Orchard Park Veterinary Medical Center

EXCITING NEWS! PLEASE SHARE: PHASE ONE of ALLOWING CLIENTS BACK INTO THE BUILDING: Beginning MONDAY JUNE 7th... Visitor Policy Primary Care Appointments -Given the limited space we have in the waiting areas, it is not possible to allow all clients back into the building at this time. This is our initial phase of reopening to clients, and we will adjust this policy as CDC guidelines change. -For PHASE ONE of reopening OPVMC to clients, ONLY clients that are here for PRIMARY CARE appointments will be allowed to enter the building. If you are a primary care client that is here on emergency or urgent care, you will not be allowed to enter the building at this time (phase one). -All clients will continue to check-in curbside and will be required to wait outside. -Clients who are scheduled for regular primary care appointments with a DVM, will be allowed to come into the building (no more than 2 people). When our care team is ready for the patient, they will instruct you to come in. -Clients must wear a mask while inside. Mask Policy for Staff -Staff that has shown proof of vaccination to OPVMC Management, will no longer be required to wear a mask. Cremains, Food and Prescription pick-up -No change at this time. Please call or text when you arrive. A Customer Service Representative will bring your items out to you after collecting payment over the phone. Please remember that you can also use our online pharmacy to order food and certain medications. Euthanasia -Clients will be allowed to enter the building and stay with their pet during euthanasia (if they choose), as long as they are wearing a mask. In-Patient Visitation -Will be allowed on a case-by-case basis. Since space is limited in ICU and the various wards, clients should be expected to visit with their pets outside the building or in an exam room. -All visitations will be limited to 15 minutes. Thank you for your patience, understanding and cooperation. It has been a long 15 months to get to this point and we are happy to be able to start to get back to a sense of normalcy. Your cooperation will allow us to continue to work towards other phases of reopening so that the COVID-19 protocols become a thing of the past. We're all in this together! As always we are open 24/7 for emergencies. 716.662.6660

If you know him, you love him. Today we celebrate the retirement of Dr. L. Mark Hedges, also affectionately known by many, simply as "H." Dr. Hedges graduated from vet school at The Ohio State University and started here in 1982 and spent most of his career as a veterinarian at OPVMC (there was a brief stint in Ohio early on, but he missed OPVMC too much so came back!) He is truly one of a kind and quite possibly the kindest human being you could ever meet, with a heart of... gold, who would give you the shirt off his back. We are all lucky to know him, as well as call him a friend and colleague. We will miss seeing him here every day, however we are so very happy for him as he is about to start the next chapter of his life. There's a good chance that if you're reading this, at least one of your pets was treated by Dr. Hedges over the years. During his time here as a general practitioner, Dr. Hedges was a previous partner here (along with Dr. Metzger and Dr. Brummer) from 1995 until 2017, when the current partnership purchased the practice. During that time as one of the partners, the practice grew by leaps and bounds becoming a practice unlike any other in WNY. OPVMC became a true regional medical center with 24/7 emergency, specialty referral and primary care all in one; paving the way for our current partners to continue along that path as we continue to grow even more, with an always forward thinking, cutting edge approach to veterinary medicine. His interests varied, but included wellness care, dentistry, and especially surgery. He had a rabid following of clients that we know will miss him dearly. Dr. Hedges was also a working dad during his career, as he and his wife raised 4 girls (now adults) and several grandchildren, which I'm sure he would agree, will all be his greatest achievement in life. Please join us in wishing Dr. Hedges all the best! He's looking forward to retirement but if you know him, he won't relax much as he will be helping his children settle into their lives or with their home remodeling projects, or he'll be going on one of the Christian Missionary trips around the world (including to India and South America) that he and his wife embark on annually to help the less fortunate. Thank you H! We love you and we are all the better for knowing you. Thank for your kindness, thank you for your empathetic heart and for being a father figure to so many of us!

Thank you to all the women, men and canines that have lost their lives in the history of our country. We are forever grateful for their ultimate sacrifice. Let's make sure that we take the time to think about them as we go about our day, for it is because of them that we can. Happy Memorial Day from the staff at OPVMC and please remember that we are always open and fully staffed 24/7, including holidays. 716.662.6660 Keep your pets safe around BBQ's and parties today as there... are many dangers to pets at both including raw or cooked food (chicken bones, fatty foods, raw onions), to fire, sharp skewers, open doors, loud sounds they're not used to, etc etc Be safe and be smart but call us if you need us. This is a helpful article on how to keep them safe: https://www.petfinder.com//infographic-keep-your-dog-saf/ Thank you to our staff that is working today as well taking care of all the hospitalized patients and all the emergencies that come in as well.

Congrats to Maria, who is one of our many Licensed Veterinary Technicians here at OPVMC, her husband Ricky (an Army veteran) and their son for recently adopting not only one, but three kittens through the Vets & Pets program at The SPCA Serving Erie County, NY! Thank you for your service Ricky! https://www.facebook.com//a.1789186118/10159116707456832/

Why you should NOT shave your DOUBLE COATED dog during warm weather/summer: "Shaving a dog down for summer is a very popular option for pet owners and indeed for some dog breeds it is an ideal practice. But not for all breeds! With the exception of the hard-coated terriers, dog coats basically come in two types: single, or short-coated and double-coated. Single-coated breeds have coats that will continue to grow longer and longer, much like human hair. Examples of these inclu...de the Poodles, Shih-Tzu, Bichons etc. Double-coated or fur-bearing breeds have coats that grow to a predetermined length. This second group can further be separated into two categories: open and closed coats. Double-coated open breeds have a hard, protective outer coat, called guard hairs, and a soft dense undercoat. These coats are designed to shed snow and ice and provide protection against freezing temperatures. Examples of these dog breeds are Siberian huskies, Pomeranians and Chows. Double-coated closed breeds have noticeably longer guard hairs, which lay down over the undercoat, like a blanket. While the outer, or guard hairs get wet, the undercoat works to keep the dogs skin dry. Examples of dogs with this type of coats are Golden Retrievers, Australian Shepherds and Newfoundlands. Single-coated dog breeds can be clipped down to the skin and their coats will grow back much the same as they were before the shaving. It’s different for the double-coated breeds. Shaving them down for the summer is NOT a solution for the summer heat. Shaving a double coat removes the dog’s natural insulation and causes their systems to kick into overdrive. They will now work to produce a coat to protect themselves from extreme temperatures, sunburn and sharp objects. When the coat does grow back it produces a thicker undercoat with a mix of short guard hairs. This new coat is thicker and softer then the old coat. Why is this bad? A dog’s shaved down false coat acts as a sweatshirt. Its softness soaks up the water and attracts burrs and hitchhikers. The thickness of the coat is extremely hot in summer. During the winter as the coat is growing back the new coat is matting, retaining water and mud and possible causing mildewing. Your pet will stay cold and wet for hours. You are trying to keep your pet cool, but you may be keeping it hot in the summer and cold in the winter. The ideal solution for double-coated breeds is to ask your groomer for a bath and to have the undercoat blown out. This process blasts the dead undercoat out of the pets coat after the bath with minimal brushing and combing, and will provide your pet with a balanced coat." The preceding has been an excerpt from an article written by a technician at Blue Cross Animal Hospital in Toronto Ontario Canada. We found it to be especially helpful which is why we have shared it. To learn more: https://www.aspca.org//heat-wave-approaching-should-you-sh

PLEASE SHARE! Best to walk your dogs early in the morning or as the sun is going down not in the heat of the day. It's too risky not only for the temp of the asphalt but they can also overheat. Some breeds are more susceptible than others. Call us 24/7 if you need us for an emergency at 716.662.6660

PLEASE SHARE re BABY BIRDS: Spring has FINALLY sprung in WNY and you may find baby birds or bird nests; maybe even nestlings or fledglings on the ground. This is an important lesson for everyone to learn about baby birds. If you have any questions or concerns about wildlife please contact Messinger Woods Wildlife Rehabilitation Center at 716.345.4239 as OPVMC does NOT accept or care for wildlife. Thank you!