OkcPets Magazine July 2021

18 OKC Pets • July/August 2021 OKC Pets Magazine DVM Annual Feature Neel Veterinary Hospital Tina Neel, DVM I f your pet has ever encountered an emergency situation, you know it almost always occurs at the worst time. We work hard, ‘round the clock, to make sure your pet receives the best care, even at 3 a.m. Neel Veterinary Hospital is one of just a handful of veterinary hospitals in the state of Oklahoma open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We never close! Our ability to see emergencies and urgent care pa- tients, even in the middle of the night, makes us unique. So we want to recognize some of our awesome swing shift and overnight staff that treat your pets when most people are asleep. It takes a special type of person to work during the late night and overnight—they make sacrifices in order to work those shifts, but they are rewarded by the lives they save. These staff members may see patients with emergencies such as trauma injuries, toxicities, seizures, congestive heart failure or even pets who are brought in to cross the rainbow bridge. These hours can be both heartbreaking and exhilarating when working with those patients. Emotions are usually high, so we have to remain a calm and steady voice for the pet owner while we all determine what is best for the pet. Our hospital is equipped with in-house lab machines, digital X-rays, ultrasound, a CT double surgery suite and even a 3,000-square-foot Intensive Care Unit designed for hospitalized critical patients. All of this allows us to make an accurate diag- nosis and provide the best treatment, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We hope that your pet never experiences an emergency, but we are always here to help if you need us, especially during those late hours. OKC Vet Campus Shara Carlton, DVM O KC Vet Campus is a Fear Free Certified small animal practice with many other services available. I have been in practice for over two decades and have experienced a multitude of practice envi- ronments. The reason I wanted to build a clinic with daycare, boarding and training was to provide pet parents with a facility that can meet their pet care needs and their informational needs. So many pet parents receive informa- tion from several different sources; this can create confusion on the best things to do. With all of these services in one place, we are able to decrease confusion and increase pet parent confidence that they are doing the best for their pets. OKC Vet Campus is a Fear Free Certi- fied Practice. What does Fear Free mean? The Fear Free training and certification program helps veterinarians and staff modify their procedures, handling and facilities to help pets feel safe and com- fortable while receiving the medical care they need. Utilization of Fear Free methods and protocols leads to reduction or removal of anxiety triggers, which creates an expe- rience that is rewarding and safer for all involved, including pets, their owners and veterinary health care teams. We have a Feline Only wing, as well as a Fear Free color palette for the entire clinic and daycare/boarding area. When you visit the clinic, your pet will receive lots of treats and lots of love. For anxious pets, we take a very smooth and calm approach to allow them time to acclimate and relax. We provide another group of services because of the love I had for my won- derful, big red dog, Albert. He was an 86-pound Retriever mix who lived 17 joyful years. What he taught me in his final years was how to best manage pain and arthritis. Because of this, we have two unique diagnostic tools: a stance analyzer and a thermal image camera to help pin- point where the pain is originating from. For therapy, we have cold laser, platelet rich plasma injections and an underwater treadmill. Together, we can develop a treatment plan for your pets as they age to help them continue to be active members of the family. There are so many options available to keep your pet in the middle of the activities you both enjoy. Veterinary Assistant Lorraine, Dr. Eryn Dinisi, Veterinary Assistant Ben and Registered Veterinary Technician Amber