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Natural Awakenings Central New Jersey

Palo-Santo-Candles

Celebrating 60 years in Animal Health

The Bernardsville Animal Hospital

WEB-BS_Bernardsville_back2Founded in 1957, the Bernardsville Animal Hospital has been operating at the same location for almost 60 years. Since its founding the hospital has changed hands only twice — once in 1961 and again in 1995. The clinic was built by a veterinarian named, oddly enough, Dr. Argue in 1957. We found his name stenciled on the back of fiberglass cages that were upgraded to stainless steel 20 years ago.

Much has changed in the world of veterinary medicine over the past six decades. Veterinary medicine is as advanced today as most human medicine. From laser surgery to MRI’s to radiation therapy for cancer, all are available for treating today’s companion animal.

[one_half]

1957

  • Dogs slept in the owner’s back yard
  • Spaying and neutering was uncommon
  • Surgery with a scalpel
  • Little or no pain management
  • Vaccines based on cost
  • Human-Animal bond not recognized
  • Film and chemical radiographs
  • Use of human labs
  • Untrained kennel workers
  • Cats lived in the barn
  • Few women veterinarians
  • Life span of under 10 years
  • Little or no cancer therapy
  • Little or no behavior counseling
  • Pets were “just animals” [/one_half] [one_half_last]

2015

  • Dogs sleep in the owner’s bed
  • Widespread adoption of early spay/neuter to control pet populations
  • Surgery with a laser
  • Focus on providing pain relief
  • Vaccines based on safety
  • Celebration of the Human-Animal bond
  • Digital radiographs
  • Large Veterinary Laboratories as well as In House Laboratories
  • Professional trained veterinary staff
  • Cats receive complete veterinary care
  • Women outnumber men in veterinary colleges
  • Many pets live past 15
  • Advanced options for cancer management
  • Behavior counseling commonplace
  • Pets are part of the family [/one_half_last]
At the Bernardsville Animal Hospital, our health care team has some of the best trained, most compassionate, friendliest care-givers in the companion medicine community. We proudly practice state-of-the art veterinary medicine; replacing scalpels with a surgical laser and conventional X-ray films with digital radiographs. We treat arthritis in senior pets with therapy laser and use many tools and techniques to create a stress free visit for your pet. We will also make house calls if that is more helpful for you. But most of all, we will always take the necessary time and care to listen to you and your pet so that we can provide the most accurate and comprehensive diagnostic and treatment plan to meet you and your pet’s unique situation. Your pet will receive high quality medical services at competitive pricing. Stress-free visits. Here in town. Stellar care at affordable prices. Just what the doctor ordered. Dr. James Baxter received a Bachelor of Science in Biology and his Master’s degree in Veterinary Science from Penn State University before earning his Veterinary Degree from Michigan State University. Prior to attending Penn State, Dr. Baxter was a Captain in the United States Marine Corps and served six years. In his spare time, Dr. Baxter enjoys woodworking, writing poetry and playing with his two dogs, Lila and Kiwi. Owned by Dr. Baxter and his wife, Dr. Vedrana Gjivoje, the Bernardsville Animal Hospital is the only laser surgery center in the area.

Location: The Bernardsville Animal Hospital, 41 Morristown Rd., Bernardsville, NJ. For information call 908-766-0041 or visit BernardsvilleAnimalHospital.com.

Community
Tick Talk

Spring officially sprung on March 21. We have turned our clocks ahead. We are looking forward to warm winds, sunny skies and the smell of fresh cut grass. The daffodils and tulips have recently bloomed and we are just starting with the yard work that comes with the warmer weather.  Sadly, another season has started ramping up.  Tick season.

•             The best form of protection is prevention. Educating oneself about tick activity and how our behaviors overlap with tick habitats is the first step.

•             According to the NJ DOH, in 2022 Hunterdon County led the state with a Lyme disease incidence rate of 426 cases per 100,000 people. The fact is ticks spend approximately 90% of their lives not on a host but aggressively searching for one, molting to their next stage or over-wintering. This is why a tick remediation program should be implemented on school grounds where NJ DOH deems high risk for tick exposure and subsequent attachment to human hosts.

•             Governor Murphy has signed a bill that mandates tick education in NJ public schools. See this for the details.  Tick education must now be incorporated into K-12 school curriculum. See link:

https://www.nj.gov/education/broadcasts/2023/sept/27/TicksandTick-BorneIllnessEducation.pdf

•             May is a great month to remind the public that tick activity is in full swing. In New Jersey, there are many tickborne diseases that affect residents, including Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, Powassan, and Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis.

•             For years, the focus has mainly been about protecting ourselves from Lyme disease. But other tick-borne diseases are on the rise in Central Jersey. An increase of incidence of Babesia and Anaplasma are sidelining people too. These two pathogens are scary because they effect our blood cells. Babesia affects the red blood cells and Anaplasma effects the white blood cells.

•             Ticks can be infected with more than one pathogen. When you contract Lyme it is possible to contract more than just that one disease. This is called a co-infection. It is super important to pay attention to your symptoms. See link.

https://twp.freehold.nj.us/480/Disease-Co-Infection

A good resource from the State:

https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/tickborne.shtml

 

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