Putnam North Animal Hospital

ATTENTION: City of Edmond has released information regarding "Testing finds presence of blue-green algae at Arcadia Lake".
Further information can be found on their website:
https://www.edmondok.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1136

While the article does not provide specific information on how blue-green algae affects dogs, the below article from Cornell University can provide more information.
https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/riney-canine-health-center/canine-health-information/blue-green-algae-poisoning-cyanobacteria-toxicosis

Blue-green algae poisoning: Cyanobacteria toxicosis 24/7 emergency hotlines: Pet Poison Helpline: 855-764-7661 ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: 888-426-4435

Do you have a Thing 1 and Thing 2 where you work? We certainly do! Lisa and Amanda do a great job of keeping us entertained while providing excellent client and patient care every day.

Just a reminder, while we understand July 3rd kicks off the official "Dog Days" of Summer, heartworms are NOT just a "Dog Days" problem! Ask us about our options for heartworm preventions at your next visit!

Did You know April is National Heartworm Awareness Month?! Ask us about heartworm prevention at your next visit! Through April 30th we have additonal automatic rebates on 12 months of Sentinel!!!!

Meet Dr. Scott Mason, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, an invaluable member of OKTF-1, our urban search and rescue team. Dr. Mason’s dedication to the well-being of our search canines is unwavering, a commitment he has upheld since the team’s inception in 2006. We extend our gratitude to Dr. Mason for his exceptional care, ensuring our canines remain healthy and prepared for any mission.

How important is microchipping? According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), "An estimated 10 million dogs and cats are lost or stolen in the United States every year. In a study published by the Journal of the AVMA, research revealed that only 22 percent of lost dogs entering shelters were returned to their families, but that percentage rose to more than 52 percent when a dog was microchipped."

For additional information, please click the link:
https://www.avma.org/news/press-releases/check-chip-day-lifesaving-reminder-ensure-pets-microchipp-current

In addition to this important information, we would like to make an introduction! This is Tank! When we saw him at 11 weeks old to start his first puppy package in December. During his visit, he had a microchip administered while being fed some much loved Gastrointestinal Low Fat canned food by Dr. Schmitt and loved on by Charlie.

We would like to introduce Jesse, an 8 week old Heeler! He came in to see Dr. Schmitt for a little bit of upset tummy, but received deworming and probiotics to go home. After passing a worm, he is doing well. Here at Putnam North AH, we are committed to our patients being intestinal parasite free by their last puppy package visit.

For more information on Canine intestinal parasites, you can click the link below:
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_welfare/downloads/canine-care/ac-aid-intestinal-parasites-in-dogs.pdf

Looking to join a innovative and fun team to work with everyday? That's us! We are looking to add a full-time RVT to our care team. Position includes benefits, 401K, and working for a business who cares for its employees. WE ARE CLOSED ON WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS! Please send your resume to [email protected].

Due to the holiday schedule, we will be closing early today. Please contact Neel or Blue Pearl for any emergencies. Thank you!

The holidays are upon us! November and December abound with holiday celebrations, and nothing can spoil good cheer like an emergency trip to the veterinary clinic. These tips can help keep your winter holiday season from becoming not-so-happy – for your pet and for you.

Food:
Keep people food away from pets. If you want to share holiday treats with your pets, make or buy treats formulated just for them. The following people foods are especially hazardous for pets:
• Chocolate is an essential part of the holidays for many people, but it is toxic to dogs and cats. Although the toxicity can vary based on the type of chocolate, the size of your pet, and the amount they ate, it's safer to consider all chocolate off limits for pets.
• Other sweets and baked goods also should be kept out of reach. Not only are they often too rich for pets; an artificial sweetener often found in baked goods, candy and chewing gum, xylitol, has been linked to liver failure and death in dogs.
• Turkey and turkey skin – sometimes even in small amounts – can cause a life-threatening condition in pets known as pancreatitis.
• Table scraps – including gravy and meat fat –also should be kept away from pets. Many foods that are healthy for people are poisonous to pets, including onions, raisins and grapes. During the holidays, when our own diets tend toward extra-rich foods, table scraps can be especially fattening and hard for animals to digest and can cause pancreatitis.
• Yeast dough can cause problems for pets, including painful gas and potentially dangerous bloating.

Hosting parties and visitors
Visitors can upset pets, as can the noise and excitement of holiday parties. Even pets that aren't normally shy may become nervous in the hubbub that can accompany a holiday gathering. The following tips will reduce emotional stress on your pet and protect your guests from possible injury.
• All pets should have access to a comfortable, quiet place inside if they want to retreat. Make sure your pet has a room or crate somewhere away from the commotion, where your guests won't follow, that it can go to anytime it wants to get away.
• Inform your guests ahead of time that you have pets or if other guests may be bringing pets to your house. Guests with allergies or compromised immune systems (due to pregnancy, disease, or medications/ treatments that suppress the immune system) need to be aware of the pets (especially exotic pets) in your home so they can take any needed precautions to protect themselves.
• Guests with pets? If guests ask to bring their own pets and you don't know how the pets will get along, you should either politely decline their request or plan to spend some time acclimating the pets to each other, supervising their interactions, monitoring for signs of a problem, and taking action to avoid injuries to pets or people.
• Pets that are nervous around visitors should be put it in another room or a crate with a favorite toy. If your pet is particularly upset by houseguests, talk to us about possible solutions to this common problem.
• Exotic pets make some people uncomfortable and may themselves be more easily stressed by gatherings. Keep exotic pets safely away from the hubbub of the holidays.
• Watch the exits. Even if your pets are comfortable around guests, make sure you watch them closely, especially when people are entering or leaving your home. While you're welcoming hungry guests and collecting coats, a four-legged family member may make a break for it out the door and become lost.
• Identification tags and microchips reunite families. Make sure your pet has proper identification with your current contact information – particularly a microchip with up-to-date, registered information. That way, if they do sneak out, they're more likely to be returned to you. If your pet isn't already microchipped, talk to us about the benefits of this simple procedure.
• Clear the food from your table, counters and serving areas when you are done using them – and make sure the trash gets put where your pet can't reach it. A turkey or chicken carcass or other large quantities of meat sitting out on the carving table, or left in a trash container that is easily opened, could be deadly to your family pet. Dispose of carcasses and bones – and anything used to wrap or tie the meat, such as strings, bags and packaging – in a covered, tightly secured trash bag placed in a closed trash container outdoors (or behind a closed, locked door).
• Trash also should be cleared away where pets can't reach it – especially sparkly ribbon and other packaging or decorative items that could be tempting for your pet to play with or consume.

We wish our clients and patients a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

We would like to introduce Alyssa! She joined the Putnam North Team in September, and we absolutely LOVE having her as a member of the team and we think you will too!

A little bit about her:
Alyssa grew up in Muldrow, Oklahoma. Growing up, she had many dogs, horses, and even a goat. With a passion for as an advocate for animals. Alyssa obtained a Bachelor’s degree at Northeastern State University and an Associates degree in applied sciences from the Registered Veterinary Technology program at Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City location.
In her spare time, Alyssa loves working with local rescues and shelters, working out, traveling, gardening, and spending time with her pets. PG a.k.a Pups is a Rottweiler mix, Mr. Lo Mein her cat, and her Green Cheek Conure, Wonton.

We hope you get the chance to work with Alyssa!

We are excited to introduce Dr. Schmitt!

Dr. Schmitt grew up caring for a wide variety of animals in Waukomis, Oklahoma. Through volunteering and eventually working at a small animal and equine clinic, she fell in love with veterinary medicine. While attending Oklahoma State University, she gained additional veterinary experience working in a feline only hospital and an emergency hospital. Dr. Schmitt earned her bachelor’s degree in Animal Science and an honors degree, then graduated from OSU with her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine in 2011.
Dr. Schmitt spent two years as an emergency veterinarian in Oklahoma City before shifting her focus to primary care in 2013. Her special interests include practicing Fear Free medicine, urgent care, feline medicine, and nutrition.
Along with her husband Nick and their son Eli, Dr. Schmitt shares her home in Piedmont with a lab named Duke, a great dane named Jackson, and a cat named Pistol. She enjoys watching her son play sports, spending time with family and friends, and gardening!

Welcome to the Putnam North Animal Hospital Team!

We have been recently been made aware of the following recall. Mid America Pet Food has voluntarily recalled Victor Super Premium Dog Food, Hi-Pro Plus, citing Salmonella concerns, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The affected lot code is 1000016385 and is marked with a "Best Buy" date of 4/30/2024. There have been no reports of illness or adverse reaction, however owners and retailers are encouraged to destroy or dispose of products that may have been contaminated.

If you feed Victor Super Premium Dog Foo, Hi-Pro Plus, please check your bag for the above mentioned lot number and expiration date.

Halloween pet safety tips: Keep the “spooky” in spooky season just for humans

Our furry counterparts can enjoy the whimsy of Halloween just like us. Dachshunds can be dressed as dashing waiters, boxers as bumblebees, or Maltese dogs can sport mermaid tales. As pets are donned in this cute attire, veterinary professionals must ensure pet owners are informed on doing so in a safe, comfortable manner for their best friend.

Sweet dangers
According to the Pet Poison Helpline, Halloween is the center’s busiest time of year with a 12% increase in calls.1 It comes as no surprise that chocolate is top on the list to avoid as it is the most toxic to pets, and the darker and more bitter it is, generally the more dangerous it is. Overindulging in other sugary candy can pose an issue in pets and potentially lead to pancreatitis, according to the Pet Poison Helpline. Also, pet owners should bear in mind if distributing or receiving healthy alternatives to candy, such as raisins and grapes, that these are incredibly toxic to pets and can cause kidney failure in dogs, and potentially, cats.1

Manager, veterinary medicine, and senior veterinary toxicologist at Pet Poison Helpline, Renee Schmid, DVM, DABT, DABVT, shared in a dvm360® interview, “The other thing that we see [that causes toxic poisoning to pets] is macadamia nuts. And we can also see any kind of product that contains xylitol.” Xylitol is often found as an alternative to sugar, so educate clients on this ingredient that can be found in sugar-free candy and other common food products. “And this isn't necessarily a food but a beverage, alcohol, that is out at festive parties [is dangerous to pets]. It's not uncommon for the family pet to get into something when a guest has left their drink on the coffee table or somewhere where the animal can get to it.”

Veterinarians at Trusted Housesitters, a travel solution for pet people, shared advice in a release2 about Halloween safety for pets. According to the release, the Google search “Can cats eat pumpkin?” peaks between October 24th and October 30th each year. To answer this, the veterinarians described that cats and dogs can both have pumpkin, but ensure clients don't confuse canned pumpkin with pumpkin pie mix that may hurt a pet’s stomach. Plus, raw pumpkin is difficult for pets to digest. Cats can eat pumpkin puree and pumpkin seeds, though it's recommended to grind up the seeds to avoid digestive upset and choking.2

Cute costumes, adorable accessories to beware of
In a respective dvm360 interview at an event hosted by Chewy in New York, New York, Laurie Hess, DVM, DABVP (Avian Practice), owner and medical director of Veterinary Center for Birds & Exotics, shared to advise pet owners that they can familiarize their animals with costumes by trying them on them ahead of the holiday. “Don’t make the first time you're trying [the costume on] actual Halloween day,” she said. “You want [pet owners] to pair the wearing of the costume with something motivational like a treat. Then [the pet] will look forward to wearing that costume and it won’t be a big surprise on Halloween.”

Schmid said to be mindful of costumes with snaps, buttons, or zippers that pets can chew off and swallow, which can cause a potential foreign body obstruction. Particularly, small pieces with metals (eg, zinc or lead) can result in serious poisoning, according to the Pet Poison Helpline’s website.1 The helpline added to ensure that pets' costumes don’t impair their vision, movement, or air intake, and to avoid dying or applying coloring to a pet’s fur. Even if the dye is labeled non-toxic to humans, it can be dangerous to pets.

Prevent any runaways and read pets' body language
With all the pandemonium involved in the holiday, Halloween, after the Fourth of July, is the second most common holiday for pets to go missing. Schmid stated, “Make sure that if [pet parents] are going to be frequently opening that door for trick or treaters, consider encouraging your clients to have the pet in a different room further away.” And as always, educate them on the importance of microchipping and identification tags as an extra protective measure, Schmid noted.

Hess warned that if dogs are tagging along with their families during festivities on Halloween, it can be a scary environment for them. Other pets and their owners may be dressed up as well and excited. Hess recommended being especially mindful of where pet owners’ dogs are relative to other dogs. “You want to make sure you read your dog's body language carefully on a night where there's a lot of new stimulation out there. If you're careful and you're cautious, you can have a great time,” she said.

We would like to introduce you to Amanda! She is a Registered Veterinary Technician with a passion for surgeries and fear free patient care. We would love for you to meet her!

We are hiring for a full-time Customer Service Representative! If you have a passion for customer service, a great work ethic, are self sufficient and are interested in a fun and fast paced work environment, we are the place for you! We offer benefits such as medical insurance, 401K, paid holidays, and FUN! Please see the link below to apply.

Client Service Coordinator - Oklahoma City, OK 73142 - Indeed.com Putnam North Animal Hospital

Happy Monday!!!! We would like to introduce you to Ringo. He was left in our lobby on Friday and will need a home. Taking in strays like Ringo is not something we normally do. Animal Welfare asked us to keep him as all surrounding animal shelters are on lockdown. Dr. Kughn did a full exam, he has been fully vaccinated dewormed, and will be neutered this week. He is still a puppy at about 8-9 months old and SUPER SWEET. He interacts will with other dogs, but we are not sure about cats. For further information or if you are interested in providing a home for Ringo, give us a call at 405-722-4777.

Good morning. Here at Putnam North, we wanted to address the recent Oklahoma City Metro Influenza outbreak. While we understand how scary this situation is for everyone, we have a limited stock of Influenza vaccines and have made the difficult decision to reserve them for our active clients only. You may have had friends and family say the clinics they take their pets to don't have them at this time. The reason for that is the vaccine is on backorder from the manufacturer. In the mean time we advise that you limit your pet's exposure to other non vaccinated animals (shelters, doggy day care, dog parks, pet stores, etc.) to reduce your dog's risk of exposure if not vaccinated for canine influenza already. We appreciate your understanding.

Want to work in a fun atmosphere where you can be appreciated, make a difference and benefit clients and patients? We are hiring a full-time Technician or Assistant. Offering medical benefits, 401K and holiday pay! If interested, you can apply on Indeed at

Veterinary Technician - Oklahoma City, OK 73142 - Indeed.com Putnam North Animal Hospital

Happy Tuesday! A quick reminder, we will be closed today from 1:00 PM to 2:15 PM for team enrichment. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may cause.

Happy Tuesday! We hope everyone is having a great week so far. We have some exciting news to share! Today is Mindy's 18 year anniversary with Putnam North AH! We are so happy to have Mindy be part of the PNAH team. Everyone who knows her to be hard working, a team player, and rarely missing a day of work! She is pictured hard at work with Cooper.

We are looking to recruit a compassionate veterinary assistant to assist our veterinary team by providing assistance with nursing and other duties. The veterinary assistant will educate clients on pet health, ensure the safety and comfort of patients, and oversee continuity of care. You will collaborate with team members to create a positive, comfortable environment for patients. You will provide professional, efficient service at all times.

To ensure success you need to love animals and have the ability to optimize their comfort during treatment and hospitalization. Preferred candidates are dexterous, knowledgeable, and caring.

Veterinary Assistant Responsibilities:
Ensuring treatment areas, examination rooms, hospital areas, cages, and laboratories are clean and organized.
Sterilizing equipment.
Ensuring clients and pets are comfortable in the waiting area.
Providing empathetic care for hospitalized patients, and keeping patients and their cages clean.
Restraining irritable, angry patients appropriately and safely where required.
Assisting with administering medication, drawing blood, and cleaning patients’ teeth.
Performing diagnostic imaging and laboratory tests.
Liaising with veterinarians and veterinary technicians to ensure continuity of patient care.
Complying with hospital standards, rules, regulations, and policies.
Maintaining medical records.
Veterinary Assistant Requirements:
High school diploma, GED, or suitable equivalent.
Affinity for animals.
Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
Strong people skills.
Outstanding organizational skills.
Physically strong and dexterous, and ability to stand for extended periods.
Available to work over weekends.

We are searching for an organized and empathic veterinary receptionist to join our team. The veterinary receptionist's duties include scheduling appointments, issuing invoices, and receiving payments after consultations. You will also be required to inform the veterinarian on-call of any emergency cases that arise.

To be successful as a veterinary receptionist, you should ensure that our office remains presentable at all times. An outstanding veterinary receptionist will provide comfort to human and animal clients when in distress.

Veterinary Receptionist Responsibilities:
Greeting and welcoming patients with sincerity.
Answering telephone calls and returning e-mails.
Scheduling appointments using our designated software.
Informing the veterinarian on a call of any emergencies that require urgent attention.
Issuing invoices for treatment and prescribed medication after each consultation.
Receiving and verifying payments after each consultation.
Informing the veterinarian on-call about possible instances of animal abuse or neglect.
Monitoring the inventory of items for sale by the practice and restocking these, as needed.
Overseeing the sale of items stocked by the practice.
Liaising with courier services and laboratories to ensure that samples are delivered and collected on time.
Veterinary Receptionist Responsibilities:
Highs school diploma or equivalent.
Previous administrative experience, preferably within a healthcare setting.
Familiarity with veterinary medical billing software is advantageous.
Intermediate computer proficiency.
Basic arithmetic skills.
Ability to maintain confidentiality.
Excellent organizational, time management, and multitasking abilities.
Personable, empathic disposition.
Capacity to work well during distressing situations.
Ability to work shifts, on weekends, and on public holidays, as needed.

Working in a team setting to assist our DVM's, perform treatments of patients, post-operative patient care, full range of diagnostics to include Imagyst, Thermal imaging, and radiology, venipuncture, intravenous catheter placement, client care focused tasks, and general animal hospital tasks. NO WEEKENDS OR HOLIDAYS!

Working with patients to perform general husbandry such as walking, providing food and water, bedding and comforts while boarding. Other duties include clinic cleanliness.l

Do you have experience as a Veterinary Assistant or are a qualified RVT? Have you ever wanted to be part of an amazing team, learn something new every day, laugh a lot, work with awesome clients, perform really cool diagnostics such as digital and dental x-rays, thermal imaging, Zoetis hematology equipment including an Imagyst, and assist Dr. Mason and Dr. Kughn? Full time (30 or more hours) are offered Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurances, in addition to Retirement plans. If you are interested, give us a call at 405-722-4777 or e-mail your resume to [email protected]