No pet too small at new clinic

Local vet sets out on her own

By Brooke Denisco

"I had to start my own practice just to take care of all my pets," jokes Paula Belknap, owner of the recently opened Cannondale Animal Clinic.

The doctor, who swears she's not "one of those crazy cat ladies," leaves her 12 felines at home. She does allow Addy the pug, Sparky the border collie and a mutt named Whiskers to greet new clients at the door. Her 4-year-old daughter Kaitlyn completes the family feeling in Belknap's 1837 colonial home-turned-clinic, which is decorated with old-fashioned animal-motif wallpaper and a collection of new and antique animal statues.

Belknap, who graduated from Wilton High School, decided to become a veterinarian at age 10. "My family was living in Australia for two years and our Great Dane got bone cancer. I decided that I was going to find a way to cure canine cancer. I haven't so far, but…"

Most of Belknap's work experience has been in Camden, N.J., where she moved after graduating from Colorado State University's Veterinary School. She returned to Wilton three years ago to take care of her dying father. After working for three local vets, Belknap decided it was time to branch out on her own.

"None of the clinics have their own blood chemistry analyzers, making diagnosis nearly impossible. Someone will bring in a dog that's been throwing up all night, and without the blood analyzer I don't know if I'm looking at a puppy that's had too many treats or serious liver damage. Instead of wasting time taking blood samples and sending them out to a lab, then making the client come back, I can do all the work on the premises in a few minutes," she said.

The blood chemistry analyzer also allows her to treat small animals. "My first client was a rat. To take a blood sample large enough for lab work would have killed the tiny rodent. But, with my own machine I could use just a prick of blood," she added.

Belknap rounded out her examination room with a new X-ray processor that delivers dry films in less than two minutes, up-to-date anesthetic machines and an automatic lift table with a built-in scale.

The clinic's mantra is "preventative care." "Dentistry, routine vaccinations and worming are key," Belknap said.

One of her clinic's unique offerings is a $20 Wellness Exam. "If you have a pet that seems fine, but hasn't been to a doctor in a while, you can bring her in for some routine tests, just to make sure everything's perfect. If the patient is older, I'll do a geriatric work up to find signs of systems that are deteriorating and help them with diet changes and vitamin support," she explained. The Wellness Exam costs half the price of a regular office visit and may prevent more expensive services in the future.

Although her approach is traditional (no ferret acupuncture here), Belknap will stand in as a psychiatrist. "I do believe that many pets suffer from separation anxiety," se said. To treat this common problem she prescribes a combination of anti-anxiety medication and behavior modification.

"Often people start to play with their dog right before they leave for work, making him notice the departure even more. Instead you should give the him a toy to work on, like a bone smeared with peanut butter, so when you walk out the door they hardly notice," she said.

Belknap believes summer is the perfect time to open a new veterinary practice. "Lyme disease and other tick-borne virus start spreading. Pets that spend more time outdoors also encounter poisonous plants like the dread rhododendron," she said. Belknap doesn't mind administering the controversial Lyme vaccination but warns that there are plenty of new tick-spread diseases to worry about. She suggests arming cats and dogs for the warm weather with Frontline behind-the-ear powder or a Preventick collar.

How does she feel Wilton compares to New Jersey so far?

"It's great being in a more affluent community where people really take care of their pets. There are fewer abandoned animals in the shelters, and people are willing to pay for dentistry for their pets," she answered.

New patients are welcome at the Cannondale Animal Clinic, 481 Danbury Road. Belknap is offering a free nail trim to anyone who wants to come and look at her facilities. Office hours start at 8 A.M. and go until 5:30 P.M. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. On Thursday, there are evening hours from 3-7 P.M. The clinic's open Saturdays from 8 A.M. until noon. For information, call 834-8855.

Reprinted with permission from the Wilton Bulletin