Mahomet Animal Hospital Veterinarian Cathy Williams loves working around her furry friends all day. But Williams, who has practiced medicine for over 30 years, said making sure her clients, both the animal and the owner, are comfortable and educated is most important to her business.
“My vision is to provide the highest quality medicine that I can, but to do so in a common sense way,” she said. “I always place the client and the patient first in terms of what they need versus what I want to sell them.”
After working for various clinics in Texas, Williams moved here with her husband, David, eight years ago as he became a professor of Veterinary medicine at the University of Illinois. She worked part-time in Central Illinois before she decided to purchase the Mahomet Animal Hospital located at 804 Eastwood Drive about a year ago.
Williams renovated the space, installed digital x-ray machines and an in-house laboratory. This allows for the clinic to give owners information within a half-hour, so they can save both time and money.
Providing quality films and blood work within a short time frame has helped patrons make educated decisions for their loved ones. Williams said just a few weeks ago, a family came in with their cat which was gravely ill. Because the Mahomet Animal Hospital had the resources to make a full diagnosis, the animal did not have to suffer and the owners were able to make a decision on care.
“We were able to provide the best possible medicine and come up with that information in a timely manner so we could make the right decision,” Williams said.
But Williams said she will not suggest x-rays or blood work when the problem can be treated symptomatically, saving the client money where it can be saved.
As Williams constantly educates herself on research and techniques, she tries to educate Mahomet Animal Hospital patrons on decisions they can make for their animals. With little scientific evidence to back up vaccinating animals yearly, Williams will not recommend over exposure to vaccines that have shown to have long-lasting immunity.
“I would rather have people save their money on that, and spend it on things that I know their pet really needs.” she said.
She does emphasize thorough dental care for both dogs and cats. Williams said 70 to 80 percent of cats and dogs show early signs of periodontal disease by age three. During examination, she will take the time to access each tooth, but often suggests radiographs to determine the animal’s state.
Pain management throughout the visit is also important to Williams. She and her staff are currently finishing up on a low-stress handling certification. The group has learned how certain handling techniques can help them access the animal’s anxiety level during a visit, while also teaching them how to make the animal comfortable.
“I’m also very interested in pain management for senior citizens,” she said. “They can’t talk for themselves, so I need to be an advocate for the animal to make sure they are comfortable.”
Williams said as animals get older, owners often believe they slow down because of their age. Working with animals for so many years, she understands there may be other issues with the animal, and so she spends time with the owners as the pet ages to understand changes in behavior.
“Every time an animal has a bad experience where they are anxious, and nothing is done to try to relieve that anxiety, it just builds on itself,” she said.
Anxiety management is at the forefront of the practice. Mahomet Animal Hospital even has separate waiting rooms for cats and dogs. The staff also uses a pheromone that eliminates dog odors in the cat examination room.
In the ever-changing world of medicine, Williams also stays up-to-date on medicines . She often prescribes a medication for cats that sedates them rather than tranquilizes them before a visit. While tranquilizers will make the cat docile, their anxiety is still building on the inside. The sedation medication deals with that.
“You have to be willing to learn about the new drugs and be willing to use them,” she said.
Research has also shown that while an animal is unconscious during surgery, their pain signals are continually going up, making the pain they are in worse. In order to ensure a smooth recovery, the Mahomet Animal Hospital provides pre-op sedation with pain relief, and provides additional medication for pain after surgery.
Wiliams will also catheterize and monitor her patients during surgery so the animals can receive the fluids and care they need.
“This is just another way in which we don’t want to cut corners,” Williams said. “We want to do it right.”
