Legacy Veterinary Hospital - August 2018

Legacy Veterinary Hospital - August 2018

AUGUST 2018

WWW.LEGACYVET.COM 972.335.9292

COOL PETS A Newsletter for

(and their humans)

You Can Do It!

Dr. Kent Julius and Believing in Your self

Have you ever had someone tell you that you can’t do something you’ve dreamed of doing your whole life?

her, and after graduation he went into junior college for general studies with no major and no idea what he was going to do.

Hi, I’m Jake. I’m a Maltipoo (Maltese-poodle mix), and given my small size, I have people and other dogs tell me I can’t do things all the time. But I always aim to prove them wrong, which is something I have in common with one of my humans, Dr. Kent Julius. Kent knew he wanted to be a vet from the time he was five years old. He grew up on a farm in Illinois, surrounded by all kinds of animals. His dad and grandpa knew how to take care of the animals most of the time, but when they had a big problem, they would call the local vet. Kent says he can still remember how impressed he was watching what a vet could do and how they were able to help an animal in need. His childhood dream of becoming a vet was reinforced when Kent was 11 years old. In the middle of winter, Kent and his dad got in the truck to check on one of their cows who was close to calving. When they found her, it was clear she’d already given birth, but the calf was nowhere to be seen. They went searching and eventually found the calf huddled up in the woods, shaking and covered in snow. The cow had given up on the calf, but Kent’s dad told him to grab the calf and carry it to the truck. Frostbite would cause the calf to lose part of its nose and all of its ears and tail, but with his dad’s help, Kent saved the calf and nursed it back to health. It grew up to be a big, happy cow. In high school, Kent still wanted to be a vet, but he wasn’t the most diligent when it came to school work. I can relate. Who wants to take tests when you can be outside playing fetch? During his junior year, Kent sat down with a guidance counselor who told him that, with his grades, he’d never get into vet school in the United States. Unfortunately, Kent believed

The thing is, even though he’d been told it was impossible, he still wanted to be a vet. One day, Kent called his vet back home who’d helped his family on the farm. He told the vet, “The counselor said if I didn’t have perfect grades, there was no chance I’d get into vet school.”

The vet said, “Kent, if you never try, you’ll never know.”

This was some of the best advice he’d ever gotten. Kent then called a local vet school and asked what he had to do to get in. They told him to take the right classes, get all A’s and B’s, and have experience working with a vet. Fortunately, he already had that last one. As soon as he could, Kent changed his major to pre-vet, switched all his classes, and put all his eggs in one basket. Four years later, he was accepted into veterinary school. Getting accepted into vet school was just the beginning of the hard work, but after being told he couldn’t follow his dream and believing it for a while, it was a huge win for Kent. Today, in addition to helping animals at the clinic, Kent spends time talking to kids about following their passions, whether they’re high school interns or Girl Scout troops on a field trip. He enjoys showing people what being a vet is really like and encouraging kids that they really can go out there and follow their dreams, whether they want to be a vet or an engineer or a doctor. There are a lot of people who like to say you can’t do something. It’s important to have someone who believes that you can, and sometimes that person happens to be your vet.

-Jake Julius

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Where the Cool Pets Go

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JOURNEY TO THE GREAT BACKYARD Finish the Summer With a Family Camping ‘Trip’ Summer is drawing to a close, but there’s still time to make some great memories. Camping trips are a summer staple. Fortunately, you don’t have to drive hours into the mountains to find the perfect campsite. Your backyard is right there waiting for you! Here are a few tips to help your family say farewell to summer with a perfect backyard camping trip. Pack for an authentic experience. Your back door is literally a few yards away, which can be great in the event of an emergency. But if the kids are running in and out of the house all night long, they might end up deciding they’d rather be inside playing video games after only an hour. Be sure to pack everything you would need if you were really going into the woods for the night so no one is tempted to go back inside. This means tents, sleeping bags, flashlights, pajamas, books, binoculars, a compass, water bottles, and a cooler of food with snacks and dinner. Treat this like a “real” camping experience right from the beginning! Figure out the campfire. Don’t have an in-ground fire pit? No worries! You can still enjoy hot dogs and s’mores with a charcoal grill or a store-bought fire pit. If you have enough room in your backyard, you could even try building a bonfire. Just make sure to check your city ordinances and get any necessary permits first. You can find advice for building the perfect campfire at REI.com/ learn/expert-advice/campfire-basics.html . Remember: It’s okay to call it a night. For kids, the most exciting part of camping in the backyard is getting to sleep in a tent — that is, until they actually have to sleep. After stargazing, some kids will want to stay up all night whispering and giggling in the tent, and that’s great! But other kids might decide they’d rather sleep inside, and that’s okay too. Your camping trip isn’t a failure because everyone spent the night in their own beds. It’s not about where everyone sleeps; it’s about how much fun your family had together before bedtime.

Your whole family adores your dog — but not the barking. This issue can lead to feelings of frustration, and the more frustrated you get, the more your dog barks. It’s their only way of communicating, and they’re telling you, “My needs are not being met.” In order to reinforce good behavior, there are three things to keep in mind. Exercise Part of the barking issue may be due to pent-up energy. According to the humane society, “A tired dog is a good dog and one who is less likely to bark from boredom or frustration.” If you already take your pup on a morning walk, try adding in an evening walk. You could add it to your child’s chore list and help get out some of the kid’s pent-up energy, too. It may also be beneficial to practice obedience exercises and games that challenge your dog. Discipline To put a stop to the behavior, you’ll first need to change any of your behavior that’s reinforcing it. Any attention your dog gets when he’s barking — even yelling, “Rover, stop!” — teaches him to keep going, because you’re rewarding him with attention. Wait until your dog has stopped barking to give him any sort of attention, including looking at them. “To be successful with this method, you must wait as long as it takes for him to stop barking,” advises the Humane Society. Affection Of course, your dog needs love and attention to thrive — a lack of it could contribute to barking behavior. Reinforce silence by giving your dog a treat and an encouraging pat when she demonstrates good behavior, like not barking. To make your training program successful, consistency is key. Enlist the help of the whole family to stick to the principles. Together, you can foster a calm, peaceful home where you and your dog happily coexist. Become a ‘Dog Whisperer’ Train as a Pack for Better Results

The best part of backyard camping? It doesn’t take a lot of planning. Just grab your gear and your family and hike out into the great backyard.

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Where the Cool Pets Go

WWW.LEGACYVET.COM

972.335.9292

Pups These Days ... Important Messages From Senior Pets

At our clinic, we see animals of all ages and breeds. As pets get older, they have different needs when coming to the vet. They also have different things on their minds. Here are some important messages from senior pets about things they wish more people knew.

“Why are there so many brands of pet food? When I was a pup, there was one kind of wet food and one kind of dry food. If you didn’t like it, tough! Now the pet food aisle is as long as the cereal aisle. How are you supposed to know what’s the right one? I do enjoy that senior dog food these days, though. Low fat and low protein content makes the kibble easier on my kidneys.”

“Millennial puppies these days spend too much time thinking about artisanal water bowls and taking photos of all their treats. Back in my day, if I wanted a treat, I had to walk 5 miles in the snow, uphill both ways. And before I got the treat, I was expected to shake, beg, and roll over! That’s what it means to be a good boy.”

–Bonnie, Lab Mix, age 11

“Have you seen all these new toys they have out? I saw a young Dachshund chasing a toy robot that was being controlled by a kid’s smartphone! Do you know what we had to play with

–Woofy, German Shepherd, age 12

“Cat trees are too tall! Why should I have to climb 4 feet in the air just to take a nap? I have arthritis and my joints aren’t what they used to be. We

when I was a puppy? A stick! And if I wanted to play, I had to go find the stick myself. I would love a new toy, you know. Playtime isn’t just for hyperactive puppies. Exercise is good for senior pets too.”

need more cat beds on the ground. And while we’re at it, let’s look into some shallower litter boxes with lower sides. Don’t make me climb the Great Wall of China whenever I have to use the box.” –Minerva, Tabby Cat, age 9

–Shooter McGavin, Blue Tick Beagle, age 8

Food Hounds ! PEANUT BUTTER DOG TREATS

PAWSitively Hilarious !

Adapted from userealbutter.com

2/3 cup pumpkin purée 1/4 cup peanut butter Ingredients Instructions

• •

• •

2 large eggs

3 cups whole wheat flour, or more as needed

1. Heat oven to 350 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat; set aside. 2. Using an electric mixer with the paddle attachment, beat pumpkin purée, peanut butter, and eggs on medium-high until well- combined, about 1–2 minutes. Gradually add 2 1/2 cups flour at low speed, beating just until incorporated. Add an additional 1/4 cup flour at a time just until the dough is no longer sticky.

3. Working on a lightly floured surface, knead the dough 3–4 times until it comes together. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Using cookie cutters, cut out desired shapes and place onto prepared baking sheet. 4. Place in oven and bake until edges are golden brown, about 20–25 minutes (baking time will vary depending on the size and thickness of the treats). 5. Let cool completely.

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Where the Cool Pets Go

WWW.LEGACYVET.COM

972.335.9292

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

WWW.LEGACYVET.COM 972.335.9292 5399 Warren Pkwy. Frisco, TX 75034

Inside

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A Word From Jake the Maltipoo

How to Get Your Dog to Stop Barking The Best End-of-Summer Activity

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What Your Senior Dog Wishes You Knew PAWsitively Hilarious Peanut Butter Dog Treats

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Shadow: The Hang-Gliding Service Dog

Meet Shad ow:

The Amazing Hang-Gliding Service Dog

For his entire life, Utah resident Dan McManus has suffered from several mental health issues, including generalized anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, night terrors, and severe panic attacks. Over the years, he’s utilized numerous coping mechanisms to stave off the symptoms, but there are two things that calm him more than anything else: hang gliding across the Utah skies and the companionship of his service animal, an Australian cattle dog named Shadow. Over the course of 37 years, McManus went from being a hang-gliding hobbyist to an expert instructor in Salt Lake City, going out gliding as often as possible. But it seemed that his passion gave his pup a bit of anxiety of his own. Whenever McManus would take off, Shadow always wanted to chase him. “So I would be out here flying, and he would chase me and jump up at me and sometimes get my foot and hang on a little bit … It felt like he wanted to keep me safe,” he says. And when he left the dog at home, he’d often come home to a scratched-up floor and doors. It seemed that Shadow couldn’t bear to be away from his owner. So, about 12 years ago, McManus had a special harness made for Shadow, enabling the pup to join him while he took to the skies. They’ve been side-by-side on nearly every flight since.

Some pet owners might balk at the idea

of taking a dog on a hang glider, but it’s clear that, in this case, Shadow definitely wants to fly. Whenever they go out, Shadow wraps his paws around McManus’ arm, remaining stoic as they survey the landscape together from high above. While we all struggle with our own obstacles in life, it’s nice to know that our canine pals will always be there to offer their furry support. As McManus and Shadow demonstrate, it’s a bond that remains strong even hundreds of feet above the ground.

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Where the Cool Pets Go

WWW.LEGACYVET.COM

972.335.9292