Surface Creek Veterinary - June 2022

Surface Creek Veterinary - June 2022

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

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Letting the Cat Out of the Bag FELINES MAKE GREAT PETS!

Some people try to tell me that cats don’t have personalities — that’s when I know they haven’t spent a lot of time around cats! Some cats are extremely affectionate and only want to sit on your lap. Others are feral, want nothing to do with humans, and are best treated as wild animals. You’ll also find cats with countless personalities between these two extremes. Playful, aloof, hyper, lazy, social, and antisocial cats all exist. Another myth we commonly hear is that male cats spray all the time. In truth, our office sees more problems with inappropriate urination in female cats. This concern isn't a good reason to avoid male cats, and they are much less likely to spray after being neutered. If you’re looking for an affectionate cat, boys are actually your better bet. While there are many exceptions, male cats tend to be much more agreeable, while many females can get very picky about the humans and other animals they do and don’t like. Then there’s the misconception that cats aren’t affectionate or loyal. I think it’s just that cats are more independent. They’re a lot less likely to fawn all over you than a dog, and if they decide to hang out with you, it’s more of a nice bonus. It can feel like an honor when they choose you, and a cat’s purr is one of the most calming sounds on the planet. (Studies show that purring releases endorphins in both cats and humans, so it’s not just our imaginations!) It’s okay if cats aren’t your cup of tea, but if you’ve been on the fence about bringing one into your life, there's no harm in stopping by the shelter. You’ll want to look for a cat that fits your lifestyle. A quiet homebody might prefer a lap cat, while someone with a boisterous household filled with children and dogs will usually be better off with one who has a lot of energy. Meet a few and see what feels right. You might find your new best friend.

If dogs are man’s best friend, what does that make cats? Not much, according to some people. But while I enjoy both species (and have a dog), I’ve always been personally partial to cats. They get a bad rap because many people don’t understand them. They are very different from dogs in many ways. We’ve been breeding dogs for thousands of years and fundamentally changed their genetic makeup to make them more docile companions. Cats, on the other hand, more or less domesticated themselves. They have the same DNA that they had in ancient Egypt, so it should be no surprise that they can sometimes be on the wild side. But as anyone who has had both knows, cats still tend to be easier than dogs. They’re not exactly goldfish, and they do need regular vet appointments, vaccinations, and affection. But compared to dogs, they need a lot less TLC. You can always go away for the weekend and not have to worry about them, as long as you leave them a clean litter box and enough food and water. You certainly can’t say that for dogs. Cats are self- sufficient, you don’t have to bathe or walk them, and their small size makes them easier to handle.

June is Adopt a Shelter Cat Month, and there’s no shortage of felines who need good homes. According to the ASPCA, about 3.3 million cats enter shelters every year, and approximately 860,000 of them are euthanized. Though some of those euthanizations are due to illness or injury, the numbers would improve if more people saw it in their hearts to give more cats a good home.

–Dr. Jeff

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The Best Companion

3 EASY COOKING HACKS FOR BETTER NUTRITION

Making a meal plan is a pain, but you still want to get all your necessary vitamins, minerals, and protein through everyday foods. Even if you’re not a cooking expert, you can employ a few very simple cooking hacks in the dishes you commonly prepare! You'll be surprised how these little boosts can reap big, nutritious rewards. No. 1: Add quinoa to recipes. Want to add extra texture or color to your steamed white or brown rice? Mix it up with 1 cup of quinoa (any color) and another 2 cups of water or broth. Or, simply throw quinoa into any grain-friendly soup you’re preparing, like a simple chicken soup! Quinoa is rich in antioxidants and filled with fiber to lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels, reducing your risk of diabetes and heart disease. No. 2: Replace cream with almond, walnut, or oat milk. Cream is a popular mainstay in any American kitchen, but it doesn’t have to be dairy cream. Plant-based milk and creamer (such as almond, walnut, or oat milk) are often extra rich in vitamins and minerals and low in fat. They contain no cholesterol and are easy on your digestive system. Because they all have slightly different flavor profiles, you can pick your favorite! Walnut milk works surprisingly well in a creamy pasta sauce. No. 3: Add frozen spinach to almost anything. Fresh spinach quickly loses its folate, powerful vitamins, and nutritional benefits over time, but spinach, frozen at its peak freshness, saves the day. That’s why frozen spinach is actually more nutritious than most fresh spinach at the supermarket! Whether it's for pasta, pizza, scrambled eggs, cheese dip, a smoothie, or curry, frozen spinach is more versatile than you might think. Plus, studies show spinach may have amino acids that help reduce stress and depression! (Bonus) No. 4: Add chia seeds to cold drinks, yogurt, baked desserts, and more! It’s easy to feel guilty for indulging your cravings for sweet tea, pudding, cookies, and cake. But if you add chia seeds, you might feel a little better about it! These small seeds are densely packed with antioxidants, minerals, fiber, and omega-3 fatty acids, all of which may promote heart health, support strong bones, and improve blood sugar management. We hope these tips help make your favorite dishes a little more fun and guilt-free! Enjoy! 2 970-856-4474

Meet Madison Bodie! Madison Bodie has been a kennel technician with Surface Creek Vet Center for approximately two months now. Though she’s still in high school, this is not her first job — she worked previously as a line cook. But this is her first time working professionally with animals, something she has always aspired to do. Her responsibilities include taking the dogs for walks and cleaning up after the animals, but she does much more. She helps set up before surgeries and dental procedures, holds and comforts animals during blood draws, and otherwise assists the doctors in whatever way is needed. “It’s different every day,” she says. “Every day there is something I haven’t seen before. Some days you’ll have calm dogs, and other days you’ll have a rodeo dog who’s absolutely crazy!” It’s all good exposure because Madison hopes to someday become a traveling veterinary technician. Traveling technicians journey all over the country — or even around the world — to help animals in need at different facilities. Though Madison hasn’t nailed down the specifics yet, the job could present the opportunity to work with wildlife in addition to domestic pets, and she’s excited about the possibility of adventure. Madison is originally from Tennessee, but her family moved to Colorado about a year ago. “It’s different, for sure!” she says, noting in particular that “the views are beautiful.” She has a Rottweiler named Lola and three pit bulls: Butters, Maize, and Luci. Madison has always had a soft spot for pit bulls, saying, “They’re big-old babies.” “I’ve been around animals my whole life,” Madison went on to explain, and she shows no sign of stopping in the future. In her short time at Surface Creek Vet Center, she has become one of the team. “It’s a good, friendly environment to be around, and the other staff are amazing,” she says. “It’s like a little family.” THE NEW GIRL IN TOWN

CAT SCRATCH FEVER Protecting Your Home from Kitty Claws Birds fly, dogs dig, and cats scratch. It’s an instinctive behavior that helps your cat stretch,

According to Animal Planet’s cat expert Jackson Galaxy, positioning is crucial. If your cat

de-stress, groom, and mark their territory. But it's not cute when your cat destroys your furniture, carpet, drapes, or molding. It’s downright expensive. Training a cat to stop using their favorite scratching spot (also known as your couch) typically requires both positive and negative reinforcement. Let’s start with the negative. Avoid scaring or punishing your cat for their natural behavior, as it will only teach them to fear you and result in other forms of acting out. Instead, try temporarily covering surfaces with aluminum foil, double-sided tape, or a citrus scent — all things cats dislike. But this is only the beginning. If you only remove your cat's favorite spots to scratch, they'll soon find new ones. Cats need to scratch, so you need to provide them with appropriate options they can use instead of your favorite rug.

likes scratching the couch in the middle of the room, sticking a scratching post in a faraway corner won’t work. You have to provide your cat with a scratching option more attractive than the one they’ve chosen. So, you should put the decoys where the cat wants to be, not where you want them hidden away. You’ll also want to find a material your cat enjoys. Before spending a lot of money, try several inexpensive options like cardboard, sisal, and rope. Cat scratchers also come with carpet coverings, but experts warn against these options — once your cat gets used to scratching carpet, they may think all the carpet in the house is fair game. It may also help to keep your cat’s claws neatly trimmed. Overly long nails can become painful and lead to more frequent scratching. By clipping them every couple of weeks, you’ll do your cat and yourself a favor.

All of these options are better than declawing your cat. Declawing removes approximately one- third of a cat’s toe, is painful, and prevents them from engaging in instinctive

behaviors. Further, the procedure often trades one undesirable behavior for another, as many declawed cats become aggressive or refuse to use the litter box. If you need additional tips for keeping your cat happy but your home intact, we’ll be glad to discuss the matter during your next visit.

Homemade Meatballs for Dogs Inspired by HouseThatBarks.com

Clien th ts e SWpr o e r a d ding

INGREDIENTS

CJ Cannell

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2 oz low-fat yogurt 1/2 cup almond flour

• • •

1 lb ground beef

1 tbsp chopped parsley, fresh or dried

1 egg or 1/4 cup applesauce, unsweetened

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F. 2.

In a large bowl, mix the ground beef.

3. Chop parsley and add it to the bowl. 4. Lightly beat the egg with a fork and add it to the bowl, or add applesauce if using as a substitute. 5. Add the yogurt and almond flour, then mix all ingredients well. 6. With hands, form the mixture into small meatballs. Line the baking sheet with parchment paper and place the meatballs on top. 7. Cool completely before giving to your dog as a treat. Freeze extra meatballs for later use.

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Should You Adopt a Cat? inside this issue

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3 Cooking Hacks to Eat Better

Meet Kennel Technician Madison Bodie!

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Stopping Inappropriate Cat Scratching

Homemade Meatballs for Dogs

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Aquatic Therapy — For Mr. Whiskers, Too

HOW HYDROTHERAPY HELPS PETS Aquatic Therapy — For Mr. Whiskers, Too New Appointment Cancellation Policy When you cancel with less than 24-hour notice, we now require a prepaid $50 deposit to reschedule. If you keep your rescheduled appointment, we will apply the deposit to your veterinary bill. If you miss your rescheduled appointment, the fee is nonrefundable.

discomfort in pets, improving function after injury or surgical procedures, and even optimizing conditioning of animal athletes.” For cats, hydrotherapy is still extremely effective, despite the obvious obstacle of putting a cat in water. To make them more comfortable, feline friends (much like our canine friends) are often provided a warm water environment with the aid of a harness or underwater treadmill. It may or may not be accompanied by massage therapy, or other physiotherapy techniques. When should my pet try hydrotherapy? The goal of hydrotherapy, like regular aquatic therapy for humans, is to use the support and resistance provided by water to build strength, flexibility, and endurance while minimizing stress on bones, joints, and other organs. If your pet suffers from arthritis, obesity, physical injury, or neurological and/ or skeletal conditions, you may want to consider bringing them in for some light aquatic exercise. Even if they resent it at first, it might make their lives a lot easier and more enjoyable in the long run.

Since the age of the Roman Empire, humans have used water as a means of physical therapy — to exercise and heal their bodies. But, in 2022, aquatic therapy isn't just for humans anymore! Dogs and cats that struggle with obesity have a hard time getting motivated to exercise, just like humans do. However, with aquatic therapy (or hydrotherapy, as it’s often called in the veterinarian world), they're able to keep moving without having to do all the work of supporting their full body weight. What is hydrotherapy, exactly? For dogs, hydrotherapy usually consists of either swimming or walking in water, whether in shallow water along the beach or on an underwater treadmill. But hydrotherapy isn’t about playing in the pool with your pet. Whether for recovery or fighting pet obesity, it's meant to be guided by a professional for the best results. Dr. Tari Kern, a certified canine rehabilitation practitioner at Pawsitive Steps Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, told American Kennel Club, “Exercising in water can be recreational. However, hydrotherapy can also be used as part of a very specific, structured program with the goal of easing arthritis

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