As the CSRA’s premiere pet boarding, daycare, and grooming facility, Paws in Paradise Luxury Resort and Spa continually strives to provide the best care for pets. The facility just took that care to the next level by adding a new Wellness Program led by Crystal Lesley, a veterinary assistant with over twenty-five years of experience. This month, Crystal shares more about the exciting services offered through the Wellness Program.
Tell us a little about your background.
Animals have always been very important to me. When my kids were young, I was a stay-at-home mom, but in 1999, I started as a vet assistant and loved every aspect of veterinary medicine. Over the years, I was lead surgery technician and I’m certified in cardiac ultrasound, abdominal ultrasound, and canine therapeutic laser. Recently, I was given the opportunity to come to Paws in Paradise to develop the new Wellness Program. Paws is already a wonderful facility and for me to be able to come here and you do what I love to do is exciting.
What services does the Wellness Program offer?
I’m able to do vaccines, fecal testing, laser therapy on dogs for arthritis and joint pain, urinalysis, heartworm tests, ear checks…. things like that for animals that are boarding with us and animals that are not. I'm also certified in animal nutrition and therapeutic nutrition. There is a lot of dog food out there with a lot of information and it can be overwhelming, especially if your pets have allergies or if your dog is diabetic or in renal, liver, or heart failure. Nutrition plays a huge part in those situations, so anytime someone wants to come in, I can talk to them about the nutritional aspects of what their dog is going through.
What about situations when a veterinarian may be needed?
I’m not trying to take the place of their vet. I’m trying to help out in the interim while the pet is here with us. My background is vet med, so I’m very pro vet! If anything happens while these animals are here when their owners are away, I'm here to help them until their owners get back. If it's something I can treat, then I want to be able to do that. If it's something that they need to go straight to the vet, we have partnered with Care More Animal Hospital and Dr. Gross, who I’ve known and worked with for a very long time, so I'm able to run an animal straight to him and he is right there to help. And, if I have any questions, I've got Dr. Gross on speed dial.
What are other benefits of the Wellness Program?
Dogs that have epilepsy or diabetes may have been turned away from boarding before because we didn’t have the ability to monitor those situations. We can now accept medical cases because I can check blood glucose levels for our diabetic pets and I am able to monitor and stop seizures should something like that occur during their stay. Additionally, if any animals come in that need fluids, for example in cases of renal failure and their vet has prescribed subcutaneous fluids, I can continue that while they are here.
What else is important for readers to know?
Obviously, I'm not a vet, so I can't diagnose anything or prescribe medications, but I can do all the testing, if needed, and rule things out. I can also ensure everybody is free of parasites and things to make it safe here for all dogs. I'm using my experience to help and better their time here and hopefully, I'm providing a service that is beneficial to both the owner and the pet.
Paws in Paradise Luxury Resort & Spa is located at 4319 Evans to Locks Road. For more information or to book services for a pet, visit www.pawsinparadiseresort.com or call 706-750-9042.
If anything happens while these animals are here, I'm here to help them until their owners get back.