Hospitals, and Long Wait Times

Walking into the animal emergency room can be a daunting experience these days. Because of the veterinary staff and veterinarian shortage, veterinary hospitals are often at capacity, have very long wait times, or are shut down completely. In this article we will help guide you through the process of taking your pet in for emergency treatment, and hopefully answer some questions you may have along the way.

There are many types of veterinary hospitals such as emergency specialty clinics, urgent care clinics, and general practice clinics. These are guidelines, but in general, an emergency animal hospital has specially trained doctors and staff to treat the most serious of emergencies. These emergency departments are most often associated with a specialty hospital that has multiple departments, such as internal medicine, cardiology, surgery, or neurology. They also often have an ICU, or intensive care unit, with highly trained staff caring for pets 24 hours a day. Oftentimes the emergency department is also open 24/7.

around the neck and chest, rattlesnake bite, excessive bleeding, difficulty breathing, or inability to urinate. Signs that can indicate a life threatening emergency include white or blue gum color, bruising of the gums, collapse, disorientation, swollen face or tongue, or seizures that will not stop.

If your pet is experiencing any of these symptoms, go directly to your nearest full service emergency room. It is always a good idea to call ahead and make sure they are prepared to receive your pet. For instance, with rattlesnake bites, the hospital must ensure they have enough anti venom available to treat your pet, so it’s a good idea to give them a warning you are on the way over. Once your pet arrives, emergency technicians will often take your pet to the treatment room to assess them. They will gather vital signs, and assess the stability of the patient. If needed, they will administer oxygen, stop bleeding, or perform whatever life saving measures need to be performed immediately. If your pet is stable, he or she will often be returned to you to wait until the doctor is available, or they may be held in the treatment area while monitoring is continued. Although it may not be visible from the lobby or parking lot, often there are very sick pets that are behind closed doors that the doctors are caring for. Most emergency hospitals have ICUs full of critically ill pets, and while the lobby may be empty, that doesn’t mean that the treatment areas and patient wards are empty.

This differs from an urgent care clinic which will see urgent cases, often with more limited hours of operation, and without specialty departments and a dedicated ICU. Often these clinics can handle the majority of emergencies, but serious illnesses and injuries will often get referred to a full service specialty hospital, much like in human medicine. General practice clinics treat routine illnesses and ailments, and are often open during regular business hours. Oftentimes, general practice clinics do not offer hospitalization or other critical care services because they are not staffed overnight or on weekends.

Emergency and urgent care clinics will triage pets, much like the Emergency Department at the human hospital. Those with the most severe and life threatening illnesses and injuries will be seen first. While of course this saves the most lives, this practice can often lead to long wait times for those with pets that are not truly experiencing a life threatening emergency. A disclaimer before we go on- if you are concerned for your pet, proceed to the closest available medical care as soon as possible. The following is to help elucidate how cases are handled at many urgent and emergency clinics, and how to make the best decision for your pet.

For severe life threatening emergencies, get your pet in the car and drive directly to the closest emergency hospital. It’s a good idea to know the local ERs in your area before you need one. Examples of true emergencies include, but are not limited to: ingesting poison or a toxin, heat stroke, allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), uncontrolled and active seizures, collapse, bloat, major trauma including hit by car, major bite wounds especially

There are many other illnesses that are urgent and should be seen in a timely manner but are not immediately life threatening including, but not limited to: frequent vomiting, bloody diarrhea, suspected fractures, paralysis, or blood in the urine. Although these are urgent, oftentimes emergency departments are seeing the most life-threatening cases first and these urgent cases will have to wait to be seen until other patients are stable. Emergency departments will triage these cases and assess their status to make sure they are stable when you first arrive, but then will bring your pet back to wait with you until the doctor is available.

Of course, many other non-urgent illnesses also come into the emergency room, oftentimes because they are unable to obtain an appointment with their regular veterinarian in a timely manner. Ailments such as skin disorders, ear infections, minor wounds, and chronic conditions often are the cases that will need to wait the longest at the emergency room. Although long wait times can be stressful and frustrating, please keep in mind that if you are waiting it means your pet is stable, while other pet owners may not be as lucky.

Unfortunately, all types of veterinary clinics and hospitals are overbooked and understaffed right now, but I assure you that veterinarians and their staff want the very best for your pet. We ask that pet owners be patient and trust that we are doing our best to care for your pets. Hopefully this article helps to answer some questions as to what is going on behind the scenes at the local emergency veterinary hospital and sheds light on why we are seeing such long wait times.

You may have recently noticed the posted 30 mph speed limits have changed for the first time in Hidden Hills history. In the early fall of 2021, the City of Hidden Hills initiated a few initial speed surveys and consulted with a traffic engineer but no formal study was performed. Last year, an independent traffic engineer was hired to perform a traffic study on reducing speed limits, roadway signage, and related safety concerns throughout Hidden Hills at a cost of $13,400. At the February 28, 2022 City Council meeting, the City Council approved a budget adjustment of $13,000 for the project and used the Restricted Traffic Safety Fund to pay for the study. The final cost of the project came in at $15,400 which was authorized by the City Manager under his spending authority.

To address their concerns, the City Council approved the extension of the Round Meadow Elementary School 15 mph speed zone and the inclusion of a new 15 mph Community Use Speed Zone and four new speed humps in front of the Community Center Long Valley Road. They lowered speed limits to 25 mph on Eldorado Meadow and Jim Bridger Roads, installed a four way stop sign at the intersection at Round Meadow and Hoback Glen Roads, and another at the intersection at Jed Smith and Fitzpatrick Roads. The speed reductions and bumps are meant to increase safety by requiring drivers to slow down to better navigate the numerous construction sites, vehicles, horses, bike riders, pets, pedestrians, and other possible hazards. A Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department motorcycle officer is under contract by the City for twenty hours a week to ticket violations to those breaking traffic laws.

The City is responsible for signs on the public roads and the Hidden Hills Community Association (HHCA) is responsible for signs on the private roads in our gated community. The HHCA managed Round Meadow, Long Valley, and Spring Valley Gates play a crucial role in the efficiency of traffic flow. The guards assess entry information and provide directions to nearby locations including houses, schools, government buildings, horse arenas, and other HHCA facilities. They ensure everyone is secure, however they do not issue citations to reckless drivers.

On the roadways, horses have the right of way over bikes, motorcycles, cars, or pedestrians. One of the residents’ unique needs is clearly indicating areas where motorized vehicles are prohibited, such as our extensive trail system. Street signs need to be clearly visible, legible, and in good condition,and these organizations guarantee they are properly installed, maintained, and lawful.

All vehicles must follow changing signage and traffic laws or else they will be subject to fines. In addition, the HHCA activated traffic cameras to record any vehicles exceeding the newly posted speed limits. Speeding is a serious concern and the association hopes the cameras will assist in ensuring the safety of all residents, their families, guests, vendors, and pets.

Bicyclist & Motorized Vehicle Responsibilities:

• Control your speed.

• Yield right of way to pedestrians and horses.

• Obey all traffic signs.

• Signal when turning.

• Drive to the right.

• Be alert at intersections for school buses, horses, & children.

• Do not pass unless visibility ahead shows no riders or pedestrians in the roadway. Only pass at 10 mph or stop if necessary.

Pedestrian Responsibilities:

• Walk to the right.

• Be alert and aware of horseback riders on trails and parkways. Stand quietly to the right of the trail and allow horse and rider to pass.

Equestrian Responsibilities:

• Slow to a walk within 100 feet when approaching oncoming riders or overtaking another rider or pedestrian.

• Pass to the left.

• Ride single file when passing or being passed, on parkways, and roadways.

• Look both ways before entering or crossing a trail or roadway to avoid collisions.

• Walking, trotting, and slowly cantering are proper etiquette on horse trails.

• Put the horse in a walk on any paved surface.

• Helmets are advised.

• Request vehicles wait as any nervous horse is moved onto the parkway or closest trail.

City of Hidden Hills

Major Traffic Improvements as of November 9, 2022

City roads speed limits or signs have been changed at the following locations

(please see map ABOVE):

Eldorado Meadow Road and Jim Bridger Road - reduction of speed limit on both roads to 25 mph

Intersection at Round Meadow Road and Hoback Glen Road - installation of new stop signs on Round Meadow (All-Way Stop)

Intersection at Jed Smith Road and Fitzpatrick Road - installation of new stop signs on Jed Smith (All-Way Stop)

Round Meadow Road - extension of the 15 mph School Speed Zone from Round Meadow School to John Colter Road

Long Valley Road - inclusion of a new 15 mph Community Use Speed Zone and four new speed humps in front of the Community Center

Hidden Hills Namesakes

The Word On The Streets

“Buffalo Bill” Cody was America’s ideal fellow: a courtly, chivalrous, selfmade man who could shoot a gun while charming a crowd. As Annie Oakley put it, “He was the simplest of men, as comfortable with cowboys as with kings.” Cody was a famous American frontiersman and scout known for his remarkable skills as a hunter and his daring exploits on the American frontier. He was also a successful entrepreneur and the founder of the “Buffalo Bill’s Wild West and Congress of Rough Riders of the World” show that evolved into an international institution and made him one of the first celebrities with worldwide renown. Because of his many achievements and larger-than-life global personality, it is not surprising that many destinations are named after him, including our very own Bill Cody Road.

William Frederick Cody was born on February 26, 1846 in Le Claire, Iowa and named after his father Isaac Cody, a farmer and Baptist preacher. Cody’s mother, Mary Ann Bonsell, was of English and Dutch descent. He grew up on a family farm in Kansas and Nebraska, but his life was forever changed when his father tragically died in 1857. In order to support his family, Cody left home at the age of 11 to become a messenger for the Western Union Telegraph Company. By 14 he began the first of 2 tours as a rider for the Pony Express, gaining the nickname “Buffalo Bill’’ for his skill in hunting to feed the workers on the Kansas Pacific Railroad. It was during this time that he became friends with Wild Bill Hickok, another folk hero of the American Old West known for his life on the frontier as a soldier, scout, lawman, gambler, showman, actor, and for his involvement in many famous gunfights.