My name is Cassandra and I’m a veterinary technician at the Princeton Animal Hospital. We work with healthy animals, sick pets, and life-or-death situations on a daily basis. Having worked here for almost 2 years, I already knew the staff was knowledgeable and friendly. I never realized the impact the Princeton Animal Hospital’s staff really has on the families of our patients until I experienced it first hand.
On Sunday, October 10, 2010, my dog Luna, a four year old Welsh Corgi, started showing abnormal urinary signs. She urinated a normal amount at 11 AM, but shortly after, she was straining to urinate. I brought her to work with me that day to have Dr. Jones examine her. She had a normal temperature and heart rate, and her lungs sounded clear. The only abnormality Dr. Jones found was a slight tenseness in her abdomen. This tenseness can be associated with urinary tract infections or bladder stones. Dr. Jones recommended x-rays, blood work, or sending her home on antibiotics. Because she is a young, healthy dog, and was having no other urinary issues, I decided to take her home with antibiotics.
As soon as I got home that night, she passed a stone and began urinating large amounts of urine with blood in it. I assumed this blood was normal because she had just passed a stone, but, just to be safe, I immediately called Princeton Animal Hospital. The doctor and I discussed whether this was an emergency: should I bring her right out or could it wait until the morning? The doctor said there wasn’t a major blood vessel that would cause any profuse bleeding. I decided to wait until morning since she would only be alone for a few hours overnight.
When I woke up the next morning, Luna was laying on the floor, cold, covered in bloody urine, and barely responsive! At the Princeton Animal Hospital, there are technicians available 24 hours a day to help with emergencies, so I called immediately. I told them she had taken a sudden downhill turn and was very sick, and I was on my way. I was nervous I wasn’t going to make it in time, and blasted the heat in my car to keep her temperature up.
Once I arrived, Aleisha, the overnight technician, helped me take her inside. She placed an I.V. catheter in her leg and started giving her fluids. Dr. McCann took her temperature, checked her blood pressure, and ran blood work. While they were working with her, the rest of the morning staff arrived. All the doctors and technicians helped with my sweet Luna! They took x-rays and found she had a bladder full of stones. The owner of the Princeton Animal Hospital, Dr. James Miele, assured me that he would perform the surgery to remove the stones once she was stable. I knew this surgery would be costly, but I was willing to do anything to save my Luna’s life! After the diagnostic tests were competed and Luna was stable, Dr. Miele performed the surgery. Luna was ready to go home after a few more days in the hospital! I will never be able to thank everyone enough for saving Luna. I am so happy to have her back! It’s a relief to know I can call anytime, day or night, for emergencies. Today, Luna is again, a healthy happy dog thanks to the staff at the Princeton Animal Hospital.
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