Blog | Lyndon Animal Clinic

Five Reasons to Use our Online Pharmacy

July 14, 2017 By Lyndon Animal Clinic Leave a Comment

We launched our new online pharmacy powered through VetSource back in February and have had numerous clients reap the benefits and tell us all about it the past several months!

If you are new to Lyndon Animal Clinic or just aren’t familiar with our online pharmacy service, you can access it by going to our website, hovering the “Services” drop down menu and then selecting “Pharmacy.” From there, our online pharmacy will automatically load and you can either search for the products you’d like to purchase or register for an account/login in the top right-hand corner.

After you purchase the items in your cart, a request for approval will be sent directly to our clinic and your work is done!

For those of you that need more convincing before jumping in to try something new, here are five reasons we think our online pharmacy is worth using:

1. You can purchase your pet’s prescribed food without leaving your couch.
Yes, even your pet’s prescription food can be purchased through our online pharmacy. Several brands, including the brand we carry in-house, Royal Canin, is available for purchase in a variety of special diets and sizes.

2. Shipping is free for all Hills, Royal Canin, Purina, and Blue Buffalo food purchases.
You read that correctly, your 30 pound bag of dog food (if supplied by one of the brands listed above) can be shipped directly to your front door with zero shipping costs! The chances of leaving your dog’s food in the trunk of your car and forgetting you purchased it are slim to none with this option. We consider that a win!

3. You can sign up specific prescriptions for auto shipment.
Selecting a prescription as an “AutoShip” product relieves you of the stress of forgetting to order your pet’s monthly medication before it comes close to running out. Also, did we mention most “AutoShip” prescriptions ship for free? You also have the option to set up auto reminders for your pet’s monthly preventive. Another FREE plus!

4. If you’re used to price matching in our clinic, you don’t have to stop just because you’re ordering online.
We’re gladly extending our price matching service through our online pharmacy. Just let us know where you found it cheaper and how much it was, and we’ll take care of it from there! This shouldn’t happen too frequently though, because VetSource is always looking to offer the most affordable pricing option for all of its products.

5. Coupon clipping isn’t necessary.
VetSource doesn’t shy away from telling you about the deals available to you for the products you need. You can either search for your product and look for a potential deal attached, or you can click on the “Promotions” tab and scroll through the available offers.

Have questions about our online pharmacy? Feel free to give us a call at 502-425-5834.

Summer Brunch & Learn for Kids Mini Follow Up

July 10, 2017 By Lyndon Animal Clinic 2 Comments

A few weeks ago we hosted our first Brunch & Learn event specifically geared toward kids and are happy to say it went off without a hitch! Our event focused on the basic operations of a veterinary clinic as well as what it takes to keep your pets healthy.

Highlights of the morning included an interactive lesson on bandaging (who doesn’t love multi-color bandage wrap?!), an x-ray examination of a real-life case involving quite a few push pins, an up-close-and-personal look at the bodily fluids we encounter while working with animals, and an always appreciated lesson on the right protocol when approaching a new animal.

The morning also included a look into the benefits of microchipping, using monthly preventives to protect against fleas, ticks, heartworms, and other intestinal parasites, and an oatmeal cream pie break.

We’re honestly not sure who had more fun – the doctors and techs or our event attendees. Needless to say, we’re looking forward to our next event and hope you plan to join us!

We’d like to thank our main event sponsor, Merck, for its generous contribution to the success of our event as well as our other event sponsors, Henry Schein, Royal Canin and Zoetis. Another special thank you goes to Louisville Dog Wizard for leading our pet safety rotation!

Interested in upcoming events? Email us at events@lyndonanimalclinic.com.

Canine Influenza Virus – What you Need to Know

June 23, 2017 By Lyndon Animal Clinic Leave a Comment

You have most likely heard the words “canine influenza virus” or “dog flu” circulating local news broadcasts and possibly even the dog park lately due to a recent outbreak. Summer doesn’t seem like the right time of year to be worrying about runny noses or coughing, but in the animal world, the flu virus isn’t seasonal but instead can affect your dog’s respiratory and overall health year-round.

The most recent canine influenza virus (CIV) outbreak has reached into the southeastern states, including Kentucky. There have been a few cases diagnosed in Louisville, so now is definitely the time to educate yourself on this virus and what the outbreak means for you and your dog.

Common Questions:

What is it? CIV is a highly contagious respiratory disease that can potentially be fatal. It is easily spread directly from dog to dog through coughing, sneezing, licking, sniffing or nuzzling. It can also be contracted indirectly through shared bowls and toys, as well as the clothing and hands of owners.

What are the symptoms? Clinical signs of CIV include runny eyes and nose, lethargy or lack of energy, coughing and loss of appetite. A dog can have CIV for up to 24 days. That means a dog can potentially spread the disease in social situations for approximately three and a half weeks.

Where can my dog contract it? High risk locations include but are not limited to dog parks, doggie day cares, dog shows, dog sporting events, groomers, boarding facilities, and kennels.

How can I protect my dog? Keeping your dog from high risk environments is one way to protect your pet. We know doing so isn’t always practical, so we also encourage vaccinating your pet. We currently offer a flu vaccine that requires two boosters the first time it is administered and after that is only required once annually. If you choose to vaccinate your pet, please allow about two weeks after the last booster before taking your dog to social and high risk locations.

What should I do if I suspect my dog has CIV? Contact us as soon as possible. Be sure to let the receptionist know what symptoms your dog is presenting and how long you’ve noticed changes in your pet’s health. Once your appointment is made, you will be given specific instructions to help keep our clinic from contamination. We will ask that you remain in your car and give us a call once you arrive. From there a designated veterinary technician will help safely bring your dog in our clinic.

Check out our Facebook Live video with Dr. Thompson from yesterday by clicking the picture below. If you have more questions, feel free to give us a call at 502-425-5834 or check out www.doginfluenza.com.

A Quick Look at Pet Oral Health

February 7, 2017 By Lyndon Animal Clinic Leave a Comment

National Pet Dental Health Month is something we look forward to every year. A whole month dedicated to oral health education is one of the many things our veterinary dreams are made of! In this post, we are taking a look at the basics of pet oral health. We will be discussing why it is important and what can happen if not taken seriously.

Dental care can be an easily forgotten step in your preventative maintenance routine for your pet, but consistent oral hygiene really is something your pet needs, “dog breath” isn’t as normal as you might think, and bad things really can happen to your pet’s teeth.

Common dental issues your pet can experience:

Broken teeth and roots
Broken or fractured jaw
Abscessed or infected teeth
Periodontal disease
Cysts or tumors in mouth
Misalignment of teeth and bite

The most common dental condition in dogs and cats is Periodontal disease, which is an infection of the tissue surrounding the teeth that develops in progressive phases.

A basic look at the development of Periodontal disease:

It first begins with a bacterial film called plaque.
That bacteria then attaches to the teeth, dies, and calcifies into a hard, rough substance called calculus.
More plaque will begin to accumulate and if left alone, it will begin to spread and lead to gingivitis, an inflammation of the gums causing them to become red, swollen, and to bleed easily.
Once plaque and calculus develops below the gum line, professional cleaning is needed to manage it.
If the buildup below the gum line is left alone, it will cause an infection to form around the root of the tooth.
In the final stages of Periodontal disease, the tissues surrounding the tooth are destroyed, the bony socket holding the tooth erodes, and the tooth becomes loose.
Professional dental care is needed at this point.

Bad breath is another common issue most pets experience. Although an unpleasant odor is fairly normal, when your pet’s breath because offensive, it could be an indication of an oral health issue.

Other signs of poor dental health:

Excessive drooling
Loose teeth
Tumors on gums and cysts beneath the tongue
Broken teeth and roots

This month we are offering a ten percent discount off all dentals. We have limited space remaining, but would love to help you take the first steps in improving your pet’s dental health. For more information or to book your pet’s appointment, stop in or give us a call at 502.425.5834.

Sources:
https://www.aaha.org/pet_owner/about_aaha/why_accreditation_matters/guidelines_
position_statements/aaha_dental_care_guidelines_for_dogs_and_cats.aspx
https://ebusiness.avma.org/files/productdownloads/PetDentalCare_2016.pdf
http://www.virbacpets.com/e-newsletter/newsletter-article/did-you-know-top-five-pet-dental-facts-revealed1

Dental Health Basics

October 6, 2016 By Lyndon Animal Clinic Leave a Comment

Seventy-eight percent of dogs over three years old have some form of periodontal disease, but how exactly do you detect if your pet has poor dental health? Bad breath is often the first indicator that your pet is experiencing some form of dental disease; however, the potency of your pet’s breath is most likely on the bottom of your list of things you want to investigate!

Thankfully there are other ways to identify dental health issues in your pet. Bleeding gums, a decreased appetite, and excessive drooling are other signs of poor dental health. Of course a visit to your vet is the best way to catch any dental issues before physical symptoms are present. Listed below are three simple and helpful tips to help you maintain your pet’s dental health.

Have other questions or concerns? Visit us or give us a call at 502-425-5834.

3 Tips for Pet Dental Health Care:
1. Schedule an oral exam and/or cleaning for your pet annually.
2. Routinely check your pet’s teeth and gums at home and contact your vet if there are concerns.
3. Do regular dental care at home between exams.

For more information and other fun tips, click on the photo below to watch a video from our Facebook page featuring Dr. Roppel discussing dental cleaning basics at Lyndon Animal Clinic!