Animal Clinic of Kalispell - November 2018

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Pet Press KALISPELL NOV 2018

406.755.6886 WWW.KALISPELLVET.COM

RAISING EXPECTATIONS

A Vet Who Helps People

W hen I was about 5 years old, I watched a veterinarian perform a C-section on my grandparents’ cow. It intrigued me, and even when I was young, I knew I wanted to do something related to medicine. Being able to help people feel better is a powerful thing. In college, I looked into dentistry, orthodontics, and medical school, but none of it felt right. After some thought, I realized that while

my knowledge and skills to analyze the problem, find the cause, and create a solution that will help the pet get better in a way the client can comfortably manage. Some clients can agree to having the full treatment that day, and others need to stagger it out over the course of a few months. Both approaches are okay.

my drive was to help people, I also wanted to work with animals. The awe of watching a vet work with a sick animal on my grandparents’ ranch and make it better had stuck with me. When I decided to go to vet school, I knew it was the right choice. It all clicked into place, and I never looked back.

In my time as a vet, I’ve learned my job involves helping people as much as — or often more than — helping their pets.

Unfortunately, some people have low opinions of veterinarians based on negative experiences or stories they hear from friends and family. Some of these opinions are wholly justified, so my practice aims to raise our clients’ expectations of us. Clients should expect quality care for their pets from a team who is ready to listen to their concerns and take the time to help them through a difficult process. And when we manage that, our goal is to make sure the client expects even more the next time. When a new client comes in and is ready to trust us with the well-being of their pet because another client has spoken highly of us, then I know we are on the right path.

For 23 years, I have only grown more certain of my career. In my time as a vet, I’ve learned my job involves helping people as much as — or often more than — helping their pets. Though the nuts and bolts of my day is examining and treating pets, the majority of the time I am working with people. I’m talking to pet owners about what their animal is going through, helping them off the cliff, and giving them the information they need to make medical decisions that are right for them and their pet. People love their pets. They want them to enjoy long, happy lives, and when a pet is unwell, it’s overwhelming. The most rewarding thing about my job is when I can take a situation that a client perceived to be a disaster and show them that circumstances are not so terrible. I can use

After two decades, all the veterinary medicine is second-nature, but communicating with the different people who walk into the clinic is still a new and interesting challenge each day. I’m happy to be somewhere I can do the most good for people and animals who need help.

—Dr. Jevon Clark 406.755.6886

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MAUI’S TAIL An Old Dog Shares Her Story My name is “Maui,” but sometimes I’m called “The Maui” because I am the most unique and lucky English Springer Spaniel in the world. I live with Dr. Clark and his wife, Rose Ann. Eight months ago, they rescued me from the local shelter. Being an old dog is rough, no pun intended. I’m not sure exactly what my age is in human years, but when I ended up in the shelter after my last human passed away, I was worried I wouldn’t be adopted. You see, I have several pretty significant chronic diseases. I have allergies, a congenital back problem and arthritis, I’m deaf, and when I arrived at the shelter, I was sad and scared. Who would want a dog with so many problems? Turns out, having such a sad story worked in my favor when Rose Ann saw my picture online. I can’t tell you how happy I was when I left the shelter with Rose Ann. We drove out to the clinic while Dr. Clark was working. When he saw us walk in, Rose Ann exclaimed, “She needs us! No one is going to take care of her like we will.” Hey there!

An Attitude of Gratitude SHOULD LAST BEYOND THANKSGIVING Taking the time to acknowledge who and what you’re grateful for is a Thanksgiving tradition far more important than turkey or football. It’s the cornerstone of the holiday and the reason we feast together in the first place. But when you really think about it, should expressing our gratitude and appreciation for others be limited to one day every year? Of course not! Why Gratitude Matters As we get older, it’s easy to succumb to negativity and pessimism — “Kids these days,” “The world isn’t what it used to be,” etc. The crabby grandparent and angry old neighbor are archetypal depictions of later life. But these fictions don’t have to be your reality. Recognizing and acknowledging gratitude will help you take stock of the positive aspects of your life and dwell less on unhappy thoughts. Being grateful has also been linked to significant health benefits. According to gratitude expert and author Dr. Robert A. Emmons, “Preliminary findings suggest that those who regularly practice grateful thinking do reap emotional, physical, and interpersonal benefits. Adults who keep gratitude journals on a regular basis exercise more regularly, report fewer illness symptoms, feel better about their lives as a whole, and are more optimistic about the future.” How to Practice Gratitude In the above quotation from Dr. Emmons, he mentions the practice of keeping a gratitude journal. This activity is a great way to start seeing the world with a more positive, appreciative eye. As often as you can, take a few minutes to write down the acts, people, and moments that you’re grateful for. Some will be big, others small — but all will have an impact on your mood and bring a smile to your face. Before you know it, you’ll have an entire book full of good memories and warm feelings. While keeping a journal is great, there are other ways to go about cultivating and expressing gratitude. The easiest one is simply to say “Thanks” whenever you can. It may seem insignificant, but you’d be surprised what a difference it makes. When you approach the world with the perspective that every day is Thanksgiving, it’s only natural to be grateful. We all have moments when we want to curse the world, especially as we get older, and those experiences are perfectly normal. Just as frequently, though, we have moments that are worth celebrating, often with people who are worth appreciating. Which will you think about more?

Homemade Peanut Butter Dog Treats

The easiest homemade dog treats

ever — simply mix, roll, and cut. Easy peasy, and so much healthier than store-bought!

Prep time: 25 minutes Cook time: 25 minutes

• 2/3 cup pumpkin purée • 1/4 cup peanut butter • 2 large eggs • 3 cups whole wheat flour, or more as needed Ingredients

Recipe from damndelicious.net, originally adapted from userealbutter.com

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CALLING ALL LABS, RETRIEVERS, BOXERS, AND ROTTWEILERS

What Dog Owners Need to Know About CrCL

It is not uncommon for certain dogs to struggle with conditions over the years that are simply related to their breed. In our practice, we often see dogs who are suffering from a ruptured cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL). The CrCL is a ligament in a dog’s knee that is similar to the ACL in humans. This ligament stabilizes the dog’s knee joint and keeps their femur bone from moving forward compared to the tibia. When the CrCL tears, walking becomes a painful challenge. If left untreated, CrCL injuries lead to damage to the surrounding cartilage and degenerative arthritis, which intensifies the dog’s pain. Though sometimes caused by an accident, most CrCL ruptures are the result of long-term degeneration and simple anatomy. Some dog breeds are more predisposed to this kind of injury than others, especially large, athletic breeds like Labradors, golden retrievers, shepherds, boxers, and Rottweilers. Dogs suffering from a CrCL rupture will limp and avoid putting weight on their back leg. There may also be a loud clicking sound when the dog moves should the cartilage of their knee become damaged. A veterinarian will need to examine and X-ray the dog to confirm whether the CrCL is damaged and begin creating a plan for recovery. Though CrCL ruptures are troubling, painful injuries, good solutions exist for recovery. One effective treatment is a tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO). TPLO changes the biomechanics of the knee joint, adjusting a portion of the dog’s tibia and preventing the femur from sliding forward, thus stabilizing their knee. Compared to other treatments for CrCL tears, dogs who receive this surgery tend to have a much better prognosis. After a period of recovery, most dogs who undergo TPLO are able to return to the active lifestyle they enjoyed before. Worried your best friend may have a ruptured CrCL? Give The Animal Clinic of Kalispell a call at 406.755.6886. The sooner the problem is diagnosed, the sooner you can get your pet out of pain.

Being adopted by a vet has some real perks. Dr. Clark helped me get as healthy as I could be. Honestly, at the time, I thought that it would be nice to at least enjoy my last few months in comfort. But today, I feel great! Dr. Clark has joked that I’m probably going to live forever, and sometimes it really feels that way. I still have allergies and can’t walk as well as other dogs, but I’m the life of the party. In addition to Rose Ann and Dr. Clark, there are two other dogs in my new pack: a golden retriever and another springer. They’re good dogs, though they aren’t nearly as smart as I am. There’s also a cat running around, and he likes me too.

Every day, I’m happy to have a family I love so much. It’s a good life, and you know what? Sometimes being an old dog isn’t so bad after all.

– The Maui

Directions

1. Preheat 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.

406.755.6886

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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

406.755.6886 WWW.KALISPELLVET.COM 1408 AIRPORT ROAD KALISPELL, MT 59901

Inside

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Raising Expectations

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How to Give Thanks Year-Round

Meet ‘The Maui’ Homemade Dog Treats

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Can Dogs Tear Their ACLs?

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Chips, the WWII Hero Dog

Meet Chips THE WWII HERO DOG

War heroes are revered for their acts of bravery in times of combat — and Chips, the

the dog down. Three more men came out of the hut, their hands raised. Chips left the fight with burns and a scalp wound, but his actions saved the lives of all the men in his platoon, and later that day, he discovered more enemy soldiers. On Jan. 15, 2018 — 75 years after the Casablanca Conference — Chips was posthumously awarded the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals Dickin Medal, the highest award an animal can achieve for their time in military conflict in Britain. After his service, Chips returned to live with the Wren family. On U.S. soil, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star, and the Purple Heart. These honors were eventually stripped by the Army after a policy barred animals from earning the same

shepherd-collie-husky crossbreed, is no different. During World War II, the Wren family donated Chips to Dogs for Defense shortly after the U.S. joined the war. Of the 40,000 dogs donated to the corps, more than 10,000 were selected to participate in the program after training. Chips was shipped off with his handler, Private Rowell, to French Morocco. Chips and Rowell patrolled the Casablanca Conference, where Chips was introduced to President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Following the meeting, Rowell and Chips went to Sicily to support the invasion as part of Operation Husky, which was where Chips earned his hero status. On July 10, 1943, Allied soldiers were attacked on the beach by an enemy machine gun team. Chips ran for the hut where the barrage of bullets was coming from and tore into the enemies. His handler described hearing rapid noises and seeing Chips gripping one of the men by his throat until Rowell ordered

medals as people, but his platoon awarded him the Theater Ribbon and battle stars for his

eight campaigns. To the men Chips saved, medals didn’t make him a hero — his selfless actions did.

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