HoundsGood: Chronicles of a Virtual Volunteer

Someone was asking me the other day about vet clinics that take payment plans and the like. There is a very nice animal care center/vetrinary hospital in Freemont, California, called the Animal Care Center that takes pet insurance, has senior discounts, payment plans, and also accepts major credit cards. Of course, we all need to put money aside in case anything happens, but we don’t always have it “on us,” so to speak, or access to it immediately. It is good to know that a larger facility takes it. In fact you can read American Animal Care Center company profile to check into it further. I found that there is even a cool American Animal Care Center video on YouTube. Heck it makes ME want to go there for MY checkups.

I was just perusing their website:

Animals are very good at hiding their illnesses. We recommend semi-annual visits for most of our patients so we can monitor their current condition and keep you informed of any changes or concerns. Early diagnosis of disease can sometimes mean the difference between successful and unsuccessful treatment. Preventative medicine such as dental prophylaxis, weight management, dietary consultations, and arthritis prevention may lengthen and improve your pet’s quality of life.

This is vey important! Rabbits in particular are masters of it. When i rescued two buns, I learned that often when you notice a rabbit is sick, it is often too late. The reason why they are so good at hiding maldies is due to their survivial mechanisms of being a prey animal. If you have ever read “Peter Cottontail,” you know that rabbits can “freeze” to be less detectable to predators. In flight, a limp, or a severe head tilt can alert another animal to their vulnerability and can spell doom. Even in a comfortable, caring home, a house rabbit doesn’t stray from its natural instincts. Although it doesn’t display flight responses because the rabbit knows their caretakers, who spend time with them and shower them with love, are not a threat, in illness they still mask it very well. Rabbits are ideal candidates for wellness check ups as a result.

I have never heard of an arthritis prevention program. Some folks just think it is inevitable. I am going to have to look into it and see what it involves. Maybe it involves supplementation an monitoring a dog’s activity, or maybe it is merely being astute at detecting early signs or predispositions. As mom to an almost ten year old dog, I think it is a good idea to look into, even though for his breed, he is in the prime of his life as they live a long time. Maybe I will see if any of my California friends go to the American Animal Care Center and can tell me what it is all about.

What are you doing to insure the long term health of your buddy?

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