Veterinary Olympics

Veterinary Olympics break up the long cold winter for employees of local business.

On Tuesday, Maple Knoll Veterinary Clinic and Waupun Veterinary Services held their own Olympics.  Games included a sleeping dog carry on a stretcher, slalom through the large animal lobby and a mini heptathalon (seven mini events).  Employees of the two clinics were combined into three teams.  With the long cold winter, the games were intended to bring a little fun, teamwork and competition for the employees.  The winners received $25 each.  Abby Wilkins, Carrie Kohn and Brittney Rigby were on the winning team which was called “The Mitochondriacs” named after the energy producing part of a cell.

Valentine’s Day Safety

Valentine’s Day is a sweet holiday designed for telling the people you care about how much you love them! Sometimes your special Valentine’s Day treats may include chocolate candy or other sweets. These treats are extremely dangerous for our pets to consume, so it’s important to always keep them out of their reach. 

Chocolate especially, but also sugar free candy which contains a substance called xylitol, can be absolutely lethal for dogs and cats. If your pet consumes candy, sugar free candy, or chocolate, please contact us immediately so we can help you through the situation. 

February is Pet Dental Health Month

February is National Dental Health Month

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February is National Dental Health Month! Your pet’s oral health is linked to their overall health.   During your pet’s annual physical exam, an minimal oral exam is usually performed that allows the doctor to determine the need for a more extensive Oral Assessment and Treatment Plan (ATP).

The Oral ATP is more than just looking at the teeth. It involves looking at the tooth face for any asymmetry, swelling, discharge, or masses. We look at tartar on the teeth, tooth alignment,  tooth color, and for the presence of extra teeth or if any teeth are missing, chipped or cracked.  We look at the gums, inside of the cheeks, and check the palate for color, swelling,  gum recession, and sensitivity. We also check for odor. Although many pets tolerate the minimal oral exam while they are awake, anesthesia is always necessary to safely perform thorough Oral ATP.

Prior to anesthesia, a compressive physical exam, a blood test and an ecg are performed to help us decide the best course of anesthesia.  An IV is placed through which fluids are administered before, during and after the procedure to ensure your pet is stable.  A patient monitor, similar to those used in a human hospital, is used to monitor the vital signs. After the oral assessment, the tartar is removed ultrasonically with our state-of-the-art scaler which does not damage the tooth enamel. Next, the teeth are polished with a polisher similar to that used by your own dentist. Finally, fluoride is applied to help strengthen teeth and prevent future tartar buildup.


Loose, broken or infected teeth may need removal. Oral radiographs are often helpful in determining the status of a tooth, because more than half of a tooth can be beneath the gum line. We can perform simple and surgical extractions here are Maple Knoll, when needed.  Pain relief and antibiotics are administered by injection and some are also sent home for your pet's safety and comfort.

Follow up home care is recommended to keep your pet’s mouth healthy.  Dogs and cats need tooth brushing daily and most need an Oral ATP once or twice per year starting at age six or seven, some even earlier. For the entire month of February, in honor of National Dental Health Month, Maple Knoll Veterinary Clinic is giving away a free gift to all patients who have Oral ATPs performed. Call today to schedule your pet's appointment!

Blood Pressure

As we strive to provide the best care for your pets we continue to incorporate medical, surgical, and technical advances. Recently, we have integrated blood pressure measuring for dogs and cats. Now that we have the capability to monitor your pet’s blood pressure, this will be a part of routine pet care and it will also help us to better monitor those patients at higher risk for hyper- (high) and hypo- (low) tension.

In cats, hypertension is commonly secondary to chronic kidney disease and hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid gland). Kidney disease and hyperthyroidism are two are of the most common diseases in cats and often occur hand-in-hand. In dogs, it is commonly secondary to chronic kidney and Cushing’s disease (adrenal gland dysfunction).

Uncontrolled hypertension can result in several problems including sudden blindness and heart failure. Since hypertension is common and can cause severe symptoms, it is best to PREVENT these problems (especially blindness or heart failure) by routinely measuring your pet's blood pressure and addressing it at the first signs of elevation.

You may be wondering how we go about measuring your pet’s blood pressure? We being by shaving a small patch of fur off the bottom of your pet’s paw. Next, a small cuff is gently wrapped around one of your pet’s limbs. As a sensor is held against the shaved area on the paw, air is pumped into the cuff (very similar to what you have done at your own doctor’s office). As the air is slowly released from the cuff, the technician will read the measurement shown on the blood pressure dial. In order to get a reliable reading, we repeat these steps anywhere from six to ten times. The procedure is pain free and is preformed while your pet is comfortable and relaxed.

If you think your pet may be at risk for hyper- or hypo-tension, please give us a call to discuss blood pressure monitoring.  Maple Knoll Veterinary Clinic is committed to living up to the highest standards in veterinary medicine and we are excited to continue to incorporate new medical advances to ensure the health and happiness your pets.  

National Senior Pet Month

November is National Senior Pet Month. Whether you have a senior pet or have plans to adopt one, we can provide you with information on how best to care of your senior pet.

Corky Highlight

Corky is a seven year old Bichon / Shih Tzu mix who came to our clinic feeling and acting unusual for the three days prior to her appointment. Some of Corky’s symptoms included anxiety when left alone, not eating or drinking, and an unusual odor around her face. During the physical exam, Corky showed signs of pain near her mouth. After a quick peak inside, it was clear that there was a wound and possible infection inside Corky’s mouth. To get a better look, Dr. Julie sedated Corky using a short-lasting sedative. Upon further inspection we saw a ¾” piece of wood lodged between two of Corky’s back teeth. The wood sliver was protruding from her teeth and rubbing against Corky’s tongue causing a large irritation and infection. In a matter of minutes, Dr. Julie was able to remove all traces of the wood from Corky’s mouth. She was able to go home, along with some antibiotic and pain management, right after the procedure.