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“You have to love the people that come with the animals.”
Once upon a time, we built Fido a doghouse, filled his bowls, and took him on walks. A simple life, one might say.
Today, Fido may get an MRI, laser therapy, or even acupuncture – and often carries his own health insurance.
Times have changed in regard to the care we provide for our furry family members. Pets are enjoying longer, fuller lives than even 20 years ago.
Pusch Ridge Pet Clinic is a full-service veterinary clinic in Oro Valley that provides the state-of-the art health care that pet owners have come to demand.
Indeed, these days Fido might just be getting better health care than his owner!
Pusch Ridge Pet Clinic has one full-time veterinarian, Dr. Halstead, and one part-time veterinarian, Dr. Brunner. Despite what some might believe, being a veterinarian is not necessarily easier than being a human M.D., as Kelsey Anway – Hospital Manager for the Clinic — explains:
“It can be an extremely stressful job. In human medicine, there are different doctors for various parts of the human body. In veterinarian medicine, specialists are not readily available and sometimes are not an option due to high costs for some clients. Veterinarians are then obligated to know the whole body of the animal in order to provide the best level of care and knowledge for our clients. Statistics show that there is a high burnout rate in our field right now. It is hard to find veterinarians – the demand is extremely high.”
OK, so maybe being a vet is not an “easy” job…but all you really need is to love animals, right?
According to Kelsey, it’s not that simple:
“Everybody in veterinary medicine loves animals. Nobody comes into this field just for the money, but you must also love the people that come with the animals.”
In many instances, as Kelsey explains, the veterinarian has to be able to work with the pet owner as a key component of treating the animal.
“In human medicine, you are dealing with that one person that you can talk to. In animal work, you cannot communicate with the animal, so you have to work with the owner. This requires communication skills, and a desire to please. Sometimes people can be more passionate about their animals than their own children! [laughs]
“We emphasize that our patients and our clients come hand-in-hand, and that pets are part of the family. We like to refer to ourselves as ‘your best friend’s best friend’.”
The vets at Pusch Ridge are supported by two Certified Technicians, four veterinarian assistants, one receptionist, and the hospital manager( Kelsey).
Hospital Manager Kelsey Anway has worked at the Clinic for over 15 years. She explains that not only has pet ownership been steadily increasing over recent decades, but demand for advanced veterinary care has been growing even faster.
Pusch Ridge Pet Clinic is a true one-stop shop, offering:
Having all these services under one roof offers comprehensive health care that is enviable for us humans. In just one visit, you can get blood drawn, obtain results, receive a diagnosis, and leave with a treatment plan for your pet.
“We love to be able to provide for all your pet’s health care needs and not have to say ‘no’ to our clients,” says Kelsey.
While the Clinic only treats small animals like dogs and cats, “we have had clients bring wild animals to us that are in need. We will reach out to a wildlife rescue to relinquish them into their care.”
While OV’s native flora and fauna are adapted to our sweltering summers, Fido is not. Some OV residents even own dogs that are more adapted to snowy climates, like Malamutes, St. Bernards, Bernese Mtn Dogs, Huskies, and Tibetan Mastiffs – dog breeds which are adapted to a much colder climate.
“You would never think these breeds could live in the desert, but they do.”
Any breed of dog can be perfectly happy in OV as long as their owners protect them from the heat. This typically means that pets should be able to stay inside with access to the A/C when our summer temperatures soar — or at least have access to a cooler place to rest during the hottest part of the day.
“We do see the occasional case where a pet gets burned paw pads. Accidents happen, but in most situations this can be avoided with good judgement. We recommend taking your pet to Summit Hut, where they can be personally fitted with dog booties to protect their paws in every situation.
“The rule of thumb is: If you cannot put your hand down on the sidewalk for 10 seconds comfortably, then your dog should not be walking on it.”
“Cats in OV are not equipped to live outside – they are no match for the predators around us,” warns Kelsey.
The same pristine desert landscape that makes for our exquisite natural views is also an active food chain — one in which we do not want our pets to become an unwilling participant.
Coyotes prowl between houses and yards, looking for their next meal. Bobcats and javelinas can also tussle with pets.
Owls have been known to scoop up cats and small dogs(!)
Mountain lions, although they are sighted less frequently, can still pose a big threat to our loved ones.
Gila monsters are still a potential threat, though Kelsey has not seen many encounters.
The clinic treated four rattlesnake bites last year with the antivenom they keep on-hand for the Western Diamondback Rattler. Another concern is the Colorado River Toad, which exudes seizure-inducing venom. (The Clinic suggests avoidance training for both dangerous animals.)
Rabies is not common, though Kelsey reports that last year a horse was bitten by a rabid coyote. Scorpion bites are seen sometimes.
Golf carts are also responsible for a few pet ER visits in OV. As Kelsey explains, pets sometimes ride in the carts with their owners and occasionally fall out or get run over by accident.
While pets seem to be getting human-quality health care these days, they are often – just like their owners – now suffering from obesity.
“We see a lot of obesity in animals. It just affects everything with their health. It also obviously drives up the cost of care.
“It is not advised to feed your pet the bag’s recommended dose. They want you to purchase more of their products. The amount they suggest on the packaging is more than your pet needs. A pet’s daily portion should include treats as well. You should also take into consideration the amount of exercise your pet receives. Paying attention to how your pet looks and moves will help in deciphering if there needs to be any changes made.”
Bites and scratches are not as much of an occupational hazard as Tiktok videos might suggest.
“We do sometimes get bitten or scratched, but we learn to read the situation with the animal. It comes with time. We put alerts on patients charts so that everyone will know to treat them with caution. We are cautious and try to avoid certain situations.”
At some point, many pet owners will travel with their pets.
Kelsey points out that the regulations regarding traveling with your pet have changed in the past year. If you are planning on traveling — whether it’s domestic or international — always check with your veterinarian team for the latest requirements. If you do not check the requirements, you might find yourself unable to cross the border.
For example: “You’ve always just needed a rabies certification to bring your dog across the border from Mexico or Canada. Within the last year, the CDC changed their requirements. If you have the rabies certification and are coming back, on the day you are crossing the border, you need to go to the CDC website and get a ‘CDC Dog Import Form’.” If this is not completed, you will not be able to bring your pet back into the United States.”
“Microchipping your pet has become standard. Microchipping is sometimes one of the travel requirements and it never hurts to have as much identification with your pet just in case they get lost.”
You should always check ahead regarding travel requirements. If you’re headed to Japan, Europe, or even a state like Hawai`i, you may encounter a “long list” of requirements. The Clinic has you covered here.
“Animals are our passion and as times change, we have learned to adapt to the ever-changing requirements that our clients require of us.” says Kelsey.
‘We love what we do, and we love the relationships we have built over the years with our clients and their furry family members!”
