Comprehensive veterinary services, under one roof – that’s something to woof about!
The number of veterinarians worldwide who specialize in areas like surgery or radiology would fit inside of a sports stadium. Considering that even the world’s biggest stadium accommodates just north of 110,000 fans, that is not a lot of people! And we at WellCare Veterinary Services, a member of the PUPS Pet Club family, are proud to have one of those rare specialists under our roof.
Dr. Tiffany Leach is a board-certified veterinary medical oncologist. And, while “Dr. Tiff” specializes in dog and cat cancers, this demonstrated, focused knowledge only tells part of the story. She brings with her to WellCare considerable experience and passion for general, emergency, hospice, and even mobile vet care. Moreover, she represents how we “live” the approach of multi-modal care. Basically, that is a fancy way of saying that we are better able to serve our members and their families when our diverse disciplines and skillsets work together.
“We could not ask for a better partner for WellCare Veterinary Services than Dr. Tiffany Leach,” said Dan Rubenstein, our founder and CEO. “The attention to detail and enthusiasm she brings to her profession is truly inspiring. Most importantly, we know Dr. Tiff on a personal level. She is a thoughtful and caring person who loves animals. In character and professional integrity, she is a great fit for our team, our members and their pups.”
When vetting partners for PUPS, “Doggie Dan” (as Rubenstein is affectionately known within the PUPS family), always asks himself: “Would I trust my own dogs in their care?”
“The answer for me with Dr. Tiff is a resounding, ‘Yes!’”
Better together: Something to “woof” about!
There is power in having a vet on staff that works with trainers, groomers, and our other professionals. Acknowledging that each dog is one of a kind, we may find that your pet’s quality of life could be improved by combining training with medications. Likewise, we may find that a PUPS club member doesn’t need medication; they need training!
It was Dr. Tiff’s own journey with her Irish Wolfhound, Emmet, that ultimately led her down the road to mobile/home care and professional training.
“When Emmet and I were struggling through his anxiety together, I realized that I was lacking a solid knowledge base in treating canine behavioral disorders since this was not my specialty,” she said. “In dealing with my own dog, I found that my medical therapy was not enough. It wasn’t enough for me or for him. So, I was thinking outside of the box about what else I could do.”
Dog training seemed like a reasonable next step.
“The be-all, end-all is, after my Emmet dog passed from his cancer, I vowed to try to find a better option,” Dr. Tiff said. “I felt like my dog would have benefited from having an experienced trainer involved.”
So, when Dr. Tiff’s new Wolfie, Tully, needed training, she reaffirmed: “I’m not going to misstep again with one of my own pets. I’m going to do this right. Out of all of the patients I’ve treated, all the dogs and cats, Emmet was one of the more challenging cases. And I felt like I let him down in a way.”
Dr. Tiff connected with PUPS and, within 30 minutes of our trainers working with Tully, he didn’t have the urge to teeth or do those “puppy things.”
“When you have a dog with an illness and anxiety, it is difficult to train them,” she said. “And it doesn’t just affect the dog. You personally deal with that struggle every day and every hour. And to be able to say, ‘We can help you,’ to give the client a break during the day, it gives you relief and it gives the animal relief.”
One-of-a-kind care for one-of-a-kind dogs
As with medicine, our approach to working with you and your dog is that no two plans are the same.
“There is no such thing as a ‘cookbook’ solution,” Dr. Tiff said. “Each patient is unique and often requires a different treatment plan.”
These objectives account for both pet and human factors, including work schedules and pup’s needs for care.
Consider how a dog with conditions such as anxiety may be “terrified” to go to a class with other dogs. He or she will benefit from a one-on-one plan that is tailored, similarly to how medical therapies are designed to suit to each patient. Or a dog in a group class may be singled-out for one-on-one training. You and your pet deserve what is best for your particular situation.
In addition to tailored care, our in-house veterinary services represent comprehensive care. When all of your dog’s daycare, training, grooming, and health care services are under one roof, we are able to offer life-changing convenience. We are not overstating this; think of the last time you had to take your pup to three, four, five different places for as many different services. Now more than ever, with so many commitments competing for your time, we all need to minimize stress for our personal health, and for the health of our friends on four legs. What better way to do that than by dropping off your pet before work? We handle the rest. All you need to do is pick him or her up after work or during a scheduled visit.
The power of convenience: Scenario 1 – Whoops, I forgot about the vaccines!
Your fur-baby is long overdue for a good clip, trim, and bath. What you didn’t realize once you got to the groomer’s is that shaggy, stinky pup is also overdue for his vaccines! Now, at most places, that would be a problem. The groomer would have to send you away. Not at PUPS. Dr. Tiff is able to get your dog vaccinated. So, he is up-to-date on preventatives and protected from all sorts of nasties, including parasites.
Many people tend to think that their city-dwelling dogs are not at risk of developing illnesses like leptospirosis.
“That’s not true,” said Dr. Tiff. “In a big city or otherwise, there are a variety of bacterial diseases, as well as intestinal parasites … And, with all of the dogs in the city, and the wildlife – possums, raccoons, and rats – you certainly don’t want that spread.”
In fact, Dr. Tiff has seen numerous lepto cases among dogs in the heart of Chicago. Go figure – we consistently rank as one of the top stateside cities for dog-lovers. There are plenty of opportunities for spread if the appropriate heartworm, flea, tick, and other preventives are not on the front lines of protecting your pet.
The power of convenience: Scenario 2 – Get your “pandemic puppy” off to the best start
Did you add another pup to the family during the pandemic? Congratulations! In these uncertain and stressful times, we want to remind you that, as cute as they are, puppies and kittens are born with worms. Yes, we have to deworm them multiple times. A big benefit of having a vet at a wellness- or daycare-type facility is that we are in the best position to seamlessly and proactively anticipate and meet your puppy’s needs. The preventative products and treatments that keep your pup happy and healthy should never be a burden. In good times and bad, we are an accessible option for all services that support your pet’s overall well-being. We’re also a great value. WellCare provides exceptional quality of services, with some great packages that help to ease the financial stress you may be feeling during COVID-19. We encourage you to check out these packaged services, including our puppy wellness package!
Furthermore, you stress less about COVID exposures due to our approach to visits. It’s as simple as dropping off your pet, or you may wait for us to complete an exam. Results from bloodwork can be turned around within 24 to 48 hours. We also have antibiotics and other topical treatments on hand, should your pet need medication. And, if we don’t have what you need, Dr. Tiff can provide a prescription for local pharmacy pick-up. Any documents that show we have vaccinated your pet, for instance, are at your fingertips, and may be accessed on-the-go from your smartphone or laptop. Say, if you’re stuck someplace due to travel restrictions and need proof that your dog got her rabies shot ASAP, the certificate and other paperwork is an email or download away.
The power of convenience: Scenario 3 – We at PUPS/WellCare are “all in this together”!
We’ve heard the phrase “we’re all in this together” endlessly through the pandemic. But it rings true with regard to our approach to caring for pups. To see that multi-modal approach in action, let’s say a skilled PUPS groomer notices inflammation or signs of an infection. The groomer can alert Dr. Tiff, who then promptly assesses the problem and provides an appropriate treatment plan. A culture or cytology of the skin may be submitted to confirm if an infection is lurking.
Allergies, for one, are a common problem that Dr. Tiff encounters. And it is no longer a “seasonal” concern.
“It’s a year-round problem,” she said. “The other big thing that goes hand in hand with skin issues is the ears – a groomer may see a dog that has a lot of debris, yeast, or bacteria. We have medication we can put in the ears that doesn’t require daily dosing if they’re not easily medicated with other ear meds.”
Big picture services for your pet’s whole-health needs
A pet with cancer or other underlying problems can benefit from good nutrition, or from social activity and exercise to keep them stimulated. So, why limit yourself to conventional approaches to care that only account for a small fraction of your pet’s overall well-being?
“As long as you are doing things that are helping your pet, and not counteracting one another, it’s a huge benefit for the patient and for the client,” Dr. Tiff said. “It doesn’t have to be medical per se. It could include things like dog training, or water treadmill therapy … Everything goes hand in hand. You get better outcomes. Everybody is happier – the patient, the owner, us – we see the benefit.”
Having a high-quality clinician on staff is true to the vision that our founder had for PUPS when he introduced this fresh perspective in pet care to Chicago’s cityscape in 2014.
“I like to say we have the best groomers in the city and the best trainers in the city,” “Doggie Dan” Rubenstein said. “We only want to align ourselves with the best practitioners. Let’s offer the best services possible in the most convenient way. So, everybody wins.”
And, to have everything in one spot, on the spot, is not just a perk; it’s a life-changer. Let us handle all of your dog’s needs and, by the end of your workday, he or she will be waiting for you – happy, healthy, clean and smelling great. We look forward to meeting you and your tail-wagger.
