I have a spoiled rotten,10 yr old neutered male Shih Tzu, named Kuro. He's also blind, but still my sweet baby!
Although it's only him and me now, there's a lot of talking around our house. I didn't realize he knows so many words! Some people say it's repetition, but I prefer to think he's that smart.......We moved to Michigan from Indiana 4 years ago, and for the first 7 years of Kuro's life, the only expense I had was vaccinations, grooming,and buying toys. ( Lots of toys)
But time passes on and age starts taking a toll, and he started having problems: bladder, tumor on paw,liver enzymes too high, dental work, eye problems,and for the past few months, skin problems.
Dr. Dhaliwal has done all of Kuro's surgeries, and worked with me on the other problems. He never loses his patience, and stays calm while I am asking my 100 questions .
Dr. Dhaliwal is definitely in the correct profession. It seems he has a passion for not only helping animals, but he takes every opportunity to learn new techniques so he can help them even more.
The staff is also very nice. They greet you with a smile, take the time to talk, explain meds,etc. and if Dr. D. doesn't call to check on Kuro after a procedure, the staff will, and that means a lot to me.
Michigan Avenue Animal Hospital is a caring place, and everyone makes sure your pet is given the best care. Whatever it takes to make you and your pet "HAPPY!"
Dew Claws Removal
Dew claws are claws on a dog that grow farther up the leg than regular claws. They are usually on the back of the leg and appear more often on front legs than back legs. They do not make contact with the ground when the dog is standing, though they make may contact with the ground when the dog is running.
In dogs where the dew claws never make contact with the ground, dew claws need to be trimmed, as they will not be worn down by ground contact like regular claws.
Some dew claws are not connected properly to the leg and may be loose or floppy. This type of dew claw is more likely to present a problem and in most cases will need to be surgically removed.
|
Double Dew Claws: Some dogs have two extra claws growing from the back of one or multiple legs. These dogs are said to have double dew claws. |
Removing Dew Claws: The Procedure
Depending on the age of the dog, removing a dew claw is a simple procedure that may even be able to be done with only a local anesthetic, meaning the dog is not under total anesthesia and is only numbed at the removal site.
A dew claw should only be removed by a licensed veterinarian in an office setting. While it is a simple procedure, owners should not attempt dew claw removal on their own, as complications can occur and proper precautions should be taken.
Dog owners should plan on being with their dog during the recovery period, as dogs often will not stop licking the removal site.
Removing Dew Claws: Combining Procedures
In many cases, veterinarians can recommend dew claw removal at the same time a dog is spayed or neutered. This means the dog will only be under anesthesia once, and only one recovery period and veterinarian visit will be necessary.
This can be helpful for both owners and dogs: Owners will only need to plan their schedule around one vet visit and one recovery period, and dogs will only need to undergo anxiety of a vet visit and pain with recovery during one short period. Additionally, this will save dog owners money on office visit charges at the veterinarian.
Mandy previously had surgery at another veterinary hospital for the removal of a growth on her hind leg. For some unfortunate reason, the area became badly infected that the doctor's opinion was amputation to save Mandy's life.
At first, I was devastated about this news and wanted to get a second opinion. Therefore, I began seeking other veterinary hospitals that specialized in this area. However, for some reason Michigan Avenue Animal Hospital would constantly reappear on my list. I began to read the testimonies from his previous clients and suddenly a peaceful feeling came over me. Even though Dr. Dhaliwal's hospital was a great distant from Detroit to Ypsilanti Michigan, it was worth the ride.
Mandy's outcome was the same, yet the calming and patient manner in which my dog and I were given from Dr. Dhaliwal and his loving staff made a difference. Today, Mandy is still running, climbing and playing even with three legs and I am thankful for the time and quality of life I still share with her.
Crystal Matthews
August 2012
mianimalhospital@gmail.com