We would like to take this opportunity to share our Purpose Statement and Core Values with you. As a team, we are proud of our values and strive to uphold them every day. Our values guide each of us as we work to create an exceptional experience for you and your pet at every visit.
We would like to take this opportunity to share our Purpose Statement and Core Values with you. As a team, we are proud of our values and strive to uphold them every day. Our values guide each of us as we work to create an exceptional experience for you and your pet at every visit.
Purpose Statement
At St. Francis Animal Hospital, our purpose is to provide compassionate and quality care for our patients, to build meaningful relationships with our clients, to share our knowledge and experience, and to exceed the expectations of those who demand the very best of veterinary care.
Core Values
Excellence
We have a fundamental commitment to excellence in veterinary medicine. We create value for our clients by providing quality and excellence in all that we do and the way in which we do it.
Compassion
We are committed to providing compassionate care for our patients and their people. We treat our patients and clients as if they were members of our own families.
Dedication
We are dedicated to lifelong learning and to providing exceptional client education each and every day. By sharing our knowledge, we can work together with our clients to make careful and informed medical decisions about the care of their loved ones.
Respect
We have mutual respect for each other, our clients, and our patients. We respect the special relationship that each individual shares with his or her pet.
Integrity
Integrity is the moral foundation for our practice. We understand that truth, honesty, dependability and consistency form the framework for building meaningful relationships with our clients and with each other.
If, at any time, you feel that we are not achieving these goals, please reach out to us. You may contact Molly Moy, Practice Manager, or Jennifer Blair, DVM, Practice Owner at (651) 645-2808 or group@stfrancisabh.com. Your feedback is very valuable and appreciated by all of us.
Pain Management
Have you noticed that your dog is having more difficulty with the steps? Has your cat stopped jumping on to the table? Is your bird spending more time sitting on the same perch? Has your rabbit stopped racing around the living room? These subtle changes may be early indicators of pain or discomfort.
Fortunately, we have many tools available to help with pain in all of the species we care for. While this article is not all-inclusive by any means, it provides you with an overview of the treatments available for your loved one.
Joint Supplements
There are a variety of joint supplements available for pets. Because these are nutraceuticals, it is important to be cautious about which product you purchase. The majority of these supplements are not regulated by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), and consistency and accuracy in labeling are not required. We generally recommend Dasuquin for dogs and cats. Dasuquin is manufactured by Nutramax, a reputable company in the veterinary industry. It contains glucosamine, chondroitan, and ASU. We may also recommend Cosequin, especially for birds or small mammals. In addition, fish oil supplements can be beneficial in most species for reducing inflammation.
Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) reduce pain by reducing inflammation. We commonly use Rimadyl (carprofen), Novox (carprofen), or Metacam (meloxicam) for dogs. For cats, birds, and small mammals, Metacam is the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication of choice. Other examples of NSAIDs include Previcox, Deramaxx, and Onsior.
Side effects are rare, but may be severe. Vomiting, soft stool, lack of appetite, kidney abnormalities, and liver abnormalities are the most common side effects. We always recommend lab work prior to starting these medications, after 4-6 weeks of use, and annually thereafter.
Please note that human medications in this class (i.e. ibuprofen, naproxen) are not safe for pets — these medications can be fatal. Please do not give your pet any human medications without consulting your veterinarian.
Gabapentin
Gabapentin is a neuropathic pain medication. Gabapentin can prevent allodynia (sensation of pain resulting from a normally non-painful stimulus) or hyperalgesia (exaggerated response to painful stimuli). It is a great medication for pain arising from the neurological system or for patients with chronic pain. Side effects may include sedation, drunkenness, or dizziness.
Opioids
Opioid medications are not used as commonly in veterinary medicine as in human medicine. We occasionally prescribe tramadol, morphine, or codeine. Side effects may include sedation, agitation, anxiety, constipation, or other gastrointestinal side effects (vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite). These medications are scripted through a human pharmacy.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture has been practiced in China in both humans and animals for thousands of years. It is one of the branches of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM). Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine also includes herbal medicine, food therapy, and Tui-na, a type of Chinese massage.
Acupuncture involves the insertion of small, thin, sterile needles into specific points in the body to cause a therapeutic change to occur. These points are called acupoints. Over thousands of years, we have created a map of 359 transpositional acupoints and 77 classical acupoints in humans and animals; we routinely use 173 acupoints in veterinary medicine. Research shows that these points are located in areas with a high density of free nerve endings, mast cells/immune cells, small blood vessels, and lymphatic vessels. Stimulation of these points leads to a cascade of change in the body including an increase in blood flow to the area, an increase in local immune response, and release of beta-endorphins, serotonin, and other neurotransmitters to reduce pain. These acupoints are located along meridians or channels that interact with specific internal organs.
Dr. Jennifer Blair is a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist (CVA). She performs our acupuncture appointments at St Francis Integrative Services.
Massage Therapy
Massage can be a valuable component of physical therapy and is most often applied after an injury as a rehabilitation tool. Massage therapy can also be used routinely to help muscles stay toned and healthy and is a wonderful adjunct therapy for aging pets to help manage pain and improve overall mobility.
Massage therapy may be used to increase circulation, extend range of motion, decrease muscle tension, aid digestion, improve neurological signs, reduce pain, reduce inflammation, reduce anxiety, and increase energy.
Whether your goal is to maintain your healthy athlete, provide rehabilitation after an injury, or give your pet comfort and pain relief as he or she ages, massage is a wonderful addition to your pet’s therapeutic pain management program.
Christine Severance, CVT, CMT is a Certified Canine Massage Therapist. She performs our massage therapy appointments at St Francis Integrative Services.
Laser Therapy
Laser therapy uses specific wavelengths of light to induce a therapeutic effect in the body. Laser therapy is used to reduce pain, reduce inflammation, improve circulation, improve nerve function, and increase healing. It is excellent for localized areas of pain (i.e. ruptured cruciate ligament, elbow dysplasia, hip dysplasia, or intervertebral disk disease (IVDD).
Our laser therapy appointments are performed at St Francis Integrative Services.
Additional Therapies
Additional pain management therapies that may be prescribed include physical therapy/rehabilitation (Animal Emergency & Referral Center), Chinese herbal therapies, prescription diets (Hill’s j/d, Purina Joint Mobility), or chiropractic care (Chiropractic For EveryBody).
If you have concerns that your pet may be experiencing pain, please schedule a visit to discuss these options with your veterinarian. You may reach us at (651) 645-2808 to schedule an appointment at St Francis or St Francis Integrative Services.
Cause For Paws
Cause For Paws is a small, all-volunteer Minnesota nonprofit 501(c)(3) group founded in 1998. Their main focus is to find loving permanent homes for stray and abandoned cats and kittens. All cats in their care are fostered in volunteers’ homes. Their work is funded entirely by donations.
The holiday season is a time of giving. Please take a moment this season to help support Cause For Paws. You may do this in one of three ways.
1) We will once again have a Christmas tree in our lobby starting this week. You may donate any amount to Cause For Paws in exchange for an ornament to hang on our tree. Consider purchasing an ornament in honor of your pet or in memory of a loved one who has passed. Ornaments will be available starting on Wednesday, November 29th.
2) When you shop on Amazon this year, consider shopping on AmazonSmile.com instead. It works the same way, but you can choose a charitable foundation for Amazon to donate a portion of the proceeds to.
Choose Cause For Paws Inc in Roseville MN as the recipient.
Cause For Paws Inc Location: Roseville, MN
Categories: Animal Protection & Welfare (includes Humane Societies and SPCAs)
3) Visit a Cause for Paws Adoption Day. To learn more, visit their website by clicking here. St Francis will host a Cause For Paws Adoption Day on Saturday, January 13th, 2018 from 1:30-4:30 pm.
News Briefs
Facebook & Nextdoor
Thank you to everyone who has Liked our St. Francis Animal Hospital Facebook page. Thanks to you, we just reached 1,000 Likes! To visit our Facebook page, click here.
We love being your favorite neighborhood veterinary clinic! Thank you so much to everyone who voted in the Nextdoor Neighborhood Survey. We were selected as the 2017 Winner of the Neighborhood Favorite for Veterinary Clinics in 12 neighborhoods on Nextdoor. We are incredibly honored!
Referrals and Online Reviews
Thank you to everyone who has recommended us to their neighbors, colleagues and friends. Our clinic is growing thanks to all of you who spread the word. If you refer a friend, remind them to list you as a reference —- you will receive a $20 coupon for your next visit.
Take a moment to write us an online review on our Google, Facebook, or Yelppage. For every positive online review, we send you a $10 coupon for your next visit. If you use an alias or just a first name, send us an email to let us know that you posted a review — we need to be able to find you to send you your thank you!
Welcome, Chelsea Kovar, CVT and Cate Boisjolie
Chelsea Kovar, CVT graduated from Ridgewater College in 2016 with an AAS degree in Veterinary Technology. She joined St Francis as a Veterinary Technician on November 13th. She lives in Roseville with her husband Thomas and two kitty fur babies Scrappy and Sullivan.
Cate Boisjolie joined St Francis in September 2017 as a Veterinary Assistant. She is a pre-veterinary student with interests in research, pathology and large animal medicine. Her hobbies include reading, running, camping, clumsily learning guitar, traveling with her fiancé Danny and cheering on the St. Louis Cardinals.