#GiveThanks

Be thankful!

We want to express gratitude for all of our clients and their pets throughout the years. Parrish Creek Veterinary Clinic has been open for over 30 years. It started with a young veterinarian and his small family. Dr. Folland had a vision for his business, and wanted every client to feel special. He had the philosophy to treat every client's pet like his own. This philosophy has carried on into the 10, 20, and 30 years of being in business.

This time of year is good to reflect on what Thanksgiving means to us. It's not just about a big meal, but having gratitude for all the things, good or bad. We are thankful for our clients, patients, technicians, science, functional equipment, research, good veterinarians, modern medicine, animals, our clinic building, and so much more.

Thank you for entrusting us with your loved ones. We want to treat them like our own, and give them the best care possible.

This year has been especially hard on everyone. Sure, there's a lot we could complain about, but remembering what we have and being grateful replaces all the bad stuff. Why are we in this field? It's because we care. We care about you, your pets, and maintaining and saving animals' lives.

Let's all be thankful this year of 2020!  

Dog Bite Prevention

Dog bites are a serious health concern and should not be taken lightly. There are a variety of reasons  why a dog may bite. Even dogs that are well-trained and have never bitten anyone can still bite if caught off-guard. One example:

A little girl startled a well-behaved dog while it was eating its food and it immediately latched onto her face. The dog had never had a history of biting, but because it had one moment of surprise, it bit and sent the girl to the hospital to get stitches.

We shouldn't underestimate dogs and their instincts. Dogs are animals and they will bite in certain situations.

Why do dogs bite?

There are a few different reasons why a dog may bite, and it doesn’t always mean that they are an “aggressive dog”. Evaluate your dog’s biting behaviors. Is it present prominently during play? Or is it in certain situations, i.e. greetings from adults or children, or at the groomer or veterinary clinic? A dog may bite as to say, “Leave me alone I don’t want to be bothered.” A dog can bite because they’re in pain. Or simply put, a dog can bite because they haven’t been taught manners. If nipping/biting is only present during play, then a great way to teach him to not bite is to redirect his attention on to something  he can place his mouth on like a rope toy, ball etc. In other circumstances be aware of your dog’s warning signs of any discomfort or uneasiness. Some signs include lip raising, baring teeth, growling, and snapping at the air. Their body language may include a tucked tail, ears back and possibly cowering and trying to flee the scene. Set your dog up for success. Diffuse the uneasiness by moving forward slowly by making your dog more comfortable through space or distance from any triggers. Redirect his attention on to his favorite toy or treat. Be on the lookout for any calm reactions and praise and reward heavily. Be patient while teaching your dog that biting is an unfavorable behavior. Punishing or berating a dog who bites will only make things worse. Always approach it in a positive and force free manner.

How to prevent dog bites

• Educate yourself on how to approach dogs
• Socialize your dog with other people and animals
• Be a responsible dog owner
• Avoid situations where a dog could potentially bite you
• Notice a dog's body language

Being aware that dogs are animals and could potentially bite can help you be more cautious around them. Educate yourself and try to avoid situations where you or someone else could get bit.

Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Northern Utah

We've worked with the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Northern Utah (WRCNU) for years and are always amazed every day at all the wonderful work they do for wild animals. They have saved countless lives throughout the years and released animals back into the wild and proper habitats. The community is lucky to have such a great organization that cares so deeply about the lives of animals.

Over the years we've helped WRCNU with many wild birds and other wildlife, but two instances stand out in our minds.

The Beavers and the Fuel Spill

A few years ago, there was a diesel fuel spill near Willard Bay that affected a whole family of beavers. They were brought to us by WRCNU, and not only was their fur and eyes damaged by the fuel, but they had ingested the fuel as well. We knew this because we could smell the fuel in their urine/feces for days after they arrived at WRCNU. It took months to treat them, until finally the whole family was cleared to go back to their habitat. If it hadn't been for WRCNU and their constant care and dedication, those beavers would've suffered or even died. In fact, we thought we would lose some, if not all of these precious animals.

Moving beavers to release location in the Uintahs

One beaver after release

One beaver eating a carrot after he was healed

Dr. Folland taking a blood sample from tail of one of the beavers

Beaver in the back of DWR after arriving at WRCNU

Phoenix the Golden Eagle

Photo by Kent Keller

This story is tear-jerking and completely amazing. Phoenix was only a baby when a terrible wildfire hit part of Utah in 2012. He was found on July 4 among the ashes, feathers and feet burned and separated from his parents. We knew the parents had been there because prey had been found next to him at the bottom of the cliff, where the nest had once been. It was estimated he had spent 10 days with third degree burns before being found! WRCNU obtained him and brought him to us for treatment. It was heartbreaking knowing he had been burned and alone, with no water and only a little bit of food before being discovered. He was in bad shape to say the least. We were unsure of what might happen to him. Things would look up, but then there would be issues with treatment. Somehow he pulled through. He then developed West Nile Virus on September 11, 2015 and survived that as well. With each event he managed to stay alive, along with the help of PCVC and WRCNU. Unfortunately, Phoenix never did make it back into the wild, but he is alive and currently under the care of WRCNU. He is definitely a miracle bird and wears the name, Phoenix, proudly!

July 4 rescue day. Look closely. There is a ground squirrel in the lower right corner and some hindquarter under him (likely a jack rabbit). Photo credit: Kent Keller

2017 photo of Phoenix. 

Photo credit: Kent Keller

Not every case has a happy ending, but most of them do. We thank WRCNU for all their time and sacrifice to help these animals and get them back into the wild (where they should be).

For more information about WRCNU or to donate, please click the links.

Birds and bloodwork

Why does my bird need to have bloodwork? This is a question we often encounter from some of our clients when we suggest a blood screening, and it is a reasonable question.

Birds are unique animals. They require a lot of care and attention both at home and in a veterinary clinic. When a bird is in the wild, it hides signs of illness for as long as possible to protect against predators and also to blend in with its flock. Birds in captivity have similar behavior. If your pet bird is sick, he or she has probably been sick for a while. Routine blood screening allows us to detect diseases early on before your bird starts showing symptoms. And the sooner we are able to identify an illness through blood testing, the sooner we can control or cure it. Don't wait until it's too late!

What's included in annual bloodwork?

Complete Blood Cell Count (CBC)
Chemistry Panel
Triglycerides

CBC
We learn information about your bird by monitoring the red and white cells, and platelets. By doing this, we are able to detect signs of infection, cancer, anemia, and much more.

Chemistry Panel
This helps us get an idea of how the organs are functioning inside your bird. Although an organ appears healthy on an x-ray, this doesn't always mean it is functioning normally. This is why we recommend pairing bloodwork with x-rays to get the best results and confidence that your bird is indeed healthy.

Triglycerides
This is a type of fat found in the body and when elevated, it could indicate dietary imbalances, liver disease or even reproductive problems. Most issues in birds are a result of poor diet, which usually consists of fatty foods.

X-rays+3 types of bloodwork=confidence in your bird's health

Our Avian veterinarians are trained to draw blood from all types and sizes of birds, and our technicians are skilled in bird handling. Be assured that your bird is in safe hands.

Make a resolution this year to give the best care possible to your little feathered friend!

Reptile Rescue--Sarah Southerland

You may have heard of cat and dog rescues, but it's not very often you encounter a reptile rescue. Sarah Southerland has been coming to our clinic for several years, bringing in neglected and sick reptiles from all over Utah. She chose reptiles because members of her family are allergic to feathers and furs. In December of 2012, she rescued her first bearded dragon, and has rescued over 200 reptiles since then.

Sarah has made a name for herself. People from all over the world contact her with questions about their reptiles, and she has befriended many reptile lovers that share her passion. Reptiles often are misunderstood by people, and reptile rescues aren't nearly as popular as dog and cat rescues, but Sarah hopes to change this mentality. Like dogs and cats, reptiles have personalities and are just as cute and cuddly.

Throughout Sarah's rescuing, she has encountered a lot of heartbreaking cases. Often the owner of the reptile waits to seek help until it's too late. The hardest part of rescuing for Sarah is when the reptile is past the point of healing and all she can do is hold and keep it warm until it passes away.

There are happy endings to Sarah's rescues. Her most rewarding experiences are when the reptiles are half dead and unexpected to live, but receive help and are healthy enough again to be adopted out. Below are before and after photos of Noel, a bearded dragon, who got a second chance at life.

How Sarah's rescue operates:

She learns about the sick reptile from friends or online ads, where she is tagged in a post or forwarded a link. Often she tries to get the animal surrendered to her, and will even pay to have this done. Once she has the reptile, she assesses the situation and determines what needs to be done for it to survive, whether it's a bath and cleaning or saline injection. For more complicated cases, Sarah pays a visit to our clinic. Once the rescued reptiles are healthy again, she adopts them out to safe homes.

How to help:

There are opportunities to help Sarah out with her rescue. She is always looking for foster homes to house bearded dragons and accepts donated reptile supplies (tanks, light fixtures, hides, etc.). Monetary donations can also be made directly to her PayPal account, and she also sells cute costumes, blankets, and supplies through her Etsy site to raise funds. Check out her blog and website as well.

Sarah's bit of advice:

Always do your research BEFORE buying/adopting any animal, but especially a reptile. Educate yourself about diet, husbandry, and diseases. ADOPT, don't shop. As always, exotic vet clinics are a great resource!!

Direct link to Sarah's blog

 

Technicians are the Lifeblood of a Vet Clinic

Being a technician is not only about playing with puppies and kittens. What an average person may not realize is that every one of our technicians performs duties that take at least 15 people in the human world to complete.

To your pet they are a...

1.      Nurse

2.      Nurse aid

3.      Lab technician

4.      Dental hygienist

5.      Surgical technician

6.      Anesthesia technician

7.      Pain management technician

8.      Pharmacy technician

9.      Rehabilitation therapist

10.  Orderly

11.  Administrative assistant

12.  Counselor

13.  Radiology technician

14.  Phlebotomist

15.  Housekeeper

*And they learn how to do all these positions in only two years of schooling and constant on-the-job training.

Veterinary technicians are a rare breed. It is not the money that keeps them coming back to work every day, as they make just over minimum wage, but their passion and love for animals. As Audrey, one of our technicians, puts it:

“My job is not about pride and getting the blood or the catheter in, it is about being gentle and understanding to a scared animal that doesn't know what is going on and doesn't feel well.”

Parrish Creek Veterinary Clinic is fortunate to have some of the greatest technicians in the world (we are not biased). We specialize in exotics as well as dogs and cats, so our technicians have undergone rigorous training and education. Every day they work hard drawing blood from reptiles, performing dentals on cats and dogs (and ferrets), educating our clients, assisting in surgeries, comforting grieving owners, restraining birds, snapping x-rays of rabbits, analyzing lab work, filling prescriptions—the list goes on and on.

Allow us to introduce our wonderful technicians:

Crystal is our lead technician and has been with PCVC since 1997. She loves exotics, and is in the process of becoming a specialized exotics technician. Her interest in veterinary medicine began when she was teenager, and although she wanted to be a veterinarian at first, she realized she was more interested in being a technician. She has been in the field for 22 years. For her, the best part of her job is interacting with animals and helping them get back to health.

Audrey is a certified veterinary technician from Chicago and has been has a technician for 17 years, and certified for 12 of those years. Her love for exotics, especially ferrets, has made her job interesting and enjoyable. Ferrets are her absolute favorite animal. She even contemplated working in ferret research to help find cures for their diseases. Every day Audrey hopes that she can make a difference in the lives of our patients and clients, as well as learn something new.

Jen has been a technician for almost four years. Her sweet demeanor and patience with our clients and patients has made her a valuable part of our clinic. She loves working with so many different types of animals and learning something new every day. When she was younger, she always wanted to be a marine biologist and work with dolphins, but didn’t pursue it because of her fear of water. She knew, however, she wanted to work with various species of animals and pursued a career as a veterinary technician.

Dean is another one of our technicians who has a passion for snakes. If you bring in a snake, just know that Dean will be there to help. He graduated from the veterinary technician program at Utah Career College (now Broadview University).

Christine is the newest addition to the PCVC team and is being trained in exotics. We are excited to have her at our hospital.

A vet tech’s job is draining physically, mentally and emotionally. Our techs work long hours and are always paying attention to detail. If there were no vet techs, the veterinary world would be a dreadful place. We are extremely grateful for the technician staff at PCVC. They keep our clinic alive and running. Thank you!

Parrish Creek Veterinary Clinic is the Place to Bring Your Pet

What do you expect to find when you and your pet walk through the doors of Parrish Creek Veterinary Clinic? First, you’ll notice a clean smell throughout the lobby—not the scent of a thousand hounds rolling around in dirt. Then you’ll notice Bob the snake, a green tree python in his habitat (cage), sleeping. And trust me, every time you’ll see Bob, he is asleep—not dead. You may hear some squawking and mumbling from a cage in the corner of the lobby. That is Buckwheat, our Double Yellow-headed Amazon. She is our pride and joy!

Here is Bob, sleeping

Upon entering the clinic lobby, you’ll always be greeted with a smile by one of our awesome receptionists. Courtney is our lead receptionist and has been with our clinic for over four years. She is also a certified dog trainer, so if you have a new puppy, she is your lady.

If your pet happens to need care in our treatment area, feel free to come back with our doctors and technicians. We have an open-door policy, so if you’re ever concerned about your loved one while they are receiving treatment, you have the option to be there with them. Our doctors and staff are highly skilled and sympathetic.

About our doctors:

Dr. Folland is the founder and medical director of Parrish Creek Veterinary Clinic. He is Avian Board Certified, with a passion for exotic animals. In the past he has worked for Hogle Zoo, and currently cares for the birds at Tracy Aviary. He has saved countless eagles that have been rescued, and even helped save a family of beavers that had been affected by an oil spill.

Dr. Echols is another one of our veterinarians at PCVC and Avian Board Certified as well. We are very lucky to have two of the very few Avian Certified vets in the U.S. In addition to working at PCVC, Dr. Echols performs research and lectures at various veterinary conferences throughout the world. He’s spent time in the Amazon rain forest (like Tarzan), studying various species of animals and living in a tree house.

The newest addition to our team is Dr. Stearns. She recently graduated from Cornell and moved all the way out to Utah to train under Dr. Folland and Dr. Echols. Everyone at PCVC are excited to have her as one of our veterinarians.

Dr. Love works for us part-time and is also a Cornell alumna. She has a “LOVE” for animals and brings positive energy to our clinic.

Welcome to Parrish Creek Veterinary Clinic!

This is Buckwheat, our cute Double Yellow-headed Amazon

*Stay tuned for our next blog when we introduce our fantastic technicians*