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		<title>Abilene Animal Hospital, P.A.</title>
		<link>http://www.aahpa.com/blog.cfm</link>
		<description>Abilene Animal Hospital, PA is a mixed animal practice specializing in the reproduction of canines, as well as swine herd health management, equine reproduction, greyhound sports medicine, orthopedic surgery, and feline medicine.</description>
		<language>en-us</language>
		<copyright>Copyright 2013 Abilene Animal Hospital, P.A., All rights reserved.</copyright>
		<lastBuildDate>Sat, 18 May 2013 20:00:42 CST</lastBuildDate>

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		<title><![CDATA[ Pets Need Transfusions Too! ]]></title> 
		<link>http://www.aahpa.com/blog_direct_link.cfm/blog_id/49027</link>
		<description><![CDATA[ Sometimes pets have diseases, disorders, or traumatic injuries causing significant blood loss that requires a blood transfusion in order for the pet to survive.&amp;nbsp; The most common reasons for a transfusion are autoimmune hemolytic anemia, trauma from being hit by a car, and parvovirus infections.
Here at Abilene Animal Hospital, blood transfusions are sporadic, so we do not keep blood collections on hand.&amp;nbsp; We have a team of large breed dogs that are occasionally available as donors.&amp;nbsp; Our current team includes: Finnick, Stella, Bonnie, Bit, and Montana.&amp;nbsp; They are all Labradors or mixed breed large dogs owned by doctors and staff of Abilene Animal Hospital.&amp;nbsp; With the number of dogs on the team and the demand, most donors give blood about twice per year at the most.&amp;nbsp; We also occasionally need cat donors, but that need is much less frequent.
When the need for blood arises, we check to see who&amp;rsquo;s turn it is on the list and whether that dog is available or ... ]]></description>
		<category><![CDATA[ General ]]></category>
		<author>ltokach@aahpa.com (Lisa Tokach, DVM)</author>
		<pubDate>Tue, 14 May 2013 08:31:00 EST</pubDate>
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		<comments>http://www.aahpa.com/blog_display.cfm/blog_id/49027</comments>
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		<title><![CDATA[ Happy Administrative Professionals' Day! ]]></title> 
		<link>http://www.aahpa.com/blog_direct_link.cfm/blog_id/48718</link>
		<description><![CDATA[ What is Administrative Professionals&amp;rsquo; Day, really?&amp;nbsp; It used to be called Secretaries&amp;rsquo; Day back in the day when we called flight attendants airline stewardesses.&amp;nbsp; Wikipedia says, &amp;ldquo;Administrative Professionals&amp;#39; Day (also known as Secretaries Day or Admin Day) is an unofficial secular observed in several countries to recognize the work of secretaries, administrative assistants, receptionists and other administrative support professionals.&amp;rdquo;&amp;nbsp; Here at Abilene Animal Hospital we could call it a day for many things: administrative professional, receptionist, veterinary assistant, veterinary technician (although they technically have their own week), inventory control officer, chief client communicator, bookkeeper, lost dog finder, federal health paper professional, rabies control officer,&amp;nbsp; housekeeper, animal health prevention educator, new puppy snuggler, laundress (and we can have some nasty laundry over here), grief counselor, and many more.&amp;n... ]]></description>
		<category><![CDATA[ General ]]></category>
		<author>ltokach@aahpa.com (Lisa Tokach, DVM)</author>
		<pubDate>Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:32:00 EST</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.aahpa.com/blog_direct_link.cfm/blog_id/48718</guid>
		<comments>http://www.aahpa.com/blog_display.cfm/blog_id/48718</comments>
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		<title><![CDATA[ Is Fido fat? ]]></title> 
		<link>http://www.aahpa.com/blog_direct_link.cfm/blog_id/48007</link>
		<description><![CDATA[ Do you think you pet is at a healthy weight?&amp;nbsp; Try this simple test:&amp;nbsp; Run your fingers down your pet&amp;#39;s sides from the shoulder to the hip.&amp;nbsp; Can you feel ribs easily?&amp;nbsp; If you have to push in to convince yourself that your pet even HAS ribs at all?&amp;nbsp; When you look at your pet from the side can you see the belly droop toward the ground or is it tucked tight from the chest to the hind legs?&amp;nbsp;
Currently in the US approximately 50% of pets are considered &amp;quot;overweight&amp;quot; or &amp;quot;obese&amp;quot; when compared to healthy weight standards for their height and body structure.&amp;nbsp; Overweight pets have the same health issues as overweight people.&amp;nbsp; Diabetes, joint problems, exercise intolerance, difficulty breathing, heart problems all can be caused or worsened by not maintaining a healthy body weight.
If you feel your pet is overweight, or don&amp;#39;t really know for sure, we have tools to determine your pet&amp;#39;s ideal body weight and start a nutritional p... ]]></description>
		<category><![CDATA[ General ]]></category>
		<author>rgrange@aahpa.com (Roberta Grange, DVM)</author>
		<pubDate>Tue, 12 Mar 2013 09:58:00 EST</pubDate>
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		<comments>http://www.aahpa.com/blog_display.cfm/blog_id/48007</comments>
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		<title><![CDATA[ My Dearest Maggie 01/07/2013 ]]></title> 
		<link>http://www.aahpa.com/blog_direct_link.cfm/blog_id/47748</link>
		<description><![CDATA[ Maggie was my everything.&amp;nbsp; She was best friend, my comfort, and a big part of my life. &amp;nbsp;A wonderful birthday gift from my husband, she arrived in our arms in January of 2009. &amp;nbsp;When we went to meet her, she was so excited to see us, she had an accident. &amp;nbsp;My husband and I took that as a sign that she was the one for us and that we were going to adopt her.&amp;nbsp; We were unsure how old she was at the time and knew before us she had a rough life. &amp;nbsp;Found on the streets, a litter of pups left behind, skinny, and starving with scars to mark her strong heart, we knew we wanted to give her a good life.
She&amp;#39;s not any ordinary dog you see. &amp;nbsp;She was unique with such a great personality, never a dull moment with her. &amp;nbsp;Her heart of gold was so wonderful, that she could melt anyone&amp;#39;s heart. &amp;nbsp;This girl loved to go. &amp;nbsp;Car rides, to a good walk in the woods, chewing on her toys, to playing with her little brother, Luke the Rottie. &amp;nbsp;Watching her bo... ]]></description>
		<category><![CDATA[ In Loving Memory ]]></category>
		<author>ltokach@aahpa.com (Lisa Tokach)</author>
		<pubDate>Mon, 25 Feb 2013 10:01:00 EST</pubDate>
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		<comments>http://www.aahpa.com/blog_display.cfm/blog_id/47748</comments>
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		<title><![CDATA[ Have a Heart! ]]></title> 
		<link>http://www.aahpa.com/blog_direct_link.cfm/blog_id/47749</link>
		<description><![CDATA[ Rosie came in all dressed up for her wellness exam last week.&amp;nbsp; She was looking great for Valentine&amp;#39;s Day!&amp;nbsp; Everything was looking great and she is healthy.&amp;nbsp; Some pets have underlying health conditions that can be picked up on physical exam.&amp;nbsp; For example, have you ever wondered what it means if someone has a heart murmur?&amp;nbsp; Did you know that pets can get heart mumurs, also?&amp;nbsp; Everytime the heart beats it &amp;quot;pushes&amp;quot; blood through the body.&amp;nbsp; A heart murmur is the sound that can be heard each time the heart beats that tells us that blood is not flowing in the proper direction.&amp;nbsp; In younger animals it can be the sign of a congenital birth defect.&amp;nbsp; In older animals it can tell us that the valves or heart muscle are starting to show signs of weakness as the pet ages.&amp;nbsp;
The longer a pet has a heart murmur, the more likely it is that the heart will enlarge to continue to &amp;quot;push&amp;quot; the proper amount of blood.&amp;nbsp; Overtime this w... ]]></description>
		<category><![CDATA[ General ]]></category>
		<author>rgrange@aahpa.com (Roberta Grange, DVM)</author>
		<pubDate>Mon, 25 Feb 2013 10:16:00 EST</pubDate>
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		<comments>http://www.aahpa.com/blog_display.cfm/blog_id/47749</comments>
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		<title><![CDATA[ Schedule your doggie dental! ]]></title> 
		<link>http://www.aahpa.com/blog_direct_link.cfm/blog_id/47610</link>
		<description><![CDATA[ Imagine for a moment that you stopped brushing your teeth.&amp;nbsp; Not just for today, but for the next 5 years.&amp;nbsp; Do you think it would change the look of your pearly whites when you smile?&amp;nbsp; Affect how close people stand to you when you talk?&amp;nbsp; Maybe alter the taste of your food?&amp;nbsp; Well, the same thing happens with your pets.&amp;nbsp;
Pets need regular dental care, just like we do.&amp;nbsp; Without it they can develop tartar build up, bad breath, gum disease and dental infections.&amp;nbsp; Left untreated these can progress to painful teeth, tooth loss, lack of appetite and even spread of bacteria to other parts of the body.&amp;nbsp; Once tartar has accumulated on the teeth a professional cleaning under anesthesia is the only way to get the teeth clean and evaluate the pet for any other underlying dental issues.
Though not all pets are appreciative of daily brushing, there are many products on the market that can help to minimize the buildup of bacteria and tartar and help keep th... ]]></description>
		<category><![CDATA[ General ]]></category>
		<author>rgrange@aahpa.com (Roberta Grange, DVM)</author>
		<pubDate>Mon, 18 Feb 2013 09:37:00 EST</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.aahpa.com/blog_direct_link.cfm/blog_id/47610</guid>
		<comments>http://www.aahpa.com/blog_display.cfm/blog_id/47610</comments>
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		<title><![CDATA[ February is Pet Wellness Month at AAH! ]]></title> 
		<link>http://www.aahpa.com/blog_direct_link.cfm/blog_id/46053</link>
		<description><![CDATA[ Did you know that keeping your pet well involves more than vaccinations?&amp;nbsp; Though vaccinations remain the most important way to protect your pet against serious infectious disease such as parvo and feline distemper, in adult and senior pets there are many other health issues that can cause serious illness if left undetected or treated.&amp;nbsp;
Dental disease, heart disease, ear infections and arthritis are all conditions that often develop in adult animals.&amp;nbsp; In most pets they don&amp;#39;t happen &amp;quot;overnight&amp;quot; but gradually over several months to years.&amp;nbsp; A comprehensive physical exam will help identify these issues in the early stages so that appropriate treatment can be recommended to prevent a minor issue from becoming a serious emergency.&amp;nbsp;
February is Wellness Month at Abilene Animal Hospital.&amp;nbsp; During this month we offer all of our wellness services such as exams, vaccinations, senior blood screening, heartworm tests, and fecal exams at a discount.&amp;nbsp;&amp;... ]]></description>
		<category><![CDATA[ General ]]></category>
		<author>rgrange@aahpa.com (Dr. Roberta Grange)</author>
		<pubDate>Mon, 04 Feb 2013 10:13:00 EST</pubDate>
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		<comments>http://www.aahpa.com/blog_display.cfm/blog_id/46053</comments>
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		<title><![CDATA[ Roomba Update - FAQs! ]]></title> 
		<link>http://www.aahpa.com/blog_direct_link.cfm/blog_id/45769</link>
		<description><![CDATA[ &amp;ldquo;Roomba&amp;rdquo; is well into six months of age and progressing on track.&amp;nbsp; This month, we thought that we might answer some questions that have been posed over the last few months and familiarize everyone with what the future holds for our team.
	Q: Let&amp;#39;s start with the #1 question that our puppy raisers are always asked: Isn&amp;#39;t it hard to give the puppies up?
	A: The short answer is, of course it is! Puppy raisers do become very attached to their puppies; however, they are comforted with the knowledge that their dogs will go on to enrich people&amp;#39;s lives, providing companionship, friendship and comfort, and helping handicapped people travel safely and confidently as they pursue their goals in life.
	Q: Where can a Guide Dog puppy accompany its puppy raiser?
	A: A Guide Dog puppy should be exposed to a variety of socialization experiences. Puppy raisers take their pups to malls, grocery stores, school and work, among other places.
	Q: What happens to a puppy that... ]]></description>
		<category><![CDATA[ General ]]></category>
		<author>smorton@aahpa.com (Susan Morton)</author>
		<pubDate>Mon, 21 Jan 2013 10:31:00 EST</pubDate>
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		<comments>http://www.aahpa.com/blog_display.cfm/blog_id/45769</comments>
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		<title><![CDATA[ November Roomba Update! ]]></title> 
		<link>http://www.aahpa.com/blog_direct_link.cfm/blog_id/44961</link>
		<description><![CDATA[ Roomba has had an eventful and active fourth month and is rapidly absorbing the training necessary to make him a quality service dog.&amp;nbsp; As part of puppy raising, we try to expose our youngsters to all sorts of distractions so that life is a bit less surprising for them as adults in service.&amp;nbsp; Our new experiences and exposures this past month have included elevators, medical offices, wheelchairs, horses &amp;amp; buffet lines but our favorite and most challenging outing was Wal-Mart.&amp;nbsp; A big department store is always full of interesting sights, sounds and people, even for a person, but hundreds of times more distracting for a five month old puppy.&amp;nbsp; He was up for the challenge!
The big command that we have introduced this month is &amp;ldquo;down &amp;amp; under&amp;rdquo;, which is given to express desire to have him go under a chair, desk, table, etc. and lay quietly.&amp;nbsp; It has become very important as our twelve pound baby puppy has grown into a forty- three pound big dog. &amp;nbsp... ]]></description>
		<category><![CDATA[ General ]]></category>
		<author>smorton@aahpa.com (Susan Morton)</author>
		<pubDate>Tue, 20 Nov 2012 15:09:00 EST</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.aahpa.com/blog_direct_link.cfm/blog_id/44961</guid>
		<comments>http://www.aahpa.com/blog_display.cfm/blog_id/44961</comments>
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		<title><![CDATA[ Roomba Update ]]></title> 
		<link>http://www.aahpa.com/blog_direct_link.cfm/blog_id/44357</link>
		<description><![CDATA[ Another month goes by and we watch as Roomba turns four months old and really begins to blossom!&amp;nbsp; He has gained over ten pounds and added two and a half inches to his height in less than thirty days Each day I see his brain turning on more &amp;amp; more...and with each new experience, he grows more confident and assured- showing glimmers of what he will be able to do in his career as a guide, service or social dog someday.
One of our latest adventures was a visit to Abilene High School.&amp;nbsp; I was surprised at the details that I hadn&amp;#39;t considered that seemed to provide a challenge for us.&amp;nbsp; There were the HIGHLY waxed floors!&amp;nbsp; We routinely navigate different substrates- including tile, concrete, sand, gravel, asphalt, grass, etc. to avoid any surprises during working, but BOY! THAT FLOOR WAS SLICK. Also, while we were there, the teenage lunch crowd was dropping tidbits of food everywhere, a veritable Labrador Feast!&amp;nbsp; I am proud to announce that not only was it not... ]]></description>
		<category><![CDATA[ General ]]></category>
		<author>smorton@aahpa.com (Susan Morton)</author>
		<pubDate>Tue, 09 Oct 2012 11:17:00 EST</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.aahpa.com/blog_direct_link.cfm/blog_id/44357</guid>
		<comments>http://www.aahpa.com/blog_display.cfm/blog_id/44357</comments>
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		<title><![CDATA[ Our new adventure with Kansas Specialty Dog Services: Roomba ]]></title> 
		<link>http://www.aahpa.com/blog_direct_link.cfm/blog_id/44052</link>
		<description><![CDATA[ &amp;nbsp; AAHPA has a history of being a proud partner with the Kansas Specialty Dog Service (http://www.ksds.org/) and has recently embarked on yet another adventure!
&amp;nbsp; &amp;ldquo;Roomba&amp;rdquo; will be making Abilene &amp;amp; the Morton house his home for the next eighteen to twenty four months, after which he will go into advanced training to become a seeing eye dog, service dog or therapy dog- depending on his capabilities and personality.&amp;nbsp; Our job at AAHPA will be to teach him basic puppy obedience, house &amp;amp; public manners and to expose him to a variety of environments and situations that he will encounter with his partner in the future.
Roomba is currently about 12 weeks old.&amp;nbsp; He has been living with Susan &amp;amp; Dee Morton and their son Hunter since August 19th. So far he has been exposed to all the sights, smells, and sounds of a vet clinic plus camping, convenience stores and even a restaurant.&amp;nbsp; He is currently working on the command &amp;ldquo;Leave it!&amp;rdquo; since ... ]]></description>
		<category><![CDATA[ General ]]></category>
		<author>smorton@aahpa.com (Susan Morton)</author>
		<pubDate>Mon, 24 Sep 2012 15:35:00 EST</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.aahpa.com/blog_direct_link.cfm/blog_id/44052</guid>
		<comments>http://www.aahpa.com/blog_display.cfm/blog_id/44052</comments>
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		<title><![CDATA[ Summer Student Intern Enjoys Abilene ]]></title> 
		<link>http://www.aahpa.com/blog_direct_link.cfm/blog_id/43679</link>
		<description><![CDATA[ As a third year veterinary student, I was looking for a summer externship at a mixed animal practice. I wanted to work at a clinic that offered a variety of experiences, including a diversity of species and clientele, veterinarian mentorship opportunities, hands-on experience, and exposure to new areas of the veterinary profession. My experience at Abilene Animal Hospital P.A. exceeded all these expectations. I was fortunate enough to spend time with the leaders and well-respected veterinarians in a variety of fields.
Each morning I would arrive at the clinic not knowing what I might be able to do or see that day. I was really impressed with the overall variety in the caseload. Here&amp;rsquo;s only a brief summary of the activities I participated in:


	Working side-by-side small animal practitioners in general practice
	Observing orthopedic surgeries and cutting-edge post-operative therapies
	Hands-on work at swine facilities with the swine consulting team from AAHPA
	Performing c... ]]></description>
		<category><![CDATA[ General ]]></category>
		<author>ltokach@aahpa.com (Lisa Tokach, DVM)</author>
		<pubDate>Fri, 31 Aug 2012 11:37:00 EST</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.aahpa.com/blog_direct_link.cfm/blog_id/43679</guid>
		<comments>http://www.aahpa.com/blog_display.cfm/blog_id/43679</comments>
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		<title><![CDATA[ Hailey ~ more than just a dog ]]></title> 
		<link>http://www.aahpa.com/blog_direct_link.cfm/blog_id/42611</link>
		<description><![CDATA[ Dear Friends and Family:
It is with great sadness to tell you of the passing of my service dog &amp;quot;Hailey&amp;quot;.&amp;nbsp; She was 13 years old and had been with me for 11 years.&amp;nbsp; What a joy she was and what great healing she brought to me.
After all the Doctors, nurses, psychiatrist&amp;#39;s, medicine, and therapist&amp;#39;s, I was told that I could and would receive a service dog.&amp;nbsp;For&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;the first time I had hope, hope that I might get well.&amp;nbsp; When I first saw her, I knew that she was going to lead me out of the darkness and into recovery.
Her trainers from Wichita came to Abilene for a weekend of intense training and testing. There she stood, regal, red and brand new. I could tell from the look in her eye that she took her job seriously and I could now feel safe.&amp;nbsp; We had some challenges in the beginning but made our way through and became a team. She was never away from me, if I moved she moved.
I was proud to stand beside her and she was proud to be with me.... ]]></description>
		<category><![CDATA[ In Loving Memory ]]></category>
		<author>ltokach@aahpa.com (Jerre)</author>
		<pubDate>Thu, 21 Jun 2012 12:51:00 EST</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.aahpa.com/blog_direct_link.cfm/blog_id/42611</guid>
		<comments>http://www.aahpa.com/blog_display.cfm/blog_id/42611</comments>
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		<title><![CDATA[ My Beloved Roxy- 10/31/97 - 3/29/12 ]]></title> 
		<link>http://www.aahpa.com/blog_direct_link.cfm/blog_id/41522</link>
		<description><![CDATA[ My Beloved Roxy- 10/31/97 - 3/29/12
I always wanted a dog of my own but my son was terribly allergic to animals, so when he moved out on his own, I decided to adopt a dog for my daughter&amp;#39;s 15th birthday.
One day we were cruising the beach in Oceanside, CA where we lived and saw a sign, &amp;quot;Puppies For Sale.&amp;quot;&amp;nbsp; I had wanted to adopt a dog&amp;nbsp;from the Humane Society but when we saw that sign, we couldn&amp;#39;t resist.&amp;nbsp;
We went to the back yard and there she was...this adorable little&amp;nbsp;puppy with white paws, a white chest&amp;nbsp;and white at the tip of&amp;nbsp; her tail&amp;nbsp;.&amp;nbsp; She was all alone sitting on the porch and looking down at her siblings (who were nursing)&amp;nbsp;like she ruled the world, even though she was the &amp;quot;runt&amp;quot; of the litter.&amp;nbsp; After looking at the mom (a pure bred Akita)&amp;nbsp;and how large she was, I thought no way!&amp;nbsp; The owners told us the father was a pure bred German Shepard police dog and then I began to think, boy she wou... ]]></description>
		<category><![CDATA[ In Loving Memory ]]></category>
		<author>ltokach@aahpa.com (Lisa)</author>
		<pubDate>Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:56:00 EST</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.aahpa.com/blog_direct_link.cfm/blog_id/41522</guid>
		<comments>http://www.aahpa.com/blog_display.cfm/blog_id/41522</comments>
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		<title><![CDATA[ Don t join the Flea Circus! ]]></title> 
		<link>http://www.aahpa.com/blog_direct_link.cfm/blog_id/41512</link>
		<description><![CDATA[ Did you know that fleas can suck up to 15 times their body weight in blood every day? Fleas are nasty little bugs that like to hang out on wildlife and sometimes our pets. What can we do to help our little pet friends rid themselves of these nasty little critters? It&amp;#39;s a good idea to educate yourself regarding how they come to live with you and your pets.
How does your pet get fleas?
Well, think of every stray cat, dog, or wild animal that comes into your pets&amp;rsquo; environment as a &amp;quot;salt shaker&amp;quot;. Every time they wander through they are dropping eggs into the environment and your pet is picking them up and bringing them into your home where they hatch out and become an infestation.
Oh no, fleas!&amp;nbsp; Now what do I do?
Once your pet has fleas there are 3 key factors you need to remember when getting rid of your furry friend&amp;#39;s visitors.

	Treat your pet to kill off these pesky bugs.
	Treat the environment they occupy to avoid eggs hatching out new fleas.
	Make... ]]></description>
		<category><![CDATA[ General ]]></category>
		<author>wgilbert@aahpa.com (Whitney Gilbert)</author>
		<pubDate>Wed, 11 Apr 2012 15:26:00 EST</pubDate>
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		<comments>http://www.aahpa.com/blog_display.cfm/blog_id/41512</comments>
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		<title><![CDATA[ What is a pheromone and how can it help my pet? ]]></title> 
		<link>http://www.aahpa.com/blog_direct_link.cfm/blog_id/39769</link>
		<description><![CDATA[ Pheromones are natural chemicals emitted by animals that help them to communicate with others of the same species. In mammals, the vomeronasal organ, a structure close to the nasal passage, receives these pheromone signals. When animals receive pheromone signals, there is an involuntary behavioral effect on those animals. There are many types of pheromones and different classes have different effects. For instance, some serve social functions among animals, while others serve sexual functions. Nursing mothers emit a pheromone to comfort their young. Queen honey bees emit pheromones to let the worker bees know that all is well and they should keep working. Pheromones are the animals way of saying: &amp;quot;This is MY territory&amp;quot;, &amp;quot;Hey baby, lookin&amp;#39; good&amp;quot;, &amp;quot;Hush now baby&amp;quot;, or &amp;quot;All is good, be calm&amp;quot;.
When your cat rubs his face on an object, or even you, he is releasing the feline facial pheromone that marks the area as familiar and safe. When he senses... ]]></description>
		<category><![CDATA[ General ]]></category>
		<author>dpedersen@aahpa.com (Dianna Pedersen)</author>
		<pubDate>Fri, 30 Dec 2011 11:33:00 EST</pubDate>
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		<comments>http://www.aahpa.com/blog_display.cfm/blog_id/39769</comments>
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		<title><![CDATA[ You re Not From Around Here Are You? (student interns, part 2) ]]></title> 
		<link>http://www.aahpa.com/blog_direct_link.cfm/blog_id/38280</link>
		<description><![CDATA[ If you read our last blog, you know that Abilene Animal Hospital generally takes in 12-15 student interns per year for 1 to 3 week blocks.&amp;nbsp; This summer, we had the pleasure of hosting Yue (pronounced yoo-ee) Gong, a senior veterinary student from the University of Melbourne in Australia for 3 weeks.&amp;nbsp; Yue is a native of Singapore and she interviewed with us via e-mail after her stint here in Kansas.
AAH:&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; Where are you from and how did you end up choosing AAH for your internship?
Gong:&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; I come from the small sunny island nation that is Singapore, but to be more exact, I was born in China and raised in Singapore. In order to pursue my interest in veterinary science, I travelled to Australia and enrolled in the University of Melbourne as there is no veterinary school in Singapore. It was through my vet course that I was introduced to our swine production lecturer, Dr Ross Cutler. While on practical work placement with him, he recommended me to inter... ]]></description>
		<category><![CDATA[ General ]]></category>
		<author>ltokahc@aahpa.com (Dr. Lisa Tokach)</author>
		<pubDate>Wed, 05 Oct 2011 10:20:00 EST</pubDate>
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		<comments>http://www.aahpa.com/blog_display.cfm/blog_id/38280</comments>
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		<title><![CDATA[ Who s Your New Helper, Doctor? ]]></title> 
		<link>http://www.aahpa.com/blog_direct_link.cfm/blog_id/38052</link>
		<description><![CDATA[ Several times per year you may see us pulling into your farm or walking into the exam room with a new assistant in tow.&amp;nbsp; Just in case you are thinking we are having trouble keeping help and are turning them over on a monthly or even weekly basis, we reassure you we are not having that kind of trouble.&amp;nbsp; We are just helping out the future for veterinary medicine by taking in veterinary student interns.&amp;nbsp;

	Abilene Animal Hospital generally takes in 12-15 student interns per year for 1 to 3 week blocks.&amp;nbsp; With Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine just 40 minutes away, you might guess that is where all the students come from.&amp;nbsp; This is true for about &amp;frac12; of the students.&amp;nbsp; The rest come from all over the country.&amp;nbsp; This year we have had students from Kansas State, University of Minnesota, Oklahoma State, University of Illinois, University of Michigan, Iowa State, and even University of Melbourne in Australia.

	What do the interns do... ]]></description>
		<category><![CDATA[ General ]]></category>
		<author>ltokach@aahpa.com (Dr. Lisa Tokach)</author>
		<pubDate>Fri, 23 Sep 2011 11:18:00 EST</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.aahpa.com/blog_direct_link.cfm/blog_id/38052</guid>
		<comments>http://www.aahpa.com/blog_display.cfm/blog_id/38052</comments>
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		<title><![CDATA[ Considerations before getting a new pet ]]></title> 
		<link>http://www.aahpa.com/blog_direct_link.cfm/blog_id/37802</link>
		<description><![CDATA[ Veterinarians sometimes cringe when the latest animal movie comes out launching a new specific breed craze.&amp;nbsp; For example, when 101 Dalmatians had their recent remake by Disney, we saw a big upsurge in Dalmatian puppies.&amp;nbsp; No offense to those of you who own and love Dalmatians, but they are certainly not for everyone and when the cuteness of the spots wear off, you are left with a big dog that requires a great deal of time to exercise and train.&amp;nbsp; We have had similar crazes with Chihuahuas after Beverly Hills Chihuahua and Bull Mastiffs after Turner and Hooch.

	Don&amp;rsquo;t get me wrong, we want people to own dogs.&amp;nbsp; After all, taking care of them is our business. We just want people to think it through and make a wise decision about what type of pet is best for them.&amp;nbsp; Here are some things to consider when choosing a pet:

	&amp;nbsp;

	
		Budget.&amp;nbsp; First off, you need to consider whether you should consider paying top dollar for a purebred or designer pet o... ]]></description>
		<category><![CDATA[ General ]]></category>
		<author>ltokach@aahpa.com (Lisa Tokach, DVM)</author>
		<pubDate>Mon, 12 Sep 2011 15:33:00 EST</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.aahpa.com/blog_direct_link.cfm/blog_id/37802</guid>
		<comments>http://www.aahpa.com/blog_display.cfm/blog_id/37802</comments>
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		<title><![CDATA[ Harmful blue-green algae - keep the dogs out of the water! ]]></title> 
		<link>http://www.aahpa.com/blog_direct_link.cfm/blog_id/37754</link>
		<description><![CDATA[ This summer has been incredibly hot this year and for some the best way to cool down would be to spend the weekend at the lake with your pet, however, you and your pet will not be the only ones in the lakes this season.&amp;nbsp; Blue-green algae has invaded the lakes of Kansas, so what should you as a pet owner look out for before entering the warm waters of the lake?&amp;nbsp;

	According to the Kansas Department of Wildlife the blue-green algae is not a new comer to Kansas lakes, it has just taken advantage of the hot weather and stagnant water the summer has provided and created algae blooms.&amp;nbsp; These algae blooms are what is making several Kansas lakes put out advisories and some even warnings.&amp;nbsp; The blooms release a toxin that is dangerous to fish, pets and humans.&amp;nbsp; It has made some of the waters of lakes look like they are covered in scum and have a bad odor to them.&amp;nbsp;

	There have been several human related illness due to the algae, 1 confirmed death of a dog and 2 ... ]]></description>
		<category><![CDATA[ General ]]></category>
		<author>whedden@aahpa.com (Whitney Gilber)</author>
		<pubDate>Fri, 09 Sep 2011 09:39:00 EST</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.aahpa.com/blog_direct_link.cfm/blog_id/37754</guid>
		<comments>http://www.aahpa.com/blog_display.cfm/blog_id/37754</comments>
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