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August 2023 www.surfacecreekveterinarycenter.com 970-856-4474
SCVC Pawprint
We can all use a little pampering occasionally, including our pets. Aug. 10 is National Spoil Your Dog Day — though for many, you’d think it was a year- round celebration! I encourage you to do something special for your pup but keep their health in mind. I’ve talked before about the growing problem of canine obesity. Too often, we think food is the best way to spoil our pets. But a Milk Bone here, some table scraps there, and Pup-Peroni for dessert add up faster than most pet parents Spoil Your Dog WITHOUT THE HEALTH CONSEQUENCES Just be careful which veggies you choose. Onions and garlic can cause serious health problems in large enough doses. While cauliflower won’t
harm your dog, I strongly urge you to stay away from it — for your own sake. The vegetable tends to cause prolific flatulence. Buy them something special.
realize. It’s not intentional, but they’re only spoiling their dog’s health. Fortunately, you have plenty of other ways to spoil your dog. The team at Surface Creek Vet has compiled several suggestions here. Help them exercise. Take your dog for a walk. Better yet, take them on a hike! Your yard will do if you can’t head to the mountains. Get a ball or a Frisbee for them to chase, or run and wrestle together. Water-loving dogs will enjoy a nice cool swim. Exercise seems like work to many humans, but
Why not get your dog a comfy new bed? Those who spend much time outside would also enjoy a revamped dog house. No matter how simple, a new toy will thrill most pups (at least for a little while).
Many people look down on rawhides, considering them dangerous, but I recommend them. The trick is to buy one large enough that it’s impossible to swallow. A foot-long rawhide is excellent for small dogs, and 2 feet will work better for the big ones. Your dog will have a wonderful time chewing on it without the safety issues. Give them your undivided attention. Aside from food, water, and air, a dog’s most primal need is love. No matter how you go about it, the greatest gift you can give your dog is your attention. We work long hours, so Susie and I try to make a point to hang out with Greg as much as possible when we’re home. Above everything else, interaction makes him happy. Whether your dog likes running, roughhousing, or snuggling on the couch, one-on-one time is a much better way to show them you care than a bunch of extra calories. If you want to spoil your dog, think of ways to stimulate their mind and heart — not their GI tract.
it’s a lot of fun for most dogs. The Hirsch family dog, a great Pyrenees named Greg, loves nothing more than to run around in our field with the kids and sheep. Best of all, the movement and fresh air are good for his health. The more your dog moves, the better off they’ll be. Feed them veggies. No matter what the package says, few
store-bought treats are good for your dog. But there are healthy supermarket staples many dogs love. If you haven’t tried feeding your dog vegetables, you might want to start.
Chopped chunks of celery and carrots make for great hand-feedable snacks. However, I urge you to use full-sized carrots — many dogs don’t chew baby carrots and get them stuck in their esophagus. Cooked sweet potatoes are another favorite, as is broccoli. Your dog might also enjoy having peas mixed in with their food.
1 WWW.SURFACECREEKVETERINARYCENTER.COM –Dr. Jeff
A Lot to Learn The Best Companion KENNEL TECH JOEL LOOKS TO THE FUTURE
We all wish our pets would be there for us in an emergency. Dogs, cats, and other animals can accomplish amazing feats when provided with enough love and care, and a cat from Liverpool named Willow recently proved that many times over. A cat’s sense of smell is incredibly effective at detecting when something is abnormal, and Willow used her nose to save her owner in the nick of time. For many with diabetes, falling into a diabetic coma is a constant concern, and they regularly check their blood sugar levels and take insulin shots to avoid that scenario. Amanda Jameson, a 51-year-old woman from Liverpool, received a diabetes diagnosis years ago but had always stayed on top of it. In April 2023, she fell asleep while her blood sugar was dangerously low. Thankfully, her cat, Willow, noticed something was wrong and sprang into action. Willow went to the living room, where Amanda’s husband had fallen asleep watching television. Willow proceeded to bite his leg and jump on him until he woke up around 4 a.m. He could tell something was wrong, as this was abnormal behavior for Willow, so he followed her to the bedroom, where he spotted his wife. She was slumped over and unresponsive, and he immediately called her an ambulance. Doctors informed Amanda’s husband that she was moments away from slipping into a diabetic coma, but Willow had smelled something off and gotten help before it was too late. HH oe rwOWw ni lelro’swLSi af ev e d A CAT’S NOSE KNOWS
Joel Lynch had pets as a child and once helped raise chickens but says, “That was the extent of my animal care experience.” He’s now getting a crash course in all things animals in his new role as a kennel technician at Surface Creek Vet and reports enjoying his immersive education. Previously, Joel worked in janitorial in Summit County. But he, his wife, and two stepdaughters recently moved here from the Frisco area. “We were looking for a quieter lifestyle away from the hustle and bustle of the tourist industry,” Joel explains. The family hopes to own livestock eventually, so Joel decided he should learn more about animal care. The position at Surface Creek Vet proved the perfect opportunity. His janitorial experience has given him a leg up since much of the kennel technician work involves cleaning. “But we also keep an eye on the animals to make sure they’re cared for and not sick or hurt,” he says. One of his favorite parts of the job is seeing the different dog breeds that come through the door. He particularly likes our clients’ “giant” Bernese mountain dogs. Joel is also excited to be working with the rest of the team at the clinic. “Everyone I work with is exceptional,” he says. “Especially all the doctors. Dr. Jeff has a mind for a lot of things, including outside the veterinary field. His knowledge is incredible. And Dr. Susie’s knowledge on surgery is also exceptional.” Outside of work, Joel considers himself a minimalist. “I don’t have a TV, and I spend as little as I can on things I don’t need,” he says. “We live small; that’s why we want to have our own livestock and land.” As a part of his “simple living,” Joel likes to spend as much time as he can outdoors and enjoys hiking. The family lives without pets, but it won’t be that way forever. They want to wait until the girls, ages 1 and 3, are older before adding any animals.
Most pets would get a few extra treats for their heroism, but Willow’s feats earned her a more prestigious award. The National
Cat Awards named Willow as a finalist for their “Moggy Marvels” category. If Willow wins, she’ll receive a trophy, a £200 pet store voucher, and a year subscription to Cats Protection’s “The Cat”
magazine. Although Willow likely doesn’t care about the trophy or the subscription, she’ll be happy enough with £200 worth of goodies and her owner safely by her side. 2 970-856-4474
In the meantime, Joel says he is soaking up all the knowledge he can. “Caring for animals is a pretty good gig for me.”
CARDBOARD CASTLES WLovhey BCaotxses There’s no telling what reception the new cat toy you bought from Amazon might get — but the box it came in will surely be a big hit. The reaction is equal parts cute, confusing, and frustrating. What’s behind the near-universal feline obsession with boxes?
Clien th ts e SWpr o e r a d ding But cats also seem to enjoy boxes when they’re otherwise perfectly content. Cardboard’s excellent insulating properties are a likely reason. Cats prefer to be much warmer than humans; their ideal room temperature is 86–97 degrees Fahrenheit. They’re constantly searching for warmth in sun rays and on heat vents, and snuggling up inside a box is just one more tool they use to remain thermoneutral. Cats are notoriously difficult to interview, but several behavioral studies provide a peek inside the feline mind. They’ve repeatedly found that cats feel safer in tight, enclosed spaces. It’s the same reason they hide during frightening or stressful situations. There’s only one point of entry and exit inside a box, meaning cats won’t be surprised by any potential predator attacks. It’s much easier to mount a defense when you know where your enemy is coming from.
Another widely held, though untested, theory suggests that cats’ love affair with boxes is related to their status as ambush predators. Boxes provide a good hiding spot from which to pounce and attack prey. It’s common to see multiple cats playing together, jumping in and outside of a box, which could mimic their hunting behavior.
That points to another likely explanation for the love affair: Playing with boxes is fun. Cats are curious and like to explore new objects. Many love the sound of their paws hitting the cardboard or the ability to move the box’s open flaps. Cats also seem to enjoy cardboard texture and are known to chew or scratch it instinctively for stimulation.
Though boxes may not make for attractive decor, playing with them will unlikely harm your cat. However, ensure no sharp objects are inside, like staples, and remove the tape if your cat is prone to chewing on it. For more attractive options, cardboard beds and scratchers on the market will entertain your cat without making it appear you forgot about recycling day. But most people accept that the excited reaction to package deliveries is just part of owning a cat.
Is your cat a tuna fanatic? If yes, these crackers are the purrfect treat for them! With only four simple (and healthy!) ingredients, these snacks provide your feline friend with the satisfying crunch and intense tuna flavor cats go wild for. Tasty Tuna Crackers Inspired by ASPCAPetInsurance.com
Anne Wheeler Karen McFarland Kerstin Kimbriel
INGREDIENTS
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6 oz undrained tuna
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1 cup flour
1 cup cornmeal
1/3 cup water
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 F. 2. In a bowl, mix ingredients together until combined. 3. On a flat surface, roll dough into 1/4-inch diameter balls. 4. On a greased cookie sheet, place the dough balls and bake for 20 minutes. 5. Let cool and invite your cat to dig in!
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The Healthy Way to Spoil Your Dog inside this issue
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A Guardian Angel Covered in Fur
Joel’s Crash Course on Animal Care
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Why Cardboard Appeals to Cats
Tasty Tuna Crackers
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Keep Those Pesky Pests Away!
Don't Let the Bugs Bite 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. SUMMER TIPS FOR INSECT-FREE FUN!
The type of repellent isn’t as important as whether it contains one of these main ingredients: • Lemon-eucalyptus oil •
exposed skin when outside. If you can, wear long-sleeved shirts, full-length pants, tall socks, and closed-toe shoes, especially when hiking or camping. And if you can, tuck your pants into your socks or shoes to prohibit anything from crawling up your legs. Choose your outdoor time wisely. Mosquitoes are most active in the early morning and late evening, so avoid going outside during
August is the last full month of summer, which means bugs are at their pesky peak. If you and your family love to get outside in the summertime, protecting your family from bug bites is about more than their itchy aftermath. Bugs can carry many diseases that put you, your family, and your pets at risk. For example, mosquitoes and ticks can transmit the West Nile virus, while ticks can spread Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, anaplasmosis, and much more — including causing alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), which is a life-threatening allergic reaction. So, if you and your family find yourselves outside this summer, here are some tips to keep those creepy-crawlies at bay. Cover up! One of the most straightforward ways to ensure no one gets bitten by a bug is to cover any
Citronella oil (combined with thyme for ticks)
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Picaridin
Diethyltoluamide (DEET) Get rid of any standing water near your house. Mosquitoes use stagnant water to lay their eggs, so any filled buckets, partially filled kiddie pools, broken fountains, or even discarded toys that have collected water can all attract mosquitoes to your yard. Routinely check your yard and dump out any water you find.
dawn or dusk if possible. Use insect repellents.
One of the most effective ways to keep bugs from biting is to use some form of bug repellent. Today, many
people opt for non-spray repellent alternatives like repellent patches, wristbands, or clip-ons, many of which work great.
Lastly, be sure to thoroughly check for bugs on both your family and your pets before ever setting foot inside!
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