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 Throughout the large building located on the east edge of San Jose
there were stations set up with technicians and vets talking about
services performed for large and small animals.
Coming in the front door, Greenhaven receptionists were on hand to
greet guests and give direction to the various information stations
around the building.
In the reception area, a pet food and supply drive was underway with
several guests bringing in donations. The products will be
distributed to three local organizations including the Humane
Society of Logan County, the Mason County Pets without Parents, and
the Tazewell County Animal Protection Society.
The front exams rooms were set up with one person discussing pet
boarding. Greenhaven is affiliated with the Cha-Dai Pet Motel in
Lincoln, which offers boarding for pets. The offices in San Jose
also provide boarding for current pet clients.
Another room was designated to talking about pet diet and the
Metabolic Diet Plan, which is designed specifically for the
individual pet. Part of this program addresses pet obesity and the
health risks that come with it. With a custom designed diet based on
the animal, it's current weight versus the weight it should be by
breed, pets slim down their ideal weight and become healthier,
happier, and more active.
Another exam room, which was quite popular with guests, was
established as a center for offering information about heartworm
prevention.
In the mid-section of the clinic, a demonstration and discussion
were being conducted regarding pet dental health. Dogs and cats
often suffer illnesses that are also common to humans. Among them
gingivitis. Tiffany Kirchgessner, Certified Veterinary Technician,
had a large display to show the effects of gingivitis on dogs and
discuss prevention of the disease.
Off to the side of this large exam room are two smaller rooms, one
is for x-rays, and the other is a surgical room.
In the x-ray room, the technician discussed how x-rays are performed
on pets, the modern methods of x-ray that include digital imaging
using computer technology instead of “x-ray films.” She also had on
her computer screen an x-ray of a soon to be mama dog. As folks
passed through, Kirchgessner showed where there were four puppies
located in the x-ray. One was very visible, while the others took a
little more effort to see.
In the surgical room, a young guest was learning how to intubate a
stuffed puppy.
Exiting the mid-section of the clinic and moving toward the back
guests entered the large animal section.
The area in the back was divided for the day into a serving line for
some excellent refreshments and another demonstration area. In the
large animal section, the large animals on hand were two horses and
a pony belonging to Dr. George Eales, one of the vets at Greenhaven.
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Eales had brought the two horses to the clinic in order to discuss
the dental issues on horses. The talk regarding the horses drew the
attention of a large number of guests. Dr. Eales began by talking
about the dental structure of the horse, using a skeletal head as an
illustration. He explained some of the routine attention that horses
teeth need. Afterward, he did a live demonstration of how the
clinic would address the dental care of a horse. He gave the horse a
sedative to help relax him, and then did a mouth wash to remove any
stray food that might be in the teeth. He then inserted an equine
dental speculum into the horse’s mouth. The speculum simply put, is
a devise that will hold the horse’s mouth open during the dental
exam. Guests were allowed to come into the horse’s stall a few at a
time, and Eales pointed out the dental problems that would need to
be addressed in the horse.
Greenhaven was founded in 1964 by Dr. Wayne Lutz. In 1988, Dr.
William Armbruster joined the staff of Greenhaven and later invested
in the business.
Although all the staff was busy Saturday visiting and enjoying
time with their guests, Dr. Eales did take a couple of minutes to
talk about the clinic. He noted that today the clientele at the
clinic is a little more than 50 percent small animals. He said the
trend of veterinary services is shifting to the smaller animals over
the large in this region.
Dr. Eales noted that the clinic does work with a good number of
livestock producers. What he sees is that while the number of cattle
operations in the area has gone down, the number of cattle is much
the same as it was when he joined the clinic in 2003. In the swine
production sector, he said the clinic is seeing more purebred
operations than in the past. The clinic also deals with sheep, goats
and horses as needed.
Greenhaven has a large staff of veteraniarians, vet assistants,
technicians and support staff.
Greenhaven will be continuing their pet food and supply drive
through the month of November. The supplies that are needed include
laundry detergent, bleach, heavy duty trash bags, paper towels, cat
litter, Purina dog food (canned & dry), and Purina cat food (canned
& dry). Donations can be dropped off at Greenhaven in San Jose or
Cha-Dai Pet Motel in Lincoln.
Learn more about Greenhaven on their website
http://www.greenhavenanimalclinic.com/about-us/doctors-staff.html
[Nila Smith]
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