Copper was found by my girlfriend near San Mateo General Hospital 7/14/10.  I don't know exactly how old Copper was when she found him but he was definately less than a week old because his eyes were closed and ears folded over. Blind and deaf, I came to realize with stark awareness just how totally dependent kittens are on their mother those first few weeks of life.

I spoke to someone at the SF/SPCA who was a bank of knowledge on how to take care of oprphaned kittens. I put Copper in a large uncovered container with a kitty heating pad and lots of towels to keep him warm, which I found out is crucial as a chilled kitten can die very quickly, got some KMR and begun to bottle feed him every 2-4 hours at the beginning.  I checked on him often because of the high mortality rate of orphans and he opened his eyes one week later. The thing that really melted my heart was when I heard him purr spontaneously, and when he started to purr and play after each feeding. That was special.

Today Copper is healthy, playful and very active. My other cat, Marmalade, is very young and he and Copper play and sleep together. They have become best buddies. Very rewarding! 

September 2010

Sasha

We met Sasha in July, so she’s a new patient at San Mateo Animal Hospital.  She originally came in for an examination of a small lump on her tail that she had been chewing and licking. The recommendation was to remove the lump while it was still small.  That was the plan; however Sasha’s tail did not quite heal after her sutures were removed! There was one small area at the tip of her tail that needed sugar bandaging every day.

Sugar bandages are actual bandaging that consists of white sugar, lots of padding and bandage material. Sugar soaks up moisture and promotes healthy skin granulation. Poor Sasha came in for a total of 28 bandage changes! Every day!   Sasha’s owners are definitely dedicated pet owners and they really love their little Sasha.

When we first met Sasha she did not think much of us and required a muzzle while being handled. After her 3^rd or 4^th bandage change our dedicated nursing staff won her over and now she never tries to bite and is extremely cooperative.

In her spare time Sasha likes to bite people in the middle of the night if they move on the bed, she loves hot dogs, she likes to eat paper towels, and she knows how to say “please” for cookies. She is an avid Giants fan and would like us to “BEAT LA”.  She also loves to spend quality time with her Grandpa.

August 2010

BJ

BJ has been a patient of the San Mateo Animal Hospital since 2007. As one of our regular boarders we have grown to love him very much. In fact while here, he is often kept up front with our reception staff because he does NOT like to be left alone and has no problem letting you know that!

A month or so ago BJ's folks rushed him down on a Saturday morning because he had been attacked by a neighbors large dog. Poor  BJ suffered a severe de-gloving injury, which means his skin was entirely pulled away from his body leaving a flap hanging that ultimately needed surgery to repair it. He was rushed into surgery which lasted 3-4 hours. BJ ended up needing a few more surgeries which ended up in skin graphing.

Through all of his very tramatic experience BJ remained a model patient and with the loving care of his owners he is now compleatly healed. We all at San Mateo Hospital thought BJ deserved to be our August Pet Of The Month because he may be small in stature but he is BIG in heart.

 July 2010

Gracie

When we first met Gracie, she came in for a new kitten exam and to get her first
vaccine. We had no idea how soon we'd be seeing her again.

Early one Thursday morning Gracie's mom came rushing in with her wrapped in a towel. She had been playing with her mom and brother on a landing at the top of the stairs, lost her balance and fell onto the stone floor below. Dr Bar immediately started Gracie on IV medications, fluids and took some X-rays. Nothing was broken and Gracie's condition improved throughout the day. Worried about neurological  damage and possible swelling in her brain, she spent the night at North Peninsula Veterinary Emergency Clinic and returned to us in the morning.
She was a different cat! She was sitting up in her cage and meowing loudly until  someone picked her up. She spent the afternoon with our receptionist, sitting in both Meghan and Fran's laps while they answered phones and checked in patients.

Two weeks later, she came in for her recheck appointment a normal, happy bouncy kitten. Her family calls her Amazing Grace due to the cross shaped mark on her back. We are pleased to have Amazing Grace as our July Pet of the Month.

June 2010

Sydewok

Meet Sydewok Fong, our June Pet of The Month. Sydewok is a 16 year old husky mix who has been a patient at San Mateo Animal Hospital since she was just a puppy.

Last December, Sydewok’s owners, Garland & Susan, came home to find out things just weren’t right. Sydewok spent the next three days being treated at San Mateo Animal Hospital and at the emergency clinic for a systemic infection. When Sydewok was able to finally go home, it was only with some very strong antibiotics.  It was touch and go for a few days but she eventually recovered!

Sydewok has been quite the model senior citizen. She enjoys spending time outside with both of her parents. While she does take medications to help with her arthritis, she is still a trooper and keeps going on strong. Because of her strength, we wish to show her respect and nominated lovely Sydewok as our June Pet of The Month!

May 2010

Bailey

Bailey has been a patient at San Mateo Animal Hospital for 12 years, along with his brothers India and Harley, and his sister Tigger. Through the many years of care, Bailey and his family have gone through many ups and downs. Recently, Bailey came in for a routine heartworm test, when our nurse, Sally, found a lump on his neck. Upon further examination from Bailey's veterinarian, Dr. Vered Bar, it was diagnosed as a thyroid tumor.

Bailey underwent surgery and had the tumor removed. After one month of recovery, his diligent owner noticed a similar lump on the other side of his neck. And once again, Bailey was diagnosed with another thyroid tumor. Even though Bailey has had many surgeries and procedures at both our clinic and at the specialists’ offices, he has never once growled or flinched and to this day, remains a model patient.

Bailey’s sweet and resilient nature is the reason why is he such an inspiration to us all.  Both Dr. Trief and Dr. Bar are keeping tabs on Bailey’s continuing care with his oncologist and cardiologist and San Mateo Animal Hospital will continue to support Bailey during his ongoing cancer battle and wish the best for his family.

April 2010

Savannah

The Lloyd family adopted this precious little girl in April 2008.  She had been given up to the local shelter due to “allergies” from her previous family when she was already 15+ years old.

It takes a special kind of family to adopt a “Senior” pet and the Lloyd family is just such a family.  Through loving eyes they saw beyond her white haired face and stiffer joints to give her another chance and family to call her own. Kudos!

Many times, people are not too hard to persuade when a tiny, fuzzy kitten or a bouncy little puppy needs a home.  But finding homes for mature pets can be more challenging.  It's difficult to understand why.  Although all animals in shelters need homes, older pets are more often left behind.  More mature pets have many advantages but don't misunderstand: Although older pets may be less demanding, that's not to say adult animals don't require pet parents to be responsible and devoted -- all animals require a lifelong commitment.

We choose Savannah as our April Pet Of The Month because she is truly special.  Congratulations!

March 2010

Louie

This is Louie, our March Pet Of The Month. He’s been through a lot lately and deserves some recognition.

Louie has been dealing with Mega colon most of his adult life and this last month has been a struggle for both Louie and his owner. Megacolon is a condition of extreme and irreversible dilation and poor motility of the colon, usually combined with accumulation of fecal material and the inability to evacuate it. Recently Louie’s condition became so bad that he needed corrective surgery, we had to remove his colon. The surgery went well but Louie has been slow to recover. As we write this it’s been four days since his surgery and still Louie is refusing food. He must eat to recover fully and gain back his strength. His owner, Andre, is trying his best to entice him to eat by offering Louie every yummy food he can find.

Please say a prayer for Louie that he get through his ordeal and fully recover. Through all his years of struggling with this very uncomfortable and often painful medical condition, Louie has remained a calm and loving boy. That’s why we vote him Pet Of The Month. Congratulations!

February 2010

Rudy

We met Rudy when he was a 5 month old puppy and he’s been gracing us with his presence ever since.

Rudy has been in and out of our hospital with a plethora of medical problems from skin issues to orthopedic issues.  Most recently he was diagnosed with skin lymphoma. He has gone through both radiation and chemotherapy.  According to his oncologist he is now doing great!

Every Veterinarian that Rudy has ever seen from Oncologist to Dermatologist say what a happy-go-lucky good boy he is. As his regular Vet, we can all attest to that!

Rudy has earned a special place in our hearts and that is why we are making him our February Pet of the Month.

Congratulations Rudy and Happy Valentine’s Day!

January 2010

Mia

Mia came to us on November 6,2009 for a skin condition. She had been treated at another Animal Hospital but she her skin condition just kept getting worse and poor Mia was miserable.

We performed a skin scraping and found that Mia had demodex. Demodex are mites that live in the hair follicles of some animals. If left untreated, as you can see from Mia’s before pictures, the skin can get quite nasty and the pet suffers tremendously. Mia not only had demodex but she had a severe deep skin infection.

Fortunately for little Mia our wonderful Doctors had a firm diagnosis and started her treatment immediately. She was placed on oral antibiotics and a special shampoo.

As you can see Mia is looking quite lovely these days thanks to the dedication and diligence of her wonderful family. Her skin is clearing up and her hair is growing back nicely.

We chose Mia as our pet of the month because through all of her suffering and extreme pain she never once turned ugly on us, no pun intended. Through all she’s been through Mia still remains a gentle soul.

Congratulations Mia! You deserve it!

November 2009

Violet

Violet came to us 2 weeks ago. Her owner rushed into our hospital carrying her because she had just fallen out of the passenger side window of his truck, while he was taking a turn!

Violet was in a lot of pain and couldn’t walk but she just kept wagging her little stump of a tail and trying to lick everyone. Dr. Dasho did a thorough examination of her and recommended taking a set of hip x-rays. Sure enough she had broken the joint right off of her right hip. She would require immediate surgery if she was ever to walk again.

Unfortunately her owner did not have the funding for an expensive orthopedic surgery so he was faced with the ugly decision to euthanize Violet or relinquish ownership of her. He decided to relinquish her to San Mateo Animal Hospital rather than see her euthanized. Dr. Gallelo performed Violets surgery the next day and her recovery has been uneventful to say the least.

This lovely dog has been a joy to have around our hospital but she does need a loving home. She is up for adoption and would do well in a home that is familiar with Rottweiler’s. She is a love bug, full of kisses but she does need some training.

If you think you have the time and energy for this lovely little girl please call 650-345-1655.

UPDATE: Violet found a forever home and is doing Great!

October 2009

Cuda Schrader

Cuda has been coming to San Mateo Animal Hospital since June 2007 when he was just a little puppy. He lives with his little sister Punkin who bosses him around most of the time even though she is much smaller. From the time Cuda was young, he was prone to injuries and accidents. In September of 2007 his dad Thomas was walking him in the park when he started crying and limping, he brought him in immediately and we found out that he had stepped on an insect and had a bad reaction to it. Most puppies’ teeth fall out before their adult ones grow in, but not Cuda’s, he had to be anesthetized and have them surgically removed. In August of 2008, he had to spend the night in the emergency clinic, because he might have eaten a can of recalled food and was extremely lethargic and shaking uncontrollably. And just last month he had to be hospitalized with us for diagnostic testing because he was vomiting and very wobbly when he walked. Thankfully for Cuda, his dad Thomas is such a caring and attentive man, who is always looking after his animal’s best interest. On the positive side, Cuda joined our weight loss challenge and has slimmed down significantly since he has stuck to his diet. We hope Cuda can stay happy and healthy for a long time to come.

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September 2009

Kahuna

Message from the owner:

Kahuna is a peninsula native, Australian Shepherd Blue Heeler mix, who will be turning thirteen in October of this year. I remember the first day I brought him home with me, he didn’t bark or make any sounds for at least one week. Once he felt comfortable with me, he became this rambunctious little puppy. He still loves to play with his toys and will chase a cat if I let him. During our down time, we love to snuggle on the couch bed together. He loves to be kissed and cannot get enough of his treats. I am so blessed to have him in my life and am happy to have him named “Senior Pet of the Month”.

Message from San Mateo Animal Hospital:

Kahuna is a great example and role model for all senior pets and is in great shape considering he is turning thirteen! His mom makes sure that he takes his vitamins, and has a well balanced diet, to keep him healthy and his joints from aging. On top of his well balanced diet (including healthy treats), he is walked everyday keeping him in fantastic shape (wouldn’t we all be so lucky to have someone exercise and feed us health food daily!). Kahuna has issues, just like any senior pet or person. His joints ache and his allergies make him very uncomfortable. Luckily, he has an outstanding mom, who provides great care and regular visits to San Mateo Animal Hospital. Not only is Kahuna a great example of what senior health should be, but his mom Lynette is an amazing caregiver, who is an inspiration to the rest of us pet owners. Thanks Kahuna and Lynette for being wonderful!

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August 2009

Bentley Mazzoncini

Bentley is a 3 year old Airdale who stated coming to San Mateo Animal Hospital in September 2006. He was a happy, loving puppy, who enjoyed playing, chasing his shadow and causing trouble on the home front. On January 13th, 2007 his parents went out for an hour and when they came home they found their beloved Bentley acting very strange, vocalizing loudly and drooling uncontrollably. They realized that he had gotten into their muscle relaxants and ate 15 whole tablets. Bentley weighed in at 41 pounds and consumed more then the toxic dose for his weight. The Mazzoncini’s brought him in immediately and we had to pass a tube into his stomach to try and remove the remaining drugs, but we only came up with some undigested food.

He started having seizures due to the toxic effects of the drugs and was sent to the overnight emergency clinic, where he continued to get worse as his seizures became more severe. Bentley’s outcome was looking grave, and after 48 hours of critical care it looked like the end of the line for such a wonderful dog. But Bentley had other things in mind and was not ready to give up, so he fought on, one hour at a time, when all the odds were stacked up against him, and became a miracle. We are happy to say that he made it through and is now a full grown dog living life to the fullest. We are fortunate to have the pleasure of his company at least once a month when he boards with us while his parents are away, and he is always so much fun to have around. We hope that in the future he “says no to drugs” and lives a long and healthy life.

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June 2009

TUPTIM “Tuppy”

This beautiful, intelligent seal-point Siamese came for Christmas 1991. Born in October, she was the most playful and inquisitive of kittens, peaking out from under the blanket on the car ride home, while her sister Thai-Thai hid underneath. Once home, she happily settled into their new “baby room” (the guest bedroom upstairs), filled with toys to play with, warm electric blankets to sleep on, dishes of Science Diet kitten chow, and other necessary facilities.

Her curiosity soon got the better of her, and Tuppy was the first to leap over the small cardboard barrier at the doorway, suddenly finding herself out in the rest of what was to become her world. Soon she was racing up and down stairs, fetching and carrying any mousie you would care to throw, leaping after moving strings, and playing hide-and-seek. She quickly endeared herself to her new “auntie”, Pitti-Too, the resident 12-year old Siamese, treating her with the respect her position demanded, while enticing her to play along too. Soon the 3 of them were inseparable, sleeping, playing and bathing together.

Tuppy is personality plus. And absolutely fearless. The vacuum cleaner holds no terror for her. It’s just a noisy toy. She is a scintillating conversationalist (but always has to have the last meow). She loves to share everything that happens in her day with you when you come home, where she is waiting for you on the stair closest to the door. She recognizes the sound of your car, and your step, and is always there to welcome you. And if you’ve ever brushed her, she will remember you forever, even if you’ve been away from her for a time.

In her almost 18 years, the staff at San Mateo Animal Hospital has taken care of Tuppy through diabetes, hyperthyroid and now a declining kidney function which requires her to come for fluids once a week. And both Pitti-Too and Thai-Thai have gone. But Tuppy remains the most loving companion, who still finds joy sunning herself, rubbing against her catnip scratching box, and on the lap being brushed. May these continue for a long time to come….

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May 2009

Coda Ayers

Amazingly we just met Coda about 2 weeks ago! We at San Mateo Animal Hospital were so impressed by this little fighter that we decided she deserved some recognition by making her our May 2009 Pet of the Month.

Coda, a German Shorthaired Pointer mix, was adopted from P.E.T.S. (People Ending The Slaughter), a rescue organization based in Hayward who posted Coda and her seven siblings on Petfinder.com. Coda's foster family, based in Ripon (near Tracy), is where she lived for two weeks and unfortunately contracted Parvovirus. That was the beginning of the fight for her life. After only three days in her new home, nine week old Coda was taken to the San Mateo Animal Hospital where she was diagnosed with Parvovirus and hospitalized in our intensive care isolation for treatment for 4 long days.

After lots of care from Aunts Sally (on Wednesday and Thursday), Rita (on Thursday), and Sarah (on Saturday) and the expertise from the Veterinarians (especially Drs. Stiglich and Gallelo), Coda is back at home where she enjoys her days playing with her bear, her toys, and her dads. Only four days after being released from intensive care, Coda has already begun to put on weight, as she begins to escape from puppyhood. Weighing in at just under 6 lbs, Coda firmly believes that her dad's lap is the best place on Earth.

Not only does Coda deserve recognition but her owners, Jason & Brian, do too. When most people would have given up on a little puppy they only just met, they hung in there and had faith that she would pull through the ordeal.

The whole family reminded all of us at San Mateo Animal Hospital why we do what we do, for the love of our patients and their owners.

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April 2009

Bob Meacham

Bob started coming to San Mateo Animal Hospital as a little puppy in February 2001 and we've been taking care of him ever since.

In October 2007 Bob started exhibiting signs of pain in his hind end. Within 2 weeks he was not walking at all. Bob's loving owners, Gordon & Ginny, rushed him in immediately and Bob was diagnosed with acute non-ambulatory paraparesis (inability to walk).

Bob's very concerned parents brought him over to Berkeley Dog & Cat Hospital, Special Services where they preformed an emergency mylogram. The mylogram revealed that his spinal cord was compressed, he needed emergency spinal surgery.

Bob's surgery went well but the road to recovery took a lot longer than expected. His owners brought him over to Scouts House in Menlo Park for physical and aquatic therapy four times per week. Recovery is a gradual process usually occurring over 16 weeks but for Bob it took one year.

Ginny and Gordon Meacham never lost hope that Bob would eventually recover. Bob is a WALKING testament to their love and devotion. When others would have thrown in the towel Bob, Ginny & Gordon Meacham are true fighters!

San Mateo Animal Hospital would like you to participate in our Pet of the Month! Please Email or Mail a picture and a Bio of your pet and why San Mateo Animal Hospital should choose your pet for Pet of the Month...