First Choice Animal Care and Surgery Center

05/12/2022

Hi Everyone!

First Choice Animal Care and Surgery Center will be closing at 3:45 pm today. We will be open for regular hours tomorrow. All prescriptions are asked to be picked up by 3:00 pm. Please call the office if you have any questions, (207)893-8134.

We hope you all have a great Thursday!

-First Choice Animal Care and Surgery Center Team

01/13/2021

We have a part-time job opportunity at First Choice Animal Care. First Choice is looking for a computer-literate person with excellent phone and interpersonal skills. Other job duties will be reviewed if a candidate is interested or chosen. First Choice cherishes a good work ethic. Reliable transportation will be necessary. Wage is commensurate with experience for growth. Hours of work can change depending upon availability and personal schedule.

04/08/2020

03/24/2020

To all our clients:

We hope everyone is staying as safe and healthy as possible during this new chapter of “normalcy”. The COVID-19 pandemic is taking a toll on most but certainly, we haven’t seen the true effect until the suffering economy trickles into all our lives.
We remain open for business as usual: Mon-Fri from 8 to 5. Please call ahead for an appointment.
The information regarding this coronavirus with regards to pets seems to be changing but very slowly. As far as we know right now it would be difficult for dogs and cats to get the disease. With regard to spreading it from a human to a dog or cat and then to a new human seems equally as difficult but we don’t really know. As a method of caution, there are some procedures that we are recommending. You will see that below.

What we ask you to do:

1. If you have an existing appointment and are having symptoms of COVID-19 or have been exposed to someone that has tested positive for COVID-19 we ask you to call ahead to let us know that information, schedule a drop-off, cancel or have us meet you outside of the building to bring your pet into the clinic while you stay in contact with us, outside, by phone.
2. Try to disinfect all collars, leashes, and accessories for your pet before arriving.

What we are doing:

1. We are disinfecting all high-traffic areas that are used by our clients and employees. A wipe-down protocol is performed in all areas after each client.
2. Offer to come out to your car and get your pet, or to transfer medications. If the latter occurs it would be most easily convenient to call ahead and find the price and then pay with a check. Paper money is unlikely to transfer the virus but coins can.
3. If you are in the clinic we have sanitizers known to be capable of killing COVID-19 as is available for your use. Our payment system, with credit cards, can be used touchless but is also wiped down after each transaction.
So stay safe and call us if you have any questions or want to set up an appointment.

12/23/2019

Make sure to treat your animals well this season. They have a tendency to get into things that they shouldn't. Keep an extra eye on them and give them extra love. We hope everyone has a wonderful Holiday! 🎄🐶🐱🎁 -Everyone at Animal Surgery and Advocacy Services

09/25/2019

It has been a while since we have tended to our FaceBook page and a lot of changes have taken place with us and FB. A brief reason why we left is that the page couldn’t be managed well and FB wasn’t flexible enough to attend to our concerns.
But we’re back! We are happy to inform you that Animal Surgery and Advocacy Services will now be doing business as “First Choice Animal Care and Surgery Center”. The transition will be done in steps so the phone may still be answered as Animal Surgery and Advocacy Services. The name change better describes what we offer and do here at 5 Storm Drive.
So, we hope to provide more feedback and content on our FB page but our true focus remains the care of our patients and the services to our clients.

11/12/2015

Good evening! Having difficulty with Facebook on a number of different levels. We will be starting to publish information once we figure things out. If anyone has a way of contacting Facebook and getting a live person please leave a comment. It would be extremely appreciated.

10/22/2015

Just to get you thinking. This special day will be here very soon!

Don't feed your pets Halloween candy, especially if it contains chocolate or xylitol (a common sugar substitute); Make sure your pet has proper ID...

03/12/2015

10/28/2014

Check out the dog restrainer!

From a robot receptionist to a motorized cat mews, here are 12 of the last century's most far-fetched ideas

10/20/2014

09/12/2014

Call of the wild!

Puppy's first howl

09/08/2014

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/07/dogs-prefer-petting-study_n_5772368.html

"Good dog" just doesn't cut it with pooches. Surprising new research shows that dogs prefer petting over verbal praise. "I spend half my day talking to my dog," study co-author Dr. Clive Wynne, professor and director of the Ca...

08/26/2014

http://phys.org/news/2014-08-pig-pheromone-curtailing-bad-behavior.html

A professor at Texas Tech discovers Androstenone can stop dogs from barking, jumping. In a sense, John McGlone was just like any other pet owner a few years ago. He simply wanted to keep his Cairn Terrier from barking incessantly.

08/20/2014

FYI!

https://www.avma.org/news/javmanews/pages/140901a.aspx?utm_source=javma-news&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=gen

Ten percent of veterinarians responding to recent polls said they have had patients harmed when outside pharmacies made substitutions

08/20/2014

Reporting on what we already knew.

http://www.everydayhealth.com/multiple-sclerosis/alex-oconnor-multiple-sclerosis-ms-pets-make-life-better.aspx?xid=aol_eh-ms_3_20140818_&aolcat=AJA&icid=maing-grid7%7Chtmlws-main-bb%7Cdl39%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D517466

Pets can provide more than companionship after an MS diagnosis. See how her dogs helped Alex O'Connor find renewed motivation for life.

08/19/2014

https://www.avma.org/public/Health/Pages/RodentsandRodenticideUse.aspx?utm_source=smartbrief&utm_medium=email

Provides information for the public about options for rodent control, including the safe use of rodenticides.

08/13/2014

Here is some food for thought. Just like all the things that were supposed to be good for us humans......... that have been recently debunked. Remember-this is just one opinion.

One title leapt off the page as I was looking over the listing of sessions available at the recent American Veterinary Medical Association Convention — Feline Immunodeficiency Virus: Does it Really Cause Disease?

08/05/2014

Now this has nothing to do with our smaller critters. Try not to enjoy the ending. Just try!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qs_-emj1qR4

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER- https://twitter.com/KlingenbergFarm LIKE ME ON FACEBOOK-http://www.facebook.com/Klingenbergstudios?ref=hl

08/01/2014

This is one of my most influental mentors that I had the fortune of learning from when I was in veterinary school. He assisted me in becoming the specialist that I am and continues to push our minds to achieve rather remarkable discoveries. Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XS9fiDn4Qo8

What can old dogs teach us about human aging and cancer? Dr. David Waters wittily shows us how getting "out of the laboratory and into the living room" allow...

07/31/2014

http://www.aol.com/article/2014/07/30/would-be-burglars-stopped-by-squid-the-dog/20939321/?icid=maing-grid7%7Chtmlws-main-bb%7Cdl20%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D508842

Would-be burglars stopped by Squid, the dog

07/28/2014

http://www.aol.com/article/2014/07/25/facts-about-you-and-your-dogs-personality/20936903/?icid=maing-grid7%7Chtmlws-main-bb%7Cdl22%7Csec1_lnk2%26pLid%3D506902

Facts about you and your dog's personality

07/17/2014

Please keep in mind that this is just one study. There are other studies that do support the idea of neutering even later in life (after 2 years of age). Neutering is the general term that includes ovariohysterectomy or ovariectomy in females, and castration in males.

http://scienceblog.com/73321/neutering-health-effects-severe-golden-retrievers-labradors/

July 15, 2014 Life & Non-humans Labrador retrievers are less […]

01/20/2014

Have fun with this one:
http://www.fastcodesign.com/3025003/infographic-of-the-day/how-dogs-evolved

This infographic on the history of man's best friend may be cute but it hides the dark side of dog breeding.

12/26/2013

News you should know.

http://www.pressherald.com/news/Rare_virus_that_killed_South_Thomaston_woman_may_have_new_strain_.html

They believe the Powassan virus, which is spread through tick bites, has developed into a new strain that threatens more humans.

12/24/2013

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/12/20/dogs-names-bella/4147713/

The name Bella was good enough for the heroine of the popular Twilight books and films, and apparently it's good enough for thousands of dog owners who made it the most popular dog name of 2013.

12/20/2013

Did you NOSE this?

http://www.popsci.com/article/science/big-pic-mammalian-noses-hot-and-cold

These infrared images show some mammals keep their noses cool, while others maintain a warm snout.

12/19/2013

Another reason dogs are good for us:

Recent research adds to a growing body of evidence supporting the cardioprotective benefits of having a pet, especially a dog, according to physician Sandra Fryhofer. Pets are associated with reduced heart disease risk through lower blood pressure and in some cases lower cholesterol, as well as increased exercise among owners who walk with their canine friends. Also, dogs provide emotional support and help humans deal with stress, which also helps protect the heart. Medscape (free registration)

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/817640

A new study suggests that pet owners are at lower risk for cardiovascular disease. What are the reasons?

12/18/2013

http://healthland.time.com/2013/12/16/researchers-reveal-the-microscopic-reasons-why-pets-protect-against-allergies/

It's all about dogs, dust and microbes. Scientists have long known that kids who grow up with a pet, like a dog or cat, or live on a farm with plenty of livestock are less likely to develop asthma or allergies.

12/12/2013

Here is a video version of how cats, dogs, bees, hawks, and rats may see things.
http://gizmodo.com/this-is-what-its-like-to-see-the-world-as-an-animal-1481007848

If you've ever wondered how animals view the world, this video should satisfy your curiosity. It shows how five different animals--cats, dogs, rats, hawks and bees--see the world.

12/11/2013

Were dogs once wolves? Here are a couple of theories to ponder.

http://nautil.us/blog/love-your-dog-you-should-thank-garbage

scion via ShutterstockJust south of the equator, thirty miles off the coast of Tanzania, sits a small island called Pemba. The small…

12/11/2013

This is the best link I have seen about the jerky treats (from October). This issue is still a problem so if you have any information please pass it on to the FDA.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/10/23/pets-deadly-jerky-treats-fda/3169609/

FDA probing a mysterious outbreak of illness and deaths among pets that ate jerky treats.