Giving Rabbits as Gifts for Easter

Have a "hoppy" Easter!

Easter is a popular time for people to give rabbits and chicks as pets. Despite what some people may think, rabbits require a good amount of care and attention. Many end up at the shelter because their owners are unable to give them with what they need. Around this time of year, shelters receive quite a few rabbits. If you are thinking about getting a rabbit, make sure to do your research. They require a lot of work.

So what exactly do rabbits need?

A rabbit's diet is extremely important. It should always have an unlimited amount of hay and fresh water daily. Fresh, dark leafy greens and fruit can also be given, and a small amount of rabbit pellets can be added to its daily diet. 

Rabbits are herbivores and will feed continuously, so they need to always have food and water available. They also eat their feces to get further nutrients. If they aren't defecating or eating their feces, make sure to call us. There could be an issue with their digestive system and this can be a serious issue.

Rabbits need to be handled carefully and may need to be supervised when children hold them. They don't naturally like to be held, and may try to bite or scratch a child.

This Easter, remember to do your research before giving rabbits as gifts to your children. Be prepared to pick up the slack if you do. Rabbits are great pets and don't deserve to be in shelters.

Common Diseases in Ferrets

Ferrets are some of the cutest animals on the planet. They're fun and curious, and will keep you entertained on a daily basis. Unfortunately, ferrets are also prone to certain diseases, which can be serious and even fatal. We'd like to share some helpful information about two common diseases found in ferrets, so that you can watch for the symptoms and get the disease treated before it's too late.

Adrenal Disease

The adrenal glands are a major part of the endocrine system and have been a site for cancer in ferrets for many years. These glands are prone to disease and may increase to the point where they put pressure on the kidneys or the vena cava. They can also produce an excessive amount of androgens (sex hormones).

This overproduction of sex hormones results in several clinical signs, including:

• Hair loss
• Increased body odor
• Dry, brittle hair coat
• Excessive itchy skin
• In spayed females: enlargement of vulva, vaginitis, and stump pyometra (infection in uterus)
• In neutered males: mounting cage mates, aggression to other males, and straining to urinate

Treatment for adrenal disease includes surgery to remove a portion or all of the adrenal gland, hormone injections, and hormone implant treatments.

Splenomegaly (Enlarged Spleen)

There are several conditions that can cause splenomegaly, including extramedullary hematopoiesis (the accumulation of a massive number of developing red and white blood cells), neoplasia (tumor), infections, cardiomyopathy (cardiac muscle disease), hypersplenism (enlarged spleen with excessive amount of blood cells), and heart disease.

What does the spleen do?

One of the primary functions of a spleen is filtering blood, so it has a large blood supply. It also stores blood, and in ferrets, manufactures blood cells.

Diagnosis

Usually palpation upon an examination is the easiest and most effective way to diagnose. We have to be careful during palpation, because some diseases cause the spleen to be very delicate and splenic rupture is possible. Radiographs are also very helpful to define size and borders of the spleen and to evaluate other abnormalities associated with splenomegaly, such enlarged liver or heart. Biopsy of the spleen might be needed in some cases.

Treatment of splenomegaly depends on the cause. If the spleen becomes too large, surgical removal may be necessary. Ferrets affected may need blood transfusions, antibiotics (secondary infection), and supportive care including vitamin/mineral supplementation, herbal/homeopathic remedies, IV fluids, and syringe feedings.

Although enlarged spleens are common in ferrets and usually don't require treatment, it's always a good idea for a veterinarian to check for splenomegaly.

If you have any questions about your ferret, or if it appears to have symptoms of disease, please give us a call.

Coping with the Loss of a Pet

If you ask anyone in the veterinary world about the hardest thing to deal with in the industry, it will always be euthanizing pets. Euthanasia really takes a toll on us. Even though we encounter it on a frequent basis, we are affected every single time. And if it's hard on us, we can't imagine the pain you must feel. We understand how hard it is to lose your loved one, and want to share some helpful ways of coping with your pet's death.

Losing a pet is losing a family member. When we acquire a pet, we don't always realize how much they become a part of our lives. You feed him/her everyday and make sure he/she has plenty of water. You love on him/her and cuddle with him/her every day. You take him/her on walks and family vacations. You cry and show empathy when he/she is in pain. He/she takes over your Instagram profile. Let's face it, our pets are our children. We love and nurture them. When they pass away, it breaks our hearts.

Grieving

When your pet passes away or is euthanized, allow yourself to grieve. Cry and mourn. Seek help from your friends and family. It is normal to feel depressed or sad when you lose something you care about so much.

Hold Onto the Memories

Think back to the first time you laid eyes on your pet. Remember that feeling? It was pure joy! Allow yourself to remember all the good and bad times, like when he/she destroyed your couch or creeped onto your bed to comfort you after a horrible day. Go through your photographs and reminisce about each one, savoring every memory. Keep a journal and write down everything you remember about your pet.

Objects to Help You Remember

Some people have their pet cremated and keep the ashes in a special box. Others may hold onto their pet's special toy for keepsake. It's okay to have something to remember your pet by.

Getting a New Pet

You could never replace your pet that passed away, but sometimes obtaining a new pet can help distract you from your pain and give you new happiness. It will give you a new type of love and perspective. You can start making new memories, and the old memories of your beloved pet who passed away will be stored in your heart.

We know how difficult it is to lose a pet and hope that these recommendations can help you as you mourn your loss. It's okay to feel sadness for a while. It's a normal part of life. Let us know if you need anything at all when you lose your pet or are making the hard decision to euthanize. We are here for you!

25 Reasons Why We Love Our Pets

All of us at Parrish Creek want to wish you and your pets a happy Valentine's Day! There are so many reasons to love our pets this time of year. We want to share 25 of them!

1. Who else do you know who welcomes you at the door, showers you with kisses, and then piddles/poops on the floor?

2. They screech your name every 5 minutes (birds).

3. They wrap around your arm and neck, and lightly nudge you with their heads (snakes).

4. They follow you around the house, waiting for dinner or a hand out.

5. When you're having a bad day and start crying, they are the first to cuddle with you and let you know everything will be okay.

6. They overcrowd the bed, but somehow you are able to sleep.

7. They help you reach your fitness goals.

8. They splash you with water when you give them a bath.

9. They constantly make you laugh.

10. They are excellent listeners (and they don't talk back--minus the birds).

11. They repeat the four-letter words you wish you hadn't said (birds).

12. They make you feel calm.

13. They destroy things, but somehow you still love them.

14. They shed and you think it's the coolest thing ever, so you let your child take skin to school for show-and-tell (snake).

15. Somehow you love to give them belly/head rubs and they love you for it.

16. They stick their heads out the car window and love every car ride. (dogs)

17. They hate every car ride and let you know that (cats).

18. They drool and you think it's the cutest thing ever.

19. Even when they poop on the floor, you still love them.

20. Giving them treats is like Christmas for you.

21. Christmas with them is the best thing ever.

22. When they get sick, they teach you empathy.

23. They give you the best videos to put on You Tube.

24. They amuse you with their tricks.

25. No matter what, they always love you.

Dr. Folland Says Farewell

It is with poignant mixed emotions that I write this blog post. As a young boy, a seed was planted in my heart that I should pursue a career in veterinary medicine. It made sense; I was crazy about animals and a job where I would be surrounded by them on a daily basis would be heavenly. 

I convinced my parents in 1970 to allow me to get a dog, Duke, a beautiful Dalmatian. My friend Bruce also had a dog and we loved to take our dogs walking in Sugarhouse Park on Sunday afternoons, where they loved to romp and play. One early spring afternoon, Duke dashed through the creek at full speed when he suddenly yelped in pain and began limping on his right front leg.  When we reached him, we found blood spurting from a deep laceration just above his paw. Dr. Coulter, Duke’s veterinarian, met us at his hospital and after a quick exam, informed me that Duke had lacerated all of the tendons on the bottom of his leg. This was a serious injury requiring a surgical repair.  After months and numerous visits to the veterinarian, Duke finally healed, although throughout his life he would always lift that paw when sitting.

Because of the many visits to the hospital, I had gotten to know Dr. Coulter quite well. I was ecstatic when he called that fall, offering me a job to work as a kennel boy at his hospital.  It was a dream come true for me. I worked at Coulter Veterinary Hospital on State Street in Salt Lake City until I graduated from high school three years later. Although the job caused me to forego many of the extracurricular activities associated with high school, I never tired of the interesting things I saw and learned at the hospital. It was like Christmas to be called into the hospital late at night to assist with a C-section or some other emergency procedure. 

I was soon off to college at Utah State University. I could think of no other occupation that would interest me besides veterinary medicine. At that time, it was more difficult to be accepted into veterinary school than it was to medical school. My school counselors would encourage me to find some other major to fall back on, should I not be accepted into veterinary school, but nothing else interested me. In 1979, I was accepted into the Washington, Idaho, Oregon regional program for veterinary medicine, as a member of the first class of that new organization. Veterinary school was rigorous, requiring endless long nights studying, but I loved it. It was everything I had anticipated and more. A highlight was a two-month externship at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle.   

I graduated from the veterinary program in 1983. During that time, the country was in the middle of a deep recession and jobs were hard to come by. I finally landed a job at Knowles Animal Clinics in Miami, Florida. It was a large and busy practice, but they had no avian or exotic pet patients. I had wonderful veterinarians as mentors who allowed me to pursue my passion of exotic animals. I worked hard to develop a clientele with birds and exotic pets, as well as dogs and cats. One of the veterinarians at Knowles, Dr. David Wise, was a superior surgeon and he taught me much about veterinary surgery. It was a wild but interesting time at the height of bird smuggling and legal importation. I had exposure to strange and exotic diseases brought in through these activities. 

While in Miami, I was given the opportunity to manage a satellite clinic for the Knowles organization. It gave me the confidence--when the timing was right--to build my own practice later on. In addition to gaining valuable experience in Miami, I also found a wife and started a family. In 1989; Sharon, our first child, Rachael, and I left Knowles Animal Clinics and move back West with the plan to have our own veterinary hospital.

We eventually settled in Centerville, Utah and in 1990 opened Parrish Creek Veterinary Clinic in the Parrish Square shopping center. Our first year of operation, I didn’t make enough money to support us so I worked night shifts at an emergency clinic in Salt Lake, and performed spay and neuter procedures at the Humane Society of Utah to help make ends meet. The community embraced us though, and within a few years, the clinic was thriving. Just as in Miami, I promoted my passion of avian and exotic medicine along with caring for dogs and cats. The opportunity came up to become the veterinarian for Tracy Aviary in 1994. I accepted the position and have provided veterinary care for the Aviary birds ever since. It has been a challenging and rewarding experience. We added another veterinarian and in 1998, we were called on to provide veterinary care--on an interim basis-for Hogle Zoo. Suddenly, I was taking care of exotic animals of every size and shape. That was an experience of a lifetime, but also a time of stress, because we were also in the process of acquiring our own building, in which to expand the practice. We purchased and renovated the old Centerville post office, to which we moved in late 1998.

Early on we were contacted by Barb Schneiter to provide care for injured and sick wildlife at her wildlife rehabilitation center. That led to contacts with the Ogden Nature Center and eventually a new organization, Northern Utah Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. These organizations provided us with an endless supply of interesting native animals to treat ranging from beavers, porcupines and bobcats to golden and bald eagles, owls and falcons. It has become a source of satisfaction to see an eagle fly away free after recovery from a serious injury.

In 2008, I completed a rigorous program which culminated in becoming a board certified avian specialist and in 2017 we began providing veterinary care for the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium.  The practice has grown to have 3 doctors and is the only facility in Utah to provide specialized care for birds. It has become the leader in avian and exotic animal medicine and surgery for all of Utah.  It also has a reputation for excellent care of more traditional pets. 

Now the reason for mixed emotions. On February 1, 2019, I will be retiring from Parrish Creek Veterinary Clinic. Veterinary medicine has been very good to me. It has turned out to be everything I expected and more than a young teenager could imagine. I have had clients with wonderful pets. I have provided care for the most magnificent animals in the world. I have met incredible colleagues and friends who have given me encouragement and guidance. I have been blessed with wonderful co-workers who have embraced the vision of Parrish Creek Veterinary Clinic and have worked tirelessly to move it forward. I will miss this this amazing experience but I am excited for new adventures in the future. My wife and I will be serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in New Zealand. Who knows, maybe I will get to treat a Kiwi, kakapo or tuatara. Thank you all for contributing to this grand adventure.     

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.

Giving Animals as Gifts

There has been a debate over the years about giving pets as gifts, especially at Christmastime. While it seems like a thoughtful idea, you need to make sure that the person you are giving that cute puppy or kitten to is up for the commitment. And, if you decide to give an animal as a present, that you choose to adopt from your local shelter.

Giving a pet to someone at this time of year should not be a surprise to him/her. If he/she has expressed interest in getting a puppy, make sure to sit down with him/her and discuss his/her situation. You would hate to give him/her a German Shepherd if his/her apartment only allows small dogs. It's a very nice gesture to give a pet for Christmas, but do it the right way.

Avoid giving a child a pet for Christmas unless you know his/her parents are on board with it. Pets are a big responsibility and demand a lot of care and attention. The last thing you would want is for it to be returned to a shelter because the family couldn't take care of it, or afford the costs associated with pet care.

We recommend doing your research before giving someone a pet for Christmas. It's not necessarily a bad thing to give someone a pet as a gift, but know 100% that he/she actually wants it. In our honest opinion, consider giving your friend or family member something that is not living and breathing.