Are You READY? Don’t wait for disaster to strike. Create an evacuation plan to protect your dog and/or cat.

Floridians are all too familiar with hurricanes, but how many of us plan ahead for the safety of our pets. We are quick to run out and buy bottled water and flashlights, and to stock up on crackers, granola bars, and tuna fish, but how many of us are truly prepared to protect the smallest members of our family? Buying extra dog and/or cat food is a good start, but not enough. In the case of an evacuation are you and your companion ready?



It was once considered okay to leave pets in a safe place in your home, but if it isn’t safe for you, it is not safe for your dog or cat. A good place to start in preparation is crate training your pet. As a storm approaches animals may get frightened, and unless they are used to being placed in a cage, it may be impossible to get them in one during a crisis. Also practice evacuation drills, making sure you can fit the cage or carrier in your car, and if you have multiple pets make sure you have a plan to transport them. Also make sure that your pet’s I.D. tags are up to date, and include an alternative number such as your cell phone, so you can be reached if your pet becomes lost. After Katrina in 2005 thousands of pets wound up in shelters across the country to be adopted out because their owners could not be found.



The same way you need to prepare a hurricane supply kit for yourself, you should have one prepared and easily accessible for your pets. Include a supply of pet food, water, any needed medication, a food and water bowl, their medical records stored in a waterproof container, and sturdy leashes and collars.



If you choose to go to a shelter, or to leave the state of Florida before a pending storm approaches, and can not take your pet with you, Animal Medical Center offers boarding in a safe, sheltered environment. Before, during, and after a hurricane or tropical storm, we have technicians at the hospital to stay with the animals and ensure the safety. The hospital is protected by storm shutters, and all animals are kept in the safety of our cages and runs. The animals are walked regularly prior to and after the storm passes. Our staff as always is here for the health and wellbeing of your pet.

Vaccines for Pets

To deliver the best medicine for our patients we are incorporating updated information with current vaccination recommendations. Vaccines should be customized for each patient based on risk for exposure to disease. With the introduction of recombinant vaccine technology to veterinary medicine has broadened our professions ability to provide safe and effective vaccines. Here at Animal Medical Center the veterinarians use their discretion in the selection and use of vaccines. Canine and feline vaccination guidelines have been developed as a rational vaccination protocol.
There are core vaccinations which are recommended to all dogs and cats. Noncore vaccines are considered optional and are not necessary in all dogs and cats. The decision to administer or not to administer a particular vaccine is the responsibility of the individual clinician after reasonable assessment of the patient’s risk. Here at Animal Medical Center each pet receives a comprehensive physical exam and a customized vaccination strategy based on the pet’s needs before vaccines are administered. Risk for exposure and infection to diseases for which licensed vaccines are available varies significantly depending on factors such as housing, age, travel opportunities, and health status of the patient.
It is recommended for our clients to be careful of vaccination clinics that are providing noncore vaccines (Pet Supermarket and Petco through Luvmypet.com) without determining need based on risk factor along with comprehensive examination and medical needs.

OH MY WHAT TO DO!

Kitten season is upon us. In June and July in south Florida the number of kittens swells to the point that most shelters stop taking kittens. So it all began a week ago, a client dropped off two kittens, followed by five kittens dropped off a few days later and then one more the day after that who was loaded with fleas and had flea dermatitis (hair loss due to flea allergies). So now we have eight kittens that need good homes all young, all adorable. Call the animal hospital for more information. 954-741-2776

Why We Do What We Do!

Everyone who works in the veterinary field does so because of their love of animals, surely not because they want to get rich. Sometimes that love is hard, especially when a pet who has been coming to us for years passes away or becomes very ill. Then there are times when the true nature of the people who work in this industry shines. Here is a good example.


A stray Shitzu was brought in by a client. He was suffering from urinary problems and could barely stand, was dirty and in need of serious veterinary medicine. As a stray he had no one to take care of him. Julie our front desk manager found love at first sight, and offered to pay for his care. After a good bath and a lot of medication, that stray now affectionately called Mister Scruff, is well enough to go in for surgery. He has bladder stones that need to be surgically removed. He will be going in for surgery this afternoon and we are all praying that he comes out fine. Julie, after a few tears about the costs, knows that she has a new best friend who will be going home with her to stay soon.

Without the caring heart of people like Julie, so many dogs and cats would go untreated in this world. She is truly our hero of the week.

Cute puppies and interesting cases

It has been a while since we updated our blog, but as always we have been busy at Animal Medical Center. In the past few months we have had three cancer cases requiring chemotherapy, more skin issues than we care to count, (flea season is upon us!) puppies and kittens galore, and the addition of a few new staff members.

If you are not following us on Facebook and only on our blog, you are missing a lot. We will try to update our blog weekly with informative pet information and information about Animal Medical Center

So much goes on beside the scenes

So you have sat in the waiting room, been in a room, sometimes complaining about the wait, and perhaps you have been in the treatment area once or twice, but let me tell you there are a lot of things going on at Animal Medical Center all the time. Bathing, treatments, surgery, dentistry, emergencies and a full house of hospitalized patients.

Have you ever wondered where the doctor is while you are waiting for results?

Treating hospitalized patients or doing a surgical procedure or he may be handling an emergency that was rushed into the treatment area. He may also be calling a client to discuss their pets test results. 

And there are so many other little things that keep the hospital running at peak performance.

We average 6 to 12 loads of laundry a day, mostly towels and there is always scrubbing, mopping, sweeping up hair, dusting, cleaning up exam rooms and plenty of trash. We overload 3 forty gallon garbage bins a day.

There are always prescriptions to be filled and supplies to be ordered and unpacked. We average 20 boxes of medical supplies a week via UPS.

There are always dogs to be held...

Surgical equipment to be cleaned and sterilized  and always dogs to be walked and bathes!

On average there are two receptinists, five nurses and two doctors at Animal Medical Center to take care of our patients. Trust me when I say this is a busy place!!!

Bio Spot a danger to cats!!!!

On Friday an hour before closing we saw the horrors that Bio-spot for cats can cause. A client had given Bio-spot to her three cats. One cat had no reaction, one began salivating, so the owner bathed the cat and the cat was fine, the third however went into anaphylactic shock and had to be rushed to the hospital.

It took a bath, IV fluid therapy, 24 hour hospitalization, and a large quanitity of medication to save this cats life. Please don't take a chance with your pets, ask your veterinarian what they recommend for flea and tick prevention.

Don't let your cat go through this!!!