such as Maine C***s and Hemingway cats.
Cleft palate
This is an uncommon defect in cats, but it's more common in Siamese cats.
Mandibular brachygnathia
This is an overbite, where the lower jaw is shorter than the upper jaw. Mild cases may not cause problems, but more severe cases can damage the roof of the mouth.
Peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia
This is an abnormal opening between the abdomen and the pericardium, the membrane that surrounds the heart. It's the most common congenital disease of the pericardium in cats.
Pyloric stenosis
This condition causes the pyloric sphincter, which is the exit of the stomach, to thicken. This slows or blocks the flow of food from the stomach to the small intestine. Siamese cats are more likely to have this condition.

The link below has some further interesting information about the subject.

The Animal Medical Center frequently treats puppies and kittens with birth defects. Learn about some common pet birth defects in this post.

09/13/2024

Happy Friday the 13th and welcome to our Fun Friends Friday Series where we like to show off all the new friends we have come to love in our clinic this week! Please welcome Zeke Ryder, Hugo, Buster, Bear, Zoe, Nico, and Buddy!

09/12/2024

This is not one of the cute, silly or funny posts, today. Today is World Su***de Prevention Day. We aren't asking for stories, of course, but what we are asking is for you to join us this day, and hopefully every other, to check on our friends and family. To remind them how important they are to us. Remind them what they mean to their furry family members, too. Pets can make a HUGE difference in balancing our mental health. Just petting them can lower blood pressure and they never care if you have to unload your worries on them at the end of a hard day.

We in veterinary medicine, specifically, are up to four times more likely to die by su***de than the general population. Dr. Nikki is acutely aware of the ups AND downs of our professions and she has always been very focused on work/life balance for herself and all of her staff. Some of the more recent changes that have come to PAH take that into consideration. We pride ourselves in having an open line of communication within the entire staff. Our senior staff members try hard to make sure new comers are treated with respect and kindness and are immediately considered part of the team. We hope all of these things, and more, mean an even better experience for you and your pet. Happy and healthy care givers make the critters in our care much more likely to relax, too.

If any of you have been touched by this devastating action, please know you aren't alone and our hearts are with you. Take care of yourselves, and each other. 💜

Not One More Vet (NOMV) will transform the status of mental wellness within the profession so veterinary professionals can survive & thrive.

09/10/2024

Today is Dr. Nikki's birthday! We've seen her through coming back to her hometown and joining the team with Dr. Peterson and Dr. Johnson, then co owning with Dr. Johnson when Dr. Peterson retired, to now being the sole owner of this long standing practice.

Being the owner has meant a little bit less time seeing patients, but we are so lucky to have her as a veterinarian, boss, and friend. The well being of the patients and staff of the clinic are high priorities with her.

So, help us wish her a very happy birthday!

09/09/2024

Yesterday was Hug Your Hound Day!

Here's Dr. Stacie's "hounds" being loved on by her husband, Colin.

Hound is defined as "a dog of a breed used for hunting, especially one able to track by scent."

Any hound owners following us on FB?

09/08/2024

Today is National Iguana Day! Rusty gets her own day. Rusty is a red iguana and she has been with us for 5 years, having come in injured with burns, which meant a decently long healing process. Her caregivers just weren't able to provide that, so she was signed over to us, and now she's our door greeter. When we got her, Rusty was 75 grams and as of her last weigh in, she's now pushing 2 kilograms, or 4 pounds!

You know the drill, by now. Let's see some of your Iguanas, and this time, tell us their name, and why they are named that?

Rusty's "full" name is Crusty Rusty because of all the burned scales she had when she came to us. :)

09/06/2024

Today's spotlight is on our exceptional Dr. Kourtney Grimm. She is the current President- Elect for the Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians. You might have noticed her absence last week because she was at the ARAV annual conference in New Orleans. While we missed her dearly here she was busy running the hands on workshops there and even won the presidential certificate of appreciation for her hard work. She also participated in lectures to help our hospital stay up to date on current reptile and amphibian medicine and surgery. Congratulations Dr. Kourtney!

09/05/2024

Did you know white, is often considered to be in the top 5 most common cat colors? We don't see a lot of true white cats, here, at PAH, but there's no arguing their beauty. Do you have a white kitty? As always, drop your pics here!

09/04/2024

September is National Pet Insurance Month!

Did you know that we recommend Trupanion Pet Insurance and we recently began trying to bring them into the practice, more?

Do you have insurance for your pet?

Reimagined pet insurance for dogs and cats. With unlimited payouts and robust coverage, you can access the vet care your pet deserves. Get a free quote!

09/03/2024

Today is National Wildlife Day! Did you know that PAH, primarily Dr. Grimm, works with the animals at Wildlife Prairie Park ? We have done some altering surgeries on various animals, relocated one bear and implanted a birth control into another, lots of blood draws on birds, reptiles and mammals, and countless physical exams. Here's just a few pictures of some of them.

Have you been to the Park? Fun fact, two of our PAH employees have been married at the park, albeit many years apart. Does anyone have any guesses on who that may be?

09/01/2024

Today is Ginger Cat Appreciation Day! Many of us swear we will someday have a ginger kitty, but haven't gotten there, yet.

Share YOUR ginger with us and here are some silly ginger cat "facts", just for fun.

https://cats.com/ginger-cats

08/31/2024

Just an early reminder, we will be closed Monday, September 2 for Labor Day. We will resume regular business hours on Tuesday morning.

Everyone have a safe and happy Labor Day weekend.

08/28/2024

Today is Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day. Not as much fun as some of the other days, but still very important. Every one of our pets brings something new to our lives, and takes something with them when they leave us.

If it's not too sad for you, feel free to share a story or a photo of a furry, feathery, scaley or other pet friend that you're missing.

08/26/2024

Reminder: Today - Monday, August 26th - We begin our new hours of operation.
Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:30pm
We look forward to seeing you and your pet(s) at the next scheduled visit!🐾

08/26/2024

Today is National Dog Day! Nothing else needs to be said other than let's see those puppy faces!

Here are some of PAH's canine family to get us started.

08/23/2024

Today is National Blind Dog Day! Hotch, the Akita, was part of the PAH family, as he was adopted by Shannon and her family. He came to us partially blind, due to untreated illness prior to being dumped at a Missouri shelter, in pain, un neutered, missing a lot of hair, also due to untreated illness, and heartworm positive.

But he ended up being a fantastic dog and a wonderful example of what an Akita can be. He loved everyone, and never had any aggression, even with his blindness.

Blind dogs can live full and happy lives and often get to a point many can't even tell they are blind.

Have you had a blind dog in your life? Or, did you know our sweet Hotch when he was with us? Let us know below. Pictures, of course, are always appreciated!

08/17/2024

Today is both National Black Cat Day AND International Non Profit Day. So, we are celbrating both with these adorable pictures of the last 3 kittens adopted from Humane Society of Fulton County, through the non profit bookstore we support, TAiLS of a Bookworm. TAiLS was started in 2017 and our very own senior tech Shannon has been the president from day one. Their hard work has meant thousands of dollars distributed to shelters and rescues in our area and hundreds of kittens adopted through their bookstore. If you haven't been there, yet, go have a look. We don't think you'll be disappointed.

In the mean time, drop us pics of your perfect house panthers!

08/14/2024

Tomorrow is National Check the Chip Day!

If your pet has a microchip, and you want to make sure it is reading correctly, just come in and we will check it for you.

This will be from 10am-3pm tomorrow. No appointment needed, but PLEASE call us from the parking lot and let the front desk staff know you are here to have the chip checked. One of our assistants will run out and check with our scanner. No reason to even come inside.

If you don't have a microchip, but would like one, feel free to ask at your next appointment or schedule with us.

https://www.avma.org/events/national-check-chip-day

08/14/2024

Today is World Lizard Day! Dr. Kourtney and Dr. Nikki are both excellent exotic veterinarians with extensive education and peers from all over the world to help us be the best choice for your exotics, including reptiles. Show us your tiny dinosaur pics.

Here are some of our clinic critters.