Kingsbrook Animal Hospital The Beginning

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

How it all began…

Doctors Morse Davis and Adrienne Cardella grew up about 2 miles from each other in Bethesda, Maryland, but never knew each other prior to veterinary school. Doctor Cook grew up on a farm in the mountains of West Virginia.

They all met on their first day of veterinary school at Ohio State in September of 1989. After graduation, each went their own separate ways. Dr. Cardella worked in Alexandria, Virginia; Dr. Cook went to Leesburg, Virginia; and Dr. Davis worked at a hospital in Bethesda, Maryland. After 10 months, Dr. Cardella accepted a position at Quince Orchard Veterinary Hospital in Gaithersburg, Maryland. 

Drs. Brent Cook and Morse Davis

In the spring of 1994, doctors Cook and Cardella bumped into Dr. Davis during a solar eclipse. Dr. Cardella mentioned her new job at Quince Orchard and Dr. Davis joined her a few months later. Doctors Cook and Cardella then married in 1996. Dr. Cook and Dr. Davis began talking about opening their own hospital someday, and after years of exploring the demographics of different areas, exploring neighborhoods, and meeting with realtors, they decided that the Kingsbrook area of Frederick would be the home of their new animal hospital! They saw their first patients in March of 1999, when Dr. Cardella was home raising her and Dr. Cook’s daughter, Alice. 

Dr. Adrienne Cardella and Ann Carlson, assistant

In the beginning, Doctors Cook and Davis took turns at Kingsbrook Animal Hospital, doing relief work at other hospitals on their off days. At this point, there was only one doctor and one other person working the hospital each day. Each person wore many different hats, working as a veterinarian, an information technologist, receptionist, technician and even a janitor! Fortunately, word spread and our hospital grew quickly. Today, we are lucky enough to support 5 doctors and over 20 staff members. We have grown because of our amazing clients and we are forever in their debt!

Introducing Dr Jenny Lynch

Dr Lynch with her husband, Chris , and children Abby and Shane.

Frederick native, Dr. Jenny Lynch is proud to serve her community here at Kingsbrook Animal Hospital.  Jenny lives in the area with her husband and two children: Abby and Shane. Also part of the household are the family’s two cats Cricket and Huey, both rescues, lovingly nicked named ‘Beast and Buddy." 

Dr. Lynch with Little Sister

Dr. Lynch discovered her passion for veterinary medicine after completing undergrad with a bachelor’s degree in biology and a minor dance. After ‘dancing’ with the thought of going to grad school for marine biology, she decided to do something a little different. Dr. Lynch began her career in veterinary medicine by working as a veterinary technician at a practice in Montgomery Co. as well as right here at Kingsbrook Animal Hospital! While working at KAH, she was accepted at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. After graduating vet school in 2011, Dr. Lynch completed an internship at an emergency hospital in Windsor, NY.  Dr. Lynch has been practicing veterinary medicine at Kingsbrook Animal Hospital since early 2014. Her special interests include dentistry, internal medicine and feline medicine.

   While not at work, Dr. Lynch enjoys spending time with her family, being outdoors, doing yoga, taking photos, scrapbooking and attending local events and festivals.

 

 

Why you love KAH Contest

Your pets have told us why they love KAH. (Remember our I love KAH contest?)

This month, you will see why the KAH team love’s KAH.

Now it’s time for YOU to tell us- Why do YOU love KAH?

On March 31^st, we will randomly give away a grand prize gift card for a tasting party at Oil & Vinegar in Frederick, Md! (This is a $100 value!) In order to be entered into the drawing, all you need to do is tell us in one sentence- Why YOU love KAH.

Tiffanie and the Oil and Vinegar Gift Card!

(check out Kingsbrook Animal Hospital’s holiday party to see how much fun a tasting party can be! It includes cocktails, sampling of various oils, vinegars, and appetizers, and also includes a cooking demonstration- for you and 10 of your friends!)

Other random prizes include, KAH travel mugs, KAH t-shirts, and dog and cat goodies!  

 

The KAH Holiday Party at Oil and Vinegar

Email yourfriends@kingsbrookvet.com or facebook message us your entry today! (make sure to include your name and best way to contact you!)

We will be announcing winners throughout the month with the grand prize being announced March 31^st so message us now to enter!!

Dental Care of Small Exotic Pets at KAH

We all know that our dogs and cats need proper dental care, including regular professional cleanings, but did you know that your exotic pets need dental care, too? Rabbits are known as lagomorphs, because they have four incisors on the upper jaw and a set of peg teeth, instead of two incisors, as seen in rodents. Small rodents (guinea pigs, hamsters, rats, and mice) as well as rabbits need routine dental care. The teeth in small rodents and lagomorphs are open rooted, meaning they grow continuously throughout their lives. Our small furry friends need regular chewing action in order to wear down their continuously growing teeth. The most effective way to help your exotic pet wear down their teeth is to provide a good quality timothy hay at all times.  A regular physical exam with your veterinarian at Kingsbrook Animal Hospital in Frederick, MD will include a dental examination to determine the status of your pet’s teeth.

Sometimes, however, our pets just have bad teeth. In which case, a visit to your veterinarian is recommended. Some animals do not wear their teeth down properly, leading to malocclusion, a misalignment of the teeth. Malocclusion can lead to other dental problems, including abscesses, wounds and difficulty eating. Symptoms of dental problems in your exotic friends include, but are not limited to, drooling, difficulty eating, and weight loss. Improper nutrition can also lead to poor dental health.

Introducing Dr Dannis/Acupuncture to Frederick, MD

Sugar listening to Dr Dannis' lecture



Sugar says "That didn't hurt a bit."

Did you hear that KAH is introducing Dr. Dannis who is an acupuncturist?!

     My name is Sugar, I am a healthy 3 year old American Bulldog.  My mom works at KAH as a CSR.  I overheard her talking about acupuncture & had to see what this was for myself.  So, when I heard KAH was looking for a demo dog for an acupuncture lecture, I was first to volunteer.

      I attended the acupuncture lecture that Dr. Dannis, a veterinarian, hosted last Friday with all of my friends from KAH. We learned all about acupuncture & how it works.  Basically, acupuncture is a form of triggering the nerve fibers to fire from minimal stimulus so that they don’t fire due to other causes ( can you tell I took notes ;))  It also promotes healing by encouraging the growth of the new blood vessels into areas of the chronic inflammation. This stimulation can also release opiods within your body for pain. 



Dr Dannis inserting the needles into Sugar's back

     This all sounded great but I wanted to experience this for myself. Well, after seeing another animal first of course.  So when I noticed Baby Kitty raising her paw to go first I was relieved.  I watched her get her acupuncture without a flinch. I knew needed to be brave in this moment.  Dr. Dannis called my name, I started eating cheese & the next thing I knew I had all these needles all over my body & I was feeling really relaxed.  Great job Dr. Dannis!

     What a great experience! I’m sure this will benefit other pets that need additional therapy for their treatments of arthritis, pain, and other health issues.  Great job KAH for adding a service to go above & beyond for pets as usual!

For More information my mom says that you can contact Kingsbrook Animal Hospital at 301-631-6900. They will be starting to schedule appointments in Frederick, MD for Dr. Dannis soon!

 

Preventative Dental Care Recommendations at KAH

Tiffanie showcasing out dental care products

   When we think of dental care, we think of brushing and flossing our teeth twice daily and visiting the dentist for a professional cleaning every 6 months.  So why do we think that our pets don't need the same care to keep their teeth pearly white?

When it comes to dental care in our pets, brushing is always best.  Plaque hardens into tartar after 48-72 hours.  Once it has hardened, the only way to remove it is with a professional cleaning. So it is best to brush your pet's teeth at least once every other day.  Also you want to make sure you are using a pet safe toothpaste.  We recommend CET Enzymatic toothpaste.  The enzymes help to break down the bacteria in the plaque and it comes in three pet friendly flavors; vanilla mint, poultry and malt.

Dental care in pets can be intimidating.  You will have to slowly desensitize your pet to the toothbrush, the toothpaste and the act of brushing. To see a demonstration CLICK HERE.

What if your pet will not tolerate having their teeth brushed?  There are many other options for your pet's dental health.

Dentacetic Wipes-An abrasive pad impregnated with a chemical that disrupts the biofilm on the teeth

                              caused by plaque and bacteria.

Oravet Sealant-A waxy substance that is applied to the tooth surface weekly to decrease plaque from

                         sticking.

CET Oral Rinse-An antiseptic rinse that is applied to the tooth surface to inhibit plaque formation.

Maxiguard Oral Gel-An antiseptic gel that is applied to the tooth surface to inhibit plaque formation.

Greenies Treat*-A dental bone/treat that mechanically cleans the teeth.

Tartar Shield Rawhide*-A dental bone that mechanically and chemically cleans the teeth.

CET Chews-A dental bone/treat that mechanically and chemically cleans the teeth.

CET Veggiedent Chew*-A dental bone that mechanically cleans the teeth.

Science Diet Oral Care*-A diet that is formulated to mechanically clean the teeth.

Hill's Prescription Diet T/D*-A diet that is formulated to mechanically clean the teeth.

*These products are certified by the VOHC (Veterinary Oral Health Council)

If you have any questions about the products mentioned above, call your friendly veterinarians at Kingsbrook Animal Hospital in Frederick, MD for more information.

Dental Nutrition Recommendations at KAH

Dental disease is an ongoing concern in our companion dogs and cats.  All cats and dogs will at some point experience a level of dental disease that will benefit from being addressed by a thorough dental cleaning under anesthesia. 

Just like you or I benefit from having our teeth professionally cleaned every 6 months so do our pets.  Just like our dentist we are able to scale plaque and tartar that accumulates under the gum line that is difficult to eliminate with routine home care. 

When we brush our teeth everyday it contributes to our oral health and hopefully makes our routine visits to the dentist just that, “routine”.  Our goal with our own dental home care is to minimize gingivitis and gum disease that leads to progressive periodontal disease.  The same goes for our pets. 

Now we all know that not all four legged friends are created equal in their tolerance of dental home care in its forms of brushing, oral rinses and wipes.  This leaves us with diets and treats.  There are so many products on the market that are labeled to benefit our pet’s oral health. 

As veterinary professionals we hold stock in products that have the VOHC seal of approval.  VOHC stands for Veterinary Oral Health Council and includes 9 veterinary dentists and dental scientists that have established pre-set standards for products that reduce plaque and tartar with continued use.  

Some of the products that are included on this list that we strongly recommend to our patients are Science Diet t/d prescription food for both cats and dogs, Tartar Shield soft rawhide chews for dogs, and greenies for cats and dogs and Virbac CET veggie dents for dogs.  You can access information about other products with the VOHC seal of approval at www.vohc.org.

If you are interested in more information, call Kingsbrook Animal Hospital's veterinary team in Frederick, MD