This is what I am Thankful For!

 The Unsung Heroes of Ark Animal Hospital


There are several moving parts to an animal hospital that most clients may never see.  And for the most part, some of these jobs we don’t want you to see.  We clean the parking lot and scoop the poop in the grass before you even get here.  No one wants to step in poo, yuck.  There is an assistant who waters and takes care of the plants to make sure they are healthy.   Let’s be real; we take care of dogs and cats and our office plants suffer.  There is an assistant who cleans the lobby and examination rooms between appointments to keep them fresh for the next patient.   There is a different assistant who walks your dog and empties your cat’s litter box when they are hospitalized.   They give them snuggles and talk to them, yes we can hear you even when you think there is no one in the treatment room!

You can see my assistants/nurses/technicians helping me in the examination room, but behind the scenes they are ninjas.  They are trimming nails, expressing anal glands and performing heartworm tests.  They are running blood work, looking for parasite eggs under the microscope, reading ear cytologies, and preparing samples to go to the laboratory for different diagnostics.   They make sure medical records are updated, vaccinations drawn, and accounts are ready for discharge.  They position our patients to take the perfect radiograph and assist in sending the films to the radiologist if necessary.  They are there helping with the ultrasound procedure.  They are collecting urine and blood samples while doing laundry all at the same time. 

During surgical procedures my team is vital for safe anesthesia.  They monitor temperature, pulse, CO2, oxygen saturation, oxygen flow rates, EKG, and heart rate.  They make sure our patients stay sleepy and pain free.  They assist with the actual surgery when necessary.   They sit next to your fur babies as they are waking up from anesthesia and do not leave their side until they are completely awake.   They clean and sterilize all the equipment and instruments to prepare them for the next surgery.  They keep our surgical suite in tip top shape.

They are more than an assistant, nurse, and technician.  They share the same passion and drive to help our patients as our veterinarians.   They are the heartbeat of the hospital.  Without my team we wouldn’t have a hospital.  I am thankful for my unsung heroes who show up every day and work with me to share in my mission of compassionate and exceptional modern medicine with consideration and kindness for our clients.   Thank you is not enough!

Sarah Smith, dvm

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Office Hours

Our Regular Schedule

Office Hours

Monday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Thursday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Saturday:

8:00 am-12:00 pm

Sunday:

Closed