Surface Creek Veterinary Center - February 2022

Surface Creek Veterinary Center - February 2022

February 2022 www.surfacecreekveterinarycenter.com 970-856-4474

Maybe you’ve heard before that dental health and heart health are linked. That’s as true of our pets as it is of humans. And it’s not only the heart we should be worried about — poor oral health is also linked to kidney disease, lung problems, and other conditions. Unfortunately, when we diagnose these conditions in your beloved pet, they generally don’t have much time left. Keeping your pet’s teeth clean is just one way you can help them stay healthy and live a long life. Veterinary dental cleanings are just as important as annual checkups and regular vaccinations. As with many medical conditions, dental disease risk increases with age. So while a younger pet may only need a cleaning every few years, older animals will likely require them more frequently. It's perfectly normal — as I’ve gotten older, I find myself going for more dental cleanings, too. At home, there’s a lot you can do to protect your pet’s mouth. For example, do you brush your dog or cat’s teeth? You probably don’t — only 1% of pet owners do — but you should. We understand where you’re coming from. Brushing your pet’s teeth can be quite an ordeal. But it’s the best thing you can do for your pet’s dental health at home. If you’re ready to accept the challenge, you’ll need an appropriately sized pet toothbrush and pet-safe toothpaste. (Do not use human varieties.) It’s also wise to begin petting and touching your animal’s mouth area more frequently before beginning a brushing routine, so they get used to you handling them there. Offer your pet a taste of the toothpaste on your finger. Then, work your way up to sliding your finger inside their mouth. From there, you can switch your finger with the brush and begin brushing. It likely won’t go great the first time, but that’s okay. Practice makes perfect, and we’ll be glad to provide more tips at the office. SCVC Pawprint TAKE A BITE OUT OF PET DENTAL DISEASE Good Oral Health Leads to Longer Lives

Whether or not you brush, there are other at-home steps available. You can try a water additive to your pet’s bowl that helps protect their teeth. Or, for a less challenging approach than brushing, you can squirt a pet-approved dental rinse into their mouths to kill bacteria. Many treats claim to help prevent dental disease, but “helps” can mean many things. You want to look for products authorized by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC). If the package contains this label, it’s been studied and proven to reduce dental disease. For dogs, I also recommend rawhides. They’ve fallen out of fashion in recent years due to the risk of dogs swallowing the knots. It's a genuine concern, which is why I always say to get a rawhide for your dog that’s much too big. Ignore the recommendations on the label, and choose a rawhide that's 3–10 times larger than what the manufacturer suggests for your dog’s size. They'll digest small flakes that break off, but they'll be unable to swallow bigger pieces. Replace the rawhide when the knot gets worn down to a size they could be at risk of ingesting. With both rawhides and dental treats, gum bleeding is possible. It scares some pet owners, and sometimes they’ll even take the dental products away. That’s the wrong approach. Just like your gums are likely to bleed if you haven’t flossed in a while, your pet’s gums need to build up strength. The bleeding will pass, and they’ll have healthier gums on the other side.

February is National Pet Dental Health Month, and we’re celebrating by offering a discount on all dental procedures. During February only, you can get 20% off any dental care and its associated costs, including anesthesia, blood work, X-rays, and extractions. If your pet is due for a cleaning, please call us today to schedule an appointment. –Dr. Susie and Dr. Jeff

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Since joining Surface Creek Veterinary Center in November, Cheyenne Stone has learned a lot. She originally wanted to be a teacher but eventually decided on a different path. “If I couldn’t work with kids,” she says, “I decided to go to my next favorite, which is animals.” Now, she’s training to be a vet tech assistant. Her average day is a busy one. “I’m always trying to keep up with all the techs and the doctors,” Stone says. Throughout her shift, she handles animals, cleans rooms, and generally does anything else that's needed. Through training and observation, she’s learning new skills and is looking forward to practicing them on her own soon. “I’m definitely asking a lot of questions,” she says. Though she has always loved animals, it's Cheyenne’s first time working in a veterinary office. She particularly enjoys meeting the dogs, and she has learned a lot about the various breeds, characteristics, and needs. “I also love people,” she says. “So I like getting to meet the people who come in with their animals.” Her colleagues are great, too. “The girls here are awesome,” Cheyenne says. “All of my coworkers are so friendly. It’s a really comfortable environment, and everyone is always smiling.” She also appreciates the chance to work with Dr. Jeff and Dr. Susie who are “very welcoming and warm" and “run a well-oiled machine.” A Cedaredge native, Cheyenne lives in the family home with her parents, sister, and brother, all of whom she’s close with. She’s also engaged to be married in September, and she enjoys spending time with the “bonus family” she has gained through her fiancé. Best of all, she notes, “Everybody has a dog, and they’re all best buds.” Hers are Tucker and Tank, both heeler mixes, and Tucker, in particular, loves making new friends. Cheyenne believes she has found her calling and hopes her work at Surface Creek will lead to a long career helping pets. “Every day, you get to meet a new animal and create a new bond,” she says. That’s something she can see herself doing for a lifetime. LEARNING THE ROPES Meet Vet Tech Assistant Cheyenne Stone! The Best Companion

THE HEROES OF THE SEA Hu pback Whale Saves Scientist In the movie “Cast Away,” we see a whale notifying Chuck Noland of a nearby ship. The whale continuously sprays him with water to get his attention. Although this is a fictional story, what happened in “Cast Away” isn’t just movie magic. There are real-life stories about whales helping people in need. In 2018, a marine biologist, Nan Hauser, was swimming in the waters off the Cook Islands when she noticed a 50,000-pound humpback whale near her. For 10 minutes, Hauser swam around the whale while it nudged her with its head, bumped her with its belly, and swiped at her with its fins. At first, Hauser thought the whale was trying to attack her. But actually, it protected her from a 15-foot-long tiger shark on the other side of the whale. Hauser told the Daily Mirror, “I’ve spent 28 years underwater with whales and have never had a whale so tactile and so insistent on putting me on his head, belly, or back, and most of all, trying to tuck me under his huge pectoral fin … I was sure that it was most likely going to be a deadly encounter.” Hauser didn’t know the whale wanted to protect her until she returned to her team’s research vessel. This is when she noticed the tiger shark creeping nearby. This isn’t the first time a humpback whale has intervened to help another creature. In fact, the humpback’s altruism has been well-documented over the years to show how they benefit other species at their own cost. In 2009, Robert Pitman took a photo of a humpback cradling a seal while rolling out of the water. The whale had protected the seal from a group of killer whales. Pitman, a marine biologist, has analyzed 115 interactions with humpback whales and concluded that they will travel long distances in order to prevent killer whales from attacking, regardless of what type of animal the killer whale is pursuing. Whether this behavior is out of instinct, accident, or altruism, they have saved the lives of many aquatic animals and people. They are the heroes of the sea!

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NOT ANOTHER HAIRBALL!

How to Reduce Their Frequency If you live with a cat, you likely know that hacking sound all too well — Mittens is about to cough up another hairball. Though cats generally recover

hairball will enter the intestines and become stuck. Once this happens, your cat needs immediate medical attention and possibly surgery. Signs to watch out for are lethargy, lack of appetite, repeated gagging or retching without producing a hairball, and constipation or diarrhea.

quickly afterward, it doesn’t appear to be a pleasant experience for them. It’s also not very fun for the humans left to clean up the mess. As gross as they may be, hairballs are normal. As you’ve likely noticed, cats like to keep themselves very clean. Unfortunately, they also tend to shed quite a bit, so they swallow a lot of loose fur. Cats digest most of the hair they swallow, but some can accumulate in the stomach. Once it forms into a clump, it can't pass through the intestines, so it has to come out the opposite way. Many cats will cough up a hairball once every week or two without any problem.

Most of the time, though, hairballs are mainly inconvenient. While you’ll probably never eliminate them, you can take action at home to reduce their frequency. The biggest tool in your anti-hairball arsenal is regularly brushing your cat. The more fur you get off of them with a brush, the less is left over for them to swallow. If you’re new to brushing, be patient, choose calm moments, and give your cat time to get used to the process. Grooming is healthy for cats, but it can become excessive. If your cat seems to be grooming a bit too much, it could be because of boredom. Make sure they get plenty of other stimulation through toys and playtime. (Meanwhile, if your cat is grooming to the point of skin irritation or bald patches, a vet visit is in order.) If your cat’s hairballs are still excessive even after employing these tricks, your cat may need a special cat food, diet supplement, or hairball product. The team here at Surface Creek Vet will be glad to make recommendations based on your feline friend’s unique needs.

However, hairballs can come with complications — and not only for your carpet. Sometimes, a

Maura Quinn-Von Mosch Ashley Lieber Clients Spreading the Word Thanks so much to these clients who referred new patients to us last month:

No-Bake Valentine’s Yogurt Dog Treats Inspired by Rover.com

Benjamin Capron Theresa McIntyre Dan Hinchman Kenzie Bosher Don & Marsha Grant

INGREDIENTS

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1/4 cup unsweetened coconut flakes, shredded

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1 1/2 cups oat flour (or pulverize rolled oats in the food processor)

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1 tsp vanilla extract

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1 cup coconut flour

2 tbsp dried pomegranate seeds

1 cup plain, nonfat yogurt

1 tbsp coconut oil

1/3 cup strawberries

DIRECTIONS

3. Roll the mixture into balls, squeezing tightly as you go. The size will depend on what you think your dog would prefer. 4. Chill in the refrigerator before serving.

1. In a food processor, combine all the ingredients. 2. Pulse until they have reached a desired consistency.

We Reward Referrals!

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inside this issue

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Celebrating National Pet Dental Health Month

Humpback Whales: The Heroes of the Sea

Meet Cheyenne Stone!

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How to Reduce Your Cat’s Hairballs

No-Bake Valentine’s Yogurt Dog Treats

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Include Mother Nature in Your Next Date

3 GREAT DATE NIGHT IDEAS You, Me, and the Great Outdoors

with your loved one. Maybe you’ll spot a shooting star you can wish upon while you’re out there! Cross country ski under the moon. If you’re more the active type, you can get your dose of exercise and romance all in one evening. Pick a clear night — ideally, when the moon is full — and get out there and explore. Later in the evening is better, so try a midnight excursion. That way, you and your sweetheart can avoid any unwelcome company and enjoy a quiet, romantic evening. You’ll get your heart pumping in more ways than one! These date night ideas are perfect for Valentine’s Day, but they don’t have to be limited to just the holiday! You can also consider these for any date that you have with your significant other. Nothing brings couples closer like being together with nature.

Did your significant other leave it up to you to come up with a romantic date idea this Valentine’s Day? Luckily for you, there are tons of date activities that are easy and affordable for you to enjoy with Mother Nature. While the possibilities are endless outside, here are three popular outdoor date ideas! Watch the sunset. Sunsets are intuitively romantic: The sun paints the sky in calming reds, pinks, and purples, creating a beautiful backdrop. While watching the sunset, you and your partner can have a romantic picnic with the sky in view. Or you can embrace the scenery with your other half and create memories you both will never forget. Go stargazing. If you live in the city, stargazing is a good chance to escape for the night and get away from the light pollution in the city. If you already live in a location where you can easily see the stars, take advantage of the peaceful privacy

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