by adm1n | Nov 1, 2018
When the Oakwood Veterinary Clinic opened its doors in March of 2011 there was a newly hired receptionist named Kayla sitting at the desk welcoming our new clients and their pets. She was an integral part of our practice then, and instrumental in establishing its success. Seven years later, she has become one of our most experienced front desk staff.
Zander
If you call the office to schedule an appointment for a check-up, surgery or special procedure, or simply to ask a question, Kayla is on the line to help you with whatever you need.
If you are checking in for your appointment or stopping at the desk on your way out, she is always ready with a smile.
She works with the doctors and the rest of our support staff filling prescriptions, assisting with “run in back” appointments, and relaying client messages. Because of her years of experience, she uses the knowledge she has gained to educate our clients in many areas including flea and tick control, heartworm prevention, and vaccine protocols.
Tazer
To support our staff, Kayla is responsible for maintaining our “positivity center”, a message board where she posts motivational sayings, thank you cards and pet photos from our clients and great reviews posted on Facebook.
Selia
Outside of the office Kayla enjoys spending time with her dog Tazer and cats Selia and Zander. In the summer she enjoys camping and enjoying nature. She spends time at her grandparent’s camp in the Adirondacks. She also loves to read, and she is an avid Star Wars Fan!
by adm1n | Oct 29, 2018
On Halloween night, the ghouls and goblins come out and actually ring your doorbell! This can be very stressful for our furry friends. It is best if pets are kept somewhere away from the trick-or-treat mayhem. A room at the back of the house with the door closed is a great option. If your pets are crate trained, you may want to put them in their crates. Playing soft music to mask the sound of the doorbell is also a great idea. If possible, you can sit outside to hand out candy, then your pets won’t be disturbed by the doorbell and the opening and closing of the door.
Now is a great time to make sure the tags on Kitty’s collar and the information on Fido’s microchip record is up-to-date. If your four-legged family member does dart out the door on trick-or-treat night, you want to know that you can be contacted when they are found. If your pet wears a collar, make sure that your name and phone number are correct. If they aren’t, stop by any pet store and make a new one. It would also be a good idea to make sure you have an updated photo of your pet, in the event that the collar falls off. Microchipping is a permanent identification method that does not rely on a collar. After being microchipped at a veterinary office your contact information is kept on file. Make sure that this information is correct so that when the microchip is scanned you can be contacted quickly.
Make sure to keep your Halloween candy away from your pets before and after the big day! The chocolate and sugar in Halloween candy can make many animal species very sick. Keep the candy bowl behind a cupboard door or up on a high shelf. If you have a closed container that works too. Also, make sure that candy wrappers are thrown away. The leftover smell makes them a tempting treat for curious pets.
If you are carving pumpkins, consider using tea lights to illuminate your handi-work. Lit candles can be very dangerous with pets around. Curious critters may burn themselves if they get to close. It is also possible for them to knock over the candles which could cause fire damage. Jack-o-lanterns are best kept outside. Also, make sure to throw away carved pumpkins before they start to grow mold. While small bits of fresh pumpkin are not harmful to most pets, moldy pumpkins can be very dangerous if eaten.
by adm1n | Oct 22, 2018
Carlie and one of our patients.
Carlie just began her fifteenth year of working at the Boght Veterinary Clinic as a part-time kennel worker. A longtime resident of Cohoes, she began her career with us while attending Shaker High School. Fifteen years is truly a milestone for Carlie and for our clinic; to have had her working for us and for our clients and their pets.
The best thing about Carlie is her true love for the animals that she cares for. Her daily responsibilities include feeding, bathing and cleaning her charges. She greets clients and their pets when they are brought in or go home. She mops up messes and does loads of laundry. Even after fifteen years she still enjoys her job and rarely misses a day. One of her favorite parts of the job is taking care of the ducks in our front pond.
When not at work Carlie enjoys going to concerts and hanging out with friends. She likes shopping with her mom. She currently has no pets at home but loves the hospital’s animals as her own.
by adm1n | Oct 11, 2018
Last month the Boght & Oakwood Veterinary Clinics sent Dr. Brandilyn Wagoner to Atlanta, Georgia for ExoticsCon 2018! Organized by the Association of Avian Veterinarians (AAV), the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians (AEMV) and the Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians (ARAV), it is said to be the largest conference of its kind in the world. For 5 days attendees come to learn more about how to care for their exotic patients. Reptiles, birds, and small mammals such as hedgehogs, sugar gliders, and ferrets are all considered exotic pets. The conference was attended by more than one thousand veterinary professionals and facilitated by lecturers from around the world.
T-Bird the Toucan
Dr. Wagoner was able to participate in hands-on trainings as well as attend lectures pertaining to her areas of interest. She worked on perfecting her bird handling in Low-Stress Avian Handling Techniques and learned new surgery skills in How to Intubate Almost Any Exotic Companion Animal. Did you know that many small mammals including rabbits have a large tongue, large molars, a small larynx, and a soft palate? This makes it very difficult to intubate these animals without video assistance. The skills she practiced in this session will help her medicate our small mammal pets better.
Dr. Wagoner with Kazu the African Grey Parrot
She also attended a workshop titled What Parrots Want, where she learned about enrichment for pet birds to keep them happy and healthy. Enrichment can have a number of medical and emotional benefits. It includes social, cognitive, physical, sensory, and nutritional/foraging enrichment. She also attended lectures to learn more about wildlife care and rehabilitation to increase her knowledge in this field. There was even a lecture on using kitchen tupperware to keep shell injuries dry in turtles.
When not in lecture, she was able to see some of the sites from the Atlanta area including SunTrust Field, where the Atlanta Braves play baseball. She did some shopping at the Ponce City Market, an old manufacturing complex repurposed into shops and restaurants. There was a great day spent at Zoo Atlanta visiting the silverback gorillas and pandas!
Dr. Wagoner on her way to the zoo (L); Silverback Gorilla at Zoo Atlanta (R)
![Meet Tom- Veterinary Assistant]()
by adm1n | Oct 8, 2018
Tom and his cat Nala
At the Boght and Oakwood Veterinary Clinics, we have had the pleasure of working with Tom Fuller since 2016. He is employed as a full-time veterinary assistant. As the job title implies, he works closely with our doctors. During daily appointments he obtains a brief history, answers any general questions from our clients related to their pet’s care, and relays any concerns to the doctors. He works with the doctors and technicians in the treatment area and is responsible for many aspects of animal care including monitoring surgical cases and hospitalized patients. He also helps to complete lab work in our in-house lab.
Boght and Oakwood Veterinary CLinic Maintenence Van – Designed by Tom
Tom is always willing to lend a hand wherever he is needed and will do the dirtiest job with a smile. He is eager and excited to learn new skills related to his job. He is currently working with Dr. Brandilyn Wagoner, and our Digital Communications Director Michelle, on a project related to our clinic adoptions. This gives him the opportunity to use his graphic design talents. He has also used his graphic design background to design the company’s maintenance van.
Outside of the office, Tom spends time with his cat Nala, a cat he adopted from the clinic. He enjoys outdoor activities like longboarding and climbing.
Hiking while on Vacation
