admin

It’s that time of year again where the cold weather and precipitation can make it difficult for our staff and clients to make it into our office.    While most of our staff is able to make it into work on most days, there are times where the amount of snow and ice on the roads dictates that the safest course of action is to stay home.   Don’t worry, if your pet is boarding or hospitalized, someone will be in the office to make sure that they are taken care of (even if Dr. Palmer has to drive his tractor into work!).

However, if you have an appointment or are planning on coming to our office on a day where the road conditions are questionable, you should first call our office to be sure we are open.   And please be sure to leave a message if a live person is unable to answer to the phone.

Have a safe and fun New Year!!!

 

 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of our clients and patients!

Both Christmas and New Year’s Day are on a Sunday this year, so it will affect our schedule a little differently.   Our holiday hours will be:

Sat, Dec 24th 8AM-12N (Normal Hours)

Mon, Dec 26th 8AM-5PM (Limited Hours)

Sat, Dec 31st   8AM-12N (Normal Hours)

Mon, Jan 2nd  8AM-8PM (Normal Hours)

If there are any questions about our schedule, please call the office.

 

 

 

 

A quick announcement that we are having phone issues today.   The nasty storm that blew through our area this afternoon did something to our phone system and right now we are limited to one phone line in and out.   So if you can and can’t get through, please keep trying.   You can also try to email us and we will get back to you as soon as possible:   info@palmeranimalhospital.net

Here are some photos from 25 years ago:

The winter weather today has given us a chance to catch our breath and remind everyone that February is Pet Dental Health Month.   It is a good time to assess the health of your pets teeth.   Does you pet have tartar or bad breath?   Is there inflammation or recession of the gums?   Do any of your pet’s teeth appear loose?   Is your pet having any trouble eating?   Are there any swellings in or around your pet’s mouth?

Approximately 75% of dogs and cats need to have their teeth cleaned by 4 years of age.   This is especially true of small dogs.   During the month of February we are running specials on all dental work, so now you have an extra good reason to have your pet’s teeth checked out and dental done if necessary.   Please call our office for more details.

It’s hard to believe, but Feb 18th, 2016 will mark 25 years in business for Palmer Animal Hospital.   We started in a rental space in downtown Myersville (the old High’s store) and moved in 2003 to our current location on Baltimore National Pike.   Over the years we have blessed with over 7,000 clients and 22,000 patients—those are numbers that are hard to even imagine, and we are grateful for every one of them.   We have seen puppies and kittens grown up to be adults dogs and cats, cared for them over the years, and helped them at the end of their lives.   When we first started, it was just Dr. Palmer and his wife, Susan, that kept things running.  Now we have multiple doctors and a staff of fifteen.   Thank you to our many wonderful clients and their pets.   It is because of you that we can work at the greatest job in the world each and every day.  It has been a pleasure to serve you for all these years, and we are not done yet.

Please check out the recheck article on us that ran in the Frederick News-Post.   Here is the link:

http://www.fredericknewspost.com/places/local/frederick_county/animal-lovers-came-together-to-build-a-vet-practice-that/article_c8096235-5dc8-56d5-9b54-6cad470881ba.html

Well, it’s that time of year again where we have to deal with frozen white stuff falling from the sky.    At Palmer Animal Hospital, we take the safety of our staff, clients, and patients very seriously.    While we are usually able to stay open during most weather,  there are times when snow, ice, or other conditions delay or prevent safe travel.   If there is any question as to the conditions of the roads, we recommend that you wait until you are able to contact an actual LIVE staff member before coming to our office.

In regards to the storm we are expecting this weekend, it appears the snow will start sometime on Friday, January 22nd and be the most severe on Saturday morning, Jan 23rd.    Our ability to remain open will depend on the severity and depth of the snowstorm.     We hope to be able to stay open all day Friday, but our Saturday schedule right now is questionable at best.    As stated above, please call our office if there is any question as to whether we are open, and please leave a message so the staff can return your call if necessary.

Stay safe and warm, and enjoy our first snowfall of the season!

ADDENDUM:  The weather forecast is now calling for a Blizzard Watch starting 6PM Friday, Jan 22nd and lasting through 6AM, Sunday, Jan 24th.    We expect our office will be CLOSED on Saturday, January 23rd due to this severe weather (including predicted White-Out conditions).   We will be open Friday, January 22nd as long as the weather permits (which we expect to be 4-5PM).   If you need something from our office, please contact us early Friday so we can accommodate you.

 

 

 

 

If anyone made a New Year’s Resolution to quit smoking and is having a heard time quitting, the health of your pet might be a reason to help you quit.  Smoking causes about 90% of all lung cancer deaths, and also causes a number of other illnesses, including heart disease and stroke.  However, smoking affects people around the smoker as well.  Within the last 50 years, approximately 2.5 million non-smoking people have died in the United States due to exposure to second-hand smoke.    Smoke can also cause other problems in our pets such as bronchitis or asthma, which can be a life-threatening disease.

A professor of medicine and oncology performed a study to see the effects of smoking on household pets.  She analyzed the nicotine levels in the fur of animals and looked at the condition that the animals’ cells were in.  She found that there were higher levels of nicotine in the animals that lived in smoking households.  She found that cats had more nicotine than dogs in and concluded it was because the cats spent more time grooming their fur, and ingesting more nicotine.  The professor discovered, that compared with pets in non-smoking houses, pets in smoking households are at greater risk of cell damage, cancer and weight loss.

In addition to this discovery, research was done on how to reduce these risks.  The professor found that in houses were people smoked only outside, the nicotine levels in the pets were significantly lower.  So before you feel the urge to smoke and break that resolution, think of the effects it can have on your four-legged friend.

We are privileged in our work to be able to meet and develop relationships with many special animals and their families. When these pets are lost through disease or old age, we experience their loss as a member of our extended family, and grieve with their owners. As this year draws to a close, we would like to pay tribute to these wonderful companions whom we have had the pleasure of knowing.

Our own families this year have lost Buttons, Bandit, Zelda, Buster, Milly, and Bear. Some of our beloved patients who have passed since January include Blaze, Mystery, Zoey, Casper, Nala, Melvin Eugene, Bashful, Sage, Tink, Byron, Paprika, Juney, Gizmo, Isabella, Snuggles, Higgins, Happy, Otis, Baby, Hansomette, Max, Bobbie, Micah, Ginger, Jasmine, Michael, Deke, Oscar, Chloe, Taz, Sunshine, Rebel, Madison, Queenie, Tom, Alex, Sadie, Topper, Lucy, Niki, Precious, Merlin, Tiger, Callie, Snickers, Heidi, Snowflake, Sitka, Tia, Spooky, Tommy, Puma, Buddy, Meggy, Cheyenne, Stitch, BC, Libby , Pretty Boy, Joe, Cuddles, Einstein, Harper, Smokey, Princess, Silver, Andy, Riley, Peter, Kitty Cat, Sinatra, Tooter, Gabriel, Candy, Ace, Lola, Wally, Hightower, Cherokee, Shannon, Gypsy, Mushu, Dmitri, Leo, Caesar, Lucky, Sophie, Gracie, Milo, Louie, Laila, Josie, Allie, Scout, Keira, Julius, Sally, Sammy, Blossom, Charlie, Wilson, Marley, Raven, Gus, Casey, Annie, Fred, Desi, Frazier, Lilly Blossom, Skipper, Nigel, Whiskers, Kaiser, Rusty, Lexi, Hissy, Roscoe, Harry, Nick, Fergus, Maggie, Jasper, Mystic, Toby, Omey, Amy, Harley, Emma, OC, Morris, Molly, Ivan, Jamie, Fuzzy, Emily, Sandy, Bailey, Spot, Twitch, Susie, Ava, Sydney, Holly, Rascal, Suds, and many others.

Their families miss them, we miss them, and may they rest in peace.