In the News: Dr. Alan Stewart Makes Petplan’s Short List for 2012 Veterinarian of the Year

We are thrilled to announce that our own Dr. Alan Stewart made Petplan Pet Insurance (USA)‘s short list for 2012 Veterinarian of the Year! See the full announcement below. We’ll keep you posted on the final results!

Petplan Pet Insurance Selects Short List for 2012 Veterinarian of the Year Awards

01/17/12

From Nearly 2,000 Nominations Nationwide, America’s No. 1 Pet Insurance Provider Selects 10 to Go On to the Next Round

PHILADELPHIA (January 17, 2012) – Petplan pet insurance, America’s No. 1-rated pet insurance provider, is delighted to announce its short list for the 2012 “Vet of the Year Award.” Nearly 2,000 nominations were received from pet parents nationwide since autumn of last year.

The short list includes:
• Dr. Chris Berg, Rancho Regional Veterinary Hospital – Rancho Cucamonga, CA
• Dr. Nancy Bureau, Alpine Hospital for Animals – Boulder, CO
• Dr. Matt Hennessey, Jersey Village Animal Hospital – Houston, TX
• Dr. William Latter, All Creatures Animal Clinic – Lakeland, FL
• Dr. Corinne Majeska, Companion Pet Hospital – Philadelphia, PA
• Dr. Richard Palmquist, Centinella Animal Hospital – Sherman Oaks, CA
• Dr. Gary Richter, Montclair Veterinary Hospital – Oakland, CA
• Dr. Alan Stewart, San Francisco Veterinary Specialists – San Francisco, CA
• Dr. Thomas Wiles, Pittsburgh Spay and Vaccination Clinic – Pittsburgh, PA
• Dr. Erin Wilson, Dr. Shipps Animal Hospital (The Amanda Foundation) – Beverly Hills, CA

These veterinarians were selected because they exemplify Petplan’s core values of providing an exceptional level of care to pets and exemplary customer service to “wow” pet parents.

Three finalists and one winner will be chosen by Petplan’s accomplished Vet Awards judging panel, comprised of prominent pet health professionals and veterinarians. The names of the finalists will be announced in February, and the winner will be notified in early March.

The winning veterinarian and his or her guest will be flown, all expenses paid, to the UK in April to accept their award at the Petplan Vet of the Year Awards, held in tandem with the 2012 World Veterinary Congress and hosted by Petplan UK – the world’s oldest and largest pet insurance provider and Petplan’s sister company.

ABOUT PETPLAN
Top-rated pet insurance provider, Petplan, is the only pet insurance company to have been included on Inc. Magazine’s list of 500 fastest-growing, privately held companies in America. Petplan’s fully customizable policies provide coverage for all hereditary and congenital conditions for the life of the pet as standard, and meet the coverage requirements and budget for pets of all/any age. Petplan policies are underwritten by AGCS Marine Insurance Company, a member of the Allianz Group, rated A+ by A.M. Best (2010). For information, about Petplan pet insurance, visit www.GoPetplan.com or call 1-866-467-3875.

Press release source: http://www.gopetplan.com/press-releases/petplan-pet-insurance-selects-short-list-for-2012-veterinarian-of-the-year-awards

VCA SFVS News: Welcome Jen Craft!

Jennifer Craft, VCA SFVS Referral Coordinator

We’re pleased to announce the addition of Jen Craft to the VCA SFVS team, as our new referral coordinator. She will be leading marketing and relationship-building activities for our practice. Jen will also be working one day a week as a client service representative. Jen looks forward to working with the VCA SFVS team, our referring veterinarians, clients and patients!

More about Jen: Jen received a B.A. in history from the University of California at Berkeley and began her career as a legislative assistant on Capitol Hill before moving back to the Bay Area to try her hand at management consulting. She then moved on to a seven-year stint working in cryptography, where she learned that managing engineers is much like herding cats. She also learned how to run a business, wearing the HR, marketing and finance hats while the rest of the gang wrote code. It wasn’t until she adopted a cat from the SFSPCA in 2004 that she realized her true calling.

She started volunteering as a Cat Socializer, and quickly began working with some of the most behaviorally challenged cats, utilizing behavior modification plans to ease the animals’ adjustment to the shelter environment and make them more adoptable. Jen soon left her corporate life to be a full-time volunteer, during which time she was able to develop and teach new classes for cat volunteers, give tours of the SFSPCA campus, spend whole days in the ringworm ward with underage kittens, work on marketing plans aimed at getting the longest-term cats adopted and, perhaps most importantly, serve as a foster parent in the newly created Foster Hospice program. Jen then joined the SFSPCA as a staff member in 2009, working on the Development team, then Humane Education before finishing out her tenure in Volunteer Services.

Jen lives in San Francisco with numerous fish and two brunettes: an aged brown tabby boy and an animal-loving husband. In her free time, she volunteers with Muttville Senior Dog rescue, is working on a project aimed at keeping senior cats in their homes, and of course still visits those shelter cats that helped her find her way home to a career filled with animals.

In the News: Dr. Sophia Yin on Litter Box Issues

Animal behaviorist Sophia Yin, DVM, recently answered a San Francisco Chronicle reader’s question regarding a kitty with litter box issues.

The question: We have a 15-year-old female cat and her 10-year-old daughter. The younger one urinates outside her box, mostly on the tile floor of our bathroom, at least twice a day. She also used to spray the walls and floor, but no longer does that. The cats have two litter boxes (one is electronic), and both are cleaned regularly. The vet said there is nothing physically wrong with her. We’ve tried quality litter, clumping litter and cheap litter. Makes no difference. Why does she continue to do this?

For the answer: Why does our cat urinate outside the box? (SF Gate)

In the News: Dr. Ella Woods on Kitten With Stomach Problems

In today’s Ask the Vet, a regular column in the San Francisco Chronicle, VCA SFVS’s Ella Woods answers a reader’s question about a kitten with stomach/eating problems.

The question: We have two young cats (siblings). The male is fine, but the female eats little and frequently vomits after eating. We’ve changed the wet food and scaled down the serving, which seems to help … sometimes. If we don’t pull the food away she’ll eat her serving and then vomit. We don’t give them much, maybe a quarter helping each from a 5 1/2-ounce can, twice a day. We leave a small handful of dry food just before leaving for work for the cats to nibble while we’re gone. Any thoughts?

For the answer: Workup in order for cat with upset stomach (San Francisco Chronicle) 

In the News: Surgeons Margo Mehl and Phil Watt on Treatment Advances for Older Dogs

image from bay woof

VCA SFVS surgeons Dr. Margo Mehl and Dr. Phil Watt answered this month’s “Ask Dr. Dog” in Bay Woof. The topic? Medical care (including surgical advances) for aging pets.

Dear Dr. Dog:

My eight-year-old Pointer Louise has various minor ailments, not too surprising at her time of life. I dread the day when she becomes seriously ill and of course intend to do everything possible to help her when that time comes. I have heard that medical care for senior canines is improving and would like to know more. 

— Stephanie in El Sobrante

“Old age is not a disease.”

This well-known quotation by Maggie Kuhn, an elder rights activist, challenged previous myths about aging and the way society views the elderly. We often relay this sentiment to pet owners in the exam room to help them make treatment decisions for their dogs not solely based on age.

What Is Old for Dogs? 

The classic “one human year equals seven dog years” makes for an easy calculation but is not entirely accurate. Giant dogs, e.g., Great Danes or St. Bernards, tend to have a shorter life expectancy, so, in a sense, they age faster. These dogs are considered “senior” at 6 or 7 years of age, whereas smallerbreed dogs, such as Chihuahuas, may not be considered elderly until they are at least 10 years. Evaluating the entire dog population, the average dog life expectancy is 10 to 12 years.

Read the full article: Advances in the Treatment of Older Dogs (Bay Woof)

In the News: Cardiologist Justin Williams Talks “Matters of the Heart”

justin williams, dvm, dacvim

In today’s Tails of the City/SFGate.com, VCA SFVS’s new veterinary cardiologist, Justin Williams, DVM, DACVIM, discusses heart health in our pets. From prevention to treatment, this Q+A offers a good summary for pet owners. An excerpt:

TOTC: What are some examples of the conditions you treat?

JW: I commonly treat both acquired and congenital cardiac disease. Acquired problems are those that develop later in life and include diseases of the heart muscle, such as dilated cardiomyopathy (a thin, poorly pumping heart) in large-breed dogs or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (a thick, poorly relaxing heart) in cats. Cancer may form in and around the heart and is more common in larger dogs. Acquired heart disease in small dogs often involves chronic degeneration of the valves of the heart. Congenital cardiac defects are present at birth and can vary widely. Thankfully, some of the more common problems can often be fixed or improved with simple surgery or catheter-based intervention.

For the full post: Q&A with veterinary cardiologist Dr. Justin Williams (SFGate.com)

Community: San Francisco Aid for Animals Benefit, September 17

We hope you’ll consider attending this fun event for a great cause! VCA SFVS’s Alan Stewart and Emily Wong are on the advisory committee for this important group.

Chocolate, Wine, and Cheese If You Please! San Francisco Aid for Animals Benefit!

Saturday, September 17, 2011
5-8 p.m.
a.Muse gallery , 614 Alabama Street between 18th and 19th Streets

Whether you enjoy good wine, delicious chocolate, or just helping to raise funds for a great cause – we invite you to learn more about San Francisco Aid for Animals at our Chocolate, Wine, and Cheese If You Please! event.

There will be a raffle and a few other surprises!

Tickets available at the door or online.

More about SFAfA: San Francisco Aid for Animals seeks to provide charitable veterinary services currently unavailable to pet owners in our community and to serve as a safety net for clients who may not qualify for assistance elsewhere. Online: www.sfaidforanimals.org

Hospital News: VCA SFVS Welcomes Veterinary Cardiologist Justin Williams

San Francisco, Calif., August 23, 2011 – With the addition of Justin Williams, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology), to its medical team, VCA San Francisco Veterinary Specialists (VCA SFVS) is expanding its service offerings to include advanced cardiology care. Beginning August 30, 2011, Dr. Williams will see patients on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at VCA SFVS.

Primary care veterinarians can refer a patient to VCA SFVS for a cardiology appointment, or schedule a telephone consultation with Dr. Williams, by calling (415) 401-9200. As a multispecialty referral practice, VCA SFVS works in conjunction with primary care veterinarians to ensure pets receive the most compassionate, comprehensive care possible.

With a DVM from Colorado State University, Dr. Williams completed his three-year cardiology residency at the MSPCA Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston earlier this year. Board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM), Dr. Williams is proficient in diagnosing and treating cardiac conditions in pets. Currently, there are 188 practicing cardiology specialists in the United States.

“We’re pleased to welcome Dr. Williams to the VCA SFVS team. Along with a strong background in cardiology care, he brings the energy, compassion and expertise that our referring veterinarians, clients and patients all will appreciate,” said Craig H. Maretzki, VMD, MS, DACVIM, medical director at VCA SFVS.

From screening to emergencies, Dr. Williams and his team provide expert care with a full array of noninvasive and minimally invasive procedures. The following are just a few of the services available through VCA SFVS’s cardiology care program:

• Echocardiogram – including 2 dimensional, pulsed wave, continuous wave and tissue Doppler
• Digital radiography
• Electrocardiography
• 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiography (holter monitoring)
• OFA Heart Registry Certification
• Emergency and non-emergency case management and treatment
• Pacemaker implantation
• Diagnostic cardiac catheterization
• Minimally invasive, catheter-based interventions such as balloon valvuloplasty and PDA occlusion

According to the ACVIM, which is responsible for certifying veterinarians in cardiology, oncology, neurology, large-animal internal medicine and small-animal internal medicine, veterinary cardiologists focus on diagnosing and treating disease of the heart and lungs, including: congestive heart failure; damage to the heart muscle or valves; coughing and other breathing problems; congenital defects; and cardiac arrhythmias (problems with the rate and/or rhythm of the heart). More information on the ACVIM is available at www.acvim.org.

About Justin G. Williams, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology)

A board-certified specialist in cardiology, Dr. Justin Williams obtained his veterinary medical degree in 2007 from Colorado State University, after completing his undergraduate degree at the University of California at Los Angeles. He then completed an internship in small-animal medicine and surgery at Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital in west Denver. Dr. Williams finished his three-year cardiology residency at the MSPCA Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston in 2011 before joining VCA SFVS. Originally from Arizona, he enjoys the outdoors alongside his wife, Emily, and their two children. His hobbies include fly-fishing, hiking, photography, drawing and ice hockey.

About VCA San Francisco Veterinary Specialists

VCA San Francisco Veterinary Specialists is the first and only multispecialty referral hospital in San Francisco. Serving the Bay Area since 1997, our full-service hospital offers specialized care, diagnostics and treatment. We specialize in the areas of internal medicine, surgery, oncology, dermatology and allergy, neurology and neurosurgery, cardiology, complementary and integrative medicine, and behavior. In addition, VCA SFVS provides 24/7 urgent care and emergency services and is an American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA)- accredited referral practice. Online: www.vcasfvs.com

Note to editors: Contact charlotte at charlotte-works dot com for a high-res photo of Dr. Williams. He is available for interviews and to provide background information on veterinary cardiology.

Welcome Sookie!

sookie at vca sfvs

Say hello to Sookie! Sookie was hit by a car and brought to VCA SFVS for care. She needed a new home, so Judy, our hospital manager, decided to welcome Sookie into her life. Sookie will require ongoing medical care, but we know she’s in good hands with the doctors and staff here at VCA SFVS. Welcome to the family, Sookie!

Thank You, 2010-11 Interns!

While we are happy to welcome our new class of interns, we are sad to see our graduating class go! What a great group – the VCA SFVS team and our patients and clients will certainly miss them. We thank Abby, Lindsay, Echo, Vanessa and Karen for all their hard work and wish them the very best in future endeavors.

Left to right, at the recent graduating intern picnic:

Abigail Stanger, DVM
Lindsay A. Manice, DVM
Echo Love, DVM
Vanessa Reeves, DVM
Karen Truong, DVM