New veterinarian joins Sisters practice

You've probably passed by the anonymous brown house a hundred times on your way to and from Bend. Broken Top Animal Hospital has been treating and helping pets there since 2001.

Veterinarian Dr. Dana Bailey has just joined veterinarian/owner Dr. Little Liedblad, providing experienced and compassionate care to Central Oregon animals both large and small.

"A lot of people don't know we're here," Bailey joked. "If it were up to me, I'd paint the place bright white, put up flags and have flowers everywhere."

Bailey has been working in the veterinary field in Bend for over five years. Before that she was in Whitefish, Montana, as an associate vet at the Whitefish Animal Hospital for two years, and before that lived in Seattle. She was also a certified Air Force brat who has lived all over the world.

"I was relief vet for Doctor Little these past four years, and she's now taken me on full-time," she said. "Of all the clinics in Oregon it was my favorite and I've worked everywhere, from Oregon's coast to Portland and Eugene.

"Little does a lot of wildlife care too, injured raptors, fawns and other animals people try and rescue. We have rehabilitators in the Sisters area and they bring their animals here so we get to see a wide variety of animals."

For her education, Bailey attended a joint vet program between Oregon State University and Washington State University, graduating in 2004.

"I moved to Oregon in 1993, so I've been a longtime Oregonian," she said. "My primary interest is preventative care and keeping pets healthy via diet and exercise. I see mostly cats and dogs, an occasional rabbit, hamster or odd critter. I love making animals feels better, and through that I love helping their owners, too, since people are so wrapped up in their pets."

Bailey emphasizes that the biggest problem she sees is obesity is pets.

"It's a really huge problem. Almost all the dogs I see walk in the door are fat. Cats as well. Overweight cats are prone to diabetes and heart disease. And if they get diabetes you end up having to give them insulin shots twice a day. Recent studies show that if you keep your pet skinny they'll live an average two years longer."

Many pets are leading longer, more active lives due to vets being more trained in animal nutrition and people buying into the wellness brands of food. But there's a trick in labeling foods most people don't understand.

"If you see chicken as the first ingredient, that only means it was weighed before processing, including the water weight which is easily seventy percent," she explained. "Once that food is cooked and the water is processed, that ingredient would be much further down the list. Chicken or turkey or lamb meal is much better. Buy the best food you can afford. And never buy treats or chews made in China or Vietnam."

Broken Top also specializes in end-of-life care for pets, including home euthanasia. Bailey understands the needs of older pets very well, having what she calls a "geriatric household" with two elderly yellow labs, Ben and Sandy, and a pair of senior cats, Prudence and Loudmouth.

"I'm happy to be working with such a smart, caring group of people here," she said. "The staff is amazing and we'd love to meet you and your pets."

Broken Top Veterinary Clinic is located just five miles outside Sisters at 67293 W. Highway 20. For more information call 541-389-0391.