Historical June 1998 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Twenty years ago, June 1978, we were putting the finishing touches on the renovation of a boarded up Shell service station to transform it into a veterinary clinic: Kingsbury Animal Hospital.
The Skinker/DeBaliviere neighborhood provided just what I was looking for in a location for my practice. 1 struggled with the name for the practice.
I didn’t like the sound of “Skinker Animal Hospital.” “West End Animal Hospital”? …too generic. “Central West End Animal Hospital” ? …not accurate. “Skinker/DeBaliviere Animal Hospital”? …too long. “Brammeier Animal Hospital” ? …too hard to spell. No, “Kingsbury Animal Hospital” fit, and besides, it was easy to give directions: “On the corner of Skinker and Kingsbury just north of Talayna’s.” Now we say, “…North of where Talayna’s used to be.” I put the first lettering on the building myself with the prefabricated letters purchased at “Central Hardware.” (Where?) I actually couldn’t believe the sign turned out so well. Usually, with all that spacing and measuring I end up leaving out something or adding something.
The sign was homemade, and it looked it, but starting a business on a budget leaves little room for graphic design when X-ray machines cost $9,000.00. was proud of the sign announcing the new life for the old Shell station.
I kept the first appointment book.
The first patient was a Doberman puppy.
We did surgery on him to “trim” his ears.
The surgery room wasn’t finished so we operated in one of the exam rooms.
I stopped doing ear trims about 3 years ago.
The process is too painful for the puppies, and a completely cosmetic procedure.
It is a reflection of what the veterinary profession in general, and I specifically, have learned about animals (pets); their experience of pain and our ability to relieve the pain.
It has only been within the last 10 years that the profession in general recognized the need to provide specific pain control for our patients. Of course, veterinarians have always worked to relieve an animals suffering, cure their diseases and keep them healthy.
However, our lack of understanding about the manifestations of an animal’s pain and the limited number of non-narcotic substances available to relieve pain, made specific pain control—separate from treating a disorder—not primary on the list. Happily, much has changed.
I have more drugs at my disposal specifically for pain control. Along with human medicine we have learned that preventing pain, before it starts, reduces the amount of medication needed to control a patients discomfort. Patients with less pain recover quicker.
I look around the office and see the changes brought by technology.
An automatic X-ray developer not much bigger than an orange crate that produces consistent high quality films in about two minutes.
I don’t miss the hand dipping tanks at all.
The nasty smell of the chemicals, the films sticking together, the lack of ability to control the temperature of the developer, and worst of all, the inconsistency in the quality of the films produced requiring more exposures, more trauma for the pets and the staff taking the films.
The blood chemistry machine that sits on the lab counter.
It is not the same as getting a full battery of test from a commercial lab, but it provides valuable information in just a few minutes that we used to have to wait overnight to get. Two local “roving” board certified radiologists have portable ultrasound machines.
These doctors come to our practice with their machines giving us the capability to get much more information, non-invasively, about what’s going on “inside” an animals body.
The computers and their ability to improve our record keeping, improving accessibility of medical information and client contact.
Most recently, the connection to the internet bought the ability to discuss cases with “experts” around the world, search the veterinary medical literature data bases, and compare notes with other veterinarians. Twenty years is long enough to see trends come and go. Like.the decor at Kingsbury.
I knew if I hung on long enough suffering barbs from staff and a few brave clients about the “seventies” look of the place, eventually it would be trendy again. So, I’m ready to have the legs of the plastic modular seating in the waiting room rechromed.
They are a design classic! Medical trends come and go, and come again. Their have been plenty.
When I was in school, every dog with congestive heart failure took a digitalis compound. Ten years ago that treatment was out of fashion. Now, we are starting to use the drug again, not on every case, but we realize the drugs value in a new way.
A trend that won’t go away is the recognition of the bond we have to animals; our pets in particular.
I have a few clients that have fostered puppies for the “Support Dog” program.
We give care to many pets for the “PAWS” organization; “Pets are Wonderful Support.” This group provides assistance for pet care to people living with AIDS, recognizing the importance of a pet in the life of a human coping with chronic, or terminal illness.
Some of my clients participate in programs for the elderly.
The clients take their dogs or cats to retirement centers, nursing homes or extended care facilities to share the love and joy of their pet with people deprived of contact with a warm furry friend.
As I look through that inaugural appointment book I am touched by the names of pets no longer around and also by the clients’ names we still see on our appointment book.
As much as I might not relish growing older, there is gratification in being able to stay, “I’ve been praticing here twenty years.” The practice at Kingsbury Animal Hospital has touched many lives through the years, both animal and human. Like any business, or family, the relationships formed there have come and gone, and come again.
I am grateful to all those who have worked with me contributing to the success of the practice and to the pet owners that have trusted me with care of their loving companions. 1 look forward to the comings and goings of the next twenty years.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, June 1998.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1998_06.pdf, printed page(s) 5; PDF page(s) 5.
