Pets After Dark

15/11/2024

Pet owners and veterinary professionals, this week in our newsletter we discussed Prop 129. Read our take on it and let us know your thoughts.

Prop 129 has passed in Colorado. What is Prop 129? Will it make its way to our neighborhood and is it good or bad?

Let’s break it down!

In Colorado Prop 129 is in the books. Should we be concerned or happy?

Not enough vets+lots of pets needing care=shortage

There are definitely not enough veterinarians to accommodate all of the sick animals in need of care today. With the recent passage of Prop 129 in Colorado last week, a new position has been created. Similar to a nurse practitioner or physicians assistant in human medicine, the new veterinary professional associates, or VPAs, would be allowed to perform routine surgeries and make diagnoses — practices currently limited to veterinarians.

“Critics say delegating veterinarians' tasks to less educated and less experienced individuals will put animals at risk and devalue the role of veterinarians. Supporters say VPAs will take pressure off overburdened veterinarians, who will be able to delegate more tasks and, as a result, provide more access to care and possibly more affordable care” VIN NEWS

The new master's degree program would include three semesters of online classes and two semesters of clinical practice.
By comparison, licensed veterinarians undergo eight or more years of education while vet technicians need a two-year associate's degree. Axios
There are a lot of opinions for and against the new VPA certification:
Pros: easier and cheaper access to care, better time allotments for veterinarians to work on critical cases, more efficiencies
Cons: risk to the pets that require a higher skill level, lack of regulation or guardrails, less incentive to go through veterinary school(making the shortage even worse),liability risk to supervising veterinarian

So where do we stand? Thought you’d never ask!

We do not support Proposition 129. We place a very high value on our veterinary technicians. Their training allows them to effectively support veterinarians conducting procedures that take years to learn in the classroom and the clinic. They are the support team to make sure the doctors have what they need to efficiently and safely get through the procedure and send the pets home to recover with the least amount of risk. Surgery and some of the other proposed VPA allowable procedures are complicated. They require years of experience to get competent, let alone really good. We do not believe that two semesters in the clinic is enough to master any skill that could potentially put pets at risk. That is how we believe veterinary medicine should be practiced. And while we are by no means averse to progress in the field, quite the contrary, we find this to be a very risky proposition, literally.

By no means is this the end of the conversation, but just the beginning. It will be discussed, litigated, passed, repealed; wash-rinse-repeat. And we will be watching closely.

14/11/2024

We had so much fun at the Pittsburgh Pet Expo this past weekend sponsored byHealthy Pet Products. We got to catch up with some friends and meet some new ones! Always fun seeing our friends from Seven Fields Veterinary Hospital

08/11/2024

From our friends over at Pittsburgh PetConnections Magazine . Thanks!

🌙 Introducing Pets After Dark – Because Pet Emergencies Don’t Follow a 9-5 Schedule 🐾

Pets After Dark is a new after-hours veterinary tele-health service connecting Pittsburgh pet parents with their trusted vet or a local veterinarian. 🩺 Whether it’s late-night concerns or urgent questions, help is just a call away.

📱 How It Works:
1️⃣ Call Pets After Dark and describe your pet’s issue.
2️⃣ The on-call vet will perform an in-depth audio or video evaluation.
3️⃣ Get expert care recommendations from the comfort of home.

Visit https://petconnections.pet?utm_source=cbc&utm_medium=organic_social&utm_campaign=social_media to learn more and rest easy knowing support is always available. 💙

08/11/2024

We are really interested in hearing your thoughts about Pets After Dark! Maybe you are already a subscriber, have used the service as a Single Consultation client or perhaps you are thinking about subscribing. Please take two minutes to answer a few questions for us and you will be registered to win a Single Consultation (value $150) by simply filling out the survey and entering your email address at the end. Make sure to enter DONE to complete the survey! Thanks for participating!❤️

Please take the survey titled "PeTS AFTeR DARK for Social Media". Your feedback is important!

29/10/2024

At the end of the day, this is what it’s all about! ! ❤️ our own Dr. Simard-Swimmer taking a moment! “The best vet in the world” says the client!

We agree!

24/10/2024

Excited to welcome Copper Ridge Veterinary Clinic in Fayette county to our network! Had a great time with this crew last week!

23/10/2024

We had so much fun doing this! Check it out!

New Episode Alert! Youtube Link: https://rb.gy/a4d0cv
In this episode of Toni Unleashed, Toni interviews Dr. Caroline and Howard Simard-Swimmer, founders of Pets After Dark, an after-hours tele-health service for pets. They explain how their service helps pet parents handle nighttime emergencies by connecting them to a vet when regular clinics are closed.
Learn how this innovative solution provides guidance for non-urgent issues and streamlines the process if emergency care is needed.
Tune in to discover how Pets After Dark is changing the game for Pittsburgh pet owners!

19/10/2024

Every year since 1993 we celebrate National Veterinary Technician Week on the third week of October. In my humble opinion these superheroes of the veterinary profession should be celebrated every day!

Day in and day out they not only tirelessly care for our patients but also their owners and the veterinarians they work with. It’s not a secret, there is no hierarchy in veterinary medicine, or at least not in the traditional sense. Just this week I was having a conversation with my surgery technician about how our profession requires constant team effort and dedication. Countless times I have relied on a technician’s clinical impression of a hospitalized patient under his/her care to modify a treatment plan to improve patient care. They work long hours and go above and beyond for their patient on a daily basis.

I have such fond memories of so many technicians who I have had the privilege to work alongside with. I can remember the early days of my career as a green veterinarian commiserating with an equally green technician about how hard our job was. How I formed such a strong bond with the technician paired with me during my ER days ( which included being held up at gun point…a story for another time) to the technician who was side by side with me when I built and started a new veterinary hospital in Montreal. She is a close friend to this day.

After 30 years in this profession I still feel privileged to work with amazing humans, people who put duty and passion over personal issues, and come to work happy and motivated despite battling health issues, personal stuff, etc. So here’s to Maryse, Line, Cheryl for having my back when I was just beginning my career to all the wonderful people I work with now: you truly are my superheroes.

Dr. Caroline Simard-Swimmer
Medical Director adn Co-Founder, Pets After Dark

19/10/2024

Proud we are able to support Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh in their mission to provide affordable wellness for so many animals in need. Help us support HARP!!

📅 Did you know October is National Pet Wellness Month? It's the perfect time to check in on your pet’s health and well-being! 🐕 Regular vet visits are key, but you can also get after-hours support through Pets After Dark. With their telehealth services, you can connect with a vet even outside regular hours. Plus, remember that a portion of every membership supports HARP’s mission of providing affordable care for pets in need.

To learn more about Pets After Dark, visit https://mypetsafterdark.com/

11/10/2024

Elevate your pet care? Join our mailing list and you'll be eligible to win an after-hours Single Consultation with our expert animal docs! $150 Value!!

It’s simple to sign up-just click the link!

⬇️⬇️⬇️

https://zc.vg/Ym5EL

05/10/2024

We are super excited to share about our partnership with Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh! A great organization doing unbelievable work in the pet community. We are so proud to align with HARP as they lead the way.

🌟 Exciting News for Pet Parents! 🌟 We're thrilled to announce our partnership with Pets After Dark during National Pet Wellness Month! Together, we're ensuring that pets in Pittsburgh get the care they need, when they need it. 🐾💖

With Pets After Dark’s after-hours veterinary telehealth service, you can connect with a vet after-hours, ensuring your furry friends stay healthy and happy. Plus, a portion of membership revenue supports HARP’s low-cost veterinary services!

Let's keep our pets healthy and thriving together!

Learn more: https://mypetsafterdark.com/

05/10/2024

By Dr. Caroline Simard-Swimmer, Medical Director
Pets After Dark

I absolutely love this time of year. The colors are beautiful and the weather is perfect! October is also National Pet Wellness month and the AVMA, in conjunction with Fort Dodge Animal Health, is starting a new initiative underlining the importance of a twice yearly wellness examination in dogs and cats. Since pets age at a higher rate than we do it makes sense to examine them more frequently and stay on the lookout for emerging health issues. By the age of 7 many dogs and cats are considered seniors and can show signs of arthritis, renal disease and even cancer.

Dental and oral health has a massive impact on healthy aging since chronic oral disease and inflammation can have an impact on all the other systems of the body. I personally answer questions about at-home dental care for pets at every single wellness visit I see.

For this reason, Pets After Dark is proud to be sponsoring a WPVMA symposium with Dr. Mallory Kanwal, DVM,DAVDC focusing on oral and dental pathologies in dogs and cats. Veterinarians always thrive to stay up to date on the latest developments in any specialty. Call your vet and stay up to date!

02/10/2024

20/09/2024

Pets After Dark had a great time visiting Wagsburgh this week! If you don’t know about this amazing pet store, you need to check it out! They have so much to offer and Joe the owner is super knowledgeable. Lots of food, treats, toys, grooming supplies… you name it , they have it! Check them out at 632 E. Ohio Street 15212.you won’t be disappointed!

17/09/2024

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Learn all about Pets After Dark

12/09/2024

This is a fascinating case study that Dr.Simard-Swimmer experienced recently. Make sure you share with your pet owner friends and veterinary professionals.

Biting off more than you can chew!

Dr. Caroline Simard-Swimmer
Medical Director, Pets After Dark

A few weeks ago I saw a young (and cute) little Bichon mix at our hospital because his owners had been noticing excessive thirst and urination for about two months. They had dropped off a urine sample the day before to rule out a urinary tract infection. The technician who analyzed the sample detected glucose in the pet’s urine and very astutely scheduled a doctor’s appointment right away.

When I met this dog (let’s call him Fido, to respect his desire for anonymity, which is also the name my husband applies to all strange dogs he doesn't know), I was fully expecting to diagnose him with diabetes. However, he had not lost weight, if anything he had gained a few ounces and his appetite was not increased, which are normally hallmarks of the condition. Furthermore, his blood tests showed that his blood glucose was normal, and yet a repeated urine sample (taken directly from his bladder this time) confirmed the presence of glucose in his urine.

Coincidentally my esteemed colleague, Dr. Meriel Walsh had just diagnosed another patient a few months back with acquired Fanconi syndrome following the ingestion of jerky treats so my degree of suspicion was high that Fido might be suffering from the same illness. Fido never had a jerky treat in his life, nor rawhide, but after a Columbo-like investigation of Fido’s habits, I found that he enjoyed several rawhide-free Milk Bones Gnaw Bones each night. Hmmm- the plot thickened. 🕵️

The FDA has been investigating cases of Fanconi-like syndrome since 2007 and although a link between the consumption of jerky treats and glycosuria with normoglycemia has been made, no specific causal agent has been identified to date.

One of the main functions of the kidney while eliminating waste, is to reabsorb glucose. Kidneys from dogs suffering from Fanconi syndrome fail in this function; but also a plethora of other various substances can be lost in the urine with this syndrome which can lead to permanent renal damage and chronic renal disease in some cases. Inherited Fanconi syndrome has been reported mostly in Basenjis and very rarely in other breeds like “ juvenile Norwegian Elkhounds, Miniature Schnauzers, and Shetland Sheepdogs”. 1

Acquired Fanconi syndrome however has been linked to various infections, medications, toxins, metals and more recently jerky treats ingestion. If treated early and by removing the offending substance most dogs recover without long term effects. However some dogs can sadly develop permanent renal damage.

But back to Fido: after doing my due diligence and ruling out infections and other toxins, we eliminated the Milk Bones Gnaw Bones from his diet. Fido was lucky in the sense that at the time of diagnosis he did not have evidence of renal issues or other metabolic imbalances and after 2 weeks I’m happy to report that he has stopped drinking and urinating excessively. He is not passing glucose in his urine any longer and things are looking up for Fido. Now there’s a happy ending!

I did report this to the FDA. I also attempted to contact the company that makes Milk Bones Gnaw Bones. As of this writing, they have yet to acknowledge my commentary. And although this particular treat is manufactured in China I am by no means making any conclusive accusations.
It could, after all, be an adverse reaction of this particular patient without there being an issue with this particular product. Until there is more information available I can only advise caution to all pet parents out there and recommend that you read all labels of pet foods and treats and make note of the place and date of purchase as well as lot numbers and UPC codes- you just never know.

The moral of this story is that while our pets can’t speak to us, by being tuned into them like this diligent owner was, we can usually succeed and staving off long term health conditions. And with a little bit of patience, collaboration and thinking, Columbo’s work seems well within reach to me!

1. Hostutler RA, DiBartola SP, Eaton KA: Transient proximal renal tubular acidosis and Fanconi syndrome in a dog. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2004 Vol 224 (10) pp. 1611-14,1605.

11/09/2024

Having a sick pet can be stressful. Luckily we can help! Give us a call!
Www.mypetsafterdark.com