April 22, 2004

VCA Almaden Valley Animal Hospital
This house is still a home for families and the animals they love

By Jeanne C. Lewis
Staff Writer

On Almaden Expressway between Coleman and McAbee Roads, a busy veterinarian hospital in a ranch style house caters to the needs of the companion animals of Almaden Valley families.

In the 1950s, the expressway was a two-lane street and the home was used as a family home with kids and pets before tracts of houses encroached on the surrounding area. Today, VCA Almaden Valley Animal Hospital, supervised by medical director Dr. Andrea Moore, and the staff heal animals in the enlarged residence but with the same family atmosphere.

In 1964, Dr. John Flolo bought the property and converted the premises into a veterinary clinic to serve the area. In 1980, Dr. Rene Accornero purchased the practice and property, moving his clinic from where Wolfe Photo is now at Kooser and Blossom Hill Road. Dr. Rick Watson purchased the practice from Accornero in 1992 and added it to his portfolio of clinics called Pets' Rx.

At this time, the house featured a swimming pool in the back yard which Dr. Watson put to good use offering therapy by hiring a human physical therapist and registered veterinarian technician to supervise canines in the required 80-degree water. Dogs came from all over the valley in need of the physical therapy.

Dr. Watson sold his 16 clinics to VCA Animal Hospitals in June 1996 and was appointed the position of Group VP for the Western United States, hiring Dr. Moore in 1997 at the Almaden location. In 2000, VCA doubled the size of the original house, adding a new operating room, examining area, office space, boarding for more animals and indoor and outdoor lounges for their employees. The pool was removed allowing for the new construction. Dr. Accornero, now retired, assisted with the landscaping and new dog walk area. The back of the property borders Almaden Lake Park and Accornero still boards horses in the building in back of the animal hospital.

“I can't think of anything I'd rather do,” Dr. Rick Watson said. “People who make a career of helping animals really care. And with VCA every single person and animal is important.”

VCA Animal Hospital is the largest publicly traded veterinarian business in the nation operating 240 hospitals in 34 states. The corporation began in 1986. Their subsidiary Antech Diagnostics [lab tests] supports over 14,000 independent hospitals. VCA's mission is to provide the highest quality care for all their clients.

“The best thing about being a vet is helping the pet and owners have a healthy and happy life,” said Dr. Andrea Moore at the animal hospital while sporting a collection of dog and cat pins on her white coat which were given to her by clients. “It is a very strong and important bond and I'm here to help.”

Dr. Moore has been the medical director for two years at VCA Almaden specializing in small animals. She supervises two other veterinarians: Dr. Cristine Mincheff and Dr. Michelle Forgy. Dr. Mincheff's special interest is exotics and pocket pets: birds, reptiles, snakes, turtles, mice, guinea pigs, rats, hamsters, ferrets and the occasional hedge hog. Dr. Forgy's special interest is in felines. All three of the vets help cats and dogs. The cohesive staff consists of 30 employees including technicians, office staff and groomers.

“I came with the building,” Linda Hedges, a receptionist, said as she answered the phone. She started a career in animal care working for her father who was a veterinarian and then accepting a job with Dr. Accornero 18 years ago at his Almaden clinic.

Besides working with animals during the day, the staff all have pets of their own. Hedges' 16-year-old cat has feline AIDS and is doing well. Dr. Moore has three cats and one dog. One of the staff members has 25 pets. And the love of animals doesn't stop there.

The veterinary hospital presently has three resident cats and one dog. An energetic black terrier mix named Chico is on a temporary stay with VCA while his guardian looks for an appropriate home for him. Not only that, the staff arrested his diabetes, removed his cataracts, implanted artificial lens and now the dog is almost ready to go to its new home.

Another patient, Marlie was a special dog who VCA Almaden Valley's staff helped. The canine suffered from hip dysplasia, a genetic predisposition for many large breeds of dogs whose owners could not keep. The “Marlie Fund” was set up to provide funding for the double hip replacement surgery the dog needed. The generous donations supplied by the public not only paid for the surgery Marlie needed at University of California Davis Veterinary School [Dr. Moore's alma mater] but the fund also helped many other animals and their guardians who couldn't afford major medical treatments. A healthy Marlie now resides with one of the ex-employees of VCA.

“VCA has a great support system,” Dr. Moore said holding Cody, one of the resident cats. “I can pick up the phone and talk to a top veterinarian cardiologist or other specialist with questions regarding an animal. They have the newest information and resources available to assist the hospital at a moment's notice.”

Dr. Moore is also excited about VCA's wellness programs for senior as well as young animals. The exam includes tests for a variety of conditions which detect problems before a disease begins. It's all about prevention. Dr. Watson added that because animals have a shorter life span than humans, one year is a very long time in an animal's life and many changes in health can occur.

Animals are afflicted with the same diseases that humans acquire. Cancer, diabetes, kidney disease [especially in older cats], thyroid disease, urinary infections and heart disease are prevalent. Warning signals for animals are drinking more water, frequent urination, decreased appetite, weight loss, vomiting and diarrhea. There may a simple explanation or it could be a more serious situation.

Dr. Moore stated there has been an increase in heartworm [especially in felines] and tick related diseases, which are both preventable. Allergies in animals are also very common and are treatable once diagnosed.

The exotics' [reptiles, birds and pocket pets] common problems are abscesses and nutritional deficiencies. The animals need a balanced diet specific to their needs to maintain optimal health. Environmental conditions are very important for the exotics. The wrong lighting, bedding or humidity can cause problems. “They're more fragile than they look,” Dr. Moore states adding that prevention is the best medicine.

“Is Dr. Moore here?” asks a young boy bearing a large basket of flowers. “These are for taking care of Ranger.”

Jonathan Springer's mother explains that her son interviewed five veterinarians before deciding that Dr. Moore would be the right vet for their new puppy. Dr. Moore accepts the flowers and asks “how's Ranger doing?”

It may be a veterinarian hospital but it's still a home for families and the animals they love.

VCA Almaden Valley Animal Hospital

Address: 15790 Almaden Expressway
San Jose, Ca. 95120

Phone: [408] 268-3550

Hours: Monday – Friday 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Saturday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Sunday 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Vets: Dr. Andrea Moore, Medical Director
Dr. Cristine Mincheff
Dr. Michelle Forgy

Small animal practice: canines, felines, exotics: birds, reptiles, snakes, turtles, pocket pets; guinea pigs, hamsters, rats, mice, ferrets, etc.

Staff: 30 employees
Boarding available
Groomers for dogs and cats