Caring for our pets

ENGLISH

With the world under the grip of a deadly pandemic, focus has appropriately been on victims of the disease and front-line medical personnel, but times have also been tough for those who make sure our furry four legged family members are staying healthy.

Dr. Stacey Smith owns and operates Brookside Animal Hospital, which she purchased in April of this year. Smith has seen a lot in her 14 years as a veterinarian in Tulsa, but she said 2020 has proven especially challenging.

“Business has been a little slow because of COVID,” Smith said, adding that the special precautions the clinic is taking to protect pet owners and staff reduce the number of clients that can be seen in a given day.

“We’ve opened the doors to one person at a time and we’re cleaning and sanitizing,” she explained. “We’re separating and doing as much as we can. We try to stagger our appointments so that we don’t have a bunch of people coming at once.”

Smith said that while dogs and cats can contract COVID from their owners, this is rare, and in most cases doesn’t cause the animals to be as sick as humans who have the disease.

Brookside Animal Hospital does offer COVID tests for pets, but at around $250 they aren’t cheap.

The CDC states that the risk of animals spreading COVID-19 to people is considered to be low.

Smith said being a vet is very rewarding, but it can also be emotionally difficult at times, especially when a pet dies unexpectedly.

“It does it makes me sit down and just cry for a while because that should not have happened,” she said.

Smith encourages all pet owners to make sure their furry friends are up to date on vaccinations and get a check-up every year, even if your pet seems to be in good health.

“We pick up on things before they become a big problem,” she said. “We can remove a little tumor before it becomes a big tumor, we can catch things like diabetes and kidney failure, sometimes before owners notice a difference.”

Smith said these visits allow pet owners to gain valuable information to help keep their animals happy and healthy.

“In those yearly visits we’re going to talk to you about flea prevention,” she said. “We’re going to talk to you about heartworm prevention and vaccines and food. All those things are important in total care, but I think it really boils down to you need to have a relationship with your veterinarian.”

Smith said it’s best never to give your pet human food, but especially to avoid giving dogs pork, grapes, chocolate, onions, garlic, or anything spicy.

Smith asks that people be kind to their vets, because it’s a tough job without a lot of financial reward. Most vets see their work as a calling, taking care of nonhuman family members that play such an important role in our lives.

Brookside Animal Hospital is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am until 6:00 pm. And from 9:00 am until 12:00 pm on Saturdays. The clinic is located at 4651 South Peoria Avenue in Tulsa. To make an appointment call (918) 747-8561. (La Semana)