Welcome Dr. Kathleen O'Hara

I grew up as an Army brat, moving around the country, stopping off at state and national parks along the way.  My mother fostered my interest in nature and animals early on – from looking at pond water under the microscope to naming the wildlife in our backyard.  We grew up with a menagerie of household pets and summers spent at horseback riding camps.

After settling in Virginia, I attended Virginia Tech, where I double majored in biology and psychology, with special interests in football and animal behavior.  GO HOKIES!  Next I headed south to Duke University, where I earned a Master’s in Immunology before heading to veterinary school at Cornell University.  During my time at Cornell I pursued special interests in public health, infectious disease and critical care medicine.  Following graduation, I completed a rotating internship at Petcare Veterinary Hospital in Santa Rosa before coming to Arguello Pet Hospital.

Beyond work, I love a chance to get outside and enjoy the California sunshine with family and friends. I enjoy music, hiking, running, playing soccer, salsa dancing, or finding a new book at the library.  My two cats, Tyler and Sasha, have been my constant companions throughout all my moves and adventures; I am fortunate to have them to come home to each day.

Car Sickness In Pets

Does your dog throw up in the car when you go for rides? He may be experiencing typical motion sickness, just like some people do. Motion sickness usually begins very shortly after starting the car ride. The dog will begin to drool and then vomit. It’s not serious, but certainly not something that we like to clean up! To solve the problem, first try acclimating the dog to car rides. Do this by simply putting him in the car for a few minutes each day without going anywhere. Then try just going down the driveway and back, and the next day going around the block. Gradually build up the distance and time the dog rides in the car. 

 Sometimes this will help to decrease the dog’s anxiety over riding in the car and may help to decrease vomiting. If that doesn’t work, there are some over-the-counter medications you can try. The medication will need to be given about an hour before the car ride. Ask your veterinarian for a recommendation as to what drug to try and the dosage for your pet.

(Never give any medications to your pet without your veterinarian’s advice!) These drugs are safe, with drowsiness usually the only major side effect. But since your dog isn’t driving the car, that shouldn’t be a problem! If over-the-counter drugs don’t work, your veterinarian may be able to suggest another method for curing the car sickness.

Source: http://www.aaha.org/pet_owner/pet_health_library/dog_care/general_health/car_sickness.aspx