RSCPC Highlights

9/12/2020

A warm hello to all of our wonderful clients!
Though it’s been challenging at times to adapt our policies and procedures to meet this 2020 reality - together we are thriving. As such, we’ve added additional services while continuing to deliver on our commitment to compassionate high quality care. Our hope is by building on our portfolio of products and services we can both reduce the need for external specialist referrals while increasing efficiency - saving you both time and money while mitigating the stress to your companions.
We’re excited about these improvements and know they’ll prove beneficial to you and your furry family members. Please see below for details!

This blog contains information on the following:

New weekend hours!
The new phone system that lets us send text messages to each other
Our new app available for download
Low stress handling and how it helps your pet feel good about coming in for a visit
The expanded in house laboratory options
Why having an ultrasound machine helps us help your pet
The specialists relationships we utilize for your benefit
When cryotherapy may be appropriate
Advanced dental procedures available
Alternative medicine and holistic care options
Our online pharmacy and expanded in house options
Telemedicine options
How are we handling euthanasia during COVID

In addition, we've added more information under our resources section, including puppy/kitten info, helpful videos, and grief resources. On our about us page, you can check out bios for our doctors and staff - get to know us better.

Sincerely,
Rancho San Carlos Pet Clinic

WEEKENDS: Our hours have expanded to include weekends! During the week we are open from 7 am to 6 pm. Saturday AND Sunday we are open 8 am to 5 pm. This means you can drop off and pick up from boarding on the weekend! Anesthetic procedures are scheduled during the week. Appointments, consults, food or medication pickups are available 7 days a week.

PHONES: Call or Text! You may have noticed Lisa answering the phone with our new options of leaving a direct message (press 2), leaving a prescription or food request message (press 1), or pushing 0 to connect directly to one of our Client Service Representatives. You can also text us directly now using our main phone number. In addition, you can message us through our RSCPC app.
Please note that we do not get text message responses from our appointment reminder system, only text messages sent to 619-462-6820.

Our RSCPC App makes everything easier for YOU!
Here are the top 5 perks:

See all of your pet’s information in one place and easily look up what your pet is coming up due for!
Schedule appointments right from the app!
Order food and prescriptions without having to call in!
Turn on notifications so you will never miss an upcoming due date for your pet!
You can even upload a cute profile picture of your pet onto his or her profile!

Download in 3 Easy Steps:

Open the app store on your smartphone.
Type “RSCPC” in the search bar
Have fun setting up your account and personalizing it from there!

LOW STRESS HANDLING: We have gone through training on low stress handling with select doctors certified in the Fear Free method. We use food rewards, pheromones, special handling, and sometimes medication to ensure your pet has the best possible experience with us. Additionally, we’re happy to consult with you about at home anxieties, or about barriers getting into the hospital.

IN HOUSE LAB TESTING: In addition to being able to check a CBC for red & white blood cells and a chemistry panel for organ function, we are now also able to run in house:

Blood clotting times to evaluate for bleeding disorders
Urinalysis to evaluate for infection, crystals, or other
Heartworm and tick disease testing
Feline heart disease by checking the heart muscle enzyme
Feline viral disease testing (FeLV/FIV)
Parvovirus testing in puppies

Send out lab tests may be more appropriate in certain situations. Your veterinarian will choose the best option that fits your pet’s situation.

ULTRASOUND: Our in-house ultrasound machine allows us to collect sterile urine samples safely, check for free fluid, scan for masses, and overall level up our diagnostic abilities. For a full formal ultrasound, we will call in a specialist, but having this in-house tool can provide a life saving diagnosis quickly.

We have used our ultrasound to identify and remove fluid in the chest restricting lung movement, identify bleeding abdominal tumors, confirm intestinal obstructions before heading to surgery, and more.

SPECIALIST RELATIONSHIPS: We work with local specialists to provide specialty surgery, internal medicine, echocardiograms, and ultrasound services. Our mobile surgeons, Dr. Demner and Dr. Frey, provide a wide array of surgeries including cruciate repair, fracture repair, large mass removals, amputations, and more. Our surgeons can provide pain control options such as Nocita which will numb the area for 3 days after surgery, keeping your pet comfortable during the critical post-operative period.
Our mobile internal medicine specialist can perform endoscopy to remove foreign bodies from the stomach, bronchoscopy to evaluate lung disease, and consults on complicated cases.
The mobile imaging service can provide echocardiograms read by a cardiologist to recommend medications to manage heart disease, as well as other ultrasound services to evaluate internal organs. Our veterinarians review all procedures before they are performed. Providing these services here often reduces your cost significantly.

CRYOTHERAPY: for smaller masses such as skin tags and warts we can use cryotherapy to remove without the need for anesthesia or surgery. Cryotherapy is also helpful for eyelid margin masses that can be removed without a surgical wedge (under anesthesia). Just ask one of our veterinarians if cryotherapy is appropriate for your pet.

Photo Credit: Dentalaire

DENTAL CARE: in addition to our digital dental x-rays, we now have sealant options to help improve the long-term health of your pet’s teeth.
A bonded sealant is used for fractured teeth without pulp exposure and will:

Reduce sensitivity (pain)
Block off the pathway for infection
Smooth the tooth to decrease periodontal disease

SANOS dental sealant can be applied to teeth after a cleaning which will coat and protect the teeth for 6 months, preventing the buildup of tartar and gingivitis.

ALTERNATIVE & HOLISTIC MEDICINE: Dr. Halsey provides acupuncture for the treatment and management of osteoarthritis, intervertebral disc disease, masticatory muscle myositis, degenerative myelopathy, anxiety, inflammatory bowel disease, and more. Alternative treatments such as supplements, allergy testing, vaccine titers, fecal transplants, and electromagnetic therapy can be discussed with any of our doctors.

ONLINE PHARMACY: For your convenience, we now have an online pharmacy so medications can be shipped directly to your home. Using our pharmacy not only supports local business, it also means you get the manufacturer guarantee, which is not true for all products on other pharmacies. We work hard to keep our prices reasonable and as low as possible. Non-prescription pet food and other wellness items are also available. Check it out at: https://ranchosancarlospetclinicinc.securevetsource.com/

EXPANDED PHARMACY & HOSPITAL MEDICATIONS: while we could not possibly maintain stock of every pet medication, we do strive to have options for all pets. We now carry medications necessary for managing heart disease, a wide variety of topical skin care products, medical grade supplements, and leave in ear medication. We have selected flea, tick, and heartworm preventatives that are safe and effective. We have selected ultra filtered ½ ml vaccines where possible, intranasal options for cats, FeLV vaccine with a 2 year guarantee, and feline specific Rabies vaccines to reduce the risks of reactions. Furthermore, we are now able to diagnose and manage chronic disease such as Cushing’s or Addison’s disease.

TELEMEDICINE: The state of California has restrictions on when we are allowed to offer telemedicine, but if you are interested, just ask. We have phone or video capability using a web platform (no downloads required; mac or PC). Telemedicine visits are scheduled as 30 minutes of time with the doctor. Recommendations will be made and either a follow up appointment or prescriptions prescribed at that time.

HOW ARE WE HANDLING EUTHANASIA DURING COVID? Saying goodbye is never easy, but it can be even harder when you don’t get to be with your pet. Unfortunately, our local emergency hospitals and some of our area hospitals are not able to provide a safe space for clients and pets. Here at Rancho San Carlos Pet Clinic, we have put up an outdoor rainbow room that provides privacy while still being outside. We place an IV catheter and use a long line so that we can practice safe social distancing while you say goodbye.

HOUSE CALLS: due to COVID, house calls have been suspended temporarily. It is our goal to get back on the road as soon as safely possible in order to help those pets who do best in the home. Occasionally, we do still offer some in home euthanasia, depending on the circumstances.