It happens to all of us...you are at home settling in for the evening and suddenly remember you were supposed to call and schedule Fido's appointment!  But, unfortunately you always seem to remember after Carver Lake is closed.  Now it doesn't matter what time you want to contact us - your pet's health can be managed online from the comfort of your home anytime of the day.

Pet Portals allows you to do so many things:  You can ask your veterinarian questions, request appointments, check your pet's health records, request prescription food and medication refills, prepare your pet for upcoming travels and boarding stays, and read all about pet related issues.   

Pet Portals also offers a client satisfaction survey which we encourage you to fill out after each appointment here.  Your responses will help Carver Lake continue to serve you and your pets better each day.

It is very easy to sign up for your own Pet Portal.  All we need is your email address.  You can call Carver Lake directly with it, or you can click on the Pet Portals icon and send us your email from there.  Within 2 business days you should receive an email with your user name and password which you can use to log into your own account.  It's that easy!

Please remember that any Pet Portals request will be handled within 2 business days.  If you have an emergency we ask that you call us directly or if it is after hours call an emergency clinic. 

We hope that Pet Portals will make managing your pets' health even easier.  We encourage you to try it out and call us if you have any questions.  Enjoy!

Lost and Found Pets

Bringing a new pet home can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience.  As pet owners, we take on the responsibility feeding, housing, and loving them.  Unfortunately, many people don't know what to do if their pet ends up lost. 

Do you know what steps you would take if your own pet was lost?  Where would you go?  Who would you call?  How would you get your faithful friend home?  
Knowing the answers to these questions ahead of time will help you get your pet home should they ever become lost.

Make sure your pet wears a secure collar with tags on it.  Those tags should include a rabies license (given to you when your pet is vaccinated by your veterinarian) a city license for dogs, and a microchip ID if your pet is microchipped.  Pet owners can also make their own tags that have their contact information on them.  These tags will help anyone who finds your pet get them  back to you.

Unfortunately the majority of lost pets also lose their collars.  The only guaranteed form of identification is a microchip.  Microchips are approximately the size of a grain of rice and are implanted under the skin in the shoulder area.  Your pet's information is then linked to their unique microchip number and placed on a nationwide database.  Most shelters and veterinary facilities have a scanner that can quickly read your pet's microchip number.  If your pet is lost, this unique number will make it easier for them to get reconnected with you.

In the event that your pet does become lost, you should contact as many resources as possible.  These resources include local animal shelters, animal control, and any veterinary clinic in the area.  Remember that pets can travel a long distance when lost and it is good to expand your search to surrounding cities if you don't have luck in your local area.  Check back with these resources, and go to your local animal shelter to look at newly admitted animals as often as possible.

If you happen to find someone else's missing pet many of the same things can be done.  Check the pet for tags - and contact the person or veterinarian listed.  If no tags are found you can contact your local veterinarian or animal control to scan the animal for a microchip.  If no chip is found you can still contact vet clinics and shelters to let them know you found someone's pet.  This may help you connect with an owner who is searching for their beloved pet.  Remember to always be careful with pets you don't know.  Use caution and never approach an animal that appears aggressive or scared. 

Missing a pet can be a difficult and heartbreaking experience, but with the right information and resources your chances of being reunited with your pet will increase.  Please contact Carver Lake Veterinary Center for any information regarding a lost or found pet.  We are happy to help your pets find their way back home.

Learn more about microchips at www.akccar.org.

When the Spooner Veterinary Clinic had a opening on their veterinary staff, they started recruiting veterinarians that they knew.  For almost 2 years, Dr. Kim Ammann saw bird patients on her day off at the Spooner Clinic. 

Spooner is located in northwest Wisconsin, approximately 2 hours from the Twin Cities.  The clinic is close to the cabin that Kim and her husband built several years ago, in a area rich with wildlife and the great outdoors where they love to spend time.

Although she will miss the special relationship that she has developed with so many friends at Carver Lake, the pull of the Northwoods and challenge of a different kind of veterinary practice caught her attention.

The clinic sees its own emergencies, with one doctor on call evenings and holidays. Bird patients in that area have previously had no options for care, since there are not clinics anywhere nearby with an avian veterinarian.  Injured wildlife will also find help from Dr. Ammann, who is a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.

Selling a home, leaving friends and colleagues, and saying goodbye is never easy.  So many of you have placed your trust and confidence in Dr. Ammann's advice over the years.  She will miss her special friends - the ones who greet her with wags and kisses, purrs and squawks. 

Please drop in to the Spooner Veterinary Clinic on your way through town, or at the sister clinic, Care Animal Clinic in Hayward, WI any time you visit the area.

Dr. Ammann's last day at Carver Lake will be Thursday, December 14th, 2006.  Bird patients will receive a letter soon, offering options at other area clinics for bird care.  Stop in for one last visit with Dr. Ammann before December and wish her well!

Give Thanks with your Pets!

Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks for the good things in our lives.  One of the best things in our lives is our pets. 

During the holidays it is important to spend plenty of time with your animal companions.  Our lives tend to get exceptionally busy during the holiday season and our pets sense this. 

The weather gets colder and they may not enjoy as much time outdoors. Family functions are planned and the pets may endure large gatherings of people in their own home, or be put in the care of a pet sitter or kennel while the family travels.  Some pets even travel with their family.

Regardless of your plans for the holidays it can be stressful for your pets.  There are a number of things you can do to ease this stress.

1.  Maintain a consistent schedule.  Be sure that kennels and pet sitters do the same.

2.  Spend quality time with your pets.  If it is too cold outside, play some games or practice obedience in the house.  Make it fun!

3.  Do not substitute food for attention.  Feeding our pets too many treats or food outside of their normal diet will only make them sick and increase their stress.  Do NOT give animals leftovers or bones from meals! 

4.  Plan ahead!  If you are traveling make sure your pets have a place to go and will be properly cared for.  If they are joining you, be sure they will be welcome where you are going.  Bring their own food, kennel, and toys to make them more comfortable.  Check with your veterinarian about any travel documents such as a rabies certificate or health certificate that you may need.

The holidays are a wonderful time to give thanks for the love we receive from our pets.  Show them your gratitude by keeping them safe and happy throughout the season.