Pet Safety for July 4th

The 4th of July is upon us, which means fireworks, picnics, summer heat and more fireworks. Make sure to take precautions for your pet during this holiday and keep them safe.

Fireworks

They are loud and stressful...for your pet. Loud sounds can cause your pet to feel anxious and frightened. They will even run away if they get too upset.

Follow these tips for firework safety:

• Keep them inside the house
• If you leave, put them in a crate or small room like a bathroom
• Prevent them from chewing on used fireworks by cleaning up the yard and street
• Have them microchipped and keep ID tags updated in case they run away
• Check into Thunder Shirt, a special shirt that can help keep them secure and calm

Cook Outs and Picnics

Remember to not feed your pet table scraps, especially meat bones and corn on the cob, as they could cause an obstruction and harm your pet. So your pet is included with the fun, have them eat their own food and treats while you eat your meal (although, they will probably spend the entire time begging, at least they are being offered their own food and not yours).

The Heat

Just remember that July is a hot month and to keep your pet comfortable and hydrated. Don't leave them in a hot car, even if it's in the shade. Keep the pads of the feet off hot cement and asphalt as much as possible or get special booties. 

Have a good time with your pet on this special holiday and be safe! 

Pet Appreciation Week

How much do you love your pet?

This week is pet appreciation week, which is the perfect time to remember how much you love your pet. How many times has he or she helped you through a hard time? Made you laugh when you're feeling blue? Given you warm, wet kisses?

We all have times when our pet knew exactly what we needed. Maybe it was the time your bird started singing Michael Jackson to cheer you up, or your puppy started chasing its tail and made you laugh when you were angry about something. Your pets can sense when something is not right and they try their best to help you in any way possible. They will always love you no matter what.

This week, remember all the fond memories about your pets. Maybe you can recall your chameleon smiling at you, even when he wasn't. Or the time your dog had a really fun adventure in the mud outside and then sprawled out on your white couch. They drive us crazy sometimes, but we absolutely love them. They are part of the family!

Take time this week and remember how much you appreciate your pets. They won't always be around and you should cherish everything about them.

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!