It’s amazing how one moment can change your life forever. A lot of people have said that they’re glad 2009 is over – that 2010 will be the year of change. For me, 2009 wasn’t so bad – in some aspects, anyway. It was in early 2009 that I became a volunteer for the Avian Reconditioning Center. Read more...

Tags: Volunteering | Avian Reconditioning Center | Raptors | Education

Since February is National Pet Dental Health Awareness Month (Boy, what a mouthful!), we wanted to give you, our readers, a little bit of insight into a great product we use here at Park Avenue Animal Hospital.  The month of February is dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of dental hygine in pets.  Pet owners can achieve good dental health in many ways, outlined in our previous dentistry article.  The benefits of dental cleaning and maintaining a healthy mouth vastly outweigh any risk or expense involved. In order to ensure that a professional dental cleaning is as effective as it possibly can be, the Doctors and Staff recommend Oravet.

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2009 went out with a bang and 2010 has started out as a very busy year for the doctors and staff! We are so incredibly thankful to our awesome clients and their pets, and to our rescues for their continued support.

We hit the ground running in January and as we wind down the month, I thought I'd take a moment to update the blog and share what's going on around the office.

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'Twas The Night Before Christmas
Originally written by Clarent Clark Moore

Revised by Dr. Rick Rubinstein

T'was the night before Christmas
When all through Park Ave,
Not a machine was whirring;
We'd closed down the lab.

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Thanksgiving is behind us already, and Christmas and the coming of the New Year are just around the corner! Can you believe it? The holiday season is here again – amazing how fast a year can go by!

Spending time with friends and family is a highlight this time of year and pets are becoming grouped more and more into the ‘family’ label.  Of the more than 140 million pets living in homes in America today, well over half are considered ‘family’ and are included in family functions such as photo sessions, signing greeting cards, and family gatherings.

Tags: fall | gift | park avenue animal hospital | cats | dogs | healthy pets | pet ownership | poisoning | veterinarian | companion animals | pet safety

We became Vizsla owners for the first time in April of this year.  We have had a variety of dogs in our lifetime and have found the V to be one of the most endearing dogs we've ever had.  Although our Dexter is extremely active and can really be a pain in the posterior, he's one of the funniest and most loving dogs we've had.

I have noticed that there are several other Vizslas in or around Apopka, based on pictures on this site, and would love to have a Vizsla meet.  Perhaps we could meet some weekend at the Dog Park in Apopka.  I can be contacted at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you are interested.

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Thanksgiving is one of our favorite times of the year around Park Avenue Animal Hospital. It’s a time for families to gather and spend quality time together, a time to celebrate the good things that life brings to us.  Being thankful is what Thanksgiving is all about, but being cautious about what your pets eat during this holiday is also critical. The holidays are filled with dangerous threats to your pets, but with a little bit of forward thinking, disaster can be avoided.

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I was out with Scooter today and got him all strapped and leashed and we had a nice walk around the ARC property and in our travels we had a MUCH Better picture taken, so i'm fowarding that along to you in case you want to put it up in place of the one that's there on the main page.  It's going to be a while before this bird is ready to step out in the public eye but I can't tell you how excited I am that we've made this much progress in just over a week's time. 

Scooter, by the way, has been tentatively re-named Rio and we actually suspect "he" might be a "she", based on body size and weight.  Oops!  We'll DNA test him soon and find out for sure, but for now, Scooter/Rio is kind of an 'It'.  Anyway.  Lousy picture of me, but a great way to capture one of the many triumphant moments we expect to come in the next weeks and months.

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“Cancer” is the name given to an uncontrolled overproduction of abnormal cells in the body. It affects more than just people! In all its many and varied forms, it affects thousands of dogs, cats, and other domestic pets every year, and has been the number one cause of early death in dogs for the past decade.

If your pet is diagnosed with cancer, you may find yourself asking “Why?” Unfortunately, the answers are not always readily available. Because of the direct involvement of DNA, some forms of cancer, in some breeds of dogs, can be hereditary. Cancer is also associated with exposure to environmental elements such as smoke, pesticides, and other carcinogens. In other instances, there may not be any rhyme or reason for the development of cancer.

Cancer can show up as many different forms of tumors, and is able to take up formation on or within every organ system in the body, as well as within the blood and blood-processing systems. It can be incredibly slow to develop and difficult to detect, or it can be aggressive and cause illness within weeks, or even days. It can stay stationary on one organ, or through a process called metastasis, cancerous cells can move through the body to invade other organs.

Treatment can vary depending on the type and stage of cancer, age and general health of your pet. Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation are common recommendations to slow or stop the cancer growth process.

Cancer is a diagnosis that no pet owner wants to hear, however with advances in diagnostics, surgical procedures, and treatment, cancer does not always have to carry such a grave prognosis anymore.

Tags: canine cancer awareness | lymphoma | osteosarcoma | adenoma | lipoma | tumor | mass | mammary tumor | testicular cancer | prostate cancer

Every year in the United States, there are over five million incidents of domestic violence.  In Florida alone, over 120,000 incidents were reported in 2008, two hundred of which had deadly results.  Domestic violence knows no age or gender – it also knows no species.  Statistics show that 48% - nearly half – of all dometic violence victims refuse to leave their homes because of the fear that pets left behind will face the same abuse or worse.  The Harbor House, a non-profit shelter for victims of domestic violence, has teamed up with the Orange County Animal Services to build a shelter for pets that escape domestic violence situations with their owners.  To help raise awareness of this cause, and to help put the word out about domestic violence and how it affects pets, Park Avenue Animal Hospital is offering purple ribbons to all visitors from now until the end of October.  These purple ribbons can be affixed to a pet’s collar or worn as a lapel ribbon as a reminder that humans aren’t the only victims of domestic violence.  Help support the Harbor House and give pets, and their owners, a chance at freedom.

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It’s no secret that Park Avenue Animal Hospital treats just about every species of small animal under the sun. While dogs and cats make up the majority of pets that are brought to us, we do get to see a good number of exotic animals, including wildlife. On many occasions since our doors opened, we’ve been very blessed to have our services utilized by the Avian Reconditioning Center, a birds of prey rehabilitation and public education facility located in our own Apopka Backyard.  Unlike other wildlife rescues, ARC focuses exclusively on hawks, owls, eagles, falcons, kestrels, kites, and other birds of prey. 

Tags: Eagles | Owls | Hawks | Kestrels | Kites | Avian Reconditioning Center | Birds of Prey | Raptors | Falconry | Rehabilitation

This article was originally posted in the Apopka Chief and the Planter newspapers for the week of August 10, 2009.

Since opening its doors to Apopka’s pets in 2008, Park Avenue Animal Hospital has been providing the gentle bedside manner that owners expect, with the cutting edge medicine pets deserve. While dogs and cats are by far the most popular choice for most pet owners, Doctors John Turgai and Rick Rubinstein have a special place in their hearts for all animals, furry, feathery, or scaly. With over 30 years of combined quality veterinary experience, both doctors have gone well beyond standard veterinary education and practice to further their knowledge of animal care to include reptiles, rabbits, ferrets, birds, guinea pigs, and other exotic small animals.
Read more...

Tags: pet ownership | pets | healthy pets | pet advice | vaccines | cats | dogs | pet safety | birds | companion animals

Over on our web-board, a great question was posed about the potential for a "Golden Retriever" to be black in color. After doing some research, I posted a lengthy response - I highly recommend checking it out!

A portion of the response is posted below... Visit our web board for more! 

For the modern breed, "GOLDEN" retriever refers to the coat color, which is "golden". That "golden" color can range though, from a deep rusty red to almost white. Still, a golden is a golden... or is it?

Many of the established breeds we know today have been descended either purposely or through accidental mixing through the centuries and the Golden Retriever is no stranger to this. The Golden is a relatively "young" breed, having only been established in Scotland in the 1800s.

Baron Tweedmouth Sir Dudley Marjoribanks, a Scottish baron and politician, is largely responsible for developing the Golden retriever. He wanted a hunting dog with plenty of stamina, strong swimming ability, with good tracking skills. But hunting being a gentleman's sport at the time, he also wanted a handsome breed that stood out from the rest of the 'pack'. 

Read More at the Web Board!

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Since fleas are a perennial problem in Florida, flea prevention needs to be practiced year-round as well.  To understand flea prevention, you first have to understand fleas themselves.  The most common species of flea seen on pets in Florida is Ctenocephalides Felis, otherwise known as the Cat flea.  While cats are a primary host for this pest, they are found on dogs as well. The average life cycle of a flea lasts between 30 and 75 days.

In that time, they hatch out and go through a larval and pupae stage before becoming a full-fledged adult flea. This process takes approximately three weeks, however the pupae stage can vary by environment. Flea pupae can lay dormant for up to six months!

Tags: pet advice | dogs | cats | pet safety | companion animals | veterinarian | comfortis | promeris | advantage | multi | advantix | vectra | vectra3d | program

Park Avenue Animal Hospital – Always On Call For Your Pets

No pet should ever suffer needlessly because distance keeps them from getting the care they need. When your pet is ill or injured, your first instinct is to contact your vet. But what happens after-hours? Chances are good that you’ll hear a recording, instructing you to contact the nearest Veterinary Emergency Clinic and to leave a message. With the closest Veterinary Emergency Clinic over 14 miles from Apopka, you need a veterinarian who is close to home AND available at any time of the day or night. When time is of the essence, Park Avenue Animal Hospital is here to help.

Park Avenue Animal Hospital opened its doors to Apopka’s pets in August of 2008. The hospital is located at 847 North Park Avenue in Apopka, and is convenient to all points of Apopka and beyond. Doctor John Turgai and Doctor Rick Rubinstein have almost 40 years of combined veterinary practice experience, providing Central Florida’s pets with the high quality care that owners expect, with the gentle bedside manner that pets deserve.

Tags: poisoning | healthy pets | pet advice | pet safety | cats | dogs | companion animals | emergency veterinarian

Summer is typically a time of great family fun and activity. The days are long and warm, the kids are on vacation, and the sun worshipers are out in full force. Unfortunately, the season also brings with it some very specific hazards - sunburn, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Not only are these hazards a threat to your human family, they can endanger the lives of your furry family members as well. As temperatures soar, your dog will need a little attention in order to ensure his safety.

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Are you getting ready for your dog to have puppies? Having a litter of pups sounds like a lot of fun, but there is much work involved. Here are some tips on how to get your dog and you ready for birth.

The first thing to know is that your dog will be pregnant on average for 63 days. This is not very much time so make sure you are ready.

You will want to make sure that you are feeding your pregnant dog appropriately. Your dog will need to eat more than usual and you may want to transition to a growth type food or puppy food during the pregnancy. You should do this by decreasing the amount of regular food you give your dog each day while increasing the amount of new food. It's best if you do this over the course of about a week to help prevent loose stool.

Check with your veterinarian to see what is appropriate for diet. Make sure to feed your dog a high quality diet. You do not need to supplement the diet with vitamins unless it is recommended by your veterinarian. Always follow their recommendations. Your dog may experience symptoms similar to human morning sickness around the third week of pregnancy. If this lasts longer than one week, take your dog to the veterinarian to see if there are any underlying problems.

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As we settle into spring, the higher temperatures and increased humidity means that fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes are becoming more active. Flea and Heartworm prevention are important year-round, but in Florida, it is especially important during this time of the year. Often, we as consumers are regaled with commercials on TV and Radio confessing the hassles of going to the vet to pick up your pet’s monthly medication. These commercials discuss having to bring your pet to the vet for a visit, and adding to the expense of travel to the cost of medication.  They advertise shipping medication for your door for a fraction of the cost of buying from your local veterinarian and even have celebrity spokespeople vouching for their services.

The truth behind purchasing your pet’s medication from an online or mail-order retailer may surprise you.

Tags: online pharmacy | pet meds | foster | smith | heartworm prevention | flea prevention | mosquitoes | spring | april | price matching

March is one of the prettiest months in Florida. There are usually no more freezing mornings but the weather is still cool with a little breeze. March is typically the month where we all go out to Home Depot to buy plants to add some color to our frozen, brown yards. We rip out all our dead plants to replace them with vibrant new ones. It’s all very exciting, but it can be hazardous to our pets’ health.

Tags: Aloe plants | Asian Lily | Asparagus fern | Autumn Crocus | Day lily | Easter lily | Emerald Fern | Glory Lily | Hyacinth | Japanese show lily | Lily of the valley | Onion | Orange day lily | Plumosa fern | Stargazer lily | Tiger lily | Tulip | Western Lily | Amaryllis | Barbados Lily | Daffodil Azalea | Rhododendron | Apple | Apricot | Irish | Irish Water Spaniel | Irish Glen of Imaal Terrier | Wheaten Terrier | Kerry Blue Terrier | Irish Blue Terrier | Cork | Kerry | Tipperary | Ireland | Irish Wolfhound | Irish Red Terrier | Irish Setter | Toxic Plants | March

The story goes...over the weekend the doting owner of two young lab mixes purchased Cocoa Mulch from Target to use in their garden. They loved the way it smelled and it was advertised to keep cats away from their garden. Their dog Calypso decided that the mulch smelled good enough to eat and devoured a large helping. She vomited a few times which was typical when she eats something new but wasn't acting lethargic in any way. The next day, Mom woke up and took Calypso out for her morning walk . Half way through the walk, she had a seizure and died instantly.

Tags: cats | dogs | poison | cocoa mulch