Weight Loss Tips for Your Pet

It's a new year and time to make those annual resolutions. Most people have goals to lose weight and develop a healthier lifestyle. Have you evaluated your pets and their health needs? Did they pack on a few extra pounds this last year that they need to lose? Besides the fact of looking trim and moving around well, pets who are at a healthy weight will likely have less health problems. This goes for all types of animals–dogs, cats, birds, hamsters, reptiles, bunnies, and more.

In our 30 plus years of being in business, we have seen our fair share of overweight and obese pets. And want to know the number one cause of obesity? Poor diet. That's right! By simply changing your pet's diet you can help prolong the life of your loved one. Take birds, for instance. A proper diet is everything for a bird in captivity. If they aren't fed the right foods, they can develop all sorts of health problems related to obesity. By simply keeping them on a strict diet of pellets mixed with nuts, fruit, and veggies, you are creating a healthy lifestyle for your bird. This means no bread, seeds (they are too high in fat for captive birds), or Twinkies (yes, clients have actually fed them to their birds), to name a few.

Let's talk about dogs. If you have a dog, you probably know they love table scraps. Whatever you do, don't feed them stuff from the table–no matter how tempting those begging eyes look. Here's a rule of thumb: if you eat it, they likely shouldn't. Now there are some exceptions. Some veggies can be a healthy treat for your dog. Carrots make great treats! The best thing to feed your dog is what your veterinarian recommends. Usually this is a kibble diet with the occasional healthy dog treat. Make sure not to overfeed or underfeed your dog. Usually the amount to feed your dog is based on their breed and weight. Ask your vet about how much you should be feeding your dog. In addition to a good diet, dogs need exercise

Depending on the breed, dogs should get 20-30 minutes of exercise each day. Some breeds, such as border collies, need more physical activity every day, but the average dog just needs to get out and walk. And if you're exercising your dog on a daily basis, you are also getting exercise. It's a win-win!

Cats also need to be on a proper diet as well. We want to remind you they need to eat meat protein. We had a client in the past who was a vegetarian and fed their cat strictly broccoli and rice. Please do not do this! They will end up being underweight and malnourished. If you stick by the diet our vets recommend for cats, they will be healthy and happy. Be also aware of feline obesity. Don't feed your cat more than they need.

Let's face it. Your pet's weight depends on you and what you feed it. As a pet owner, you are responsible for taking control of their health. A good diet is simple: feed them what they are supposed to eat, and don't feed them what they shouldn't.

Your pets need to be prepared for an emergency

We've all heard the importance of being prepared in the event of a disaster, whether it be an earthquake or a house fire. But have you considered that your pets need to be prepared for an emergency as well?

National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day was on May 13, and we thought discussing your pet's safety in an emergency would be a good way to celebrate this holiday.

There are many of us who don't realize how important it is to be prepared for a disaster and have a plan; including a plan for our beloved pets.

Here are some useful ideas for pet emergency preparedness:

Make sure your pet has proper identification. Your address, phone number, pet's name and vet's phone number are important things to have on ID tags. Having your pet microchipped is ideal.

Assemble a pet emergency kit. Include these items:

Pet food
Bottled water
Food/water dishes
Medications
Cat litter/pan/scoop
Garbage/poop bags
Manual can opener
First aid kit
Leashes/collars/harnesses
Pet carrier/cage
Blanket
Toys
Bed
Current vaccine records and medical history




Arrange shelter for your pet beforehand. Most emergency shelters do not allow pets due to public health reasons. Make a list of possible boarding facilities and shelters (some animal shelters allow temporary care in an emergency, but should be considered as a last resort) and include phone numbers and addresses. Create a list of motels and hotels that allow pets in advance. Also, find a family member or friend outside your immediate area who would be willing to foster your pet if needed.

No one can determine when a disaster may strike. Be aware of your geographical area so you may anticipate disaster and plan accordingly. If you are not safe in the event of an emergency, neither is your pet. Your pet is a family member and needs to be protected if something bad happens. Take proper precautions as we've mentioned and always BE PREPARED!









For more detailed information about pet emergency preparedness, visit these helpful sites:

Ready
Red Cross
ASPCA *this site provides important tips for birds, reptiles and small animals*

Get the Right Dog for You!

Have you ever passed someone on the street with their dog and instantly become dog hungry? The cure is simple. Go get yourself a dog! But then you wonder, where do I start and what type of dog should I get?

People searching for a dog often make the mistake of purchasing/adopting the wrong breed for their lifestyles. We’ve often encountered clients who obtained a dog and then realized they can’t give it what it needs.

There was a client who adopted a Border Collie and had the best intentions, but lived in a small apartment and was absent from home a majority of the day. The dog spent most of its time in a kennel—which is not ideal for Border Collies, who require several miles of exercise every day. Eventually the owner had to find another person to take care of the dog.

You can avoid mistakes like this simply by doing your research. There are several things to consider when bringing a new family member into your home.

Is the breed good with children?

Some breeds of dog are not suitable for young children. If you have children, don’t pick a breed that may possibly bite them. Chow chows are one example of dogs who don't work well with children.

Health problems

Certain breeds of dogs are susceptible to different types of illnesses. For example, Pugs tend to have respiratory issues, while Standard Poodles are prone to ear infections.

Exercise demands

Some larger dogs, such as Australian Shepherds, require exercise every day. If you work outside the home and don’t have time for much exercise each day, a small breed of dog would be perfect for your situation.

Are living areas (apartments, homes, townhomes) suitable for the specific breed?

Some apartment complexes have different guidelines for dogs living in the apartments. Make sure you know what your landlord requires before obtaining a dog.  

Work schedule

Some dogs require more time than others. Make sure if you work that your dog’s needs are met.

Arranging boarding when out of town

Dogs still need attention when you go on vacation. Arrange proper boarding before you leave. This can be with a pet sitter or friend, or a professional boarding facility.

Costs of food

Dogs need to eat. Add dog food and treats to your budget.

Veterinary care

We recommend when you first get your dog that you set aside money or an account for veterinary expenses. It is likely your dog will get sick and need to visit the vet sometime in its life. Dogs also require maintenance services (vaccines, heartworm protection, grooming, etc.). It’s good to be prepared.

Who will be primary care taker?

Are children taking care of the dog? If so, parents still need to supervise them so that the dog’s needs are met. Sometimes in large family homes, the dog gets ignored.

Other pets in house

Some dogs get along with cats and birds—some don’t. If you have other pets and want to bring a dog home, consider the living space. Ask yourself, if I bring a new dog into the home, do I have enough space to keep my pets separated and happy?

Shelters or breeders

Shelters are a wonderful place to give a dog a forever home. Most dogs in shelters are adults and potty trained already. In our experience, they make great pets! Some people may choose to get their dog from a breeder. It’s good to make sure the breeder is legitimate before purchasing a puppy. Please avoid puppy mills at all costs! Puppy mills have terrible living conditions for dogs and puppies.

Puppy or adult

Some people want to raise a puppy and others prefer an adult dog. Either choice is rewarding, but make sure you’re prepared for whatever you decide. Puppies require lots of time and patience.

New dogs are always a fun experience! Being prepared before choosing your family member is in your best interest and will make the journey much better! And as always, staff at Parrish Creek are available for your questions.

Visit the AVMA website for more detailed information.

Heartworm Protection all Year

A question we often get from our clients is whether or not their cat or dog should be on heartworm protection year round. The answer to this question is a big YES!

Let us tell you a little bit about heartworm first.

Heartworms are worms--transmitted by mosquitoes--that damage blood vessels and reduce the heart’s pumping ability in dogs and cats. It results in severe lung and heart disease. Treating heartworms once they are in the body is complicated; it requires strong drugs and/or surgery, and is expensive and difficult on the animal. Most heartworm cases end in fatality.

Heartworms being extracted from a heart

Signs of heartworm disease in dogs:

In the early stages of the disease, dogs often don’t exhibit significant symptoms. As the disease progresses; dogs may have persistent cough, reluctance to exercise, fatigue, decreased appetite, and weight loss.

Signs of heartworm disease in cats:

Cats tend to show signs of disease that are mild or extreme. Symptoms include coughing, some vomiting, lack of appetite, or weight loss. In some cases, a cat may collapse without warning.

Prevention

At Parrish Creek, we take heartworm prevention seriously. We recommend pets be on heartworm and intestinal parasites medication all year, without a break. But Utah is a dry climate and there are no mosquitoes or parasites during the cold winter months. This is FALSE! According to data collected by the American Heartworm Society, Utah does in fact see heartworm cases every year. Even strictly indoor pets are at risk—they eventually will go outside sometime in their lives, and mosquitoes can also live indoors.

Here’s the issue with limiting your pet to heartworm protection only during warm months:

How are we to gage which months your pet should be on or off the heartworm protection? The weather this February is a perfect example. In many places throughout Utah, temperatures have been in the 50’s, and even 60’s. We have seen many pets outside during this warm spell. If say, your dog had gone off its heartworm protection back in November, and is still off that protection and went outside to play yesterday, who’s to say he or she has not been affected? Mosquitoes love warmth and water.

For safety sake and complete protecion, we highly recommend your pet stay on heartworm protection 365 days a year.

Proheart 6 is the ideal heartworm prevention in dogs, and we recommend this over monthly pills (however, in some cases, we will still prescribe them). Given every six months, Proheart 6 is an injection that requires little effort on your part, and provides continual protection from heartworm and intestinal parasites. A blood test is required for the first two injections, and if this program is followed, the manufacturer will cover all costs for diagnosis and treatment should your dog become infected.

For cats, there is no injection option available, so our veterinarians will prescribe monthly pills such as Heartgard or Revolution.

We sincerely want the best for your pets, and this means protecting them. Please feel free to ask our veterinarians or technicians if you have any concerns or questions about heartworm prevention.

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!