Surface Creek Veterinary Center - October 2021

October 2021 www.surfacecreekveterinarycenter.com 970-856-4474

SCVC Pawprint

WHAT’S GOING ON Catching UpWith Dr. Susie and Dr. Jeff

prescriptions into medical records and do other related paperwork, so we’ve regrettably had to start charging a $12.50 fee per prescription. Luckily, you still don’t have to come into the office each time your pet needs a prescription refill. Surface Creek Vet has our own online pharmacy through a partnership with Vetsource. This site is integrated with our computer system, so any prescriptions filled will automatically be added to your pet’s medical records. Even better, the Vetsource prices are competitive with other online pet pharmacies. In some cases, your prescription will even cost less than it does through the site you’re currently using. We also offer free shipping when you sign up for auto- ship. To compare, visit SurfaceCreekVetService. SecureVetsource.com — we think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. We’d like to thank all of the pet owners who have stuck with us during these unprecedented times. It’s a pleasure to serve you and your animals every day. We hope to see you soon under only the best of circumstances. Speaking of which — remember to keep your dogs away from the Halloween candy!

more animals, it has really filled up our schedule.

You may have read horror stories online about sick animals being unable to get care, but we can guarantee that

won’t be the case with us. There are currently longer than usual waits for nonemergency surgeries and wellness visits, but if your pet is sick, we’ll see them that same day. That said, you’ll need to be patient with us! We may need you to drop your pet off at the office and come back for them later. This will allow us to check on and treat your animal whenever we have time between existing appointments. While we’d love to have you stay, these are extraordinary times, and we need to take some unusual measures to ensure every pet is cared for. Another challenge we’ve been facing is the rise of online pet pharmacies. People are using sites like Chewy due to perceived convenience and cost savings, but it adds a lot of strain to our office staff. All prescriptions need to be tracked, and sites like Chewy are not linked to our computer network. It takes a lot of time for our receptionist to repeatedly enter the

Hi, everyone! We hope that you, your family, and your furry friends have been doing well. There have been some changes around here, so we want to take a moment to give you an update on what’s been happening in the office these last few months. Like many veterinary offices around the country this past year, we’ve been extremely busy. A national veterinary shortage has come to a head as more pets have been adopted during the pandemic and people have been home more to notice �ehavioral changes and signs of illness. Locally, this issue has been exacerbated by several other vet offices closing. We’re seeing a lot of new patients as a result, and while we’re grateful for the opportunity to help

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WHEN IT COMES TO ANIMALS, SIZE DOESN’T MATTER Meet Vet Tech Assistant Victoria Eckiss! The Best Companion

several cats, livestock, and two horses. Between the animals, her four kids —Duke (6), Colt (4), and Monte and Zeb (2) — and her husband of eight years, Uhlan, she manages to stay pretty busy. The family of six enjoys spending their time mostly outdoors, camping, fishing on the mesa, and riding their horses. “My kids have been riding with us since they were babies, and as soon as they could hold on by themselves, they’d go for little walks,” Victoria says. “This is the first year Duke and Colt had horses they could ride on their own.” When asked what she likes best about her job at Surface Creek, Victoria notes the fast-paced environment, saying, “There’s always something new coming in.” Aside from the animals and the work, she also loves the people. “Surface Creek is a really good group to work with. Everyone is really nice, and it’s definitely a family atmosphere.”

When veterinary tech assistant Victoria Eckiss joined Surface Creek Vet a fewmonths ago, she was fresh off a long stint as a stay-at-home mom. She had the opportunity to go back to work, and Victoria is now happy to be part of the team. As a tech assistant, Victoria primarily works with Dr. Susie to prepare animals for surgery and ensure their lab work is in order. This is her first job in a veterinary office, but that doesn’t mean she’s not experienced with animals. When she lived in California, she worked at a quarter horse racehorse farm. She now primarily works with dogs and cats, but the kind of care and compassion needed is similar. “I’ve always loved animals and been interested in the veterinary field,” Victoria says. “Working here, you get to experience all the different breeds and sizes of dogs — but you don’t have to worry about taking them home at the end of the day!” Victoria already has plenty of animals of her own to look after. After hours, she’s a rancher with two dogs — a Bluetick Coonhound and a Catahoula Leopard Dog — plus

SELF-HELP BOOKS CAN’T DO IT ALL How Reading Fiction Can Benefit You Many CEOs and other successful individuals continually espouse the benefits of regular reading. Many times, leaders read self-help books to improve their leadership skills and become more successful. This is all well and good, but even the most successful people in the world could be missing out on the unique benefits that come specifically from reading fiction. But what are those benefits exactly? Greater Empathy When a psychologist analyzed 86 functioning MRI (fMRI) studies, he found that the same parts of the brain that fire up when reading fictional stories also fire up when we’re seeking to understand the thoughts and feelings of others. That’s because when the characters in the book we’re reading are thinking or feeling a certain way, we tend to think or feel that way with them. Less Stress and Better Sleep When we read fiction specifically, we tend to disengage from the world — and that’s a good thing! Our brains can’t always be functioning at their peak capacity. We need breaks, or else we’ll stress ourselves out and negatively affect other areas of our lives. Stress tends to keep us from sound sleep, but reading fiction before bed engages the imagination, taking us away from the stresses of everyday life before we drift off. More Comfort With Uncertainty Even though many stories (particularly those portrayed in popular movies) have nice happy endings, most people would agree that life sometimes leaves things a little more open-ended. While this fact might stress out some people, researchers have discovered that fiction readers don’t need “cognitive closure” as much as nonfiction readers. Greater Happiness Even if none of the benefits of fiction interest you, everyone wants to find ways to make themselves happy — and for many, that is reading fiction. According to one survey, 76% of participants said that reading makes them feel good and improves their lives. So, what are you waiting for? Dust off that novel you’ve been meaning to read and crack it open!

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FELINE FEELING FRISKY? Games to PlayWith Your Cat Cats can often seem pretty good at entertaining themselves, but the truth is that they prefer a play companion. For cats, prey is play — so something to chase, attack, and try to outsmart is what their instincts crave.

Cat Fishing Tie a long string to your cat’s favorite toy and throw it over a door while you hide on the other side. Ensure the toy is relatively close to the floor on the cat’s side, and slowly wiggle it around until you’ve got their attention. From there, mix up your motions between swinging and rapidly raising and lowering the toy and watch your cat leap into the air through the door hinges. Remote Control Mayhem Find a small remote control toy (think the size of a mouse or small bird) and go to town. A toy that makes too much noise might scare your cat, so try to find one that’s relatively quiet and watch them be astonished and intrigued as the toy moves “on its own.” Race the toy across the room, slowly move it a few inches at a time, or spin in circles to capture your cat’s attention.

Don’t forget to let them “catch” the toy at the end of the game!

As a reminder, never give your cats the impression that you are prey. That means no teasing them with your hands, feet, or other body parts. If cats start attacking you directly, you’ll have a hard time getting them to stop. Playing appropriate games with your cat will not only get them lots of exercise and enrichment but also strengthen their bond with you. See which game is your cat’s favorite today.

Clients Spreading the Word Thanks so much to these clients who referred new patients to us last month: to you or just generally seems interested in one, throw it across the room; there’s a good chance they’ll chase it and bring it back. If they chase the toy but don’t bring it back, walk over, pick it up, and throw it again — this will ensure exercise and fun for both you and your kitty. Chances are you know how to play with a dog, but many people don’t know what to do with a cat. Here are some games to get you started. Fetch Though not all cats will play, this game definitely isn’t just for dogs. If your cat ever brings a toy

Apple and Carrot Dog Treats Inspired by CommuniKait.com

Zelinda Thames Lori Biggins Sullivan Kelly Hanson Jacque Koehler Beverly Kolkman Sharon Dyer Patty Naft

Fall is harvest season, and with this recipe, even your loyal mutt can partake in some of its greatest flavors.

INGREDIENTS

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1 1/2 cups flour

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1/2 cup apple, peeled and shredded

Debbie Schum Robin Melton Deborah Fox

1/2 cup carrots, shredded

1 cup broth of choice

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 400 F. 2. In a large bowl, combine flour, carrots, apples, and broth and mix together well. 3. Sprinkle the countertop with flour and, using a rolling pin, roll the dough flat to about 1/2- inch thick. 4. Cut the dough into your favorite shapes. (Cookie cutters are encouraged!) 5. Bake cookies for 8–10 minutes. 6. Cool before serving and refrigerate to store.

We Reward Referrals!

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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

WWW.SURFACECREEKVETERINARYCENTER.COM | 970-856-4474

17800 HANSON RD. CEDAREDGE, CO 81413

1 2 What’s New With Dr. Susie and Dr. Jeff inside this issue The Unique Benefits of Reading Fiction

Meet Victoria Eckiss!

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Feline-Friendly Games

Thanks for Your Referrals!

Apple and Carrot Dog Treats

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Corn Maze Safety

5 CORN MAZE SAFETY TIPS Fun for All This Fall

Watch for tripping and fire hazards. Keep your eyes peeled for any obstacles on the path, including holes, bumps, ruts, and corn stalks. While navigating a maze, it can be easy to forget to look down while searching for the exit. To prevent fires, you should also avoid smoking and never use matches or lighters. Wear proper footwear. Ensure that you and your family all have proper footwear, preferably closed- toed shoes, while exploring the maze. You never know what kind of critters or potentially harmful hazards may appear in your path. Eat beforehand and stay hydrated. Be sure to eat before setting out into the maze and don’t bring any glass bottles with you, as it can be dangerous if broken. Furthermore, do not consume alcohol before or while enjoying your time at the corn maze. Be prepared. Accidents can happen, usually at the most unexpected times! It is important to always have a first-aid kit handy. Be sure to call 911 in an emergency and let staff know what is going on. As long as safety is the top priority this fall, fun will be had by all!

Fall brings apple cider, pumpkin patches, fun seasonal outfits, and

corn mazes. Unless you are visiting a “haunted” corn maze, you and your family probably won’t be chased by a chainsaw- wielding serial killer

while you try to navigate through. However, safety

risks are still present. Here are five safety tips to keep the fun coming during your next corn maze

experience.

Follow the rules. At the entrance to each corn maze, there should be a

sign stating the rules for visitors. For the safety of yourself, your children, and others, be sure to read each rule and follow along. Always accompany your kids in the corn maze — it is a maze, after all!

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