RIPON — Ripon Veterinary Hospital is expanding.
Veterinarian Debbie Daniels shared with Ripon Rotarians during a luncheon Wednesday at Spring Creek Golf and Country Club her plans to expand the pet hospital into the adjacent former location of The Ripon Record on Main Street to add a total 2,700 square feet.
Daniels is a 1979 grad of U.C. Davis, She launched her Ripon practice in 1984. She told Rotarians that she has two certified acupuncturist specialists also practicing in her office — Dr. Ann Scearce and Dr. Jennifer Yee.
Her five member staff includes Drs. Lindsey Croom and Dardalee Bussell and herself being semi-retired. Two are full-time and two on part-time status.
The current building housing the veterinary hospital was built in 1912 and the adjacent building in 1910 first the home of Davis Brothers Hardware and most recently The Ripon Record. The other side of the building was house by Valley Tag and Label.
“People food is a great no-no for dogs,” she said. “When eating at the table put the dog’s food someplace else.”
Some people give treats throughout the day, she added. She warned Rotarians of the dangers of giving their dogs meat from the table as well as other human foods they have difficulty in digesting.
Dr. Debbie — as she is fondly called by her clientele — said the noise of fireworks terrifies most dogs to a point they want to tear down a door to get out of their house.
She recommended turning up the TV to cover the sound or by giving the dogs a mild tranquilizer — “it terrifies them.”
She added that the Parvo disease in young dogs continues to be prevalent. As for the mosquito borne West Nile Virus, dogs and cats do not contract the disease as do horses.
Heart worm disease, on the other hand, does come from mosquito contact, she said, mostly in the foothill areas.
She further explained that dogs react to allergies much the same as the human members of their families. The allergies manifest with itchy skins usually from flea bites, she added. Food allergies bring itchy faces and itchy feet to the canines, she noted.
To contact Glenn Kahl, email gkahl@mantecabulletin.com
