Many pet-owners treat their dog or cat more like a child than an animal. That’s good news for Bush Animal Clinic, where business has remained steady throughout the tough economic times. “We’ve been pretty fortunate. People make animal care a high priority even when they are looking for places to cut expenses,” said Ivy Chupp, DVM, a general practitioner at Bush Animal Clinic.

Established in 1971, Bush Animal Clinic provides medical care for dogs and cats, and boarding and grooming services for dogs, cats, rabbits and birds. The staff at Bush Animal Clinic includes Steve Whatley, DVM, Dr. Chupp, five full-time and three part-time technicians, and three receptionists.

Cutting-edge, compassionate care

According to Chupp, Bush Animal Clinic prides itself on its knowledgeable staff that is focused on providing skilled, compassionate care. The clinic offers some of the newest procedures and treatments including:

• Laparoscopic surgery is now used for spay/neuter operations, liver biopsies and other procedures. Widely used in medical procedures for humans, this minimally invasive technique also helps shorten recovery times and control pain in dogs and cats.

“We see much faster recovery times with laparoscopic surgeries. Dogs can go home the same day rather than stay overnight for observation so we’ve been pleased with that,” Chupp explained.

• Aggressive treatment for cancers such as lymphoma is now the norm. These can include in-house chemotherapy as well as radiation treatments performed at Phoebe Putney. According to Chupp, physicians at Phoebe Putney will perform radiation on animals as a community service to pet owners.

“Animals typically handle the treatments better than people. In most cases, the radiation and chemo will prolong life and we’ve even seen some cases go into remission,” she continued.

• While not new, dental care has become more popular in recent years. Regular teeth cleaning removes bacteria build-up that can cause heart and kidney issues. The one-day cleaning procedure requires general anesthesia and can last from six months to two years.

Yearly exam is most important

Chupp believes an annual exam is the most important medical care a pet owner can provide for their dog or cat. The annual exam has typically been tied to an annual rabies vaccination required by county regulations. Now however some counties have changed the required rabies vaccination to every three years from once a year.

“We still believe people should bring their pets in every year for an exam and blood work. We can catch little growths or other issues when they can be more effectively treated,” Chupp said.

Regular exams can address many of the same issues that people deal with as they age such as weight gain, joint problems, and benign and malignant tumors. Dogs are considered to be seniors at the age of eight, which means regular medical care is that much more important.

More information on Bush Animal Clinic is available at www.bushanimal.com or by calling (229) 439-7073.

About Barbara Kieker

Barbara Kieker is a freelance writer who writes on business-related topics for a number of web-based properties. She also provides communications services to Fortune 500 corporations, small businesses and nonprofit organizations.