On a Personal Note . . .
. . . Congratulations to Dr. Ryan Louer !

A familiar face around Greenwood Lake Animal Hospital growing up, Ryan Louer completed his Harvard residency in anesthesiology at Brigham and Women's Hospital with distinction!
Though Ryan worked for many years shoulder to shoulder with his father as a veterinary technician, he will treat all people, great and small, as a human doctor.
Dr. Ryan Louer, his wife Ann Elise, their daughter Annie and French Bulldog Charlie will soon relocate from Boston, Massachusetts, and settle into their next phase of life in North Carolina.
Congratulations Ryan, on a job well done!

July 4 Pet Safety Tips

Fireworks, barbecues and other Fourth of July traditions can be great fun for people, but all the festivities can be frightening for pets.
The noise of celebrations and fireworks can startle animals and cause them to run, while holiday foods can cause vomiting, diarrhea and/or GI obstructions. The summer heat and travel can also be dangerous and debris from parties can end up lying where pets can eat or play with it.
Follow these safety tips for a pet-safe Independence Day:

• Make sure your pets have ID tags and microchips with up-to-date information, and take a current photo of all your pets, just to be on the safe side.
• Secure your environment. If your neighbors set off fireworks at an unexpected time, is your yard secure enough to contain your pet? Evaluate your options, make improvements if needed and choose the safest area for your animals.
• Leave your pets at home when you go to parties and other holiday gatherings and consider putting them in a safe, escape-proof room or crate when hosting. Loud noises and unfamiliar people can be frightening for pets and increase the risk of them running away.
• Keep sparklers, glow sticks, fireworks, charcoal and kabob skewers away from curious pets and don't let them get near hot barbecue grills.
• Resist the urge to feed your pets party foods, and ensure that they cannot access potentially toxic people food scraps in the garbage.
• After the celebrations, check outside for any fireworks debris that may have found its way into your yard before allowing pets outside and, if you hosted, be sure that no food leftovers are lying around for your pets to get into.
• If you're traveling out of town for the holiday, consider leaving your pets at home with a pet sitter or boarding them at a kennel.

It's Prime Tick Season Out There

If you're looking to escape from the heat of the summer into the cool of the woods, remember that you and your dog aren't the only ones out and about; the ticks are just waiting for their next meal to walk by.
Don't forget to check your pet thoroughly for ticks after coming in from a hike, especially in between their paw pads, and remember to pick up (and give!) their flea and tick preventatives this summer!
While spending time outdoors, be sure to provide your pet with plenty of cool water and shade to prevent overheating, and bring them inside to air-conditioned rooms if they seem to be struggling in the heat.
This summer, keep cool and stay flea- and tick-free while enjoying the great outdoors!
P.S. Ask us about the rebates we offer on parasite preventatives purchased at GWLAH! Also important to note is that products purchased through the hospital come with a manufacturer's guarantee!

"And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there,
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave ?"

Happy birthday America!
As we celebrate our nation's 247th birthday, let us remember the great personal sacrifice that her founders endured.
In a letter to his wife, Abigail, John Adams charged future Americans with the responsibility of preserving the freedom that his generation had paid for with "our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor."
He wrote:
“Posterity! you will never know how much it cost the present generation to preserve your freedom! I hope you will make a good use of it. If you do not, I shall repent in Heaven that I ever took half the pains to preserve it.”
Happy Independence Day!