Murrayhill Veterinary Hospital

Microchipping : Collars and tags just aren't enough if your pet goes missing!

The doctors at Murrayhill Veterinary Hospital believe strongly in having your dog or cat microchipped.  Microchipping is a permanent method of identification that ensures a safe return should your pet ever become lost, stolen, or injured.  This identification system requires a single injection of a microchip about the size of a grain of rice.  From the moment it is placed, the chip will continue to identify your pet for the rest of his or her life. 

We only use a non-encrypted microchip which means that any scanner at any facility in the country can read it.  Currently we use and recommend the HOME AGAIN microchip.  This chip is the industry leader with patented anti-migration technology and both North American and European (ISO) chip standards.  Your pet will be registered in a national database and should your residence or phone number ever change, you can update this information with a single call.

Contact Murrayhill Veterinary Hospital to receive 25% off your pet’s microchip. This offer is only valid through the end of July, so call today!  (971) 238-0231

Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner! Jabba eats her first meal on her own since May 5th.

• 
• 

After multiple surgeries and intensive care since May 5th, Jabba eats her very first meal on her own. Pro Plan Chicken and Rice, delicious!

Savings on Flea Prevention! Sentinel and Revolution

MurrayHill Veterinary Hospital would like to help keep your pet safe from fleas, intestinal parasites and heartworms.  

From June 20th through August 28th 2011  

$10 Off Instantly and $20 mail in Rebate on a 12 pack of Sentinel® 

$7 Off Instantly on 6 pack of Revolution® 

Fleas cause itching, irritation, extreme discomfort and sometimes lead to anemia, flea allergy dermatitis, Bartenellosis, and other diseases like the plague.  The ingestion of fleas can even give our pets tapeworms.  Symptoms of flea infections include hair loss, the extreme discomfort of itching, scratching and an irritating rash on the skin.  

The risk is low for your pet to contract the plague, however in Oregon, there is a high risk for your pet to get fleas and intestinal parasites like tapeworms. Sentinel® is a great product for dogs and provides protection against fleas, intestinal parasites and heartworms. For our cat friends we recommend Revolution® which is a monthly topical prescription that protects against fleas, heartworms, hookworms, roundworms and ear mites. The doctors at Murrayhill Veterinary Hospital recommend using Sentinel® or Revolution® every month all year round as Oregon’s winters tend to be mild.  

Come in today or please call 503-579-3300 for details

How Often Should You Take Your Pet to the Veterinarian?

Most pet owners don’t know when to seek dog and cat care.  Often, they only seek care when there is an emergency, but regular dog and cat care is necessary to ensure they are not suffering from a condition that you may not be able to easily detect.  Here are some suggestions for when to take your pet to the vet:

First Check-Up
No matter where you got your pet from, be it a shelter or a certified breeder, it is good to get your pet cleared with a clean bill of health.  It will ensure that your pet will live a long and healthy life.

Vaccinations
Consult your vet to get a schedule of vaccinations for your pet.  Most will be administered early on in your pet’s life, but others will be required along the way to maintain adequate health in your companion.

Twice a Year
Even if your pet is not showing signs of being sick, it is still good to take them to the vet twice annually.  There are many benefits to having your pet evaluated every six months. Having your pet seen every six months, or in a sense, every 3-4 years in a human lifetime, can help your vet detect subtle changes and diagnose problems early. This is also a great time to stock up on medications that prevent parasites like heartworm, intestinal worms, fleas and ticks.

Any Change in Eating, Drinking or Eliminations
Changes in any of these daily routines can be a sign of illness in your pet.  Household animals are steady eaters and drinkers and have regular eliminations.  If your pet is drinking or eating less OR the opposite is occurring and your pet is eating or drinking more, he or she should be taken to your vet. This should also be true if your pet is peeing abnormally or the stools have changed.

If Your Pet is Itching of Has an Odor
Itching can be a sign of fleas as well as seasonal allergies or skin infections.  When your pet scratches, this can lead to worsening wounds and infections on the skin and should be evaluated as soon as possible.

If Your Pet is Limping
Any limping may indicate your pet has injured him or herself or has a problem associated with his or her muscles, bones or nervous system. Limping is a sign of pain in your pet and should not be ignored.

These are some tips for maintaining proper pet care.  It will prolong the life of your pet and ensure that they are happy and

sp; If you have more questions regarding dog and cat care, visit us at Murrayhill Veterinary Hospital, where our experienced vet techs will ensure that your pet is well taken care of.  (971) 238-0231

Let Murrayhill Help You Spay or Neuter

Murrayhill Veterinary Hospital supports responsible pet ownership which includes spaying and neutering.  Besides doing your part in fighting the pet overpopulation problem, there are many health benefits associated with sterilizing your pet.  Breast cancer and uterine disease is eliminated in females and prostate and testicular disease is eliminated in males.   In addition, many behavioral problems are prevented by spaying and neutering your pet.  Ideally, this surgery is performed before sexual maturity at around six months of age.  “Like us” on FACEBOOK and receive 25% off the cost of your pet’s spay or neuter surgery.

 There are many ways to cut corners to make these surgeries less expensive but they all come with another cost: a procedure that is less safe and less comfortable for your pet.  At Murrayhill, we never cut corners.  We are committed to ensuring that all of our ovariohysterectomy (spay) and neuter patients receive the safest and most comfortable procedure possible.  Here are just a few of the extra steps we take:

 Pre-anesthetic blood screening is performed on every patient to identify potential complications that may affect the anesthetic or surgical procedure before it is started.  In addition, we check blood clotting times to make sure bleeding will not be a problem during the surgery.

 Every pet receives a physical exam on the day of his or her surgery to identify any health issues that may affect the procedure. 

 Every patient receives IV (intravenous) fluids during the procedure to ensure a safer anesthetic experience. The IV fluids help in maintaining blood pressure during surgery and helps improve recovery afterwards by helping rid the body of anesthetic agents. The IV catheter also provides an immediate port for other drugs if needed.

We use only the safest anesthetic agents for your pet – the same ones used in human hospitals.  We have chosen Sevoflurane as our inhalant (gas) anesthetic because it is the “gold standard” and is used for pediatric surgery in human hospitals.  Its safety is partly due to how quickly patients can be brought out of anesthesia.   A nice side benefit is that patients feel good right after surgery and are able to go home the same day.

Every patient is connected to a multi parameter monitor from the time your pet is anesthetized until the time he/she is completely awake.  This includes continuous evaluation of the heart with an ECG, as well as monitoring the oxygenation of the blood with a pulse oximeter.  In addition, to further ensure your pet’s safety, we monitor blood pressure, carbon dioxide levels, and body temperature.  This extensive monitoring allows us to precisely control your pet’s anesthetic experience and together with the very safest gas anesthetic, (Sevoflurane), adjust the anesthetic before any problems arise.  Just as importantly, every surgical patient recovers in our main treatment area under the direct care of one of our certified veterinary technicians—not in a kennel out of site.

 We use a surgical laser which dramatically reduces surgical pain, controls bleeding, and allows faster healing from the surgery.

 We take pain control very seriously and your pet’s comfort is a primary concern at Murrayhill Veterinary Hospital.  All of our patients are given an injection of narcotic pain control medication prior to the surgery.  We use a laser for surgery which dramatically reduces surgical pain over traditional scalpel surgery. Likewise, all patients receive a local anesthetic block for additional pain control.  In addition, we always send home pain control medications to be continued afterwards.

 All patients are kept warm and comfortable with a sophisticated, state of the art, surgical warming system similar to those used in human hospitals which is also eco friendly.  In addition, every pet is provided warming discs and blankets during surgery and recovery, to help maintain their normal body temperature and comfort.

 We use high quality suture materials that will be absorbed a few months after the procedure.  This suture material provides strength after the surgery, yet doesn’t persist in your pet’s body for the rest of his/her life as is the case with stainless steel sutures.

 And of course, your pet receives the individualized care every patient receives from the outstanding doctors and staff at Murray Hill Veterinary Hospital!