The Facts About Anesthesia

There's no need to be afraid of anesthesia. Although it is normal to feel a little apprehensive when the vet recommends anesthesia for a procedure or surgery on your pet, the concerns should be minimal. Modern anesthetics are very safe when administered by trained veterinarians and technicians. While there is a chance of complications, this is extremely rare.  Not only does your pet remain safe and comfortable during surgery, but comes out a better and healthier animal.

Here's how anesthesia works beginning to end:

1. Preanesthetic medication is administered

After a physical examination and preanesthetic blood profiling, a sedative is given to relax your pet. While being monitored closely by our staff, your pet will soon feel calm and relaxed after about 10 minutes.

2. IV fluids are given

An IV catheter is placed and fluids are given throughout the entire procedure. Some clinics do not include IV fluids during surgery, however, it is beneficial for your pet to be hydrated throughout the whole process. Not only does it prevent dehydration, but helps maintain blood pressure and kidney function.

3. Anesthesia starts

An intravenous medication is administered to your pet and he/she becomes fully sedated within 30 seconds.

4. During the procedure

We have trained technicians and veterinarians that monitor the anesthesia, which is maintained with a gas mixed with oxygen and can be adjusted according to your pet's needs.

5. After the procedure

You pet is never left unattended as they wake up from the anesthesia. Our technicians monitor him/her closely and make sure his/her needs are met. It usually takes about 15 minutes for your pet to come to consciousness. Pain control is important after a procedure and we make sure your pet is as comfortable as possible.

We take these important steps to ensure your pet is comfortable and stable during procedures and surgeries. If you have any questions or concerns about anesthesia or surgery, please don't hesitate to ask us.

Bob Learns the Truth About Fern

Dear Diary,

I once had a lady lover--she was all I ever wanted and more. Every day I dreamt of our lives coming together, a big cage with a waterfall as our home and four or five tiny snakes slithering around as our offspring. We would be one happy family, eating pinky mice and teasing the man who fed them to us. My future was set, I just needed to find a way to get in Fern's cage. How to do it?

Well, I found the perfect opportunity a little past nine on a Wednesday night. The man who feeds me brought my pinky mouse as usual, but there was a loud crashing noise in the back of the clinic that sent him running away without closing the door to my habitat. I slithered down from the branch I was hanging on, and made my way back to Fern's cage. I was so excited! This would be our second encounter (the first was a movie night in my cage).

I climbed up to her cage, where she was sleeping peacefully. She looked splendid! I lightly rapped my head against the glass of her cage. No response. So I tried again. Nothing. Finally, with all my might, I squeezed my head through the tiny crack between the glass and the cage. At this, Fern opened her eyes.

"What do you want?" her eyes told me. This was not the reaction I was expecting. "I'm here for you, my love," my eyes replied to her.

"My love? You mean like brotherly love, right?"

I was really confused. Fern was not my brother. She is a female. Unless...

"Hey Fern! Do you mean to tell me you won't be able to produce my offspring?"

"How would this be possible? I'm a dude snake!"

Silence (well, it was already silent because we were talking with our eyes).

I was in shock! I had no idea this was what I would encounter when I made the journey from my cage to her (I mean, his) cage.

Finally, after much thought, I told Fern that I would love to be his bro buddy. He seemed to like that and we decided to play a joke on the feeder man. We switched cages!

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!

5 Tips for Making Your Pet Comfortable at the Vet

The veterinary clinic can sometimes seem like a scary place for your pet, especially if he or she has never experienced it before. It can also be stressful to make the trip for an appointment. But don't worry! There are ways to help your pet get accustomed to visiting the vet so that both of you can leave feeling satisfied.

Tip #1: Take your pet to the clinic multiple times before doing any exams or shots. Let him/her walk around and smell everything. It's important for your pet to get to know the staff on a non-invasive basis. Allow them to pet and dote over your loved one. Treats are a great way for him/her to associate the clinic with something good and positive. The staff will always have treats and are more than happy to give one (or two) to your pet. Then when you return for an actual visit, your pet will feel at home!

Tip #2: Prepare your cat for the car ride and vet visit. It's a known fact. Cats do not like cars, let alone the vet. But, there are ways to help them get comfortable with the idea. One thing that is important is get them used to the carrier. Leave it out somewhere in your house with treats inside and allow them to sniff and walk in and out several times. They will still likely hate the car, but at least they are familiar with and are safe in their crate. Again, try going to the vet a few times to get them familiar with a new surrounding.

Tip #3: If you stay calm, they'll stay calm (for the most part). Sometimes our clients can be just as anxious as their pets. It can be stressful to watch your baby being handled and given shots. However, it does not help him/her to see you just as fearful. To him/her, you are his/her protector and parent. If he/she sees you upset, this intensifies what he/she is already feeling. Try your best to be calm and do exactly what the vet tech and veterinarian tell you to do. They are trained professionals and do this on a daily basis.

Tip #4: Bring treats...lots and lots of treats. Who says you can't bribe your pet? Rewarding your pet for good behavior at the vet is encouraged. Also, allowing the vet and vet techs to give treats to your pet shows him/her that they can be trusted (at least a little).

Tip #5: Play with or take your pet on a walk before appointment. This will cut down on nervousness and get some of his/her energy out. It will also help prevent accidents at the vet.

Follow these simple tips and you have a greater chance of having a successful vet visit!

What Your Pet Shouldn't Eat

You may be able to put whatever food you want into your mouth, but that doesn't mean it can go in your pet's mouth. There are some foods out there that are dangerous to animals and could be fatal. An example is chocolate that is ingested by a dog. If untreated, the dog has the risk of dying. Then there are high fat foods such as bread and hot dogs, which if fed, can cause birds serious health problems. 

For this blog, we've picked a few animals to highlight and are providing you with information about the foods they shouldn't eat. It can be a reference if you are unsure about what your pet can or can't have.

If you would like more detailed information about nutrition, contact our clinic for an appointment.

Birds

No flour based foods (breads, tortillas, cookies, crackers, etc.)

No fried foods (skip the French fries)

No animal meats or by-products (dairy products)

No foods sweetened with natural or artificial sweeteners

No peanuts (they carry fungus that can be deadly)

No raw beans or any type of spinach

Guinea Pigs

NEVER feed these foods:

Iceberg lettuce

Rhubarb

Spinach

Dairy

Caffeine

Spicy foods

Mushrooms

Cookies/Bread

Pickled Vegetables

Garlic

Avocado

Nuts/Seeds

Chocolate

Popcorn

Tomatillo

Coconut

Dogs

Alcohol

Corn cobs

Avocado

Chocolate

Coffee

Caffeine

Citrus

Coconut/Coconut Oil

Grapes and raisins

Nuts

Milk/Dairy

Onions

Garlic

Chives

Raw meat, eggs, bones

Salty foods

Yeast dough

Xylitol (common in gum, peanut butter, toothpaste, sugarless foods)

Cats

Onion

Garlic

Chives

Raw meat, eggs, bones

Chocolate

Caffeinated drinks (coffee, tea, sodas)

Alcohol

Raw dough

Milk/Dairy products

Grapes/Raisins

Dog food

Avocado

Xylitol