Friendly New Faces at AVCVA!
You may have noticed friendly new faces at Animal Vision Center of Virginia. We are pleased to welcome Jason Ball, veterinary assistant, and Samantha Gossman, our new receptionist.
A Kempsville High School graduate, Jason began working with us in 2019 as an intern from the Tidewater Community College’s Veterinary program, where he plans to complete his studies to be a Veterinary Assistant. Jason’s interest in this field began while volunteering at Evelyn’s Wildlife Refuge in Virginia Beach. His enthusiasm for his job at Animal Vision Center of Virginia is infectious! At our practice, he assists with patient check-ins, filling prescriptions and minor procedures. At home, he has two Golden retrievers that keep him busy.
Samantha was born in Virginia Beach and has lived in Utah and New York as well. She graduated from Centura College in the Dental Assisting program, but decided animals were cooler to be around! Her love for pets led to her work in general veterinary practice for five years before transitioning to specialty practice in veterinary ophthalmology. In addition to greeting clients and their pets at our practice, Samantha schedules appointments, discharges clients, and refills medications, among other tasks. With an affinity for giant breeds and exotic animals, she owns a beautiful 26-year old cockatiel named Zipper. Samantha lives with her fiancé, Andrew, and her daughter, Lily, in Virginia Beach.
We are glad to have Jason and Samantha as part of our team! Be sure to say hello next time you are here.
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Pet Patient Focus on Brady Colby—Seeing 20/20 in 2020
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In the summer and fall of 2019, Donna Colby noticed changes in her dog Brady’s eyes. They had a cloudy appearance, along with redness, irritation (rubbing) and a clear discharge. Donna told us her pet was also demonstrating concerning behaviors including clumsiness that led to several falls, failure to clear the curbs on his daily walks, and reluctance to walk up and down the stairs in their home.
“My husband and I realized that Brady's vision problems were not just a normal part of aging that we had to accept, rather a safety issue that we needed to address,” Donna explained.
Brady’s symptoms are common signs of cataracts, a leading cause of vision impairment in animals. An opacity or cloudiness that develops within the lens of the eye, cataracts result in cloudy or blurred vision, and up to complete loss of vision. The only true form of treatment is to remove the cataract with surgery, which carries a high success rate. Greater than 90 percent of cases result in improved vision.
Following a comprehensive exam and a consultation at our practice, we determined that Brady was a good candidate for this procedure. Since his surgery in November, Brady has made a full recovery.
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“He is living his best life!” said Donna, who noted her pet is again playful, confident, climbing the stairs, hopping up on the couch, and has resumed his “squirrel patrol” duties in the backyard. “Thank you to Dr. Brookshire and her staff for giving our Brady his quality of life back. It gives us peace of mind knowing he is able to safely navigate his world. He's seeing 20/20 in 2020!”
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Read more about this ocular condition in our “Cataracts & Cataract Surgery” brochure. If you have a pet, or a patient, that is exhibiting signs of cataracts, please call us at (757) 749-4838 to discuss treatment options. We’re here to help.
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Keep Calm and Carry On in New Stress-Free Exam Room
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Is your pet anxious about veterinary appointments? Our dogs and cats can get nervous too, and we understand the challenges of keeping them calm in clinical settings. As part of our recent expansion, we have added a new stress-free procedure room designed to help both pet patients and their owners relax. Located in small cozy space at the back of our practice, our “calming room” is ideal for clients who bring their pets in for regular blood pressure monitoring. It features low lights, soft music and a diffuser that emits a soothing scent. You can sit and hold your pet on a comfy bench while we conduct blood pressure measurements and other non-surgical procedures. Ask about it when you schedule your next appointment. Our goal is to help make your pet as comfortable as possible during their appointment.
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Saving One Dog at a Time – Meet Dr. Turkan Ertugrul
Dr. Turkan Ertugrul wants to save all the dogs and cats she can. The founder of the Virginia Beach-based Saver of Souls Pet Rescue, she is slowly, but surely making a dent in the number of homeless pets that cross her path. For the past few years, she and her volunteers have saved nearly 200 dogs annually. Specializing in small breed dogs, the 501(c)3 non-profit identifies canines in need and pairs them first with foster families and then compassionate owners who will love them for a lifetime. No dogs under her watch will be euthanized. When she’s not working tirelessly for her charity, Dr. Ertugrul, DVM, is a full-time veterinary with Hope Springs Veterinary Sajo Farm in Virginia Beach.
When and why did you decide to launch Saver of Souls?
I’ve loved animals my entire life. When rescue animals came in through my work, I would take them in, fix them up and find them homes. I really saw the need for establishing a rescue group when I got my first Chihuahua in 2013. I wanted a second Chihuahua to play with him, and I was having a hard time finding one locally.
I started getting on the Internet and seeing dogs that were available. I’d go back a few days later and find that some had been euthanized because there were too many. Finally, I saw one and said, “You’re the one. I’m going to save you.” So I arranged for ground transportation to route him from California to Virginia.
Then I started thinking, “There are so many people looking for small breed dogs this way.” I saw that the best way to help was to establish an official rescue group so that no dogs would die, and I launched Saver of Souls in 2014.
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To our referring veterinarians, please join us for a special “Dinner & Discovery” educational event on Friday, February 7 at 6:30 p.m. at the Greenbrier Country Club in Chesapeake. Dr. Heather Brookshire will present “Ophthalmology Update 2020 – What’s New and Available for Your Patients.”
Get the New Year off to a good start by learning about new, simple and quick procedures available in your practice or ours for everted third eyelid cartilage and entropion. In addition, we will share news about advanced corneal transplant surgery that is now available at Animal Vision Center of Virginia.
Held exclusively for our region’s general veterinarians, these accredited continuing education sessions are free of charge, and dinner is provided. Space is limited, so please RSVP by Feb. 3 to Dr.Heather@AVCVA.com or call (757) 749-4838.
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What Our Clients Say
"We cannot begin to express our gratitude to Dr. Brookshire for helping our Zoey get her eyesight back. Within four months of her diabetes diagnosis, she started to lose her eyesight. Thanks to Dr. Brookshire, she can see again. It is amazing to see her quality of life return. Zoey is so much happier. She actually wants to play again and not just sleep all the time. We highly recommend Dr. Brookshire and her staff."
– Robert, Amy & Zoey M.
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Providing quality ophthalmic care for animals of all shapes and sizes, Animal Vision Center of Virginia is owned and operated by Dr. Heather Brookshire, a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist.
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Call us at 757-749-4838 | Fax us at 757-932-9325
Main Office Location & Hours:
Old Great Neck Road, Suite 2, Virginia Beach, VA 23454
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Thursday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
One Saturday a Month 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Suffolk Clinic at The Cove Location & Hours:
6550 Hampton Roads Parkway, Suffolk, VA 23435
Friday 9:00 a.m. - 12 p.m.
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