SPRING IS HERE! As our pets begin spending more time outdoors, they are at a higher risk for parasites, disease and accidents.  Make sure you discuss preventive and safety measures with your veterinarian at your spring appointment!

HAPPY SPRING!

What Breeds are in your Mixed Breed Dog?

Have you ever wondered which breeds your sweet mutt is mixed with? The science has finally caught up with our imaginations!  Mars Veterinary Services is now offering the "Wisdom Panel" which can identify the breeds present in the genetic makeup of any mixed breed dog!  DNA analysis can be done easily and accurately and can identify breeds present from 130 AKC recognized breeds in your pet with a simple blood test.  Your Brinker veterinarian will draw a very small blood sample and it will be sent in for DNA analysis.  In 3-4 weeks, you will receive a breed analysis and full report including your pet's breed make-up and information on those specific breeds which may affect and influence your dog's behavior and appearance.  An appointment to have the blood drawn only takes 10-15 minutes.  Please call our office and they will set up an appointment for you.

Energy Work by Dolly Hope Gott

Many of our clients have expressed an interest in additional alternative therapies for their beloved pets.  Dolly Hope Gott of Hope and Healing now offers energy work for pets.  She is a Quantum Touch practitioner who focuses on balanced health.  She also has information on Melaleuca, a wellness company with natural, toxin-free, safe products for healthier living for both people and their pets.  For more information or an appointment, please contact her at 248-693-0484 or dgott@ameritech.net

Harken Shamus, one of our beloved patients, is in the news!  So, like the proud aunts and uncles we are here, we need to brag!  Harken and Suzy Shamus assist the community through the Michigan Search Dog Association.  For more information, please click on the following link: http://de.theoaklandpress.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=T0xQLzIwMDcvMDMvMTIjQXIwMDIwOQ==&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom

The Scoop on the Poop We at Brinker Veterinary Hospital are making a few changes in order to better serve the health and well being of your pet and your family. Regular fecal parasite checks are an important part of your dog or cat’s annual visits. We ask that you bring us a sample, the fresher the better, at least once per year. We check these stool samples for evidence of intestinal parasites such as Roundworm, Hookworm, Tapeworm, and Whipworm eggs. We can also find the parasitic protozoa Coccidia, and sometimes Giardia. There are 2 ways to extract the eggs and protozoa that we need to identify from your dog or cat’s feces. 1.  Fecal Float – This is the method that we have used at Brinker Veterinary Hospital for years. The stool sample is put in a little cup, mashed up, and mixed with a sugar solution. A microscope slide is them placed on top, touching the sample, and we wait for 15 minutes for all of the eggs and protozoa to Float to the top. Then we take the slide off and one of our highly trained Veterinary Technicians looks at the slide under the microscope. • The floating method is easy and inexpensive • The results are available in around 20 minutes • Unfortunately, many intestinal parasite infections are missed with this method 2. Fecal Centrifugation – This method is currently the best way to extract all of the eggs and critters out of a stool sample. The sample is put in a test tube and mixed with a Zinc Sulfate Solution, a slide is put on top, and the sample is put in a Centrifuge and spun at a very high velocity for about 10 minutes. The eggs and protozoa rise to the top of the test tube and stick to the slide. The slide is then read by a very highly trained Veterinary Technician. • This method cannot be done at Brinker Veterinary Hospital because it requires a special centrifuge and a chemical fume hood. These eggs can infect humans and be very harmful. • There are several veterinary labs in the area that do fecal centrifugation • The results are generally available the next day • This method is slightly more expensive because it requires special equipment and it goes to an outside lab • More intestinal parasite infections are found using the Fecal Centrifuge Method In the interest of keeping our pets and the families who love them safe from intestinal parasite infection, we hope that you will support our move to use the Fecal Centrifugation Method as our primary way of detecting Intestinal parasite infections in your pets. We will continue to keep a small stock of the fecal float containers if you should wish to request this test be used instead. Thank you for your support!