Surface Creek Veterinary Center - September 2021

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

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mobility. The cold laser reduces inflammation and has very few side effects. How to Help Your Furry Friend ANIMAL PAIN AWARENESS MONTH

intake. If your pet won’t eat, you should give us a call immediately, but even a lowered appetite can indicate a problem. If your pet usually finishes their bowl but has lately only been eating half, it could mean that something is wrong. Of course, cats are trickier than dogs. In the wild, cats are both predators and prey, and any animal that shows weakness is a lot more likely to be eaten. While they tend to mask it well, cats do show the above indicators in more subtle ways. Cats are also prone to hiding when they’re in pain, so the onset of hiding or antisocial behavior is a big sign that a vet visit is due. If your pet is in pain, we have many treatment options available. While we certainly prescribe pain medication when needed, we’re also proud to offer nutraceuticals as a part of our treatment options. Nutraceuticals are supplements that have a health benefit and include omega-3, glucosamine, and other vitamins. Often, we will use a multipronged approach that employs long-term nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals as needed. We also offer cold laser treatment, which can be very helpful for arthritic joints. Many large dogs are especially prone to arthritis in their hips, causing them pain and limiting their

Dental issues are a major driver of pet pain, so we perform dental procedures in our office. Dental pain in animals can be hard to spot, and often pet owners don’t realize how much pain their pet was in until they notice a big difference after the procedure. This demonstrates the importance of regular veterinarian visits (annually for young animals, biannually for seniors). Remember, each one of their years is like seven of ours — and we hope you go see your doctor and dentist more often than that!

September is Animal Pain Awareness Month. During our time as veterinarians, we’ve noticed that a lot of people have difficulty telling when their pets are in pain because our pets can’t tell us that they’re hurt. So, it’s up to us to look for the signs. First of all, it may seem obvious, but limping is a surefire symptom of pain. Because their animal isn’t crying out, many owners overlook a limp — but cats and dogs limp when they’re in pain just like humans do. Any hint of wincing or avoiding touch is also a concern. If your animal doesn’t want to be pet or lowers their back when you try to touch them, it’s time to call us. Behavioral changes are another significant sign of pain. When something really hurts, some animals become aggressive while others just become less social or more standoffish. Any behavioral change is something that should be looked at — even if it doesn’t denote pain, this could still be a different serious issue.

Take Advantage of Dental Health Month

We think of dental care as pain prevention, so it’s a perfect coincidence that it’s also Dental Health Month. Throughout September, we are offering free dental screenings for your pet. If we discover an issue during the screening, we will also provide 20% of all dental procedures . Give us a call today to make sure your furry friend is in good dental health. Dr. Jeff and Dr. Susie

The last thing you should watch out for is a lack of interest in food or decreased food

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HOMEWARD BOUND How a Microchip Can Reunite YouWith Your Pet The Best Companion

No one ever plans for their pet to go missing, but it happens every day. Dogs can escape a fenced yard, and outdoor cats can suddenly stop coming home. Both dogs and indoor cats can be sneaky and slip out the door in an instant. While you should take every precaution you can to prevent your pet from getting lost, you should also have a contingency plan in case they do. Microchipping is the best way to help your missing pet find their way home. Microchips are inserted into the skin between an animal’s shoulder blades with a needle. The process does not require anesthesia and only takes a few minutes, with no more pain to your pet than a vaccination. A microchip does not track your cat or dog like a GPS. Instead, it contains the same information a collar tag would, but it can’t be lost. A vet or animal shelter can easily scan the found animal’s neck to check for a chip. If there is one, they can access your contact information and reunite you with your furry friend. There are countless miracle stories of pets and owners being reunited thanks to a chip. In 2017, Sven the Yorkie went missing in Alabama. His owners did everything they could think of — canvassed the area, talked to neighbors, and posted online — but he was nowhere to be found. Eight months after he went missing, Sven turned up in Ft. Meyers, Florida. No one knows how this little dog wandered 800 miles, but after being taken to a vet, his microchip allowed him to be reunited with his owners the next day. If your pet already has a microchip, take a moment today to confirm that your contact details are up to date with the chipping company. If you don’t know who that is, your vet or the shelter you adopted from can probably help. Remember, a microchip is worthless if it won’t help whoever finds your pet get in touch with you. If your pet is not microchipped, the procedure is inexpensive and fast. Please call our office to schedule an appointment today. We hope you’ll never need that chip, but someday, you could be very grateful to have it.

2 FUN FAMILY CARD GAMES TO PLAY WITH 1 DECK Whether you’re hanging out at home or camping with the family, card games are a great way to relax. A single deck is versatile and easy to pack, so if you have one on hand, try these two games that go beyond the classics like War and Go Fish. 1. Slapjack (2+ Players, No Jokers): The goal of this War-style game is to win all of the cards. To start, deal all of the cards face down, then have everyone form their cards into a pile without looking at them. Each player then flips a card face up into the center. Continue doing this until one of the cards played is a jack. When that happens, the first person to slap the jack wins it and the cards beneath! They add them to their deck, and play continues until one player has all of the cards. To keep things interesting, if you accidentally slap a card that isn’t a jack, you have to give up one of your cards to the player with that pile, and if you run out of cards, you can reenter the game by slapping the very next jack. 2. Spar (2–4 Players, No Ace of Spades or Cards Below 6): This easy game is played with just 35 cards, and the object is to win the last round (aka trick). To start, deal five cards to each player. Then, have the person to the left of the dealer lay one of their cards face up. Each person in the circle then plays a card in the same suit if they can or another suit if they can’t. Whoever has the highest card in the original suit wins the trick and starts the next one! The winner of the fifth trick wins the game. If you want to keep score, award three points if the winning card is a six, two points if it’s a seven, and one point if it’s an eight or higher. Then play again! We found these games on BicycleCards.com, but you can learn about them and dozens of others by checking out “The Ultimate Book of Family Card Games” by Oliver Ho from your local library. 2 970-856-4474

WORLD RABIES DAY How to Protect Your Pets and Family World Rabies Day is Sept. 28 and aims to educate people on the dangers of the disease. Worldwide, rabies kills tens of

vet may recommend a booster shot to provide further protection.

fear of humans or become overly affectionate; livestock may appear depressed or begin to self- mutilate. Other telltale signs include excessive drooling (foaming at the mouth), seizures, difficulty walking, or sudden behavioral changes. Unfortunately, once an animal begins showing signs of rabies, there is no treatment, and rabies will result in death. This is why it’s so important to stay up to date on your pet’s inoculations — a rabies vaccine just might save their life. Even indoor cats are susceptible, usually when a bat finds their way into the house. All mammals can be vaccinated for rabies, including your livestock. Even if your animal is vaccinated for rabies, it’s important to call your veterinarian if you notice they’ve been bitten, or if you see them have close interaction with a wild animal. Your

Clients Spreading the Word Thanks so much to these clients who referred new patients to us last month: Rabies is generally transmitted through a bite. Any animal can carry rabies, which is why it’s important to stay away from wild animals, even if they appear cute and friendly. While infected animals are often aggressive, some lose their thousands of people every year. While only one or two of those deaths take place in the U.S., each one is entirely preventable. There were more than 4,900 reported cases of animal rabies in 2018. Most cases are found in wildlife like bats, foxes, skunks, and raccoons. Of the 2018 cases, there were over 300 cases total between cats and dogs; while rarer, farm animals are also susceptible to rabies (46 reported cases).

If you or your child are bitten by an animal, either wild or domestic, you should contact a doctor immediately. Post-exposure vaccination can be administered to prevent the disease in humans. If untreated, like in animals, rabies results in death after the onset of symptoms. Protecting yourself and your pet from rabies is easy and affordable. If you’re not sure of your pet’s vaccination status, give us a call today so we can make sure they’re up to date.

Herbed Sweet Pup-tato Fries Inspired by Food.com and GoodPetFoodKitchen.com.au

INGREDIENTS

Annette Pretorius

Wayne & Barbara Stanfill Debbie Faulkner Leah Borgman Renee Hazen Kaleb Griffin

• 1 tsp dried or 1 tbsp fresh oregano, finely chopped Warming Blend to Help Regulate Blood Sugar and Improve Dental Health • 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon • 1/4 tsp ground coriander

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1 yam or sweet potato, plus your choice of dog-safe spice combination

Spice Combinations Italian-Inspired Blend to Help With Pet Arthritis • 1 tsp dried or 1 tbsp fresh basil, finely chopped

Jennifer Johnson Jane Seitz Lisa Wernet Sally Dearmond

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 250 F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 2. Cut yam or sweet potato into fries by slicing it lengthwise into 1/3-inch slabs. Then, slice each slab lengthwise into 1/3-inch rectangles. 3. Place fries onto the baking sheet in a single, well-spaced layer. Sprinkle your herbs of choice on top. 4. Bake for 3 hours. Let cool, then serve as a treat to your pup.

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

Identifying When Our Pets Are in Pain inside this issue

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2 Fun Family Card Games to Play With 1 Deck

A Microchip Can Help Your Pet Find Their Way Home

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Protecting Your Family and Pets From Rabies

Thanks For Your Referrals!

Herbed Sweet Pup-tato Fries

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Willie the Parrot: The Ultimate Danger Alarm

Willie the Parrot: The Ultimate Danger Alarm

and was unable to signal to Meagan that something was wrong. Luckily, Willie came to the rescue. Willie began squawking and shrieking, saying the words “Mama! Baby!” over and over again. In a matter of moments, Meagan knew something was wrong. She rushed to the kitchen to find a very frantic Willie and a very blue Hannah. Meagan jumped into action. She grabbed Hannah and performed the Heimlich maneuver until the Pop-Tart piece dislodged itself and shot out of her mouth. Meagan may have been the one to stop Hannah from choking, but she insists that Willie was the real hero of the story. If he hadn’t used his unique mimicking skills to get Meagan’s attention, she doesn’t know what would have happened. It’s worth noting that before that incident, Willie had never used the phrase “Mama! Baby!” before. He knew something was wrong, and he knew how to get help. Shortly after the incident, Willie received the local Red Cross chapter’s Animal Lifesaver Award for his heroic actions.

Willie the Quaker parrot was a pretty remarkable bird. Like many parrots, he had a knack for mimicking certain sounds and words, including barking dog noises, human kissing noises,

and a fair share of swear words. However, what made Willie a hero one day was not just what he said, but also when he said it. Meagan Howard, Willie’s owner, brought him over to her friend Samantha Kuusk’s house while she babysat Kuusk’s little daughter, Hannah. Hannah and Willie were both in the kitchen while Meagan prepared a Pop-Tart for Hannah’s breakfast. After placing the Pop- Tart on the table, Meagan stepped away to use the bathroom. While she was away, however, Hannah got her hands on the Pop-Tart and began to scarf it down, lodging a piece in her windpipe. She started choking

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