Hi Dogs and Cats, I'm your KIDNEY!!!

Hi, I am a kidney.  I am an important organ for ALL dogs and cats (and your owners too)!  I have a big responsibility in the body because I have to keep the peace so to speak.  I make sure the body is stable at all times.  I make sure that there is the same amount of water, salt and acid in your blood at all times.  My biggest challenge (and my most important job) is conserving the body's water.  I excrete toxins and waste but do so by using the least amount of water possible. 

I also make blood by stimulating red blood cell production, and I regulate blood pressure.  Did you know that 25% of the blood that enters the circulatory system from EACH heartbeat goes directly to me?! Your doctor can tell alot about me by checking your blood and your blood pressure. 

I also make urine (or pee as it's called by many).  I do that by filtering with my nephrons.  As your blood enters my nephrons I filter out the poisons, the toxins, and the waste. This can be bacteria from bad teeth (tarter, infection) or even certain medications your veterinarian prescribes to you may cause me damage. It's important to get analysis from blood test on a routine basis especially if you take medications that your veterinarian feels could be a potential risk to me. If I could not remove these toxins they would build up in your blood and damage your body.  Sometimes your doctor may even want to look at your pee to run test on it.  Those test help the doctor know if I am doing my job correctly and whether parts of me are getting worn out or damaged. 

I also measure and regulate hormones, vitamins and salts.  Another main function I have is to try to hold onto the body's proteins, especially the blood proteins.  My nephrons filter the small waste molecules but their filters are too small for proteins to pass through.  This makes it makes it easy for me not to lose proteins and do my job more effectively.  Sometimes if those filters become damaged a hole will develop where proteins will accidently spill through. I can't do my job if this occurs and as a result this can shorten the body's lifetime! It's important for me (and for you) that I do not become damaged. 

Damage can be something that takes many years to occur!  Laboratory testing of blood, urinalysis and even monitoring blood pressure become important tools for your veterinarian to see if something is causing me problems and making my job harder to do.  Once your body starts letting you know that I'm not doing my job it's often too late. 

Some common signs of me being diseased would be:

• excessive drinking and urinating
• weight loss
• poor appetite
• weakness
• vomiting
• seizures
• ulcers
• poor hair coat
• diarrhea
• depression
• bloody urine
• back pain near kidneys

If I become diseased you cannot make me normal again.  However, your doctor may be able to treat you to where you do not feel like I'm  injured.  The goal is to catch any disease processes early before major damage can occur to me. 

If you would like further information please check out our website.  There you can click on our Library and from there look in the 2nd paragraph, you will see a link to VIN Search Library.  Just type kidney and you will get lots of info.  Thanks for spending some time getting to know me!  I look forward to keeping your body stable for many years to come.

A Glimpse of a Beautiful Life

Thank you to Dr. Ryder and all of the staff @ Blue Springs AH. Your compassion and warmth means so much.  I’ve attached a memorial and pics of Zimba. I wanted to share just a few of my memories with you.

Jean-Paul & Liane

IN loving memory:

Zimba

January, 1995 – February, 2010

Aka: Sugar Bear, Sweet Petunia, Buzz, Love Easy, Sweet “Potata”, Zimbabwe….

Thank You, Zimba, for 15 years of unconditional love, those thoughtful looks and even cutting your eyes.

I’ll always remember:

Your looks of intent when it’s 4 O’clock and “chewy time!” Fussing and barking if delay.

For knowing what “walk” means then learning “trottin’” and even learning how to spell “W-A-L-K.”

Chasing squirrels in New Orleans then being chased by the “dune buggy!”

Keeping a close eye on the crawfish bucket, careful not to get pinched!

It’s ironic to wake up on this day you passed and find out it’s Mardi Gras.

I know how much you loved the beach. I’ll take you back there someday. You’ll be able to run and play, smell the ocean, play in the sand.

You are a treasure, Zimba, a best friend, a character.
You will be truly missed and cherished in all of our hearts.

I LOVE YOU, ZIMBA.

All the above was written by Zimba's owners.  We loved how they gave us a glimpse of Zimba's home life.  In loving memory we say Good-bye to Zimba from your friends at Blue Springs Animal Hospital and Pet Resort.  You will not be forgotten.

Little Dog Playtime is Fun time

 

Good-bye!  See you next time.  Check back with us for a look into Big Dog Playtime.

Chili Dog Fundraiser for the Blue Springs Dog Park

To view photos click on this link:

Clifford

Something cute to get you through your week....

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE PETS, THIS IS A TRUE STORY. FOR THOSE THAT DON'T, THIS IS A TRUE STORY.



The following was found posted very low on a refrigerator door.

Dear Dogs and Cats: The dishes with the paw prints are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Placing a paw print in the middle of my plate and food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.

The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Racing me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help because I fall faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort, however.. Dogs and cats can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other, stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out on the other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm.

For the last time, there is no secret exit from the bathroom! If, by some miracle, I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob or get your paw under the edge in an attempt to open the door. I must exit through the same door I entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for years - canine/feline attendance is not required.

The proper order for kissing is: Kiss me first, then go smell the other dog or cat's butt. I cannot stress this enough.

Finally, in fairness, dear pets, I have posted the following message on the front door:


TO ALL NON-PET OWNERS WHO VISIT AND LIKE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT OUR PETS
(1) They live here. You don't.

(2) If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture.That's why they call it 'fur'-niture.

(3) I like my pets a lot better than I like most people.

(4) To you, they are animals. To me, they are adopted sons/daughters who are short, hairy, walk on all fours and don't speak clearly.

Remember, dogs and cats are better than kids because they:

(1) eat less,

(2) don't ask for money all the time,

(3) are easier to train,

(4) normally come when called,

(5) never ask to drive the car,

(6) don't smoke or drink,

(7) don't want to wear your clothes,

(8) don't have to buy the latest fashions,

(9) don't need a gazillion dollars for college and

(10) if they get pregnant, you can sell their children ..

2009 Snow Day!

Did you see all the commotion around here?
Christmas Decorations!
Schnauzer tree toppers! On top a gifted tree from one of our beloved clients & friends.
Our receptions extraordinaire made this beautiful arrangement for our Holiday decor.
Murphy is ready to model....she is happy she will be home for Christmas! Her story to come in a future blog so be watching!!
Linda gives kisses to Frankie who has been staying with us for several weeks.
Our tree for the troops. If you want to adopt a soldier please come by and take an ornament!
If you want to adopt a kitten (we couldn't get them to sit on a tree) please come by & pick yours out!!
They do pose anyway! TOO CUTE! I'm sure they are on some little person's Christmas list!

Here is another view of our cute little dog and cat tree that our client gave to us! We love it so much!
Snow days make it a little more difficult for us to collect urine specimens but we get the JOB done with a smile as usual! :)
Snow days mean the staff drag their dogs to work...which they all seem to love it here too!
And sometimes even our kids....which sometimes they love it and sometimes they don't! These little guys were the greatest hanging out with all us BSAH people!

WE HAVE A NEW FLOOR!!!!

We are so excited to report that we have nice new floors! You have to understand our hospital building is not very old and when they built it Dr. Carey and Dr. Rodier did extensive research in the best type of floor to put down. One that would look nice, handle the wear and tear from a veterinary hospital/resort (ie. pee/poop & cleaners), not be slippery when wet but slick enough to aide getting a stubborn pet in while he/or she is "putting on the brakes" and one that would last for many, many years.

We were really "taken to the cleaners" on this one, totally ripped off! The floor that was put down in our beautiful new hospital started peeling and flaking up after the first year. The resin they used in it starting turning yellow (not good for an animal hospital since that looked like urine or urine stain) and to make matters worse the company went out of business and there was NOTHING we could do... except start saving for a new floor. So here we are, lots of hard work later! We have a brand new floor and would love to show it off! Welcome, welcome and bring your pet too! If you don't have any other reason to stop by then come by anyway, grab a treat for your pet, and then you will have a chance to see our lovely new floor.