610.435.1553
Here is where you will find the latest information on all events at Valley Central Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center and our local community. The events include veterinary conferences and community outreach events. We hope to see you and look forward to working together to support our local community. Please be sure to check back often!
Please welcome Jeanette Rilling, VMD, MS to our Emergency Department
Dr. Jeanette Rilling joined Valley Central Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center in 2021.
Dr. Jeanette Rilling was born and raised in Bucks County, growing up in Bensalem, PA. She moved to Upper Bucks after high school and obtained her undergraduate education from Delaware Valley College. She graduated from University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 2000 and also completed a post-doctoral Master's at East Stroudsburg University in 2005. Dr. Rilling has been a Lehigh Valley resident for over 30 years.
Dr. Rilling has always had a strong passion for animals. She says, "As a child I used every trick in the book to bring home new creatures, often to the dismay of my folks. They were always supportive - even after finding an alligator in my bathtub!" Before veterinary school she worked as a cruelty investigator for the Bucks County SPCA, where she obtained the first felony dog fighting conviction in Pennsylvania. Her commitment to providing compassionate care for animals has been unwavering over the years.
In her free time she likes to relax with her husband traveling, working out and jet skiing, as well as movies and dining out.
Dr. Rebecca Ribson joined our Oncology Department
We are pleased to announce Dr. Ribson has joined our Oncology Department at Valley Central Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center.
Dr. Rebecca Risbon has been board certified in medical oncology by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine since 2007. Dr. Risbon has a strong interest in immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and canine histiocytic sarcoma.
Dr. Risbon graduated from University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 2003. She completed her one-year internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital. She then completed her three-year residency in medical oncology at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital.
Dr. Risbon currently lives in Montgomery County with her husband, son and her black Labs Willowbee. She enjoys traveling,reading, running, and hiking with her dogs.
Voted Best Veterinarian/Animal Hospital for 2019
VCVREC is proud to announce we won Best of the Lehigh Valley 2019, Best Veterinarian/Animal Hospital for 2019!
Dr. Tara Fetzer joined our Critical Care Department
We are pleased to announce Dr. Tara Fetzer has joined our Critical Care Department at Valley Central Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center.
Dr. Fetzer grew up in the Lehigh Valley and attended Northampton Community College to obtain her Associate's Degree in Veterinary Technology in 2005. She went on to obtain her Bachelor's Degree in Large Animal Science from Delaware Valley University in 2008. She then moved to Raleigh for veterinary school and graduated with her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from North Carolina State University in 2012. Dr. Fetzer completed a one year small-animal internship at Texas A&M University in 2013. She completed her Emergency & Critical Care Residency at the University of Wisconsin in 2016 and that same year became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care. She worked as a board certified Critical Care Specialist at a large emergency and specialty referral hospital in Bergen County, NJ for several years prior to moving back to the Lehigh Valley to join the Valley Central Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center family.
Dr. Fetzer's clinical interests include trauma, sepsis, toxicities, and transfusion medicine. She has a passion for working with disaster preparedness and emergency response teams and has been fortunate to be involved with various groups including the Texas Veterinary Emergency Team. Dr. Fetzer also enjoys teaching and one of her most popular lectures is on CPR with a focus on the RECOVER initiative.
In her spare time Dr. Fetzer enjoys traveling, spending time with her family and friends, and hanging out with her rescue dog, Gracie Mae, and paraplegic kitten, Oscar.
Welcome Dr. Robert Peiffer back to our Ophthalmology Department
We are pleased to announce Dr. Robert Peiffer has rejoined our Ophthalmology Department at Valley Central Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center.
Dr. Peiffer graduated from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in l971. He then went to Iowa State University for a small animal internship before returning to a busy small animal practice in Minneapolis. Dr. Peiffer went to Purdue University for a residency and then back to The University of Minnesota for his ophthalmology training as a NIH fellow. He became board-certified in ophthalmology in 1976 and received his PhD in 1981.
Dr. Peiffer has lectured internationally and contributed to numerous scientific publications and several textbooks. He is past president of the American Society of Veterinary Ophthalmology, the International Society of Veterinary Ophthalmology, the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists, and the International Society of Ocular Toxicology.
Dr. Peiffer's work in comparative ocular pathology and contemporary cataract surgery earned him recognition including the AAHA Gaines Award, the World Small Animal Veterinary Association/Waltham Award and the AVMA for career achievement.
Dr. Peiffer recreates with fly fishing and gardening and shares his home with his wife Kathleen and 2 aging Labrador Retrievers. They have raised 4 children: Elizabeth, Robert, Ryan and Ethan.
Dr. Craig A. Clifford has rejoined our Oncology Department
Dr. Craig A. Clifford will begin accepting new patients January 2013. The oncology department will be accepting patients every Tuesday. Our oncology team is proud to offer the highest quality oncology services at VCVRC.
The doctors and staff at Valley Central Veterinary Referral Center want to thank you for your sustained and continued support. Our goal is to provide the highest standards of veterinary care for your clients. Please do not hesitate to contact any doctor or staff member with questions or concerns regarding any aspect of our services.
Dr. Zeev Schwartz has joined our Surgery Department
We are pleased to announce Dr. Zeev Schwartz has joined our Surgery Department at Valley Central Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center.
Dr. Schwartz is a native Israeli, he graduated from Szent Istvan University, in Hungary where he received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. Following his graduation, he worked as an emergency veterinarian. In 2005, he has successfully completed the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates program at the University of Florida. Dr. Schwartz completed an internship in small animal emergency and critical care at Glendale, WI, and worked as a staff veterinarian at the small animal emergency service at UC-Davis, and at VCA Newark Animal Hospital in Delaware.
Dr. Schwartz completed a year in research at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and obtained his Master of Science in 2009. His research emphasized on the effects of hyaluronic acid on chondrogenesis. In addition, he completed a year of research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His main research involved clinical trials in dogs with cranial cruciate ligament rupture and pain management in dogs with hip dysplasia.
Dr. Schwartz completed surgical internships at Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists in Houston, TX, and at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Dr. Schwartz started his residency in small animal surgery at the University of Missouri-Columbia, and completed his program at the Northeast Indiana Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Hospital in Fort Wayne, IN. Dr. Schwartz residency research project described the closure of gastrointestinal incisions using skin staples in clinical cases of dogs and cats. Dr. Schwartz interest include surgical trauma involving orthopedic, soft tissue surgery, and surgical oncology.
In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, photography and swimming.
We're Looking For A Few Heroes. Enroll Your Pet With Our Blood Bank
Many pet parents aren't aware that, just as in human medicine, blood products can be a life-saving resource for critically ill or injured pets. Time is of the utmost importance when blood and plasma products are required, and can often be difficult to find.
Voted Best Veterinarian/Animal Hospital for 2018
VCVREC is proud to announce we won Best of the Lehigh Valley 2018, Best Veterinarian/Animal Hospital for 2018!
Dogged: Badly wrecked, German shepherd shows at Westminster
Click here to read the article.
Our Oncology Department is Excited to Offer Tanovea-CA1 For Our Lymphoma Patients
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently announced that it's given conditional approval for the first new animal drug to treat canine lymphoma. Also called lymphosarcoma, lymphomais a type of cancer in dogs. The FDA said the active ingredient in Tanovea-CA1 is rabacfosadine,a substance that kills rapidly growing cancer cells.
Tanovea-CA1 must be prescribed by a licensed veterinarian because professional expertise isneeded to correctly diagnose lymphoma in dogs, determine the best treatment, and managepotential side effects. Tanovea-CA1, which comes in a concentrated form, is diluted and giveninto a vein over 30 minutes. The infusion should be given by or under the supervision of aveterinarian experienced in chemotherapy.
The "CA1" in Tanovea-CA1 means the drug is conditionally approved. Only animal drugsintended for minor species, such as ferrets or fish, or for minor uses in a major species, such as totreat certain types of cancer in dogs, are eligible for conditional approval. Tanovea-CA1'sconditional approval means that when used according to the label, the drug is safe and has a"reasonable expectation of effectiveness" for treating lymphoma in dogs.
At Valley Central, our Oncology Department is excited to add this agent to our current list ofdrugs to treat lymphoma. Please schedule a consultation appointment with our Oncology Department if you have a dog with lymphoma who may benefit from this new treatment.
We are happy to announce VCVREC clinical pathologist Dr. Fisher and veterinary surgeon Dr. Gifford are now BOARD CERTIFIED
Dr. Fisher's clinical interests include hematopathology, surgical pathology and cytology, clinical chemistry, and infectious disease. Her goal is to make clinical pathology understandable and easily accessible and to provide accurate and timely results in order to facilitate diagnosis and treatment.
We offer onsite clinical pathology services to our referring veterinarians. This includes STAT cytology submissions, hematology/blood smear reviews, and chemistry consultations with same-day reporting available Monday thru Thursday.
Dr. Gifford enjoys all types of surgery, including emergency, soft tissue, neurologic, oncologic, and orthopedic surgery. She has participated in several AO courses on orthopedic repair. She offers TTA, TPLO, and extracapsular stabilization for the repair of cruciate deficient stifles. Dr. Gifford has taken an interest in minimally invasive and interventional techniques. Her own cat has undergone ureteral stenting and ureteral bypass, providing a firsthand view of the advantages of these procedures. Beyond surgery, Dr. Gifford has keen interest in patient care and pain management, striving to treat the entire patient throughout their surgical treatment.
Please do not hesitate to contact any doctor or staff member with questions or concerns regarding any aspect of our services.
Dr. Kristin Fisher has joined our Clinical Pathology Department
We are pleased to announce Dr. Kristin Fisher has joined our Clinical Pathology Department at Valley Central Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center.
Dr. Kristin Fisher joined Valley Central Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center in August of 2015.
Dr. Kristin Fisher studied Zoology and earned her bachelor's degree from The Ohio State University. She graduated from the Western University of Health Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine in 2012 and completed a three-year clinical pathology residency at Purdue University in 2015. During her residency, she also received a Master's degree in Comparative Pathobiology.
Dr. Fisher has presented several times at the American College of Veterinary Pathologists Annual Meeting. She has participated in numerous studies involving a variety of specialists and enjoys working closely with clinicians. She has given many lectures on veterinary clinical pathology to undergraduate and veterinary students, veterinary technicians, interns and residents.
Dr. Fisher's clinical interests include hematopathology, surgical pathology and cytology, clinical chemistry, and infectious disease. Her goal is to make clinical pathology understandable and easily accessible and to provide accurate and timely results in order to facilitate diagnosis and treatment.
Dr. Fisher currently lives in Easton, PA with her husband, Alex, her dog, Lily, and her two cats, Figaro and Skittles. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, cooking and traveling.
Dr. Christine Mullin has joined our Oncology Department
We are pleased to announce Dr. Christine Mullin has joined our Oncology Department at Valley Central Veterinary Referral Center and Emergency Center.
Dr. Mullin joined Valley Central Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center in August of 2015 and is board-certified in Oncology.
Dr. Christine Mullin is a native of Cherry Hill, NJ. She graduated magna cum laude with a B.S. in Biology from The College of New Jersey where she was also captain of the women's soccer team, playing in two NCAA Division III National Championship games. She then attended the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and graduated summa cum laude. Dr. Mullin completed a one-year internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital in NJ. She subsequently completed a three-year residency at The Oncology Service in the Washington DC metro area and obtained board certification in Medical Oncology from the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
Dr. Mullin has a strong interest in clinical research and has served as a co-investigator for multiple clinical trials through the Animal Clinical Investigation network. Her professional accomplishments include publication of several co-authored journal articles and book chapters, being awarded a clinical research grant from Pfizer as an intern, and designing and implementing a multi-institutional prospective clinical trial as a resident.
During her residency, Dr. Mullin conducted extracurricular bench top research in osteosarcoma within the Pediatric Oncology Branch at the NIH National Cancer Institute. She was recently awarded the Amiya Patnaik Memorial Award for Most Outstanding Resident Basic Science Research at the 2014 Veterinary Cancer Society conference for this work.
She lives in NJ with her husband as well as their German shepherd and 2 cats.
Season 6 Episode 2 - Service Animal Care
Click here to watch Season 6 Episode 2 - Service Animal Care from The PEAK TV on Vimeo.
Season 5 Episode 11 - Pet Health - ER, Running Doc, Workforce Education
Season 5 Episode 9 - Pet Health Surgery
Click here to watch Season 5 Episode 9 - Pet Health Surgery from The PEAK TV on Vimeo.
Dogs, cats, rabbit pulled from burning home in Allentown
Read the article at from WFMZ.com
Moravian mascot on the mend
Moravian College's mascot "Mo" is on the mend. Read More on this story at WFMZ - 69 News
It's Official...We have merged!
IT'S OFFICIAL! Valley Central Veterinary Referral Center and Valley
Central Emergency Hospital have now merged to create Valley Central
Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center (VCVREC). Now two leaders in
veterinary care of the Lehigh Valley have united as one entity under the
direction of Dr. Ronald Hodges and Dr. Carlos Hodges. VCVREC is
committed to the goal of providing exceptional specialty and emergency
care for your clients just as it has since we first opened our doors in
1996 as a referral practice. While we will continue to offer expertise
in the field of specialty medicine and surgery, we are pleased to
include emergency veterinary medical care as a specialty discipline to
help meet the needs of your clients 24 hours a day.
Our mission
is to provide every patient with exceptional specialty and emergency
care. Our state-of-the-art facility is fully equipped with advanced
diagnostic equipment to meet your patient’s diagnostic and treatment
needs. Our team of specialists provides services in Acupuncture and
Holistic Medicine, Behavioral Therapy, Cardiology, Internal Medicine,
Nuclear Medicine, Oncology, Ophthalmology and Surgery, and now also
Emergency Medicine.
OUR EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT is open 24 hours 7 days a week.
OUR SPECIALTY DEPARTMENTS are open Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
We look forward to continuing to serve the Lehigh Valley area as the leader in veterinary specialty and emergency care.
Dr. Angela Gifford has joined our Surgery Department
We are pleased to announce Dr. Angela Gifford has joined our Surgical Department at Valley Central Veterinary Referral Center.
Dr. Gifford is originally from Ithaca, New York, she found veterinary medicine to be the perfect combination of her interests in dog training and biology. After completing her undergraduate degree in biology at St. Bonaventure University, Dr. Gifford continued on to Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine where she completed her veterinary degree in 2009. During veterinary school she participated in research on reproductive disease of the dog and the congenital disorder, petcus excavatum. She was awarded the American Animal Hospital Association Student Achievement Award in Medicine and Surgery, the Neuroanatomy and Clinical Neurology Award, the Westminster Kennel Club Foundation Veterinary Scholarship, and the Fingerlakes Kennel Club Veterinary Scholarship.
Dr. Gifford continued on to a rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Oradell Animal Hospital in New Jersey, and then moved to Rhode Island to complete a three year residency in surgery at Ocean State Veterinary Specialists. During residency, her research focused on surgical oncology and the use of chemotherapy beads in the treatment of various soft tissue tumors dogs, cats, and rabbit.
Dr. Gifford enjoys all types of surgery, including emergency, soft tissue, neurologic, oncologic, and orthopedic surgery. She has participated in several AO courses on orthopedic repair. She offers TTA, TPLO, and extracapsular stabilization for the repair of cruciate deficient stifles. Dr. Gifford has taken an interest in minimally invasive and interventional techniques. Her own cat has undergone ureteral stenting and ureteral bypass, providing a firsthand view of the advantages of these procedures. Beyond surgery, Dr. Gifford has keen interest in patient care and pain management, striving to treat the entire patient throughout their surgical treatment.
Dr. Gifford is currently a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, American Animal Hospital Association, and the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management.
In their spare time, Dr. Gifford and her husband enjoy hiking with their Flat Coated Retrievers and Caribbean rescue dog, horseback riding on their Appaloosa mare, and many other outdoor activities. They also share their home with three wonderful cats.
Dr. Galina Hayes has joined our Surgery Department
We are pleased to announce Dr. Galina Hayes has joined our Surgical Department at Valley Central Veterinary Referral Center.
Dr Galina Hayes is an associate surgeon at Valley Central Veterinary Referral Center. She is also board certified in Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care.
Dr Hayes has been a practicing veterinarian since 1998, working first in mixed practice and then in small animal general practice. She graduated from Bristol University in the UK. During her first year in practice in rural Wales, she fell in love with surgery and emergency medicine, returning to veterinary school in Canada to complete an internship, then a residency in small animal emergency and critical care medicine, and then a residency in small animal surgery. Along the way she completed a PhD in epidemiology, and specialized in mathematical modeling of disease patterns. She has been involved in many research projects, and has published extensively, both in journals and textbooks. She won the small animal resident's abstract award two years in a row at the conference of the International Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society.
Dr Hayes' surgical interests include reconstructive techniques and emergency surgical procedures, however she is interested in all surgery and how it may specifically benefit the patients under her care. She is a strong proponent of evidence based medicine.
Dr Hayes live with her fiancé, Scott, and their dog, Bean. Their interests include fly fishing and mountain biking.
The doctors and staff at Valley Central Veterinary Referral Center want to thank you for your sustained and continued support. Our goal is to provide the highest standards of veterinary care for your clients. Please do not hesitate to contact any doctor or staff member with questions or concerns regarding any aspect of our services.
Dr. Kate Vickery has joined our Oncology Department
We are very pleased to announce Dr. Kate Vickery has joined our Oncology Department at Valley Central Veterinary Referral Center.
Dr. Vickery majored in Molecular Genetics and Biology and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from King’s College, Wilkes-Barre. She is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine. After obtaining her VMD degree, she went on to complete a three-year combined Residency and Master’s Degree in Medical Oncology and Cancer Biology at the world renown, Animal Cancer Center at Colorado State University.
Dr. Vickery has published research articles in Veterinary Comparative Oncology and Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, peer reviewed journals. She is an active collaborator for clinical trials sponsored by numerous veterinary universities, pharmaceutical companies and Animal Clinical Investigations Network. She has lectured nationally to veterinarians and veterinary students on the topic of Veterinary Oncology. Dr. Vickery holds the position of Chair of the Oncology Forum Planning Committee for the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. She is a member of the Veterinary Cancer Society, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, and the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Dr. Vickery strives to provide the highest quality patient care and client service. Client education and recognition of the human-animal bond are both imperative in her daily practice.
Dr. Vickery enjoys spending time with her husband, their dog Lucy and their cat Jim. In her free time she enjoys practicing yoga, trail hiking, camping, and beer tasting.
Lehigh Valley Business Honors the Region Top Businesses and Business Leaders
Valley Central Veterinary Referral Center has been named a finalist in the Business of the Year (1-25 Employees) category in the inaugural Lehigh Valley Business, Business of the Year awards program. The award program, produced by Lehigh Valley Business, the Greater Lehigh Valley?EUR(TM)s premiere business news publication, is presented by Highmark Blue Shield and sponsored by Bank of America.
The Business of the Year awards program celebrates the region?EUR(TM)s most dynamic businesses and business leaders who share a commitment to professional excellence, business growth and the community. Finalists were selected in six categories: Business of the Year (1-25 Employees), Business of the Year (26-100 Employees), Business of the Year (100+ Employees), Corporate Citizen of the Year, Emerging Business of the Year and Executive of the Year.
Finalists and winners were chosen by an independent panel of judges including: Laura Eppler, Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania; Dr. Javier Cevallos, Kutztown University; Benard Lesavoy, Lesavoy Butz & Seitz and Louis Pektor, PennCap Properties.
The Business of the Year award finalists will be recognized and the winner in each category will be announced during a formal awards dinner on December 10, 2012 at ArtsQuest in Bethlehem, PA.
For more information about the Business the Year awards program or to reserve seats to the event, please visit www.lvb.com/events or contact Sarah Heckman at sarahs@lvb.com or (732) 246-5713.
Kristine Rigler as the 2012 Pa. Veterinary Technician of the Year
Congratulation again on this prestigious award. We are proud to have such a dedicated individual as part of our profession and the Pennsylvania Veterinary Technicians Association.
Sincerely yours,
Jamie DeFazio, CVT, VTS-EVN
President
Valley Central Veterinary Referral Center participating in the ACVO®/Merial® National Service Dog Eye Exam Event
National Service Dog Eye Exam Day
Valley Central
Veterinary Referral Center (VCVRC) in Whitehall, PA, is teaming up with
the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO) to
participate in the ACVO/Merial National Service Dog Eye Exam Event. The
fourth annual ACVO National Service Dog Eye Exam Day will provide a free
screening eye exam during the month of May to Service Dog groups
including guide dogs, handicapped assistance dogs, police detection dogs
and search and rescue dogs selflessly serve the public. Dr. Robert
Peiffer, a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist at VCVRC will
provide free eye exams to eligible dogs. Dr. Peiffer's participation
along with 180 board-certified veterinary ophthalmologists in the US and
Canada will provide free sight-saving eye exams to thousands of service
dogs.
How to Register for the Event
To
qualify, animals must be “active working animals” that were certified by
a formal training program or organization or currently enrolled in a
formal training program. The certifying organization could be national,
regional or local in nature. Other service animals are welcome to
participate (i.e., horses, cats, etc.), as long as they meet the stated
qualifications. Additional registration details can be found at www.ACVOeyeexam.org.
How to make an Appointment at VCVRC
Most
importantly, you must pre-register prior to making your appointment at
VCVRC. To schedule a free exam at VCVRC, call 610-435-1553.
Event Information
To learn more about and register for the ACVO®/Merial® National Service Dog Eye Exam Event, please click here.
Valley Central Veterinary Referral Center Earns AAHA Accreditation
[WHITEHALL, PA] — Valley Central Veterinary Referral Center has earned accreditation following a thorough evaluation by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) that included a quality assessment review of the hospital’s practice protocols, medical equipment, facility and client service.
“I would like to congratulate Valley Central Veterinary Referral Center on achieving accreditation through AAHA,” said Michael Cavanaugh, DVM, DABVP, AAHA executive director. “They are clearly committed to doing their very best as evidenced by the hard work and effort they put into this voluntary process.”
Accreditation is a voluntary commitment practices make to their clients and patients, and AAHA is the only organization in the U.S. and Canada that accredits companion animal hospitals based on standards that go above and beyond state regulations. The AAHA Standards of Accreditation, viewed as the standard of veterinary excellence, contain more than 900 individual standards, divided into 18 major sections. These areas of focus include: patient care and pain management, surgery, pharmacy, laboratory, exam facilities, medical records, cleanliness, emergency services, dental care, diagnostic imaging, anesthesiology, and continuing education.
Only 15 percent of all small animal hospitals in the U.S. have achieved accreditation by the Association. To maintain accredited status, Valley Central Veterinary Referral Center must continue to be evaluated regularly by AAHA.
Valley Central Veterinary Referral Center, located at 210 Fullerton Ave in Whitehall, has been accredited with the association since 2004 and can be reached at (610)435-1553.
For more information about AAHA-accreditation, visit www.healthypet.com.
Dr. Carlos Hodges discusses summer pet care
Mr. Neil Young of Young’s Funny Farm brought in his 2 therapy dogs, Cinderella and Timmy, and his therapy donkey, Henry, to VCVRC for an Ophthalmology exam during ACVO Service Animal Month. Timmy is the only therapy dog that was credentialed by the NYPD to work at Ground Zero for human comfort and he is only the 4th dog to ever receive a hearing aid from the University of Cincinnati and only the 2nd dog to get a Bluetooth hearing aid because of his work as a medical alert service dog. Henry is a therapy donkey who was adopted from the US Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse Burro Program in September of 1995. Henry received his certification from the Delta Society as a therapy donkey in 2007. Henry injured is eye in October 2010 and Dr. Mary Landis and Dr. Robert Peiffer examined all three therapy animals at VCVRC.
Dr. Carlos Hodges discusses pet poison
Dr. Carlos Hodges discusses pet poison warnings on WFMZ’s Sunrise Show
Fox Fursday: Pet Safety - We all love our animals!
Fox Fursday: Pet Safety: MyFoxPHILLY.com
Dr. Carlos Hodges invited to Speaker Program
3.16.11
Dr Carlos Hodges has been invited and accepted to
participate on the Abbott Animal Health's Anesthesia Speaker Program. He
will bring awareness to veterinarians and technicians on the broad
range of products from anesthesia and fluid therapy to wound care.
Dr. Carlos Hodges to perform first knee replacement
3.9.11
Dr. Carlos Hodges to perform first knee replacement surgery in the area on service dog.
Please click here to learn more.
Leonbergers required hospitalization
2.10.11
Approximately 2 years ago, two of
Jean Boggie’s prized Leonbergers presented at VCVRC for an acute onset
of bloody diarrhea, vomiting blood and extreme dehydration. Glitz, then a
six-year old FS Leonberger, presented dehydrated and weak and was
having large amounts of dark, tarry soft stool or melena, which
indicates the presence of digested blood in the stool. While there are
exceptions, melena often suggests bleeding from the gastrointestinal
tract. She was severely anemic with a PCV of 9%, which is generally
incompatible with life. The PCV refers to the percentage of red blood
cells that constitute blood and a healthy dog has a PCV of about 40%. In
addition to a life-threatening anemia, her plasma proteins were also
low, which leads to a lot of complications such as edema in the legs and
exacerbates an already problematic diarrhea. Glitz was treated
aggressively with multiple blood transfusions, fluid therapy and
intravenous antibiotic therapy.
Not 24 hours later, GiGia arrived showing the same signs as Glitz. Her anemia was less severe but her plasma proteins were similarly depleted so she too required multiple transfusions with fresh frozen plasma as well as fluid therapy and intravenous antibiotics.
In total, four of Jean’s Leonbergers required hospitalization and aggressive supportive care due to the severity of their clinical signs. I must profess that a pack of sick Leonbergers is a whole hospital’s worth of work and thank goodness for the staff at VCVRC and VCEH that worked diligently around the clock to nurse this ensemble back to health. Our diligence and hard work has paid off as all of the Leonbergers survived the ordeal and both Glitz and GiGia will be strutting their canine stuff at the Westminster Dog Show this weekend.
Good luck Jean, Glitz and GiGia. We were thrilled with your recovery and so glad we could help you when times were tough.
Keep your pets safe during the holidays
Fox Fursday: Keeping Pets Safe: MyFoxPHILLY.com
Dr. Carlos Hodges performs stem cell therapy procedure on first dog in area.
Allentown police dog losing battle to cancer.
Please click here or here to learn more.
Valley Central is excited to launch our minimally invasive laparoscopic and arthroscopic program.
Please click here for more information.
Allentown police dog gets emergency surgery to save life.
Please click here or here to learn more.
Fox Fursday: Dog Knee Surgeries
Dr. Carlos Hodges was featured on Fox News on September 9th, 2010. Click below to watch the video.
Pain Management and Strategies for Treating OA
Dr. Carlos Hodges lectured on Pain Management and Strategies for Treating OA in Animals and Managing the Acute Spinal Cord Trauma at the 2010 PVMA conference.
Fox Fursday: Treating Arthritis in Pets
7.29.2010
See Valley Central on FOX 29 News.
Fox Fursday: Keeping Pets Cool
6.24.2010
See Valley Central on FOX 29 News.
Congratulations to Dr. Carlos Hodges
Congratulations to Dr. Carlos Hodges, he has been nominated to participate on the Novartis/Hill's Osteoarthritis Speaker Advocate Panel.
VCVRC welcomes Dr. Galindo
VCVRC welcomes Dr. Galindo to the surgery department. Click here to read more about him.
