20 Herald - Lantern Dispatch 2 April '86

||iL APRIL 2nd THRU APRIL 15tti FREE HOSIERY WITH EVERY PURCHASE rT#10 off*!®! SH0ES TOW 20% |^IT'E=S— I off sag" "PROFESSIONAL WHITE" LAB COATS - LAB JACKETS REGULARLY $23.99 YOUR CHOICE I °"LV $13.99 Uniform Center 3002 PACIFIC AVE., WILDWOOD |_7j _ FASHIONS PBu /U arriving KQ\/^| DAILY # MOTHER OF 1 ALSO PETITES ^9% ji.iM. LADIES "g"1 ■f >fivj8uf fi rpnro A fashion ■ boutique (-0 I FHANOSCOA MON.-FR1. I 10 AM TO 5 PM SAT. 1 1 1 2 So tH M St 10 AM TO 2 PM

tBMasgmi AVALON AND STONE HARBOR STORES NOW OPEN DAILY 9 AM • 5 PM • GIFTS & NOVELTIES • HALLMARK CARDS • GLASSWARE • PET SUPPLIES • STATIONARY • CHILDREN'S BOOKS • HARDWARE • SEWING NOTIONS • KEYS • PAPERBACK BOOKS • PLANT SUPPLIES ** • SUNDRIES '*■ New Spring Merchandise Arriving Daily!

_^^F_Pet Patrol MARK IV LOGAN, V.M.D

It is tax time, and many of us venture away from our desks at home to consul'. tax preparers before the deadline in mid-April. That visit to the local tax preparer's office takes a lot of planning. You must phone ahead for an appointment, collect ^all your receipts and records, drive to the office, and spend a few minutes to hours discussing your tax situation. Hopefully you always remember every document needed to process your return. IN SHORT, the whole procedure would take much longer without planning and knowledge of the services you needed at the tax preparers office. Your pet's visit to the veterinarian requires the same amount of planning so that you will be pleased with the services rendered and your pet will receive the care desired. Here are ■ a few suggestions to think about next time you are about to visit your veterinarian. These tips equally apply to your doctor, dentist or other health professional. MAKE AN appointment, no matter what the problem. It is important for the staff to know you are,-" coming so time can be allotted for your visit in the doctor's schedule for the day. Tell the staff member when calling how many animals you will be bringing at one time. Emergencies demand a phone call before setting out for the veterinary office because certain lifesaving equipment may need to be readied. Check in with the receptionist upon your arrival. Some veterinary offices are not constructed so that the reception area is in easy view of the staff and your presence may be missed. INDICATING your arrival to the receptionist will set the gears working for your visit as well. At this | time answer any question the staff may have concer-

ning the nature of your pet's visit. Many veterinarians would prefer lab specimens be presented on your arrival so that laboratory testing can commence while you are seated in the reception area. While waiting your turn to enter the exam room with your pet, try to get a mental checklist together of questions you want answered and services you wish performed during your veterinary visit. NO VETERINARIAN wishes to have your visit be incomplete because you forgot to ask that question which has been gnawing at you for weeks. Always bring your dog to the veterinarian on a leash and your cat within a carrier or strapped in a figure eight harness. Every veterinary technician has sad stories to tell of animals who bolted away from an owner's arms. Anxiety and nervousness will cause an escape response in a pet and those pet owners who claim "Gigi" would never run - away are most prone to an unexpected pet loss outside the veterinary office. Use a lease or box. please. WHILE YOUR veterinarian examines your pet, help him with moderate restraint of your animal and try to keep your pet calm. A good physical exam does require some handling of the animal by the doctor. Wrapping your arms around "Duchess" or allowing a small dog to climb your shoulder inhibits the examiner There always is plenty of time for affection and reconciliation between owner and pet after the physical examination. IF YOU ARE leary of holding your pet during an examination or specimen collection, tell the doctor rather than get upset with the situation. Your veterinarian will gladly have a staff member assist . so that you won't transfer > your anxieties to the animal. Owners of animals which bite, scratch or generally v misbehave might be kind to zl warn their veterinarians of I unexpected dangers. ProI per precautions may include muzzling, along with ohysical or chemical restramj . Your veterinarian and his staff are professionals and will only restrain your dog or cat as necessary to insure the safety of the animal, the owner and themselves. SHOULD YOUR pet have an "accident" inform the doctor or a staff member and they will promptly clean it up and dispose of it according to their hospital policy. Most veterinarians would rather you allow I them to dispose of "accidents" instead of contaminating or clogging an improper waste receptacle. Quite honestly, animals soil veterinary offices often, so don't be embarrassed by the whole situation.

OWNERS WHO keep their own records of their pet's vaccinations and boosters will understand their pet's health requirements much more fully. Try to know when boosters and routine tests such as heartworm and fecals are needed and request these services be per formed while you are in the exam room with your pet. It is best not to wait until you are leaving to ask for these tests because the thought may slip your mind. ASK QUESTIONS if you do not understand what is being done for your animal or how testing is being performed. As you make your way to the cashier to pay "Ginger's" bill, it is appropriate to think about any flea control products, vitamins, heartworm preventive, or prescription drugs your pet needs to "pick up" while you are visiting the office. The majority of doctors, dentists and other health professionals in this area expect payment when services are rendered. YOUR VETERINARIAN is probably no exception. Medical offices are not banks and in most circumstances cannot offer a line of credit. Respect the fact that your doctor, dentist or veterinarian has quite a bit of overhead and needs to meet his financial obligations-^ust as you do your 1 ^x. After your animal has s been e x'a m i n e & and possibly treated is Mot an

a*ppfT>priate time to negotiate a loan at the cashier's window. THE PURPOSE of this week's article was to guide you over some of the rough spots of a veterinary visit. The key to getting the best health care for your pet is to arrive at the office prepared with the necessary documents to streamline your visit, cooperate with your veterinarian's attempts to work with you and your pet in the examination room, and ask questions. NOTE - March and April are Heartworm testing months at your veterinarian's office. It is extremely important that your dog be tested before starting the heartworm preventive this year and every year, Call your veterinary office for details on this serious problem in our area.

Parent Group Sets Election WILDWOOD - The Wildwood Elementary Home and School Association will meet 7:30 p.m Wednesday April 9 in the all-purpose room at Glenwood Avenue School for its annual election of officers meeting. Following elections Mrs. Ann Reef. R.N. will talk on "First Aid in the Home". Free babysitting is available.

Want to REPORT Your Community's News in a Weekly Column? If you live in AVALON SEA ISLE CITY UPPER TWP. > OCEAN CITY or DENNIS TWP. then Drop a Note with your Qualifications to JOE ZELNIK Herald Newspapers P.O. Box 430 C.M.C.H., NJ. 08210

KOI WWjW THIS MOTHER'S DAY i THANK HER FOR A JOB WELL DONE WITH A BOOK FROM ! Village Booksmith i Village Shoppes of Rio Grande > H«Kirs: Mon.-Fri. 10-9. Sat. 104>. Sun. Noon-5 MasterCard/Visa Accepted • 886-8691