Rancho Santa Fe Veterinary Hospital

Starting February 1, 2008, we’re proud to have Dr. Sophie Steele join our esteemed veterinary team.

Dr. Sophie Steele is an accredited veterinarian with over 8 years of experience working mostly in San Diego county. She attended the University of California at Davis where she earned a B.S. in Animal Sciences in 1995, then completed her veterinary degree at U.C. Davis in 1999. Over time, Dr. Steele has developed a special interest in soft tissue surgery, dentistry and ophthalmology, and works mostly with dogs and cats.

Prior to joining RSFVets, she and her husband Dr. Brad Steele constructed a state-of-the-art animal hospital and pet hotel in North County. In 2006, the Steele’s sold their practice to allow more time for family, travel, and seeking out new professional endeavors.

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Mrs. Rosner was frantic when she called to report that their cocker spaniel, Monty, had just appeared at the back door with a baby rattlesnake in his mouth. She and her husband were pretty sure that it had bitten him on the muzzle, so they rushed Monty to our hospital right away. As I entered the treatment area, I could see that Monty was panting and uncomfortable. After carefully examining him for any puncture wounds that might indicate a snake bite, I noticed two tiny spots of blood on his muzzle.

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First, a happy New Year to you all!

In 2007 we weathered catastrophic fires, flooding within our hospital, and blistering heat. Still, our firefighters prevailed, and our make-shift flood-management personnel / staff saved our hospital from disaster. Here’s to hoping for a kinder, gentler 2008.

But first some sad news. Dr. Stephen Long, who has been with us since we opened our hospital in December 2005 will be leaving at the end of January. He’ll be moving back to the East coast with his family to explore new opportunities. We certainly wish him the best.

However, joining us in February is Dr. Sophie Steele, a previous co-owner and doctor at Shadowridge Veterinary Hospital. She completed her undergraduate and veterinary degrees at UC Davis and has been practicing for over 5 years. As a former co-worker with Dr. Deirdre Brandes, we’re very happy to have Dr. Steele join our team. More about Dr. Steele coming soon!
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Wanted: A part-time veterinarian and a full-time seasoned technician. Detailed info can be found on our jobs page. But, to summarize…

Veterinarian: Must love pets. A strong communicator with clients and staff. 5-7 years of experience. Able to have fun while working, while always tending to the patients first. Must treat all patients as if they were your own and provide exceptional care, always.

Technician: Must love pets. 3 years of technical experience, RVT not required but preferred. Strong team player, effective communicator, a high degree of maturity. Able to anticipate the needs of patients and doctors, work independently and under direction. Loves to learn and mentor.

On the day after Thanksgiving Mr. Miles cradled a middle-aged Miniature Schnauzer in his arms, explaining, “Jelly won’t eat, and she keeps barfing.” Mr. Miles insisted that Jelly meant no harm at his in-laws’ dinner party when she snatched the turkey and consumed a significant fraction of it, including some of the stuffing.

On examination, Jelly was dehydrated and nauseated. When I pressed on her painful abdomen, she grunted, then retched, bringing up a puddle of yellow bile. Because of her dehydration and intractable vomiting, I hospitalized Jelly, placing her on IV fluids to rehydrate her while awaiting test results to assess her condition.
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For the weeks surrounding Thanksgiving and Christmas only, Rancho Santa Fe Veterinary Hospital is offering a limited amount of boarding for cats and dogs. Those interested in boarding with us should first contact Club Pet at Helen Woodward Animal Center at 858-756-4117 option 2 and check for their availability. If they’re full, you can call us at 858-759-8797 and ask for Rosie, our hospital manager who is handling all issues related to our boarding service.

Included in the boarding is a complementary wellness exam with one of our vets, multiple daily walks, and a wash at the end for those pets who are with us for several days. Happy holidays!