Bombay, Lily, and Peanut Butter

Help us help homeless OC pets – the need has never been greater! Many good family pets have tragically lost their homes during this real estate/financial crisis and are being surrendered to animal shelters. Local rescue groups are working around the clock to save as many needy dogs and cats as they possibly can! They need our help and more available foster homes. Got stuff you don’t need? Can you share your home and be a foster pet parent?

Please donate your good reusable items for this very worthy cause. We are accepting donations Monday thru Friday – May 10^th to May 14^th during regular business hours at Founders Veterinary Clinic 330 N Brea Blvd, Brea. Fundraiser begins Saturday May 15^th at 9am until 3pm.

Donate and hunt for bargain treasures! Dog wash on site for a doggy bubble bath while you shop. All proceeds from this fundraiser – including our dog wash – will support our Founders Pet Sponsorship Program.

Please forward this information inviting your friends and family, too! And help us find homes for our three wonderful foster pets – Peanut Butter, Bombay, and Lily. So, what is Peanut Butter made of? Find out next week when we announce her pedigree and see if you are a winner!

It’s not too late. Vote here.

Hi! I'm Peanut Butter. Can you guess my mixed up family heritage? Who was my mom? My dad? You could win a free DNA test for your doggie mix-up! And how about adopting me? I’m all heart and wiggles and that’s a sure thing!

What is he or she? For sure your dog’s got a fluffy tail, long body, pointy ears, and the personality of a Labrador. Welcome to the mystery quest that most mixed-breed or mutt dog owners ask themselves. Finally, for those curious dog lovers tired of playing the breed guessing game, new technology is making it possible for them to identify just what their mutts are made of.

Two noteworthy companies, Mars Veterinary and MMI Genomics, perform DNA testing to help identify a dog’s breed(s). Mars Wisdom Panel requires a blood sample which can be done here at Founders. Your dog’s DNA is then matched to their database, which includes 153 AKC breeds. Mars’ database of breeds is one of the largest available. MMI Genomics offers the Canine Heritage Breed Test which requires the owner to take a cheek swab of their dog’s saliva to collect the DNA sample. Their database is composed of 108 AKC breeds. Note: we only offer the Mars test which requires a blood sample.

Each company then reports the results in 3 categories: Significant, Intermediate and Minor. If a breed is identified as Significant, it shows that 50% of your dog’s DNA matches to that breed. Intermediate shows a 25% match to that breed, and Minor is a very minimal match to that breed. So, unless one of your mutt’s parents was a purebred, most results will not report a breed in the Significant category. However, any breed reported as Intermediate is a good indicator of heritage. And those breeds reported as Minor simply means your best friend is so mixed-up, only doG knows!

How valid are the results? They are only as good as the company’s database and the number of branches on your dog’s genetic tree. If your dog is 5 or more breeds, the results will most likely be reported in the Minor category, making for some clueless but interesting cocktail party conversations. 

So, if you want to know just what Fido could possibly be made of – or your dog is suffering from an identity crisis – this simple DNA test may come as a shocking surprise or confirm your secret suspicions. The cost to discover all that your dog can be is a reasonable $125. But for the month of April, we are offering an April Fools Discount, bringing the price down to only $99.

Now who will have the last laugh – you, your dog, or your friends?

Another clue before you guess! Good luck!

Special contest to win a Free DNA test: What is our foster dog Peanut Butter? Place your guess on this blog – winners will be notified when her test results are back!

SAVE THE DATE – SATURDAY, MAY 15^TH – FLEA MARKET FOR FLEABAGS AT FOUNDERS – OUR SECOND ANNUAL FUNDRAISER TO HELP OC HOMELESS PETS. We welcome all useable items in good condition. Start cleaning out your closets!

Me sharing a moment of affection with my rescued pit bull mix, Brad Pit. I just purchased Petplan for him (one of the companies we are reviewing) with coverage up to $20,000 per year for a monthly payment of $36. Yes, even vets need pet insurance!

An unexpected illness or injury could cost you thousands of dollars to save your beloved pet. At Founders, we worry that you could be forced to make critical health care decisions based on cost alone. That’s why a good pet insurance policy is so important for your peace of mind and ours too! You can’t predict the future of your pet’s health, but you can prepare for it. We can help you make the best choice.

Advances in veterinary medicine and surgery have spawned a pool of local specialists — most within a 30 minute drive from Founders. Not a week goes by that either I or Dr. Zempo needs to consult with a specialist. Most likely, your pet will one day need the services of a veterinary board certified ophthalmologist, orthopedic surgeon, medical internist, neurologist, radiologist, dentist or dermatologist. Or need emergency hospitalization and treatment by the critical care team at Advanced Critical Care and Internal Medicine (ACCIM) in Tustin. Are you prepared to foot a $3,000-$5,000 vet bill if your pet requires the expertise of a specialist? And a good pet insurance company will also cover most of the cost for many of the aliments we treat here at the clinic!

There are more than ten different pet health insurance companies to choose from. Policies are similar to human insurance policies with a wide range of premiums, deductibles, and coverage. Most plans also have co-pays and caps on how much will be paid out annually. Some companies exclude genetic conditions as pre-existing — others do not. There are age limits and restrictions on certain dog breeds that also vary company by company. Most importantly, the term pre-existing can spell disaster if the company you choose denies a claim. Bottom line: there is a lot to know BEFORE you buy!

With so many pet health insurance companies in operation, choosing the right one for your pet and your budget can be an overwhelming task. That’s why we are going to read the fine print and ask all the right questions for you. Our goal is to uncover and recommend the three best pet insurers — making sure that you start out with full coverage in 2010!

If you already have pet insurance, we are interested in your feedback — the good, the bad and the ugly! Please leave your comments on our blog for us and others to review. If you would like to start doing some of your own research, we suggest you start by reading independent reviews here: http://www.petinsurancereview.com/.

We will post the results of our in-depth pet insurance review on this blog — watch for it!

Tiffanie with hospital goof-ball Brad Pit.

Hello, I am Tiffanie. I’m a student at Cal Poly Pomona, the same university where Dr. Terifaj did her undergraduate studies before transferring to UC Davis to earn her veterinary degree — just an FYI. I will be graduating soon and taking the state test to become a licensed veterinary technician. I’ve been working part time at Founders for the last 2 years — learning a lot about the veterinary profession and getting some great paws on experience! You may have met me in an exam room, helping the doctor or greeting you and your pet at the front desk. Today, I have the pleasure of welcoming you to Founders Undercover, our new blog!

Our dedicated staff (veterinary technicians, office personal, groomers, and the docs!) has decided to share our experiences — the good, the bad, and the funny — about what it’s like to work behind the scenes at a veterinary practice. We call Founders Undercover our own version of Animal Planet! One of us will post something of interest each week about stuff that happens here at Founders in hopes that you find it inspirational, educational, or just plain fun…

We welcome you to leave comments and share your stories, too! However, should you have any medical questions that concern your pet, please call us at Founders Veterinary Clinic, 714-990-0661, for advice.

Don’t forget to visit us weekly for new updates — we are going to TELL IT ALL.  And please tell your pet lover friends to join us…thanks!

–Tiffanie

PS:  Check out Dr. Terifaj’s personal blog, Dog-Breath  — An outspoken commentary of ideas, healthy insights, and occasional rants that will bust your dogma.