What`s New

AAHA Acreditation

Orchard Road Animal Hospital again received accreditation following a comprehensive evaluation by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). On November 4, 2008, a consultant from AAHA visited our practice for a thorough review of the facility. This evaluation included a quality assessment of the hospital’s facility, medical equipment, practice methods and pet health care management. Based on this visit, AAHA renewed our accrediation.  Orchard Road Animal Hospital has been an accredited member of the American Animal Hospital Association since 2001. 

Only about 15 percent of all small animal veterinary facilities in the United States are accredited hospital members of the association. In order to maintain accredited status, Orchard Road Animal Hospital must continue to be evaluated every three years by the association’s trained consultants.

The American Animal Hospital Association is an international organization of more than 16,000 veterinary care providers who treat companion animals. For more information, please visit their web site: www.aahanet.org.

New Addition to the ORAH Staff

Orchard Road Animal Hospital is pleased to announce the addition of Dr. Kristen Kennedy to the Veterinary Staff.  Dr. Kennedy joined the staff in July of 2008 after graduating from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine and completing an externship with an internal medicine and oncology specialist.  She also has an interest in Ultrasound, in which she has received additional training.  For more information on Dr. Kennedy or the other doctors at Orchard Road, please go to the Staff page.

Flea Control in a Monthly Pill

Comfortis® (spinosad), introduced by Eli Lilly and Company in October 2007, is the first FDA-approved, chewable, beef-flavored tablet that kills fleas and prevents flea infestations on dogs for a full month. Comfortis® lets pet owners avoid the mess and inconvenience of topical flea products and offers a safe and effective product for pet owners who have children or other pets in their household.

With Comfortis®, children can play with their dog immediately after treatment, and there is no transfer of the product to other pets by contact. Because it is administered orally, Comfortis® also is a great choice for dogs that swim or are bathed often, as well as dogs with flea allergy dermatitis, a common skin disease resulting from flea bites, and dogs receiving topical skin treatments.

The active ingredient in Comfortis®, spinosad, also is environmentally friendly. The introduction of spinosad for use in agriculture led to a Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award in 1999 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Comfortis® provides an effective, convenient and clean solution to flea protection that is pleasant for owners and dogs alike. It begins working within 30 minutes. Label comparisons indicate Comfortis® provides the fastest flea kill of any once-a-month product, including topicals. In fact, it kills adult fleas before they can lay eggs, thus preventing infestations.

Comfortis® is available by prescription only and is offered in weight-specific doses for dogs 14 weeks of age and older. It should be given with food for maximum effectiveness. For more information, including important safety information about Comfortis® and the product label, visit www.comfortis4dogs.com.

The Fitter Critter Club

We know that your pets are important members of your family and keeping them healthy is important to you. Orchard Road Animal Hospital started a weight loss club to help our patients live longer, healthier lives. The Fitter Critter Club provides support for you and your pet as you work to optimize your pet’s health by reaching an ideal weight. You and your pet will be assigned a personal weight counselor who will keep track of your pet’s weight loss and reward you and your pet with a bandana and wristband when each weight loss goal is reached. You will also receive a pedometer to track activity levels and a measuring cup to monitor food intake.

We offer this service at no charge for our clients.

Do something special for your pet this year and help him or her reach a healthy weight and live a longer life!