Hearthstone Veterinary Hospital

08/24/2024

08/20/2024

Another disease we never thought we would see in NY. This is a tropical disease.

Review the findings of a study that evaluated 2 cases of Thelazia callipaeda infection in cats to review evidence of this eyeworm making its way to the US.

07/23/2024

*400 DOGS? YOU READ THAT RIGHT! Fulton County Animal Services has desperately asked for blankets, beds, and more to help the overwhelming amount of dogs in their care. These dogs just don't deserve to sleep on anything hard or cold, and they all deserve to snuggle. Help us help them! *YOU PURCHASE /...

07/03/2024

Which is the best dog DNA test kit for you and your pup? Review the features of Wisdom Panel™, the most accurate dog DNA service.

07/03/2024

07/03/2024

https://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/chiropractors-access/?en_click=1&utm_campaign=2024-07-02&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_content=feature&max=240312252024492540107C

Once chiropractors gain direct access to patients, does the need for a veterinarian to diagnose suddenly disappear?

06/25/2024

I found a neat little trick that will save countless lives. Put your left shoe in the back seat if you have a live critter (human or otherwise) back there. You will never forget.

05/25/2024

It's going to be a hot one today! Keep your pets inside as much as possible, offer plenty of fresh, cool water, and make sure to keep your pets off of pavement when needing to go on (short!) walks! ☀️

04/27/2024

I started my practice in 2003, with a mortgage on my house, a car payment and thankfully - NO student loan debt. To start the practice I had to take out two loans. Three years into it, my landlord decided that she was selling the property, for $350K instead of the then current value of $220K. I purchased because I did not know where else to go, and my location was perfect for me. Two more loans.
When things got slow, I took out a fifth loan. These five loans are business only, not personal. It was hard. We all had to work less hours and accept lower pay, myself included. These loans have all been paid off, some just recently. In between, I had three other loans for equipment I needed but could not afford to purchase outright.
Since the beginning, I have paid 100% of the health insurance premiums for my staff. They get 40 hours vacation and 40 hours PTO for the first three years. They get supplies at cost and services for free. My offerings are much better than most companies, regardless of the industry.
NY decided to raise the minimum wage. I was really worried, but I had also been fretting for a long time that I was not paying the staff what they deserved. Remember that as an employer, I have to match SS funds for each employee, in addition to other taxes.
How was I able to do this? I had to raise prices. There is no magic formula to increase revenue other than increase visits or increase prices, or reduce expenses. I have managed to get the lowest credit card fees, internet and phone services. I went on the NY insurance page to get good insurance for a lower premium. We keep inventory under strict control.
Yet we still have to raise prices. I give my employees more vacation time as they rack up the years. I give them raises at least once a year, and they still are not paid enough. Personally, I take home less than $80k a year. Prices on our products and services go up, every year.
My clients are wonderful, they rarely complain about my fees. IF they do, we agree that they ARE paying a lot, and we take the time to explain why - overhead, payroll, inventory, etc. I posted this article and my comments to further educate anyone reading this as to why veterinary services are so expensive.
And yet - if you paid full price for your health care, your bills would make mine look ridiculously cheap.

Corporations and private-equity funds have been rolling up smaller chains and previously independent practices.

04/15/2024

03/18/2024

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/17/nyregion/ark-jfk-dogs-west-bank.html

The ARK, a 14-acre facility at Kennedy International Airport, is often the first stop for animals of all kinds arriving in the United States.

03/18/2024

https://www.wbrc.com/2024/03/17/homewood-vet-shares-how-prevent-pet-poisoning/

"Treat your dog just like you would an infant or a toddler because if they can get it, they will," said Dr. Lamb. "If they can fit it in their mouth, they will. If they can swallow it, they will.”

03/18/2024

https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2024/03/16/researcher-at-virginia-maryland-college-of-veterinary-medicine-uses-ai-to-detect-cancer-in-pets/

One researcher at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine is using AI technology to help detect lymphoma in our pets.

03/18/2024

ONE HEALTH

Researchers have created a gene-edited cow that produces human insulin in her milk in Brazil.

03/18/2024

Upstate had a rabid cow in the last couple of weeks.
This is another disease that was imported. We used to have it only in bats, until some hunters decided to import "better" raccoons from W. Virginia, decades ago.

Officials say the raccoon was killed on Wednesday in the Luxuria Court in Tucker. It was then discovered the raccoon has rabies.

03/18/2024

https://www.science.org/content/article/we-baby-talk-our-dogs-so-why-don-t-we-baby-face-them

Study finds a key difference in the way we coo to our infants and our pets

03/18/2024

What drives crime? Money.

The 80-year-old man spent nearly a decade creating the sheep to sell to private hunting facilities.

03/18/2024

Another parasite that does not belong here, but may easily become endemic.

A potential threat on the CDC’s radar is a fungal infection being transmitted by feral cats — initially in Brazil, but now in other countries as well.

03/18/2024

We learned about this is vet school. I have never seen a case. But if a dog travels from one of these areas, I need to know about it.
And things are changing. This past year I had a patient diagnosed with a parasite that is not supposed to be in my area. This certainly changed my approach to keeping my patients healthy.

The flatworm was previously only found in Texas and other Gulf Coast states before the Heterobilharzia americana parasite was spotted in California.

03/12/2024

https://lite987.com/ixp/41/p/rabid-cow-exposes-two-people-to-rabies-in-upstate-new-york/

Health officials are urging residents to be aware of the signs of rabies after the fatal disease managed to infect livestock in Central New York.

02/10/2024

I am a little bat. I do not suck your blood, and I definitely don't want to get stuck in your hair - that's just gross. If I should accidentally fly into your house, please don't hit me with cricket bats and brooms. It really hurts, and I am so scared. It was an accident; I didn't mean to scare you. I am just as scared as you are. I am fighting for my life, and you are just scared; it is not a fair fight.

Should I land on the floor, I can't get up again; I will need your help. Just use a towel and take me outside. I promise, I will fly away immediately. I eat mosquitoes and a lot of other pests that can harm your garden. Our homes are being torn down for more buildings, and we have limited places to go. So, if I do accidentally fly into yours, switch off your light and leave the outside light on with the door open. I promise, I will be out in a flash.

Kind regards,
Your tiny, little, harmless bat.

02/10/2024

01/13/2024

Dog parks may seem like great additions to the community, but they’re rife with problems — for you, and for your dog. Here’s what to know before you go.

01/12/2024

Dutchess County SPCA (DCSPCA) steps in with other organizations and the Dutchess County Animal Control Officer to rescue almost two dozen Great Dane dogs.

01/04/2024