Why Vets are so Awesome

Have you ever wondered why veterinarians choose to be veterinarians? If you think it's just for the paycheck, you have definitely have been misinformed.

A majority of veterinarians select their profession because of their passion for animals. They spend eight years of their lives dedicated to studying veterinary medicine. And it's not cheap. Currently the average student comes out of vet school with a debt of about $200,000. The average salary of a veterinarian is about $45,000-$106,000. They are highly educated, skilled and work extremely hard.

What does your veterinarian know/do? Let's break it down.

1. Performs multiple types of surgeries on all sorts of animals
2. An expert on dental health for animals
3. Reads/interprets lab reports
4. Diagnoses illnesses
5. Performs chemotherapy on cancer patients
6. Writes prescriptions, meaning has a strong knowledge of multiple drugs/side effects
7. Makes informed decisions
8. Gives injections
9. Draws blood (difficult to do on birds and reptiles)
10. Educates on pet care

These are just a few of the things your vet knows how to do. They are also comforters when your pet dies or is euthanized. If you think your vet doesn't care, trust that they absolutely do. They wouldn't have spent years of their lives in an expensive school if they didn't. Many vets have always had compassion for pets and worked hard throughout their lives to practice veterinary medicine.

Dr. Folland knew he wanted to be a vet from a very young age. He cared for all types of animals growing up and developed a passion for birds. When he was a teenager he rode his bike several blocks to work at an animal clinic, where he was a kennel technician. He worked hard in college to get into vet school and then did an avian medicine internship. After his schooling he opened his own clinic and later spent five years getting board certified in avian medicine. His final paper was even rejected a few times until the board finally accepted it.

Our other vets, Dr. Stearns and Dr. Echols, also have their own unique journeys to becoming vets.

We love our veterinarians! They do so much to help animals! Take time today to tell them thank you.

Dr. Stearns

Dr. Folland

Dr. Echols

Find your Pet with a Microchip!

 

How much do you love your pet? Chances are very much. What would you do if you lost your pet? If you knew there was a way to find your pet, would you take the opportunity? There happens to be a solution to finding your lost or stolen pet. And it's called a microchip.

This week, April 15-21, is National Pet ID Week. During this time, we want to remind you of the importance of microchipping your pet. Most people microchip their cats and dogs, but you can also microchip birds.

How Microchipping Works

• A tiny microchip the size of a grain of rice is inserted into your pet via syringe injection at the vet
• Attached to the microchip is a unique ID number that can be detected by a scanner 
• If your pet goes missing, he/she can be scanned at a vet clinic or shelter and the ID will appear on the scanner
• The ID number will be relayed to the microchip company and they can contact you 
• You MUST register your name, phone number and address to the microchip company or they can't link the ID number to you. The microchip is useless if it isn't registered 

Don't worry, the process of inserting the microchip is harmless for your pet. It's definitely worth it if your pet goes missing. We've been able to scan microchips on lost animals and have located the owners. It really works!

We do microchipping at our clinic and can also insert the chip while your pet is under anesthesia for surgery if you prefer that.

It's a terrible thing to lose a pet and we always want your loved one to be found. Definitely consider a microchip!

Heartworm Prevention Month

You've probably heard of heartworms, the stringy things that embed themselves in the hearts of cats and dogs and come from infected mosquitoes. This is known as heartworm disease and it is deadly. But did you know that your cat or dog is at risk of these parasites all year round? Did you also know that heartworm disease can be prevented?

April is National Heartworm Awareness Month and the perfect time to be educated on heartworm disease and prevention.

Has your doctor ever prescribed you medication for some sort of prevention? Birth control for pregnancy? High blood pressure medication to help your heart? Like these types of prevention, heartworm protection keeps your cat or dog healthy and safe. It is something they must be on all year round. They are continually at risk for heartworm disease, as mosquitoes are everywhere and there is no way to track which ones carry the disease.

So what exactly are heartworms?

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 a burden on the animal. Many heartworm cases end in fatality if left untreated.

How can I protect my animal?

For dogs, we give Proheart 6 injections. They are administered every six months and the company has a guarantee that should the dog get infected while on the medication, all medical expenses will be paid by them. Don't worry, there is a slim chance of your dog getting heartworms while on this medication.

For cats there are no injections available, but we usually prescribed Heartgard or Revolution to protect them against heartworms.

If your pet is not on heartworm protection, now is a good time to start. With the warm months upon us, there are more mosquitoes and more chances of getting heartworm disease. There have been multiple cases of heartworm disease in Utah and we have diagnosed cases in two dogs in the past year. 

Be prepared, get your pet protected and enjoy the upcoming nice weather!